291To George Washington from James Scott, Jr., 16 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cap. Marshall & myself being the persons chosen by our Independent company, to wait on you for the purpose of offering you the command; and my not knowing what day he woud call on me, happened to be from home, which prevented my doing myself that pleasure I expected, being quite unprepared for such a journey, the request of the company & likewise of the Committee Cap. Marshall will inform you...
292From Benjamin Franklin to [the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence], 15 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Résumé printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania, Met at Philadelphia, on the Fourteenth of October, Anno Domini 1774, and Continued by Adjournments (Philadelphia, 1775), pp. 643–4. <February 15, 1775: He reports that on the previous day six provincial acts, passed in September, 1773, and July and September, 1774, were presented to the...
293[Diary entry: 15 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
15. Went a Huntg. again—found Nothing. None but Mr. Digges came home with me. Doctr. Rumney contd. here all day.
294[Diary entry: 15 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear but cool. Wind fresh from the So. West.
295To George Washington from James Cleveland, 15 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
I being much Confusd in mind as well as indispos’d in body have not been able to give yuo a regular accompt of my Procedure I cannot get a common House Carpender under 6£ ⅌ Month good hunters is not to be had under 5£ ⅌ Month and Plantation Labourers 4£ or 4£10S. I am yours to Command. L , DLC:GW . The letter and signature seem to be in a different hand, and Cleveland’s name is misspelled. The...
296From Benjamin Franklin to the New Jersey Assembly Committees of Correspondence, 14 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society In my last I informed you of my Attendance on the Board of Trade upon your Acts passed in March last, the Objections made to some of them, particularly the Paper Money Act with the Answers I gave to those Objections; and that all were likely to pass, except those for lowering the Interest of Money, and for the Relief of an insolvent Debtor. Petitions...
297[Diary entry: 14 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
14. Went a Fox hunting—found & killd a Fox. Robt. Phil, & George Alexander came home with us. Mr. Muir Doctr. Rumney & Cap. Harper lodgd here.
298[Diary entry: 14 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
14. Cool & raw all day—the fore part at least. Wind Northerly.
Massachusettensis, whose pen can wheedle with the tongue of king Richard the third, in his first paper, threatens you with the vengeance of Great-Britain, and assures you that if she had no authority over you, yet she would support her claims by her fleets and armies, Canadians and Indians. In his next he alters his tone, and sooths you with the generosity, justice and humanity, of the nation....
300[Diary entry: 13 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
13th. At home all day. Mr. Geo. Digges came in the Afternoon.
301[Diary entry: 13 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
13. But little Wind, and that Southerly. For the most part clear.
302To George Washington from James Cleveland, 13 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
I arrive’d home on Saturday Night the 11th of the Said instant but with much Difficulty being taken very ill with the Slow Fever the 7 of the Month and am worse since I came home and may Prabably not be able to come to you for some time when I got over I found nothing purchas’d and I found it hard to get the commoditys on any terms I roed twelve or thirteen Days before I bought one individual...
303To George Washington from John Washington, 13 February 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Washington, 13 Feb. 1775. On 6 Mar. GW wrote Washington that he had received “your favr of the 13th Ulto.”
304From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Viny, 12 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Miss S. Madeline Hodge, Princeton, New Jersey (1955) Mr. Webb called upon me the other Day, and delivered me your Favor of Jany 28, enclosing a copy of your former, dated in March 24. I am pleased to find that you approve of the Proceedings of the Congress: I send you herewith a Number of their Addresses to the People of England, with some of the Bishop of St. Asaphs Speeches to be...
305[Diary entry: 12 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
12. Ashby & his brother went away. I contd. at home all day.
306[Diary entry: 12 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
12. Snowing all the forenoon but not fast. Afternoon clear and Cold. Wind at No. Wt.
307[Diary entry: 11 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
11. Mr. Milner went away. Mr. Custis & myself went a hunting but killd nothing although we found a Fox. Robt. Ashby & bro. lodgd here.
308[Diary entry: 11 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
11. Cloudy for the most part and Raw. Wind at No. Et. with Snow.
309From John Adams to a Friend in London, 10 February 1775 (Adams Papers)
“The account you give of an overbearing influence in the house, and the want of feeling and spirit out of it, is of a very serious and melancholy kind: Americans are very sensible, that such accounts are true, and expect to fall a sacrifice to the knavery in the cabinet and the folly out of it, unless preserved by their own virtue, their frugality, or valour, or both. “Shorter parliaments, a...
310From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 10 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library In Compliance with your Request I this Morning applied to a Virginia Merchant for Information, Whether the Courts of Virginia are now shut? and if so, from what Causes? particularly whether from any Resolutions of the People there to avoid Payment of their English Debts, as you told me had been insinuated by a Person in Administration. Inclos’d I send you the...
311From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 10 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I beg to be inform’d by a Line whether a Letter, the third I did myself the honour of writing to you, dated the 26th of February 1774, ever came to your Hands. I am, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant Notation by Franklin: Letter to Dr Tucker Feb. 13. 75 It did indeed. Tucker did not answer it but subsequently used it in a...
312[Diary entry: 10 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
10. Doctr. Jenifer & his Brother dind here, & Mr. Milner Lodged here.
313[Diary entry: 10 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
10. Snowing & Raining till 12 or one Oclock then clear—wind getting to No. West at Night.
314[Diary entry: 9 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
9. At home all day alone.
315[Diary entry: 9 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
9. Cloudy all day, with the wind fresh from the No[rth]ward. In the Afternoon Snowing & wind at No. Et.
316To George Washington from John Connolly, 9 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was this far determined to proceed to Williamsburgh, to lay before His Excellency some matters which concerned the interest of this Government, & the Frontiers in particular; but finding that my immediate return to Pittsburgh was indispensably necessary, I have dispatched my Servant Express to my Lord, by whom I now write you. As His Lordship in the late treaty with the Indians, acquainted...
317[Diary entry: 8 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
8. Mr. Willm. Milner came to Dinner & went over to Mr. Digges’s in the Aftern. William Milnor continued to do business with GW, although there is no record of his buying fish after May 1774. Milnor was a Quaker, but he was an ardent supporter of the colonists against the British ministry and, on GW’s orders, furnished drums, fifes, and colors for the Fairfax and Prince William Independent...
318[Diary entry: 8 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
8. Wind blowing very fresh from the So. West all day & for the most part clear.
319To George Washington from William Grayson, 8 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have reciev’d your favor, and shall punctually attend to the contents; I have givn the Gentlemen notice to pay in their subscriptions to Mr Carr, which I am confident will be done in a few days; and of which I will further inform you at Fairfax Court. The colours drums &c. have come safe to hand by Capt. Coburn; I shall be oblig’d to you to send the bill of costs, that Mr Carr who has made a...
320From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 5–7 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library, University of Michigan I received duly your respected Favours of Oct. 27 and Nov. 1 with Bills for five hundred Pounds Bulkeley on Whitmore; I thank you much for your Care in so speedy a Remittance. I hope you will excuse the Trouble I have given you in previously drawing for that Sum: and be assured that the Bills which I provisionaly desired you to draw on me (or in...
321An Imaginary Speech, 7 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 7, 1775. Verner Crane argues that the grounds, set forth at length in his annotation, for attributing this speech to Franklin are not conclusive but are plausible. The letter certainly contains a number of Franklin’s favorite ideas and rhetorical devices; its theme, the defense of American provincial troops in particular and of American courage in...
322[Diary entry: 7 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
7. Colo. Harrison, Mr. Murdock & Mr. Rutherford went away after Breakfast.
323[Diary entry: 7 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
7. Cloudy & calm, & something like Snow in the forenoon. Afternoon clear & exceeding pleasant. Wind Southerly.
324From George Washington to Thomas Cresap, 7 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
The acting Executors of my Brother Augustine, have been lately informed that you have taken possession of the Land, belonging to his younger Son, above Fort Cumberland—that you have filled it with Tenants—receive rents—and, that the Land is in a fair way of being injured, to the great prejudice of the orphan. As they cannot conceive under what pretext this is done, they would fain hope that...
325To George Washington from William Crawford, 7 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Mr Cleveland was safe Delivered to me but I did not get the Letter, you mentiond by Mr Willis till yesterday. I was out Survaying when Mr Cleveland cam over the mountain and he set of hom as soon as I cam hom and Matters was Setled I have got a memorandom of what is wanting for your People Down the river and I shall have it ready against the time the com over the Mountain I...
326[Diary entry: 5–6 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
5. } They contd. here. 6.
The history of the Tories, begun in my last, will be interrupted for some time: but it shall be reassumed, and minutely related, in some future papers. Massachusettensis, who shall now be pursued, in his own serpentine path, in his first paper, complains, that the press is not free, that a party has gained the ascendency so far as to become the licencers of it; by playing off the resentment of...
328Credentials of the Massachusetts Delegates to the Continental Congress, 6 February 1775 (Adams Papers)
Resolved, that the Hon. John Hancock Hon. Thomas Cushing Esquires Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Pain Esquires appointed by the last provincial Congress “to represent this Colony on the 10th of May next or sooner if necessary, at the American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia” be and they hereby are, authorized and impowered “with the Delegates from the other American...
329John Fothergill to Lord Dartmouth, [6 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Papers of the Earl of Dartmouth deposited in the Staffordshire County Record Office; copy: Norfolk Record Office This letter is a companion piece to the extract from Barclay to Pemberton below, March 18; each is a requiem for the peace negotiations. The background of Fothergill’s was his meeting with Barclay and Franklin two days earlier to discuss the answers to the “Hints.” The...
330[Diary entry: 6 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
6. Very little wind, but lowg. & like for falling weather.
331To George Washington from George Mason, 6 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Friend Colo: Harrison (who is now at Yr House) promised to spend a Day or two with Me on his Way down. I beg the Favour of You to present my Compliments to Him; & excuse my being under the disagreeable Necessity of being from Home, until the latter End of this Week; when if He is not gone down, I shall be very glad to see Him here. Poor Mrs Eilbeck has had a Cancer on her Breast for several...
332To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 6 February 1775 (Washington Papers)
This Coms To acQuaint you of a Sceem That is Now in hand Which is Concerning a County Court Being Fixt Which I understand Mr Crisop has Set on Foot and a Number of people has Sind The paypers To Carrey it The court To Reed Stoon Foort Which I am informd is Mutch out of the Center and a Most Mountanies part insomuch That There Can Bee No hopes of any Land Carrages pasing and Repasing Moreover...
333From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia I received your Favour of Decr: 16. with the Bills Barclay & Mitchell on Harvey & Co: for sixty Pounds which is carried to your Credit. I am glad my little Services have been acceptable and every future Opportunity of continuing them will be a Pleasure to, Gentlemen, Your and the Company’s assured Friend, and most obedient Servant For Matthew...
334From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Moore, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Hospital I duly received your Favour of Dec. 7. with a Copy of the Resolution of the House appointing me Agent for the current Year; and the printed Votes. I am oblig’d by your Care in sending them so expeditiously. A Friend of mine, Lord Le Despencer, has lately erected at Wyecomb his fine Country Seat, a noble Statue of William Penn, our Founder; holding in its hand a...
335From Benjamin Franklin to the Speakers of the Colonial Assemblies: a Circular Letter from Franklin, William Bollan, and … (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress Our last Letter informed you, that the King had declared his Intention of laying the Petition before his two Houses of Parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each House, but undistinguished among a Variety of Letters and other Papers from America. A Motion made by Lord Chatham, to withdraw the Troops from Boston, as the first Step towards a conciliating Plan,...
336From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your Favours of Nov. 1. by Capt. Falconer, and afterwards that of Oct. 26. both inclosing the Letter from the Congress, and the Petition to the King. Immediately on Receipt of the first I wrote to every one of the other Gentlemen nominated, and desired a Meeting to consult on the Mode of presenting the Petition committed to our Care. Three of them,...
337[Diary entry: 5 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
5. Quite calm and Pleasant being warm.
338Answers to Franklin’s “Hints,” [before 4 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Copy (?) and copy: Library of Congress Barclay and Fothergill, after their long conference with Franklin on December 6, carried copies of his “Hints” to Lord Hyde and Lord Dartmouth respectively. For almost two months no word came from Whitehall, and the rejection of Chatham’s conciliatory plan by the House of Lords on February 1 persuaded Franklin that he would hear no more of negotiation. He...
339[Diary entry: 4 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
4. Mr. Calvert & the Gentlemen from Maryland went away after Breakfast. Colo. Nathl. Harrison & a Mr. Murdock came to Dinner. Mr. Murdock is possibly John Murdock (1733–1791), who inherited land in Frederick County, Md., and in the fall of 1774 was chosen a trustee of John Ballendine’s Potomac Navigation Company ( Va. Gaz. , 10 Nov. 1774).
340[Diary entry: 4 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
4. Pleasant & clear in the Morning, but lowering afterwards with some rain in the Evening & Night.