191From Benjamin Franklin to James Alexander and Cadwallader Colden with Short Hints towards a Scheme for Uniting the … (Franklin Papers)
Copy: New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress The Pennsylvania commissioners to the Albany Congress left Philadelphia on Monday morning, June 3, and arrived at New York on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 5th. Some of them, especially Richard Peters, were active during the next three days buying various goods for the Pennsylvania present to the Indians, apparently...
192Montagu Wilmot to Alexander McNutt and Associates: Two Land Grants, 31 October 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Department of Lands and Forests, Halifax, Nova Scotia In the spring of 1764 Franklin’s English friend Richard Jackson aroused his interest in the possibility of acquiring land in Nova Scotia as a speculative investment and in the settlement of people from other colonies on it; above, XI , 186–7, 358–9. At about the same time or perhaps somewhat earlier, Alexander McNutt, an optimistic...
193From Benjamin Franklin to William Alexander, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress On my Return to Town I found your Favour, with the Schemes of your Lottery, to which I wish Success, and besides ordering some Tickets for my self, I have spoken well of it on every Occasion; but I find little Inclination among my Acquaintance to engage in Lotteries at such a Distance, and one cannot be very open in promoting them, it being contrary...
194Four Letters of Introduction for Joseph Priestley, 20–21 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (drafts): Library of Congress In late August Joseph Priestley left with his patron, Lord Shelburne, for a Continental tour. It included the Low Countries and the Rhineland and ended in October in Paris, where Priestley demonstrated some of his experiments with gases and discussed them with Lavoisier in the first meeting between those two giants of chemistry. Franklin gave Priestley...
195Samuel Chandler to James Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin Franklin, Conrad Weiser, and William Smith … (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Horace W. Smith, Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith, D.D. (Philadelphia, 1880), I , 40–2. William Smith delivered this letter to Governor Hamilton a few days after he returned from England on May 22. Hamilton communicated it at once to the others named in it. Franklin, Peters, and Weiser were about to set out to Albany, so no meeting could be held...
196Presentment of the Philadelphia Grand Jury, 3 January 1745 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania To the Worshipful the Mayor, the Recorder and the rest of the Justices of the City of Philadelphia. The Grand Jury of the said City, met at the present Sessions, do, in Compliance with the Direction of the Court, [make] the following particular Presentments of unlawful Bakehouses, Coopers Shops, Disorderly Houses, &c. but believing from the Reprimand...
197From Benjamin Franklin to John Alleyne, 9 August 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society This well known letter was apparently first published in The Gentleman’s Magazine , LIX (1789), 384–5; the printed version differs substantially from the draft in only a few passages, noted below. Little is known about John Alleyne: he was the son of Thomas Alleyne of Queen Street, Westminster, was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1767, married Nancy...
198From Benjamin Franklin to John Alleyne, 15 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; printed in John Alleyne, The Legal Degrees of Marriage Stated and Considered, in a Series of Letters to a Friend (2nd ed., London, 1775), appendix, pp. 1–2. I have never heard upon what Principles of Policy the Law was made prohibiting the Marriage of a Man with his former Wife’s Sister, nor have I ever been able to conjecture any political...
199From Benjamin Franklin to John Almon, 7 November 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Harvard University Library Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Almon, and sends him a M.S. which he has perus’d and thinks well written so as probably to be acceptable to the Publick at this time. If Mr. Almon should be of the same Opinion, it is at his Service. Addressed: Mr Almon This note and the one from Almon below, Dec. 6, are the only extant communications between BF and...
200From George Washington to John Alton, 5 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
I have sent Miles on to day, to let you know that I expect to be up to Morrow, & to get the key from Colo. Fairfax’s which I desire you will take care of—You must have the House very well cleand, & were you to make Fires in the Rooms below it, wd Air them—You must get two of the best Bedsteads put up—one in the Hall Room, and the other in the little dining Room that use to be, & have Beds made...
201From Benjamin Franklin to a Member of the Royal Society, 26 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Council of the Royal Society having put Sir John Pringle, Bart. in nomination for President; and being myself persuaded from what I know of his Learning in general, his thorough Acquaintance with Experimental Philosophy, his constant Attendance at our Meetings, and his extensive Reputation in the Republick of Letters throughout Europe, that he would...
202Timothy Folger: Petition to Sir Jeffery Amherst, [1763] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The end of the war with France aroused great interest in possible new settlements not only in the West but also in the region to the northeast, particularly in Nova Scotia and the Island of St. John in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, now Prince Edward Island. It was natural that these maritime lands should seem especially attractive to the people of southeastern...
203From George Washington to Edward Anderson, 10 September 1773 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th of last Month came to my hands a few days ago. you will be pleas’d Sir, for the justification of Colo. Colvills Exrs, to have the Powr of Attorney sent you by the Guardian of Miss Harriot Rebecca Anderson recorded in the Court of this County (Fairfax) after which the Money shall be paid to you or your Order. This step we are told, is essential to our justification, and...
204From Benjamin Franklin to John Antill, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society Before I had an Opportunity of answering your Letter, I was displac’d from my Office, which puts it out of my Power to do you any Service in what you propose, and makes a more particular Answer unnecessary. I will however speak with Mr. Potts concerning his Letter, and acquaint you with the Result. Present my Best Respects to Mr. and Mrs....
205William Whately’s Chancery Suit against Franklin: I. The Bill in Equity, 7 January 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Summary of DS in the Public Record Office; copy: State House, Boston Franklin considered this suit as a stab in the back. He believed that it was the consequence of his revealing his part in the affair of the Hutchinson letters, which he had done in order to end the quarrel between John Temple and William Whately and which should have earned him the gratitude of both. Whately was further in...
206From George Washington to John Armstrong, 20 March 1770 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favour of the 24th of Jany came to my hands sometime after the date thereof; & to which, I shoud have given an immediate answer, but was in hopes that by delaying of it a while, to have said something more to the purpose than I am like to do at present, in respect to the matter you did me the honour of mentioning, in behalf of yr Son. At this time, I do not know one good opening...
207From George Washington to John Armstrong, 21 September 1767 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of seeing you at the Warm springs I have been informd that much of the Land upon Yaughyaughgany and Monongahela which was formerly conceivd to lye within the limits of Virginia and on which many of our People have settled are take⟨n⟩ into Pensylvania by the establishd Line now running between that Provence & Maryland & that Grants may at any time be obtaind from the...
208From George Washington to John Armstrong, 18 August 1769 (Washington Papers)
About a fortnight ago I came to this place with Mrs Washington and her daughter, the latter of whom being troubled with a complaint, which the efficacy of these Waters it is thought might remove, we resolvd to try them, but have found little benefit as yet from the experiment; what a Week or two more may do, we know not, & therefore are inclind to put them to the Test. it was with much...
209From George Washington to John Armstrong, 28 September 1773 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Armstrong, 28 Sept. 1773. On 24 Dec. Armstrong wrote GW : “Your favours of the 28th Sepr from Annapolis . . . I now most gratefully acknowledge.”
210From George Washington to John Armstrong, 10 October 1773 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return home from the Annapolis Races (from whence I wrote you, committing the Letter to the care of Captn McGachen of Baltimore Town, who assured me it should be forwarded the Week after) I receivd a Letter from Lord Dunmore our Governor, containing the following Paragraph, which I inclose for your information, agreeable to my promise. I last Post receiv’d yours of the 12th Instt (that...
211From George Washington to John Armstrong, 24 August 1769 (Washington Papers)
With particular pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of your favour by Mr Fulton —it affords me a fresh Instance of your friendly regard, for which I shall always retain a lively remembrance—The Letters you speak of as wrote to me by way of Winchester &ca never came to hand; from Captn Crawford it was, that I receivd the Acct of your obliging Letter to Mr Tilghman, and of the good effect it was...
212From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Ashburner, 20 November 1771 (Hamilton Papers)
Above is triplicate of mine to you ⅌ Capt Henton to which have receivd no answer. I have now to beg the favour of you to pay Mess[rs.] Fraser Grant & Baillie of St Christophers on Mr Crugers Account as soon as convenient £13.4.10 Windward Currency for which Mr. Thomas shall have Credit. I am Sir Your Respectful hum Serv LC , in writing of H, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In the MS of...
213From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Ashburner, 21 January 1772 (Hamilton Papers)
I receivd yours Dated Decemr. 10th in due time & observe what you say. I am much obligd to you for your promise to pay Messrs. Grant & Baillie the small sum I owe them and must beg if it is not done before this reaches you, you’ll immediately do it as I wish to have the matter settled. Also please to let me know if I must Credit you or Mr. Thomas for whats paid. I am Sir Your very Hum Servt...
214From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Ashburner, [28 October 1771] (Hamilton Papers)
[ St. Croix, October 28, 1771 . On November 20, 1771, Hamilton wrote to Ashburner: “I wrote you the 28th of last Month.” He then crossed out this sentence and substituted: “Above is triplicate of mine to you.” Letter not found .] Merchant of St. Eustatius. See letters to Thomas Ashburner, April 28, May 13, 1772, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
215From George Washington to John Ashby, 23 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Orders to Captain John Ashby, of a Company of Rangers. You are hereby Ordered, to Repair here to-morrow morning with the Men of your Company, to assist Escorting the Waggon, &c. to Fort Cumberland. The remainder of the men under command of your Lieutenant, are to march to the Plantation of Cellars and there remain until further Orders. While they remain there, he is to send out frequent...
216From George Washington to John Ashby, 14 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Orders for Captain John Ashby, of a Company of Rangers. It is my express Orders, that you do not presume to March your Company down on any pretence whatsoever, unless compelled by the Enemy. Clothes will be sent up immediately to you, which you may distribute to the most needy of your Company; and money I shall bring up to pay them off, if wanted. Given under my hand, at Winchester, October...
217From George Washington to William Cocks and John Ashby, 27 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered, to remain with your Companies at George Parkers’ Plantation, where you are to erect a Stockade Fort; in building of which, you are to follow Lieutenant Bacons Instructions; he being sent to direct and plan the same. As this is intended for the protection of the Country People, there is no doubt but they will assist all in their power, especially in providing Tools...
218From George Washington to John Ashby, 28 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I am very much surprized to hear of the great irregularities which were allowed of in your camp. The Rum, although sold by Joseph Coombs, I am credibly informed, is your property. There are continual complaints to me of the misbehaviour of your Wife; who I am told sows sedition among the men, and is chief of every mutiny. If she is not immediately sent from the camp, or I hear any more...
219From George Washington to William Cocks and John Ashby, 10 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
In the summer of 1755, during Braddock’s expedition and after his defeat, Governor Dinwiddie issued a number of commissions for raising companies of rangers to patrol the Virginia frontier and offer some protection to its inhabitants. The ranger companies came under the command of GW in early September when he became colonel of the newly formed Virginia Regiment. These companies were never a...
220From George Washington to John Ashby, 29 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
As I am informed of several Soldiers having deserted your Company. You are hereby ordered to pursue them with all possible dispatch; and use your utmost endeavours to apprehend and secure them. Given &c. at Winchester 29th December, 1755. LB , DLC:GW .