81To John Adams from Edward Hill, 4 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a fortnight ago by Mr. Sullivan, since which almost every day has produced some new matter of joy to the friends of Liberty. The proceedings of the people at Salem Cambridge and other places —the resignation of many of the new Councillors—the behaviour of both juries at the Superior Court held here the last week; are some of the most important. I had proposed to send you a very...
82From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 30 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (Paris, 1773), p. 314. Cette lettre vous sera remise par le Docteur Lettsom, jeune Médecin Amériquain de beaucoup de mérite, qui est de la paisible secte des Trembleurs, et que vous regarderiez conséquemment au moins comme une rareté à contempler, quand même vous auriez épousé toutes les préventions de la plupart de vos...
83To George Washington from Robert Adam, 7 January 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours and have given particular Attention to the Contents, it gives me some relief, when you say you are not, nor has been prejudiced with me. Concious I am, that to my knowledge I never did any thing to merite it. If I have not been so fortunate for some time past as I had a reasonable prosspect of my endeavours has in no respect been the Less I am Subjected to good & bad...
84[Diary entry: 28 July 1772] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear, Calm, and exceeding Hot.
85[Diary entry: 17 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
17. Very pleasant Morning, but Cloudy & blustering afterwards.
86From George Washington to John Stanwix, 10 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To Brigadier-General Stanwix Dear Sir, Ft L[oudoun] April 10th 1758. Pe[r]mit me, at the same time I congratulate you (which I most sincerely do) upon the promotion you have met with, and justly merited; to express my Concern at the prospect of parting with you. I can truly say, it is a matter of no small regret to me! and that I shou’d have thought myself happy in serving this campaign under...
87[Diary entry: 25 October 1772] (Washington Papers)
25. Assisting Crawford with his Surveys. William Crawford had returned from the Ohio country with 13 surveys totaling 127,899 acres out of the 200,000 acres of bounty land promised in 1754 by Governor Dinwiddie to soldiers and officers of the Virginia Regiment. Crawford and GW were now preparing to enter the surveys and have patents issued to the various officers and men, or to their survivors...
88From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 10 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are, out of the public money in your hands, to pay off all the Troops of the Virginia Regiment to the first of this instant with what arrears are due both Officers and Soldiers. After doing that, if you do not receive a supply of cash from me; and should not have sufficient in your hands to pay the whole, this present months pay; you are, in order to keep the Soldiers quiet, only to pay...
89To George Washington from William Fairfax, 13–14 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I had the Pleasure to receive Yrs of the 11th inst. by Bryan Fx who I find is so well pleasd with the little military Atchievement He has experienct, that He is desirous of pursuing that Life. I have accordingly encouragd Him and to hope that You have Affection enough to give Him a Lieutenancy as no doubt there are some Vacancys and I heard the Governor tell one Matthew Bowyer (who applied for...
Gridley. Marriage is of the Law of Nations. Justinian extends it, even to the Brutes. The Court adjudgd at Worcester that a Married Woman could not call herself Spinster. Writ not abated. Kent. I shall not enter into the Right of some Men to enslave others. This Right in some Places seems established. Not indeed a Right to Life, tho this is assumed in West Indies to the shame of human Nature....
91[Diary entry: 12 September 1773] (Washington Papers)
12. Very Warm without any Wind all day.
92Cash Accounts, June 1768 (Washington Papers)
Cash June 1— To Ditto [cash] of Henry Taylor £ 0. 2.6 To Weaving of Jno. Elliot 15 yds cotton birdeye 0.18.9 To Cash of Mr Wm Triplet for Weavg 1. 6.0 20— To Ditto of Gilbt Simpson on Acct of Rent 2. 8.0 23— To Ditto for 7 M Shingles 6. 2.6 Contra June 2— By Mr [John] Stedlar for Mastr & Miss Custis 10.16.0
93From George Washington to Henry Bouquet, 25 July 1758 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by Colo. Stephen, since which I have been favourd with your kind and agreable Letter of Yesterday. We have advice that our Second Convoy of Seventy odd Waggons (contents you were informd of in my last) will be at the South Branch to day, where I expect they will be joind by some Waggons with Forage—the number I cant ascertain—and all proceed to this place immediately. On Friday I...
94[Diary entry: 8 January 1772] (Washington Papers)
8th. Engaged to advance by, or at the April General Court for the use of Mr. Bryan Fairfax £150, or thereabouts, to discharge the Balle. of his Bond to Doctr. Savage. Also promised, if I could, to take up a Bill of Excha. of about £160 Sterg. with Int[eres]t thereon at the same time; In consideration of which I am to have the liberty of taking any of the Tracts of which he has given me a...
95Orderly Book, 10 November 1758 (Washington Papers)
Loyall Hannon Friday Novr 10th 1758 Parole King George Field Officer for to morrow Majr Peachy. Adjutant for to morrow 1st V. Regiment. A General Court Martiall to sit Consisting of 1 Lt Colo. 2 Majors & 10 Captains to sit to morrow morning at 9 OClock at the Presidents Tents. All the Evidences to Attend. Capt. McKenzie of the H. B. Judge advocate. Lt Colo. Lloyd President. It is General...
96[Shavers and Trimmers; and To the Publick, 23 and 30 June 1743] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 23 and 30, 1743. The first of these pieces, to which Smyth gave the title “Shavers and Trimmers” when he reprinted both ( Writings , ii , 232–6), appeared in the Gazette , June 23, 1743. It was inspired by a barber’s advertising the week before that he intended to give up shaving and trimming to confine himself to wigmaking. The essay is a...
97[Diary entry: 28 January 1769] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear & cool forenoon. Wind at No. West. Cloudy & threatning afternoon.
98[Diary entry: 30 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
30. Mr. & Mrs. Cockburn went away. My Miller & his wife and Mr. Ball dind here. GW’s miller was William Roberts, a Pennsylvanian who had signed articles of agreement with Lund Washington 13 Oct. 1770 engaging himself to run the new mill at Mount Vernon for £80 a year plus the privilege of feeding a cow and raising domestic fowl at GW’s expense ( DLC:GW ). Roberts was highly skilled in the...
99From George Washington to Thomas Waggener, 12 August 1756 (Washington Papers)
I received yours by Express—and concur in sentiments with the officers of your council: Save that I would have a Subaltern and twenty or twenty-five men sent to the upper Tract, to assist the Settlers in erecting a Fort[.] In this I presume they will give all imaginable assistance; as it is solely intended to promote their safety. If Captain Field’s militia will remain contented, it is...
100To James Madison from William Bradford, 4 April 1775 (Madison Papers)
Though the business that at present surrounds me on every side, makes writing inconvenient, yet I cannot let Mr. Hoops return without a few Lines to one I value so much. [Mr Dunlap’s paper &c] I send with this Furguson which I could not get for less than 12/ tho’ you will perceive it is somewhat soil’d. I also send the friendly address &c. & The other side of the Question. I dare not add more...
1011771. Saturday June 1st. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Day at Worcester in Riding about with Mr. Putnam to see his Farm. He does what he pleases with Meadows and Rivers of Water. He carries round the Streams wherever he pleases. Took one Ride up to Baggachoag Hill, one Way, and another up the Lane by Doolittles shop, and I found that great Alterations have been made, and many Improvements, in 13 Years, for it is so long since I was in...
102[Diary entry: 25 April 1769] (Washington Papers)
25. At home all day alone. The above two Gentlemen went away yesterday afternn.
103From George Washington to John Carlyle, 15 August 1770 (Washington Papers)
I laid your letter of the 26th Ulto (to me) before the Officers who met at Fredericksburg the first Inst.; but as they were unacquainted with the nature of your pretensions to a share of the 200,000 acres of Land granted in 1754 they did not choose to saddle you with any part of the expence, not conceiving that your commission as Commissary (if it is under that you claim) entitles you to any...
104To Benjamin Franklin from Nathaniel Falconer, 3 July 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is to acquaint you of my arrival after a Passage of five weeks and 3 Days. I left Mrs. Franklin and Mrs. Beech [Bache] well the 21st. of May and also the Governor having heard from him the Day before I saild. I have not sent your Letters at home by the Post. But shall waite on you with them as soon as I get up to London please to make my best...
105To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 2 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society I should have acknowleged your favour of the 1st of January sooner if you had not at the same time told me that you was to be from home for some time after the writing of it and I had my thoughts engaged in a chain of thinking that I was unwilling to interrupt as that season was the only time of the year in which I could hope to pursue it without...
106[Diary entry: 12 March 1770] (Washington Papers)
12. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run and the Mill.
107From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 February 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library Enclos’d is a second Bill for £19 7 s. 1½ d. Sterling. The first I sent you some time since. Mr. Hall will write, tho’ neither of us have much Time, the Vessel hurrying away for fear of the Ice. I shall soon send you more Bills. With my best Respects to Mrs. Strahan, in which my Dame joins, and hearty Wishes for the Welfare of you and yours, I am, Dear Sir, Your...
108[Diary entry: 15 October 1772] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear, Calm & pleasant with but little Wind.
109To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Percival, 16 May 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Though I have not the honour of being known to you, I take the liberty of requesting your acceptance of the inclosed Attempt to account for the different quantities of rain, which fall at different heights, and shall esteem myself happy if it meet with your approbation. I am conscious that my solution of this Phaenomenon is liable to many exceptions, and...
110Ebenezer Kinnersley to [William Smith], 30 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 30, 1758. William Smith, provost of the College and Academy of Philadelphia, wrote an account of the institution which appeared at the end of November 1758 in a publication of which he was the principal editor, The American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies , I (1757–58), Supplement, 630–40. In describing the members of the...
111Observations [May 1768] (Washington Papers)
May 2d. My Carpenters & House People went to Planting Corn at Doeg Run after they had finishd fishing. 3. The hound bitch Mopsey brought 8 Puppys, distinguishd by the following Names—viz.—Tarter—Jupiter—Trueman—& Tipler (being Dogs)—and Truelove, Juno, Dutchess, & Lady being the Bitches—in all eight. 23. My Carpenters & House People went to Work at my Mill repairing the Dams—hightening of...
112[Diary entry: 27 July 1770] (Washington Papers)
27. Clear and warm with but little Wind—that Northwardly.
113November 5th. 1762. (Adams Papers)
The Cause of Jeffries Town Treasurer of Boston and Sewal and Edwards and several others being suits for the Penalties arising by the Law of the Province for building and covering those Building s not with slate nor Tile but with shingles. Mr. Gridley made a Motion that those Actions should be dismissed because the Judges were all Interested in the Event of them. Two of the Judges vizt. Wells...
114[Diary entry: 22 October 1770] (Washington Papers)
22. Reachd the Mingo Town abt. 29 Miles by my Computation. Mingo Town (now Mingo Junction, Ohio) was an Indian village several miles below Steubenville, Ohio. “This was the only Indian village in 1766 on the banks of the Ohio from that place to Fort Pitt; it contained at that time 60 families” ( cramer Zadok Cramer. The Navigator: Containing Directions for Navigating the Monongahela,...
115[Diary entry: 21 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
21. Lowering Morning with a little Rain—but clear afterwards & windy.
116From George Washington to Thomas Gage, 12 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The Honble Thomas Gage Dear Sir, Ft Loudoun, 12th Aprl 1758. With a great deal of sincerity I thank you, for the notice you have been pleased to take of Mr Hall. And, if possible, I more sincerely congratulate you upon the promotion you have justly met with, yourself. I wou’d now, altho’ I think modesty will scarcely permit me to ask it, beg the favour of you to mention me to Genl Forbes...
117[Diary entry: 15 April 1769] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear & pleasant Morning but raining afternoon. Clear & cool Evening. Wind at No. West.
118Josiah Quincy’s Argument for the Defense: 3 December 1770 (Adams Papers)
Monday 3 December , NINE o’ Clock, the Court met according to adjournment, and proceeded. May it please your Honours, and you Gentlemen of the Jury, We have at length gone through the evidence in behalf of the prisoners. The witnesses have now placed before you, that state of facts, from which results our defence. The examination has been so lengthy, that I am afraid some painful sensations...
119From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 13 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
Majr Lewis being at Winchester when your Letter came to hand was immediately dispatchd to Augusta to take upon him the command of the Troops destin’d against the Shawnesse Town with orders to follow such directions as he shoud receive from you. this scheme thô I am apprehensive will prove abortive as we are told that those Indians are removd up the River—into the Neighbourhood of Du-quisne. I...
120[Diary entry: 27 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
27. Mrs. Craik went away after Breakfast—the Doctr. coming for her.
121From Benjamin Franklin to William Robertson, 4 March 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library I rejoice to hear by my friend Mr. Strahan that you continue in Health and are now at the Head of the Edinburgh University. Before I leave Britain again I Promise myself the Happiness of once more seeing you and my other Friends in Scotland, having always retained a pleasing Remembrance of the time I spent in that Country, the ingenious and instructive...
122Preface to Cato’s Moral Distichs, [18 December 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Cato’s Moral Distichs Englished in Couplets. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, 1735. Pp. iii–iv. (Yale University Library) The Printer to the Reader . The Manuscript Copy of this Translation of Cato’s Moral Distichs , happened into my Hands some Time since, and being my self extreamly pleased with it, I thought it might be no less acceptable to the Publick; and therefore...
123[Diary entry: 8 August 1772] (Washington Papers)
8. Ditto—Ditto.
124[Diary entry: 2 March 1770] (Washington Papers)
2. Cloudy with a Mixture of Hail Rain & Snow, but not much of it.
125To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 16 June 1768 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I have already return’d an Ansr to yr obliging Letter of the 30th ult: by a Servt of The Revd Mr Addison’s who went from hence a Day or two ago, yet as You seem’d desirous to hear from Me as soon as possible, & as Collo. Lewis now informs Me that He can furnish Me wth an Oppty directly to your House, I am desirous to convince You, that I have not been inattentive to the Matter of yr...
126[Diary entry: 13 October 1772] (Washington Papers)
13. Also finishd Do. in the Neck.
127To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 25 July 1758 (Washington Papers)
From the bottom of a heart that overflows with Joy I beg leave to offer my Congratulations on your happy Election! doubly so in it’s manner, which considering the vast majority of votes, your absence and your having so long Commanded the whole of that Country in the worst of times, must greatly redound to your honour; and in all human probability will be thrice happy in it’s consequences....
128To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [October 1767–1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Strahan presents his best Compliments to Dr. Franklin—hears by his Daughter that he is going into the Country tomorrow, and therefore would be glad to see him tonight if he is disengaged. If the Dr. is not going abroad; will call on him about 8. If he is, will be glad that he would call in New Street. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / Craven Street There is...
129To Benjamin Franklin from John Perkins, February 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AD : American Philosophical Society I send you inclosed a Short account of a Me[teor?]. You have on many accounts a Right to every new Th[ing?] in natural Phylosophy. I leave it to your [Resolu?]tion whether there be any Thing in my Notion of [ torn ] phenomena as I value your Thoughts upon every Thing. And tho’ ever so Short, Yet Sir Your very much ob[liged] and humble [Servant]...
130From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Étienne Bertier, 31 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society With cordial Thanks for your many Civilities to me when in Paris, I take this Opportunity of acquainting you, that your Certificate has been received by the Royal Society, and ordered to be hung up the usual Time which is Ten Meetings; but it was observed to be deficient in not mentioning your Christian Name, without which it is not reckon’d regular. I...