151Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 17 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
It will not be in my power to get Beaf. Bisquit I can procure, I shall prepaire a dinner here and stop all our Boston Friends with me, in order to save you as much trouble as I can. Cannot you get mourning clothes made at the drs Dr. Cotton Tufts . Sister Cranch sent for 15 yds possibly she may spair some. You had better take what black Gauze you want for the family at the drs. I think it...
152To Benjamin Franklin from James Bennet, 17 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society The Petition and Representation of James Bennet native of Philadelphia. Humbly Sheweth: That whereas in the month of January last past the Petitioner Shiped himself as Clk & Steward on Board a Scooner of Baltimore in Maryland bound wt. a Cargo of Tobaccoe to Gothenburgh in Swedland; But being intercepted in our course, had not the good fortune to Land our...
153To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 17 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You have above an extract of a letter from the Honble Mr. Jefferson, to me by which you will perceive that he wants one of your late invented Machines for Copying Writings, he desires me to write to England but if I am not much mistaken France is the place. You however will know where his order can be best executed, and give orders accordingly, shou’d it be...
154To Benjamin Franklin from Patrick Murphy et al., 17 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope Yr. Honr. will look into the Affair As Our Case is Verry hard at present and take it into Yr. Serious Considration As Wee Are Strangers here And Cant Get abirth too Any part Likewise to let Yr. Honr. know that Wee have Been in his Majesties Service All this War We Want to Go home Or To the West indies As Wee Are Determined Not to Go to England But...
155To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Blankets & Osnabrigs were sent to the Care of Mr Richardson by a waggon which was going there & the Expence very little more than the freight would have been by water & wt. less risque—they were arrived safe & delivered to Mr Lund Washington. The other Articles orderd by you will be most or all of them procured in time to send by a vessel which is here from Potomack & shall be directed to...
156To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Every publick acknowledgment of the essential Service, rendered our common Country by your Excellency during a doubtful War, has given me the most sensible Pleasure, and it has been among the gratifications of my Office, that its duties have priviledged my transmitting, the constant Sense Congress have maintained of your Excellency’s great Merit & good Conduct. I have now the additional...
157From George Washington to Henry Knox, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 3d & 10th inst., with the enclosed Returns, have been duly received. To prevent the trouble in Future of transmitting the particular Returns of each Corps, let the Fort Major or Adjutant, digest them into one General Return, as I only wish to have a view of the general strength & state of the Troops. As Congress have reassumed the consideration of a Peace Establishment,...
158To George Washington from Henry Knox, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency the last weekly returns of the troops. Since my last, I appointed a board to inspect the decrepid and infirm who were incapable of duty, which have reported sixty one to be discharged as unfit for service, one of them with a pension. I shall accordingly discharge them which I hope will have your Excellency’s approbation. We are busy in withdrawing...
159From David Cobb to Timothy Pickering, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two Letters & one to Colo. Humphrys, who is very sick at present with a fever; the business you requested of him, I have negociated with the General, who directs me to inform you, that he thinks Capt. Bushnell entitled to forrage for a horse since the period of Capt. Gillelands resignation—not however on the principle of his belonging to the Corps of Engineers, who are...
160To George Washington from Jean-Louis-Ambroise, chevalier de Villefranche de Genton, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your excellency, my observations while with genl baron de steubens; they are very Conteracted , and besides i cannot warant their exactness, owing to the general being in a very great haste, to get to Canada, we did not stop to any of those positions on lake champlain which it had been very interesting to examine; and I was not permitted to go on shore at l’isle aux...
161Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 18 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the Oppertunity by Mr. Guild, of informing You, that Mr. Adams was well the 27th. of July, and that by a Letter to the Minister of France of the 29th, the Dutch Negotiation with the British was finished, by which one great Obstacle to the definitive Treaty is removed. Inclosed is an Extract of an official Letter from Doctor F—to Mr. Livingston Secretary of foreign affairs dated July...
162To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 18 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
Je vous remercie de m’avoir mis à même de pouvoir répondre aux questions qu’on me fait sur votre retour ici; & je vous félicite de la nouvelle besogne dont vous êtes chargé. Quoiqu’elle doive être un peu longue, elle ne peut que vous être agréable par son importance, en occupant tout à la fois votre activité, votre intelligence & votre fermeté. Dans l’incertitude où vous êtes, Monsieur, si...
163To John Adams from John Thaxter, 18 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here this Morning at about eleven o. Clock, and to my great disappointment found the Packet Boat had sailed four hours before my Arrival— She had been detained two days for me, altho’ the Wind was very favorable. I am exceedingly chagrined & mortified, tho’ I have nothing to reproach myself with; & I flatter myself the Ministers for Peace will acquit me of having made any unnecessary...
164From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 18 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library M. du Trône, who will have the Honour of presenting you this Line, is recommended to me by very respectable Persons, as a young Gentleman of excellent Character, who goes to America with Views of residing there some Years, and practising Chemistry. I beg leave to recommend him to your Protection and good Counsels, and to those Civilities you delight in showing to...
165To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Chase, 18 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your letter of the 15th. of July last by Captain Barney, came to my Hands the 18th. of March, but I have never had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Jones, or Mr. Paradise. It was very unfortunate for Mr. Russell that your recommendation of him did not arrive sooner; the Character and Conduct of this Gentleman entitle him to every favour. His property was ordered...
166From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 18 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Resolve of Congress, enclosed in Your Excellency’s favor of Yesterday, for permitting me to have access to the Secret Papers of Congress, under the same injunctions as Members; is a high & honourable testimony of the confidence reposed in me by that Honble Body, and is only to be equalled by the polite, and flattering expressions with which you have accompanied it. I have the honor to be...
167From George Washington to Philip Strubing, 18 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
By his Excellency George Washington Esqr General and Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States. This Certifies that the Bearer Mr Strubing has served as a Lieutenant of Horse four years in the Army of the United States of America, in which character he has conducted himself as a faithful and deserving Officer. Given at Princeton this 18th day of September 1783. DLC : Papers of...
168From George Washington to Daniel Parker, 18 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to receive from Colo. Smith, Fifty Guineas which were left in his hands, for my use, by the Count Del Vermé; and apply them to my Credit in payment for the Pipe of Wine (which was to be sent to Virginia) with the other things—if they could be got, agreeably to my former letter of the 12th. You would do me a favor by requesting Mr Frauncis to enquire if a good Cook, German I...
169To George Washington from Daniel Parker, 18 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s favor of the 12th instant since which I have caused the Glasses to be procured by Mr Fraunces as per inclosed Bill—The two pipes of wine were shipt on board the ship Hunter for Alexandria together with some Goods belonging to your Excellency that were in the care of Capt. Pemberton—the whole are directed to the care of Mr George Gray Merchant in...
170To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 19 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Royal Mail Archive I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 22nd. past, and since that time a great deal of Sorrow has fallen to my Share by the unexpected Death of my beloved Nephew Mr. George Maddison, who is also an heavy loss to me and others in a public Capacity, and particularly as he was so well informed in the Negotiations going forward...
171From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 19 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The letter from General Duportail of which the enclosure No. 1 is a copy, was presented to me yesterday. I beg leave, agreeably to the wishes of these Gentlemen, to recommend their case to the immediate & serious consideration of Congress. I take the liberty also, of laying before Congress an extract of a Letter No. 2 from Majr Genl Knox, on the subject of Clothing for the Troops on the North...
172From George Washington to Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 19 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 16th inst., and this day have laid it before Congress, their determinations, which I hope will be speedy, & agreeable to your wishes, shall be transmitted to you as soon as they come to hand. I am Dr sir DLC : Papers of George Washington.
173Report on Memorial of Massachusetts General Court, [19 September] 1783 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 155–56). In a memorial of 11 July to Congress, the General Court of Massachusetts justified its refusal to sanction the impost proposed in the Plan for Restoring Public Credit by protesting against the high salaries paid to Congress’ too numerous civil officials and the full pay promised to officers of the continental army for five years. This latter was “more than...
174Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 19 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Yesterday’s post brought me none of your favors. I have nothing to communicate to you but that my advices from our north western frontiers tell me that if the Pennsylvanians continue their settlements on the other side of Ohio a general indian war is to be apprehended which...
175Saturday Septr. 20th. (Adams Papers)
The enthusiasm of the People of Paris for the flying Globes is very great, several Propositions have been made from Persons, who to enjoy the honour of having been the first Travellers through the air, are willing to go up in them and run ten risques to one of breaking their necks: one of the queerest propositions, is the following one taken from the Journal de Paris of Yesterday. Je partage...
176Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
Dearer if possible than ever; for all the parental props which once sustaind and supported me are fallen! My Father, my Father, where is he? With Humble confidence I can say; he is with the spirits of just Men made perfect, become an inhabitant of that Country, from whose Bourn no traveller returns. In my last Letter to you, I recollect to have particularly mentiond both our dear and venerable...
177To John Adams from Robert Morris, 20 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s favors of the fifth tenth and eleventh of July— I have taken the Liberty to make some Extracts from the two latter which are transmitted in a Letter to the Governor of Massachusetts Copy whereof is enclosed— Permit me Sir to give my feeble Approbation and Applause to those Sentiments of Wisdom and Integrity which are as happily expressed as they...
178John Thaxter, Jr., to the American Peace Commissioners, 20 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society I have the honour to acquaint you that I arrived here in the morning of the 18th Inst. and had the Mortification of finding that the Packet in which I was to have taken Passage for America had sailed four hours before my Arrival, after having been detained two Days for me— I was dispatched upon the Presumption that she was to sail...
179From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me your favor of the 17th. I am sorry Mr Morris did not pay the money at the time and in the manner I expected—Inclosed I send you Eight Hundred Dollars in Bank Notes, & will write to you more fully in a day or two; business prevents me from doing it at this moment. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
180To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 20 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
By the Bearer Capt. Pinkney I return the Glass which your Excellency was so obliging as to lend me at the end of the last Campaign I should have forwarded it before had I not expected to have had an opportunity of presenting it in person—I have been confined for six day’s past to my Room with a severe ague & fever which paid me a visit every day—the Bark has at last broke it but left me very...