81113th. (Adams Papers)
I found something to do, this forenoon, and have pass’d it with less tediousness, than any for several weeks. Went over to Weymouth and dined with Doctor Tufts. Conversed with him upon a variety of subjects. Came away just after Sunset: I found the two Miss Apthorp’s at my uncle’s and my Cousin return’d, when I got home. There was a bright northern light this evening.
812To Benjamin Franklin from the Vicomte de Rochambeau, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Vcte. De Rochambeau a deja eu l’honneur d’envoyer L’année passée a Monsieur Le Docteur franklin Le premier volume du traité sur Les bois. L’auteur vient de lui addresser Le premier cahier du Second volume en le priant d’en faire passer un exemplaire a Passy. Il est enchanté que cette occasion lui fournisse celle de Le rappeller a son souvenir et de...
813Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 12 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Letter was handed me, on my return from a journey into Devonshire. it was one of the most agreeable excursions I ever made. The Season was delightfull, and we performd our journey by easy Stages, always sure to find good accommodations at the Inn’s. The whole country through which we travelled was like a Garden, and the cultivation Scarcly admits of an other improvement; I wish I...
814From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 24 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 14th. and communicated it to Mr. Paradise, who desires me to observe that, after retaining a very moderate subsistence for himself and Mrs. Paradise (as that of £200 a year apeice which has been proposed) his first and ruling object is to pay his debts: that therefore instead of desiring a full third of all remittances from Virginia, including debts, he...
815To George Washington from Henry Knox, 2 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the house of representatives completed their number, and chose Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania Speaker and Mr Beckley of Virginia Clerk. The senate are still deficient one member. Mr Read of Delaware has been expected daily but he has not yet arrived. Mr Thomson will sett off to announce to the President the unanimous choice of the people of the United states as soon as...
816To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Every thing on this side the water seems to indicate a certainty of war. the Emperor seems decided in not receding from the right to navigate the Scheld; & the Dutch as determined not to yeild it. I suppose that this court & that of Berlin will take part with the Dutch, the Turks of course become parties in a war against the Emperor: & it seems as probable that the Empress of Russia will join...
817To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 23 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Hague, 23 Oct. 1787. Thanks TJ for his intercession with the ministers of The Netherlands and Prussia; hopes they will keep their promises and that his situation will be improved out of respect for the government he represents. His only crime is his support of the principles of civil liberty, having for twelve years furthered the friendship between The Netherlands and the United States;...
818From Thomas Jefferson to Amand Koenig, 20 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
N’ayant point de nouvelles des livres que vous avez eu la bonté de vous charger de m’expedier le 18me. du mois passé, et craignant qu’ils peuvent etre ecartés quelque part, je prends la liberté de vous demander un mot d’information s’ils sont deja expediés ou quand ils seront expediés de Strasbourg. J’ai l’honneur d’etre Monsieur votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur, PrC ( DLC ); at...
819From Thomas Jefferson to William Macarty, 7 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I took the liberty of troubling you when you were here with a pattern of my table-china. I now take that of sending you a list of the articles which I should be glad to have bought as nearly like the pattern as they can be found. Should you be able to find none but what is very different, preserving only the same colours I would wish to receive only half the quantity written for; but the whole...
820Power of Attorney to Francis Eppes and Nicholas Lewis, [9 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Know all men by these presents that I Thos. J. of Monticello in the County of Albemarle Virga. do by these presents constitute and appoint Fr. E. of Chesterfd. County and Nichs. Lewis of Albemarle county my attornies during my absence from the state of Virginia or until I shall otherwise revoke these presents giving them power, for me and on my behalf to sell or otherwise dispose of any part...
821To George Washington from George McCarmick, 30 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
I take Pleasure to wright to your Exallecy that you have Gaind all your land on millers Run—the persons who lives on the land are Determined to Go off amadetely. and will not lye—it wood be well a nuff not to Destress them any more—I do not think the land Can be Sold yet. money is So Scares here—Charles Morgan is to meet me On the land Next friday to Runrou[n]d it and mark the lines plane—if...
822To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania The renewal of our ancient correspondence and the receipt of your letters excited those sensations, which real friends feel on meeting unexpectedly after a long separation. As Mr Jefferson, who I hope is by this time safe arrived will explain matters to you and make you fully acquainted with the state of our...
823[Diary entry: 4 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 74 at Night. The appearances of rain yesterday afternoon fell very heavily about Ravensworth and that part of the County occasioning greater freshes in Accatinck, Pohick & Hunting C[ree]k than had been known for many years & it is thought a good deal of damage to the Crops of Corn & other grain on the grd. Rid to the Plantations in the...
824To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Price, 21 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with peculiar pleasure the favour of your letter by Dr. Bancroft, and I return you my best thanks for it. Your favourable reception of the pamphlet which I desired Dr. Franklin to present to you cannot but make me happy; and I am willing to infer from it that this effusion of my zeal will not be ill received in America. The eyes of the friends of liberty and humanity are now fixed...
825To George Washington from George Turner, 5 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
At the Request of the Cincinnati of South-Carolina, I have the honour to forward herewith, for the Favour of your Excellency’s Signature, an Hundred and two Diplomas. The Box containing them, encloses, also, a Return of the Members for whom they are intended: The additional Diplomas are meant for those who may chuse to have Duplicates; excepting one, which is designed for Lieutenant-Colonel...
82626th. (Adams Papers)
No person who has not experienced it can conceive how much pleasure there is in returning to our Country after an absence of 6 years especially when it was left at the time of life, that I did, when I went last to Europe. The most trifling objects now appear interesting to me: in the morning I went to see my uncle Smith, but he was not at home. I saw my aunt and Mr. Smith, who went with me to...
827[Diary entry: 29 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 29th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. The morning remarkably fine & pleasant, with little or no wind—the afternoon a little lowering and at Night it began a mizzling rain which encreased and continued raining all night. After breakfast the Gentlemen who came yesterday returned. In the afternoon Colo. Grayson & his Nephew Mr. Benjn. Orr, came in and stayed...
828To George Washington from Henry Vandenburgh, 3 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I take this opportunity previous to your excellencies leaving town to anounce my attachment to the military profession, which I have served in for upwards of seven years. Should a peace establishment take place and your excellency could see proper to Use your influence in my behalf—it should ever be acknowledge’d as a favour by your Excellencies most obedient and Very Hume Servant DLC : Papers...
829To George Washington from William Gordon, 28 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favours of the 8th inst. were recd on the Saturday. From them I infer not only the continuance of your friendly assistance, but that the papers are regularly received; as yet I have not missed sending, tho’ the post has at times been delayed thro’ the snows: The face of the earth is still covered with them, in these parts, a few trifling spots excepted; & should a thaw come on...
83019th. (Adams Papers)
Doctor Waterhouse gave, what he called his Valedictory Lecture containing a comparative view of Reason, and Instinct. I thought it an exceeding good one; and it pleased very generally. We had a meeting of the A B this Evening. Only four members attended. Three of them read their Pieces, I did not, on account of my speaking one next Monday; at one of the last meetings it was enacted, that one...
831From Thomas Jefferson to D’Yquem, 18 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
N’ayant pas l’honneur de vous etre connu, c’est à votre bonté qu’il me faut avoir recours pour excuser la liberté que je prenne de m’adresser à vous directement. J’aurai besoin des petits approvisionnements de vin blanc de Sauterne pour ma consommation annuelle pendant ma residence en France, et meme après ma retour en Amerique, quand cet evenement aura lieu. Je sçai que la votre est des...
832[Diary entry: 30 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 30th. Thermometer at 57 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 62 at Night. Clear all day with the wind at No. Wt. in the morning & Southerly afterwards.
833From John Adams to John Jay, 26 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Envoy from Portugal, has received from his Court an Answer to his Dispatches relative to the Treaty with the United States, and the enclosed Extract from it, which has been delayed sometime by the Sickness of the Chevalier de Freire, the Portuguese Secretary of Legation, this Minister did me the Honour to deliver to me two days ago, with his request that it might be transmitted to...
834[From Thomas Jefferson to the Rev. James Madison, 11 November 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 Nov. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Madison of College. Send him report on Animal magnetism. Roberts, Conn. des tems 85. and 2 doz. Phosph. matches. New windmill—Hydraulic rope—Abbé Rochon’s lenses of double focus. War in Eur. Address.” Not found.]
835From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 January 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Henry Knox, 25 Jan. 1787. On 8 Feb. Knox wrote GW : “I have received your favor of the 25 Jany.”
836To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a copy of the journals so far as they are printed. They contain nothing you will find respecting the requisition nor the commercial interests of the Union. The former upon the report of a committee hath been frequently before Congress of late and as often recommitted, in which state it now lies. As the principal part of the debt which in other States forms a part of the present...
837To Benjamin Franklin from Maximilien de Robespierre, 1 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Une sentence de proscription rendue par les échevins de st. omer contre Les conducteurs électriques m’a présenté l’occasion de plaider au conseil d’artois la cause d’une découverte sublime, dont le genre humain vous est redevable. Le desir de contribuer a déraciner les préjugés qui s’opposoient à ses progrès dans notre province m’a porté à faire...
838From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Williamos, 7 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter will inform you how much reason I have to be dissatisfied with the liberty you have taken with my name. Did the humiliating light in which you have represented me concern me as an individual only, I should be disposed to neglect it, and to spare myself the pain of the present letter. But in my present situation my conduct and character is interesting to the nation whose...
839John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The time of M rs— A s. departure draws so near, & the Conveyance is so unexceptionable, that I can hardly be excused from forwarding a few Lines.— I wish it was in my power to write you a particular state of our public Affairs; but my life for six months past has been so recluse, and I have seen so few Persons from whom certain Information could be obtained, that you must not expect any very...
840From George Washington to Chastellux, 16 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
Mr Pinkney will do me the favor of presenting this letter to you —He is a Gentleman of fortune, family & character in South Carolina—A member of Congress, and delegate to the Fœderal Convention, now sitting in this City. As he proposes to visit your Country I take this liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance and attentions—and this I do with pleasure⟨.⟩ I persuade myself that you will...