241From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 September 1784 (Madison Papers)
I arrived at this place the night before last only, having declined starting from Fredg. at the time I proposed when I parted with you & having staid at Baltimore one day. At the latter place I fell in with the Marquis & had his company thus far. He is proceeding Northwd. as far as Boston from whence he goes to the Indian Treaty at Fort Stanwix & from thence returns to Virga. about the same...
242Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We postponed to answer the honour of your Excellency’s favour of 5 febr, in hope to be able to mention Something definitif to you, but it would be disagreable to you to enumerate the objections and difficulties, since hitherto we have not yet the answers of all the undertakers, whilst we are continually Endeavouring to Settle the matter, of wh ch. the Success is yet too incertain, to give your...
243To George Washington from George Martin, 15 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
With the purest Sentiments of Esteem and respect I took the earliest Opportunity of acknowledging the Honor of your Letter by the hands of My Nephew Mr Geo: Martin who was preparing to embark for Virginia from England, but I since find that unexpected Occurrences have detain’d him so long that it is more than probable this Letter will reach your hands before he can present his—give me leave...
244To Thomas Jefferson from Hogguer, Grand & Cie., 5 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Nous avons l’honneur de vous prévenir que, malgré l’espoir dont vous nous avéz favorisés par vôtre lettre du 27. Xe., Messrs. Willinck & Van Staphorst se refusent encore à nous remettre les fonds des ƒ51,000, que nous avons à rembourser pour le congrés; déjà plusieurs Porteurs se sont presentés, et nous avons calmé leur mécontentement en les invitant à revenir sous une 15ne. de jours....
245From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 24 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I this day received your Favour of April 8 th , and Sincerely condole with you under the Loss of your amiable son. These Afflictions are the Lot of Humanity and so little of the System of which We are a Part is Submitted to our View, that as We never can discover the Reasons of them, they are left only to our Reflections and Submission. My Situation, would be eligible, to the Heighth of my...
246From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 13 January 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you the 11th. of November. Since that I have received no proposition on the subject of the quill of the harpsichord. The artisans here will not readily beleive that any thing good can be invented but in London or Paris: and to shew them the invention would be to give it up. However I shall still endeavor to find some one who will do justice to it. War and peace hang in doubtful...
247From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 29 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been in hopes of being able to answer sooner yours of the 17th. but am at last inform’d that tho’ M. D’Ogny is come to Town, he can enter into no Agreement till he has receiv’d his Instructions, which he cannot have till after the Return of the Court from Fontainbleau to Versailles. So I can only say at present, that the Reasonings in...
248New York Assembly. Remarks on the Quotas to be Assigned the Several Counties of New York, [22 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton did not suppose that any arguments would have much influence on the decision of this question. There is no criterion to go by and we fall into the greatest uncertainty—a gentleman has told us plainly, that he has been intriguing, and making the best bargain he could for his county. He would not say that New-York had made any conditions—he hoped that the intrigues might not have...
249John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 18 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I received this afternoon your No. 11 and I never received a letter which caused such a variety of sensations. I will only say, that I received the profile with pleasure, and the person for whom it was taken will for the future be very dear to me. It is very disagreeable to be continually making apologies for having nothing to write; but it is really so, I am more than ever out of a situation...
250[Diary entry: 9 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 9th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 74 at Night. Having provided a light & convenient Boat—hired two hands to work her and laid in some Stores, Colonels Fitzgerald & Gilpin, and myself embarked in it, leaving Mr. Rumsey to engage more hds. & to set those he had to work about 6 Oclock P.M. In this Boat we passed through the Spout, and all the other Falls and rapids, and...