5161To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Haddaway, 29 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Havre, 29 Jan. 1787. With “these few illiterate Lines” he is compelled by necessity to ask TJ’s assistance in getting to America. Was mate on the brig Sally , Shuball Coffin, master, from Nantucket. Is willing to work his passage across, but has been told “to procure an order from you.” Is a native of Boston. Assures TJ that he will “ever while Life Be ready and Willing to Compensate … for...
5162New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [27 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton observed they were going on dangerous ground. The best rule the committee could follow was that held out in the constitution; which it would be safest to adhere to without alteration or addition. If we once depart from this rule, there is no saying where it will end. To-day, a majority of the persons sitting here from a particular mode of thinking disqualify one description of...
5163Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 12 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you last Week by Capt Lyde, expecting that He would have sailed the next Day. I find that He is still here And as Mr. Jenks the Bearer hereof, is going in his Vessell I am loth to omit the favourable opportunity of writing by Him. I propose to send by Him Our December Magazine, in which you will find a succinct Accountt of the Proceedings of the Genl Court in their last Session and...
51644th. (Adams Papers)
Blackstone still furnishes me with employment for my forenoon hours; and I this day took up the fourth volume of Hume’s History, which I was reading when I last went from here. This author’s manifest partiality in favour of the Stuarts, his unceasing labours to palliate their faults, and his blindness to their crimes, must be overlook’d or forgiven in favor of the great entertainment which he...
5165Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 3 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
A Copy of the inclosed resolution was formerly sent to you. No answer now appearing on our files, we take the liberty of transmitting a second copy, and requesting, that the decision of Congress, if already made may be notified to us, & that if your body has not yet decided, something definitive may be immediately urged: The subject is rendered more pressing by the situation of our accounts...
5166From Thomas Jefferson to Stael de Holstein, 12 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your Excellency’s desire I will throw on paper such considerations as occur to me on the question ‘How may the island of St. Bartholomew be rendered instrumental for promoting commerce between Sweden and the United States?’ They will be rapid, undigested and incomplete; but a desire of contributing to bind the two Countries together in interest, and a respect for your...
5167From George Washington to William Peacey, 7 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 2d of Feby 1787. I am much obliged to you for your attention in sending me the seeds, which arrived agreeable to the bill. Mrs Bloxham received of Wakelin Welch Esqr. of London £10.1.10, which sum, she informed him, was what she paid you for the seeds on my account. I am not sorry that Caleb Hall did not come out, for I proposed his coming more to please...
5168To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 19 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter from Milan I begged you to write to me poste restante at Rome. I was soon after stopped in my route by the influenza, and not knowing of how long duration would be the delay, I was induced by this consideration and by my desire to hear from you as soon as possible, to beg Mrs. Paradise to desire you in a letter she was writing to you to send me your letters poste restante to...
5169From Alexander Hamilton to Hugh Knox, 17 May 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May 17, 1784. On July 28, 1784, Knox wrote to Hamilton : “After a long long Chasm in Our Epistolary Intercourse, I received your favour of the 17th. of May last.” Letter not found. ]
5170From George Washington to Chastellux, 5 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am your debtor for two letters—one of the 12th of Decemr—the other of the 8th of April. Since the receipt of the first, I have paid my respects to you in a line by Majr Swan; but as it was introductory only of him, it requires an apology, rather than entitles me to a credit in our epistolary correspondence. If I had as good a nack my dear Marquis, as you have at saying handsome things, I...
5171From George Washington to La Vallée, 1 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your letter dated in Philadelphia, accompanied by one from the Marqs de la Fayette and another from the Marqs de Bouille. Whensoever your affairs will induce you to make the visit you propose to Virginia, I shall be happy to be favored with your company at Mount Vernon and to bestow the attentions due to your merits and their recommendations. I take the liberty of...
5172To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 1 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
I cannot refuse so favourable an oppy. as this wh. Col. Griffin offers, of writing a Line or two. It afforded me great Satisfaction to hear of your Election, especially as I had urged you, by a Letter written previous to the last of the Legislation, respecting the Elections, to permit yourself to be proposed for this District. I rejoice that you are in a Situation, which enables you to be...
5173John Adams to J. F. Rosart & Co., 18 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Letter of Yesterday with seven Copies of the English Translation of the Abby de Mably’s Letters. I have read part of the Translation and it seems to be well done: But I have read the whole of the Translator’s preface, and can find no other fault in it, than that it is not so long as I wish it. His observations are so good, that I wish he had treated more at large a...
5174To James Madison from Henry Lee, 25 October 1786 (Madison Papers)
You now have the report from the secretary of war mentioned in my last letter & omitted. The opinions I conveyed then relative to the eastern commotions are daily supported by additional intelligence. The eastern gentlemen here are confirmed in sentiments on this matter and beleive that the discontents will never be settled but by the sword. Perhaps their apprehensions may have some operation...
5175From William Whipple, with Answers to Queries concerning the Moose, 15 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The only Apology I have to make for not sooner answering Your favor of the 12th Jany. is, that I have been expecting more satisfactory information on the subject of the Moose; but dispairing of speedily obtaining the satisfaction I wish; I now inclose you such answers to Your questions as I have been able to procure, also a small parcel of the hair of the Moose sent me by a Gentleman of whom I...
5176To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 19 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter, of the 11 th Instant, was intended by a Co ll Norton, whose unexpected departure deprived me of the favorable opportunity— Since that date some transactions have taken place in this Town, which may be mispresented on the other Side of the water—and which I wish, when stated in a true light, would reflect more honour on the wisdom and temper of the Inhabitants—indeed, I...
5177To Alexander Hamilton from Lawrence and Morris, 31 May 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
We are much concerned, that the matter has been so long delayed, respecting the return of the money, you have been so very obliging as to lend us. Every moment since the Receipt of your Note of the other day, we have been expecting to receive the money, from different Persons indebted to us in this City, under their most solemn assurances of payment, & it would have been more agreeable to us,...
51787th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Parsons, has recovered in a great measure from his illness: so that he was the chief part of this day in the office. I spent the evening in part with him. Play’d Backgammon, and draughts. At the former of these games he beats me; at the latter I beat him. I should suppose him to be a great proficient, at those games which require reflection, and a train of reasoning, which is very much the...
5179To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, 19 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter dated at Paris in June last, enclosing one from my Son, dated at Lyons, since which I have heard from neither you nor him, which fills me with unfavorable Presages as to his Health which was when he left us in a bad and dangerous State. May I hope Sir that you will take the trouble of informing me if any ill has happened to Jack, that has occasioned his...
5180From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Project of a new Constitution, has Objections against it, to which I find it difficult to reconcile my self. but I am so unfortunate as to differ somewhat from you in the Articles, according to your last kind Letter. You are afraid of the one—I, of the few. We agree perfectly that the many Should have a full fair and perfect Representation.— You are Apprehensive of monarchy: I, of...
5181[Diary entry: 1 October 1784] (Washington Papers)
October 1st. Dined at Mr. Gabriel Jones’s, not half a mile from Mr. Lewis’s, but seperated by the South fork of Shannondoah; which is between 80 and a hundred yards wide, & makes a respectable appearance altho’ little short of 150 Miles from its confluence with Potomack River; and only impeded in its navigation by the rapid water & rocks which are between the old bloomery and Keys’s ferry; and...
5182Motion to Obtain an Estimate of Current Expenses, [23 January 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
That it be an instruction to the Grand committee to prepare and report to Congress an estimate of current expences from the 1st. day of January 1784. to the 1st. day of Jan. 1785. MS ( DLC : PCC , No. 36, ii ); in TJ’s hand. On 23 Jan. 1784 (according to endorsement on the MS motion in the same volume of PCC ), David Howell moved “That the report of 22d. October, 1783 [of Robert Morris,...
5183To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 7th. inst: with another pair of Spectacles inclosed came safe to hand on thursday last. I shall leave the person for whose use they were intended to take choice of the most suitable and will return the other pair to Mr. Dudley by the first conveyance, unless I meet with a purchaser which I do not expect. The arrangement which is to carry you to Europe has been made known to...
5184From Thomas Jefferson to John Ledyard, 16 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I saw Baron de Grimm yesterday at Versailles, and he told me he had received an answer from the Empress, who declines the proposition made on your account. She thinks it chimærical. I am in hopes your execution of it from our side of the continent will prove the contrary. I thought it necessary to give you this information that you might suffer no suspence from expectations from that quarter....
5185Meteorological Imaginations and Conjectures, [May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society The “dry fog” that blanketed much of Europe during the summer of 1783 had occasioned much scientific speculation, but its cause was as yet unknown. In this paper, written nearly a year after the fog first appeared, Franklin was less concerned with its cause (though he did propose a theory that would turn out to...
5186From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 22 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was called here about six weeks ago on public business, and am now again within three or four days of my departure for France. All attempts to induce this nation to enter into such arrangements as may place our commerce on equal terms, are absolutely fruitless. This is now decided. They think they can have our trade on their own terms. They rely that the Southern states will never interest...
518724th. (Adams Papers)
Very warm this forenoon. After dinner, I had just set out with my aunt to go down to Mr. Beale’s in Dorchester, when we met Mrs. Williams, and her daughter in a Chaise; we returned, and about ten minutes after Mrs. Beale, and Miss Mayhew, with Ben and Miss Street, came in. Mrs. and Miss Williams propose passing the night here.
5188To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 6 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclos’d letter to you and Mr. Adams of this date contains every thing that occurs relative to my business here, and the Day after tomorrow I shall leave it and remain at Madrid untill I can decide on the necessity of going to Coruña. The objects there are the Effects belonging to the United States left by Mr. Guillon and the proceeds of some prizes carried in by Capt. Cunyingham. It is...
5189To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Chabaud and Other Favor Seekers, 23 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society During the months covered by this volume, Franklin continues to receive unsolicited appeals for favors or help of various kinds. We summarize here the letters to which no responses have been found, publishing the earliest request—from Chabaud—as an example. The descriptions are organized into three categories: letters soliciting positions with the United...
5190From James Madison to George Washington, 20 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Count de Moustier arrived here a few days ago as Successor to the Chevr. de la Luzerne. His passage has been so tedious that I am not sure that the despatches from Mr. Jefferson make any considerable addition to former intelligence. I have not yet seen them, but am told that this is the case. In general it appears that the affairs of Holland are put into pacific train. The Prussian troops...