8412d. (Adams Papers)
One of the Miss Greenleaf’s and a married sister of her’s dined here, and withal Miss Taylor, the amiable lass that I mentioned, two or three days ago. She is an original character, with a good deal of natural sense, but a brain, which has been some how out of order, and does not at present appear to be wholly right: she is an incessant talker and like most other persons who bear that...
842From George Washington to James Nourse, 22 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday gave me the honor of your favor of the 11th from Annapolis. I thank you for the trouble you have taken to bring me acquainted with the affairs of my deceased Brother of Berkly. It would give me great pleasure to render any service to his children; & as far as I can do it by paying attention to those two who are in my Neighbourhood with Mr Griffith, I will; but to concern myself in...
843To Thomas Jefferson from Francis dal Verme, 12 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
How humiliating it is to me, Sir, to date this letter under this day, being an answer to your most Kind of the 15th. Aug. 87. Would I intend to make a proper apology for it to you, I am affraid I should be quite unsuccessful, so I shall tell you the plain truth, and give up entirely to your own Kindness the judgment of it. About the meddle of 7ber. I received yours, by which I was told you had...
844From John Jay to Peter T. Curtenius, 10 December 1788 (Jay Papers)
Instead of presenting a particular account against the State for my Services as one of their agents to manage their Controversy with Massachusetts, and as one of their Delegates in Congress, I shall only state Facts, and submit it to the Legislature to make such order on the Subject, as may be most consistant with their Sense and Construction of the Laws respecting it. In order to be at...
845From John Adams to François Adriaan van der Kemp, 1 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter, and am much concerned to perceive your Apprehensions that Affairs might take an unfavourable Turn. The Questions you do me the Honour to propose to me, are very difficult to Answer. I have ever been Scrupulous of advising Strangers to emigrate to America. There are difficulties to be encountered in every Exchange of Country. Arising from the Climate soil, Air,...
846To Benjamin Franklin from Pierres, 9 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer la Copie du Traité, la Composition est faite & l’Epreuve est à moitié lüe. Je vous fais passer par le porteur Bezout { 1. arithmetique … 2. l.t. 15. 1. Géométrie … 3. 15. 1 algébre … 4. 15. 1. Mécanique 2 vol. 9. 10. 20.
847To John Adams from David Ramsay, 20 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of July 14 th with the pamphlet of letters addressed to D r. Calkoen came to hand a few days since. Many thanks to you for that production. Your predictions of the consequences of the British successes in the Southern States have been so exactly realised as to fill me with admiration of that political sagacity which could so accurately foresee the connexions between causes &...
848To Benjamin Franklin from John Dickinson, 22 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Mr. Vernon proposing to return from a Visit to America thro France, and earnestly desiring to have the Honor of your Acquaintance, I cannot forbear complying with the Wishes of a Gentleman recommended by his Politeness and his favorable Dispositions towards this Country. I am with the sincerest Esteem Sir, your most obedient & hble servant Notation: John...
849Powers of the Executive, [1 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Mad: agrees wth. Wilson in his difinition of executive powers—executive powers ex vi termini, do not include the Rights of war & peace &c. but the powers shd. be confined and defined—if large we shall have the Evils of elective Monarchies—probably the best plan will be a single Executive of long duration wth. a Council, with liberty to depart from their Opinion at his peril— Farrand, Records...
850From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 6 December 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 6, 1787. On December 6, 1787, Hamilton wrote to Angelica Church “I this morning wrote a short and hasty line to your other self.” Letter not found. ]
851From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
As Doctr Gordons departure for England is an event that was to have taken place about this time & may have happened I take the liberty, in that case, of requesting the favor of you to do what shall appear right with the inclosed Subscription Paper & Bill. I will make no apology for the trouble this request may give you as I persuade myself your inclination to serve the Doctr will keep pace...
852Elizabeth Cranch to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have not wrote you my dear Aunt for a long time, much too long I confess; and even now those motives which have prevented, continue in force: A barreness of Subject is of all preventives the most dissagreable and I find it is like to prevail and increase in me daily; motives however more powerful have overcome this; and I am induced to write—tho—I triffle. Love, gratitude and esteem, I feel;...
85330th. (Adams Papers)
The week has closed as it began, and I shall be content if for the six remaining weeks of the vacation I can make, an equal progress, in my present course of studies. Williams spent the evening with us. The weather is quite moderate; and has the appearance of rain.
854To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Eppes, 23 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of Dec. 11 came to hand a few days ago. Those sent by the Mr. Fitzhughs of August 30th. and September 22d. are not yet arrived. I am sorry you are so desirous of having Polly sent to you as I am certain nothing but force will now bring it about. We have try’d every argument we are capable of in order to enduce to agree to it. I have told her you wou’d meet her in Philadelphia and...
855Monday. Aug. 6. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Totness, thro which the River Dart runs to Dartmouth. Slept at Newton bushell. This date is evidently correct, being a second entry written this day (see note 1 on preceding entry). On the 7th the Adamses were back in Exeter, for on that day JA recorded receiving a supply of cash at the bank in Exeter (Accounts, 31 May 1785–10 April 1788, Lb/JA/36, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No....
856To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 4 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time after your departure for the South of France I set out to go to Copenhagen; expecting to receive, at Bruxelles, the necessary Funds for my Journey and transactions in the North. I had the mortification to be disappointed; which induced me to turn about and embark in the Packet at Havre de Grace, as the method the most sure and expeditious to procure the necessary supply. I should...
857From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [19 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday, My Dear Sir, The Convention made a house. That day and this have been spent in preliminary arrangements. Tomorrow we go into a Committee of the whole on the Constitution. There is every appearance that a full discussion will take place, which will keep us together at least a fortnight. It is not easy to conjecture what will be the result. Our adversaries greatly outnumber us. The...
858Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 12 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have sent by Captain Scott the Books you wrote for, and if there is any thing else in which I can serve either you or my cousins, I shall be happy to do it— it is with much pleasure I learn that my cousin W.S. is like to be so pleasingly connected, and with a family to whom both you, & my Late parent, were much attached by a long accquaintance, and established Friendship. Educated under...
85916th. (Adams Papers)
At about 9 this morning I went to Mr. Foster’s, and found my Cousin Betsey Cranch ready to go with me. We then set out in the Chaise, and at about 11. got to Braintree where we found only Mr. Tyler, and cousin Lucy. She had a letter from Miss Hazen which I had a great curiosity to see; but could not prevail upon her to show it me. Mr. Tyler came up from Boston last Evening. Parson Wibird was...
860[Diary entry: 19 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 19th. Thermometer at 35 in the morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Morning clear and tolerably pleasant, though the horison was red & angry at the place of the Suns rising. After noon it lowered a good deal and at Night there fell a mixture of Snow and Rain—which turned to a kind of misling rain that continued through the Night. But little wind in the fore part of the day—at So. Et. and...
861Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 – 30 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have been 16 days at sea, and have not attempted to write a single Letter; tis true I have kept a journal when ever I was able, but that must be close locked up; unless I was sure to hand it you with safety. Tis said of Cato the Roman censor, that one of the 3 things which he regreted during his Life, was going once by sea when he might have made his journey by land; I fancy the philosopher...
862[Diary entry: 27 February 1788] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 27th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 28 at Night. The wind came hard from the No. Wt. about day break and blew violently all day. The ground was hard frozen and the day very cold—but little thawing. Rid to all the Plantations. No plowing at any. Grubbg. at most.
863To George Washington from Samuel Hanson, 10 January 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Samuel Hanson, 10 Jan. 1789. On 16 Jan. GW wrote Hanson that his letter “of the 10th . . . came duly to hand.”
864To Thomas Jefferson from Sarsfield, 26 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris ], 26 Apr. 1789 . Sends compliments, and expects to come wish him bon voyage, hoping to be more fortunate than last time he came for that purpose.—Begs TJ to make note of his promise to report to him the debates of all “ les Provinces relatifs à l’Etablissement du Congrès Excepté celui de Massachusets bay parce qu’il l’a,” even of those that have not acceded, especially of Rhode...
865From George Washington to William Hunter, Jr., 20 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
G: Washington presents his Compliments to Mr Hunter and would thank him for recommending the letters herewith sent to the particular care of his Corrispondent at Havre de Grass, to be forwarded by him to Paris. AL , ViMtvL . GW wrote to Lafayette on 15 Aug . and to Chastellux on 18 August. This is Havre de Grace, Md., on Chesapeake Bay.
866To George Washington from Samuel Hanson, 3 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honour to forward to you a Package, enclosing some Cloth & Buttons, which was put under my care by Genl Knox. When I left N. York (which was this day week) there were wanting, to make a House, two Senators & four Delegates. Mr Ellmer & Mr Gale left Brunswick the same day I came from N. York. On Monday I was informed at Wilmington that Mr Read had set out that day, to go to...
867[Diary entry: 24 October 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 24th. Thermometer at 60 in the Morng.—75 at Noon and 75 at Night. Clear and warm with but little Wind & that Southerly. Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run Plantations. From the Ferry, the Plows were gone to French’s to put in Wheat—and the other hands except the Ferry men were at Dogue run digging Potatoes. At Frenchs 5 plows were at Work putting in Wheat in No. 6. The other hands...
868[From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 10 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 10 May 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “T M Randolph. Tender of service—not buy horse—sell marquee.” Not found; the marquee evidently was one acquired in late May 1781 (see Vol. 6: 20–21).]
869To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The day before yesterday I took the liberty to trouble you with a few lines by M r. Prentis, & expressed my determination to do it more at large by the next opportunity, which now offers in D r. Bancraft. Knowing my way of thinking you must, I suppose, have been surprised at hearing my return to Europe. The friendship with which you have constantly honored me, ever since I had the pleasure to...
870Dorset to the American Commissioners, 26 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Having communicated to my Court the readiness you express’d in your Letter to me of the 9th. of December to remove to London for the purpose of treating upon such points as may materially concern the Interests both political and commercial of Great Britain and America, and having at the same time represented that you declared yourselves to be fully authorized and empowered to negotiate, I have...