1To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 7 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
You was so obliging, when here and in your Letter afterwards, as voluntarily to offer your kind offices in favor of this College. Your connexion with Wm. & Mary College led me at first to receive these expressions only as the civilities of Politeness. But your Repetition of the Offer of your Service, in a Letter, suggested that in your generous Wishes and Readiness to subserve the Emolument of...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 30 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Last Summer I received two Letters from you, one of Decr. 24. 1786 and another of Sept. 1786, One of them thro’ the Hands of Mr. Trumbull, which passed a long Circuit before it reached me. I immediately wrote an Acknowledgment of the Recipt of these obliging Letters and of the Books which accompanied them, as gave me very particular Pleasure. At the same Time I received a Letter from the...
3To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 13 September 1788 (Adams Papers)
Some Men by their Merits call upon themselves the Attention of the whole Republic of Letters; and amidst a Profusion of Honors from the most illustrious & respectable Bodies, they are often sollicited to accept the Tribute of Estimation & Respect from Societies of inferior Consideration. Will you be pleased, Sir, to gratify the humble College of Connecticutt, in accepting as a Mark of her...
4To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 9 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to ask your Acceptance of an Election Sermon, which the Reverend Mr Morse a Tutor in this College will have the Honor to present to you. I know you must feel sollicitous for the Tumults in Massachusetts. They are doubtless magnified at a Distance. I confide in it that there is Wisdom in the Legislature of that State sufficient to rectify the public Disorders and recover the public...
5To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 28 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I think you will make no Impression upon the Court of Great Britain. And it is probable little Impression will be made on Algiers, while Britain on one hand may be inciting them to stand on too high Terms for us, & we on the other hand send Characters too trifling for so important a Negotiation. Was the Levant Trade open to America, the Profits to us would soon be very great, as we could...
6To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 28 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
Last Sum̃er I wrote you acknowleding the Receipt of the Abbe Mably’s Pamphlet, and your Letter accompanying it. On the 19 th. Ins t. I received the two Volumes of your Letters in a most neat & elegant Edition, thro’ the Hands of M r Andrew Craige of New York. I am greatly honored by these repeated Testimonials of your Excellencys Friendship. These last Volumes shew a more thorough...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 22 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Colo. Humphrys needs not as some others Letters of Recommendation, being himself his own Epistle to every one who would take Knowledge of real Worth & singular Merit. He was educated in this College, of which he was formerly elected a Tutor or Professor. He has distinguished himself in our Army through the War, and Gen. Washington has taken him into his...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 14 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty to inform you that, yesterday at the public anniversary Commencement in this University, the Senatus Academicus did themselves the Honor to confer upon you the Degree of Doctor in Laws. We ask your Acceptance of it as a Token of the high Estimation and Respect we have for your literary Character, as well as for your Patriotism and Fidelity to the united [States.] Our Enemies...
9To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 10 March–25 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my Answer to the Letter I had the honor of receive g from you last Fall by D r Wales, I expressed my Apprehension that the Abbe Mably and some other of our European Friends entertained too gloomy despairing & desconsolate Ideas and Fears, least our Amer̃ Republic should tumble to pieces and come to nothing. Even our worthy & ever to be venerated Friend D r Price has his Fears for us; and so...
10Extract from the Diary of Ezra Stiles, [8 June 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
His Excelly. Govr. Jefferson of Virginia visited me with a Letter from Mr. Sherman at Congress. He is appointed by Congress Ambassador from the United States or Minister Plenipotentiary with Dr. Franklin and Dr. Adams, for settling Treaties of Commerce with G. Britain and other foreign Nations. He is on his way with Col. Humprys, Secretary to the Commissioners to Rh. Isld., Bo. and Piscataqua...