1To John Adams from William Bentley, 11 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I could not refuse myself the pleasure of sending the inclosed view of the Tree in the Endicot Orchard. It is from the pen of a young Female Pupil, belonging to the family in which I live, & from the same person who accompanied me in my journey through Quincy, in the last year; & who was present with me when I took the Grafts of this season, which I sent to you. I add in confirmation, that the...
2To John Adams from William Bentley, 28 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have the great pleasure of sending you a portion of the Pears, collected from the Endicott Tree. It is an additional pleasure, that among the increasing demands, Capt E. assures me, that this is the only portion spared from the family, & that I have the direction of it. In Gratitude only are our exclusive faverers rich to us, & this gift I intend as the testimony of my grateful recollection...
3To John Adams from William Bentley, 16 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty to express my gratitude to the first of men, by sending another portion of the Endicott pears from the Oldest tree planted by Europeans in our portion of America, & to add two bottles of wine made last year in Salem by Ladies in my Society from the berries of New England. I am with the highest respect / of your public & private character / your devoted Servant MHi :...
4To John Adams from William Bentley, 19 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Captain John Endicott performed yesterday his promise of the Pears. He observed that they were not quite ripe, but in some of them had made demands, from curiosity, endless. The good old man therefore, at fourscore, took a few in his hand, infact that he might give no notice, travelled to my door, & observed, that he had resolved I should not lose the pleasure of sending them to the President...
5To John Adams from William Bentley, 1 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of Oct. 26, & am happy, if, in any degree, I have satisfied the curiosity, I excited. It would have been a great pleasure, to have been introduced to Mr Adams at Quincy, but I received every attention due to a Stranger in his absence. I took the earliest notice of your Letter, & offered such evidence of the fact; as I immediately recollected; & to which I could instantly...
6To John Adams from William Bentley, 10 October 1809 (Adams Papers)
Last evening I received with great pleasure your request for an explanation of a note left at Quincy. Having been in the habit for many years of receiving from Mr Endicott a portion of the Endicot Pears, & being desirous to honour the man, who above all others, deserved the name of the Father of New England, I concluded, in passing, I should be accepted, if, in the reverence of my heart, I...
7To John Adams from William Bentley, 11 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
Agreably to your request, I accompanied Capt. John Endicott, senior, above seventy years of age, yesterday to the Pear Tree, & received from the Tree the twigs which I have sent by a careful hand, to be sent directly from Boston to Quincy. Capt Endicott said he had been in two wars for his Country, & to be remembered by Mr Adams, by a respect for his Ancesters, was good to his old age. I trust...
8William Bentley to Thomas Jefferson, 16 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty at his request, to introduce M r Obadiah Rich , who is travelling in the Southern States. His ardent desire to see the man, in his own country, whom all Europe honours, & all our wise citizens admire, has obliged me to honour myself in writing to M r Jefferson. M r Rich has discovered great affection for Natural History, His virtue is pure, & his manners amiable. He is...
9William Bentley to Thomas Jefferson, 30 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I received from my Aged friend & Correspondent Professor C D. Ebeling his Letter of 22 of May last. In it I find the following paragraph, which as I believe was dictated by profound respect & from a man who once said, I wish all could produce such a man! I take the liberty to transcribe at length, that you might see the whole history of it. At present my description of Virginia is printing....
10William Bentley to Thomas Jefferson, 16 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I saw your name, giving approbation to a Naval History, I have therefore taken the liberty to send you a Sermon delivered upon the death of a Naval Officer , mentioned in it. It has been printed nearly twenty years & not an article has been questioned. The Sermon may then be thought a testimony from the pulpit to the worth of our first Naval Heroes of the Revolution. The G. G. Father John ,...
11To James Madison from William Bentley, 16 August 1809 (Madison Papers)
My worthy friend, General Dearborne informed me, that the President of the United States would kindly accept any expression of my sincere confidence in him. The highest esteem & his distinguished reputation & virtues, as well as respect for his high station must oblige me to put all the value of myself, in my own discretion. Permit me, Sir, to say, that during the Administration of President...
12To James Madison from William Bentley, 27 May 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Bentley. 27 May 1814, Salem. “Permit me to inform you, that the bearer Mr Andrew Dunlap a native of Salem, is upon a southern tour with some citizens of Salem. His talents, his education, & attainments have the highest claims upon our affections, & his love of his country encouraged by all his kindred, who are among our most wealthy citizens, promises that he will plead with...
13To James Madison from William Bentley, 17 May 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have the great pleasure of assuring the President of the United States of America, that, in a great struggle, the friends of President Madison, & of their Country, in Salem have done their duty. With the greatest respect, your devoted Servant, RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. In the elections held on 17 May 1811 for the Massachusetts General Court, Republicans won twelve of the fourteen seats...
14To James Madison from William Bentley, 17 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
Forgive me. My Ancestor came to America in 1711. He was a young Officer under the Duke of Malborough in Flanders, & was sent by Queen Anne to Canada. He was left by the pilots on Onticossa. His only child, my Grand father, intended for the Navy, fought under General Pepperell, in Canada, in 1745. My father was with Wolfe in 1759, in the year of my birth, & is now living at 90 years. My Brother...
15To James Madison from William Bentley, 20 January 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Bentley. 20 January 1814, Salem. “To address you, is to intrude upon you. But friendship & the family find a favour for it, & another name. A Son of Joseph Wilson, now a Student at Cambridge, wishes to be a Midshipman in our Navy. The Father is Collector of the Port of Marblehead, the Son will come under the recommendation of the Vice President. I have no tie but of merit, & the...
16To James Madison from William Bentley, 2 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Your approbation is among my highest pleasures, especially of my actions, which are in the fullest consent with my purest convictions, & with assurances of the best consequences. Having lately had an interview with Gen. Stark, at his home in Derryfield, I thought it would not be displeasing to you to hear from him. I reached his house on 31 May, after having spent the morning with Col...
17To James Madison from William Bentley, 24 April 1810 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to say, that in asking a Letter to Gen Stark, It never entered my thoughts to answer any Public purpose. But I may say with truth, Gen Stark’s Letter has saved New England. The bitterest invectives are from this conviction, but they soon cease. Still the conviction is sure, “And they gnaw their tongues for pain.” Assured that I speak the sense of all N E, I remain with the highest...
18To James Madison from William Bentley, 1 February 1810 (Madison Papers)
With the utmost care I conveyed the Letter to General Stark, & tho’ my importunity might be troublesome, it obtained for me a great pleasure. On the occasion, I find, the General has not so much of the Philosopher, as of the Good Old man. He felt with extasy, that he had a share in the affections of the man he reverenced as a rich Benefactor of his Country, & like Good Old Simeon, he...
19To James Madison from William Bentley, 19 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have the satisfaction to assure the President, that Captain George Crowninshield, the son, sailed from Salem on Saturday, Aug. 7. & returned from Halifax, on Wednesday, August, 19, with the bodies of Captain Laurence & Lt Ludlow. He reports, that he had every thing agreably to his wishes, & found that every thing had been done at the interment of these brave men, that had ever been done in...
20To James Madison from William Bentley, 20 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
At the request of my friend, Capt George Crowninshield the son, I have presumed to inform the President of the United States, of his earnest wishes to remove the body of Captain Lawrence, of the Chesapeake, into the territory of the United States. He has applied for a Cartel, encouraged by a Letter to the department of war from Captain Bainbridge, on 2 July, & by the answer of Mr Jones, on the...
21To James Madison from William Bentley, 30 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
The uniform friendship, I have openly expressed, in the most troublesome times, & which has never been doubtful in the world, & has been justified by an extraordinary succession of most glorious events, has been formed on the personal esteem, which assured me that the best virtues would guide the best talents, in the best services to my country. We are not always sure to be useful, & we may be...
22To James Madison from William Bentley, 11 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed Letter I leave with you. It will be seen by no person, till your pleasure be known. It is an exact Copy of Gen: John Stark’s Letter to me, as he dictated it to his Son in Law, B. F. Stickney, in consequence of a Letter I sent him. Once, when I was at the General’s House, his Son Major Caleb Stark was called upon to write a Letter for the General’s Signature. The Major, whose...
23To James Madison from William Bentley, 8 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
Your indulgence to me has led to many intrusion, which your goodness must forgive. I am now at the post office with the British Agent to obtain if possible the exchange of my good friend Capt John Crowninshield, of the Diomede, for Capt Bass of the Liverpool Packet, now at Portsmouth. I never made a plea in such circumstances, or on a more urgent occasion. If Sir, your kind concurrence can be...
24Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Account with William Bentley, 26 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Copy of the statement of paiments furnished by Col o Bentley . ‘the following paiments have been made to mr Hanson , as p r statement given by him to the Commissioners, & by one of them to me. £ s d 1797. Aug. 5 . then rec d through the hands of