In Obedience to the above Order of Congress, this Committee have enquired into the Premises, and, upon the best Information obtained, find, that the Commanders of the New England Army about the 14th. ultimo received Advice that Genl. Gage had issued Orders for a Party of Troops under his Command, to post themselves on Bunkers Hill, a Promontory just at the Entrance of the Peninsula of...
2To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I take the first Opportunity to acknowledg the Honor I receiv’d in a Letter sign’d by you as Chairman of a Committee of the Honorable Congress for obtaining a just and well authenticated account of the Hostilities committed by the Ministerial Troops and Navy &c., and desiring me to take some Part in this Business. You will be so good as to present my Compliments to the other Gentlemen of the...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, [21 March 1776] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is too long since I wrote to any of my Friends your way, being you know a dilatory Correspondent, but not I hope a forgetful Friend. The Relish of the Conversation at Mr. Bowdoin’s last Fall is not quite gone off yet. Have you been well ever since? “Accidents of Health, Sir Wm. Temple some where says, are often Accidents of State.” I esteem America not a...
4To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 22 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote last Thursday Morning by the Post to our Friend Mr. S. Adams—to which I refer you on some Things of a public Nature. After so many Weeks Possession of this Town you would be surpriz’d to see in what a defenceless State we still remain. The Business of Fortifying has lain between Genl. Ward and a Committee of the General Court: Between them both, little or nothing has yet been done. We...
5To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I received your’s of May 6th. and am not troubled at your Acceptance of the Resignation of G. W. He is, indeed, a cool prudent Man, and accepted the Post of Danger for his Country at a critical Time, when others seem’d to decline it. He is a through New England Man in his Principles and Inclinations, but not made for an high Command in the Field. I cannot wholly excuse any...
6To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 27 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I find by your Letter of 16th. Instant that you had no Expectation of the disagreable News from Canada. Our Accounts from thence are not very perfect. According to these, A Reinforcement for Quebec came up the River before the City on 6th. of this Month. Our Army suddenly retir’d, leaving good Part at least, of Cannon Baggage, and their sick. They had determin’d it is said, in a Council of...
7To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 1 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
We are full of anxious Expectation here. Howe has sail’d from Hallifax, it is suppos’d for N. York, and is probably there before this Time, for he left the former place on 10th June as we have been inform’d by several Masters of Vessels arriv’d here. Just after receiving this Advice we were alarm’d with an Account of the Plot at N. York. The Discovery seems very fortunate, and the whole may...
8To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 15 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me high Pleasure, if my Narration of Nantasket was acceptable to you. I did not lay the least Imputation upon your Neighbors. They did all that Circumstances would allow. Canada, you know, lay much upon my Mind. I was long ago apprehensive. There was too much Neglect on all Sides of that important Quarter, and, without doubt, great Misconduct there. Pray let it be strictly examin’d,...
9To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 14 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of June 10, in Answer to mine on the Continental Currency, I have now to thank you for. Who brought it I know not, but it was never deliver’d to me till four days ago. A Number of the most sensible Gentlemen among us, with whom I have convers’d upon the Subject are fully of opinion that there is no Way they can at present think of, so effectual to promote public Credit in the...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 17 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot forbear expressing to you the Pleasure I receivd from hearing you were appointed by Congress with others to confer with Lord and Genl. Howe. The Subject of this Conference we do not as yet certainly know, but suppose it was desird on their Part for something more than settling an Exchange of Prisoners. I am not sorry our Enemies appear so eager for...
11To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Cooper], 27 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I wrote you some Time ago, acknowledging the Receit of your kind Letter dated from Philadelphia 25th Octr. last, the Day you embarqued for Europe, and read your affectionate Leave to all our Friends. We often think and talk of you, and constantly follow you with our best Wishes. I have lately heard with particular Pleasure of your safe Arrival in France,...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 28 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library If this Line ever reaches you, it will be deliverd by Mr. Joseph Hixon, a Gentleman born in Montserrat, and whose Estate lies in that Island. Bound from thence on Business to London, by the Way of Corke, He was taken by an American Ship of War and brought to this Port in October last. I need not mention the Opinion I have entertain’d of his Probity and Worth,...
13To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Cooper], 30 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you within a few Weeks a Number of Letters, and long to receive one from you. I know you will give me that Pleasure as soon as an Opportunity and your many and weighty Employments will allow. I had some Expectation of receiving one by a Ship from France, arriv’d a few days ago at Portsmouth, with a French Gentleman, Who appears to be a General...
14To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 3 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I scratch a Line in utmost Hast—Your kind Letter I receiv’d by Mr Jackson the Day after sending one to you. Your Tickets sell rapidly. Your Loan Office will fill apace. I wrote to you, or Mr Adams on the American Navy. Manly’s Character rises here. He has sail’d to Cape Ann for some Men there and has press’d thro great Difficulties to get out—something must be done to expedit Matters in that...
15To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 29 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wish, with you, that N. England may not fail to furnish their Quota of the Continental Army even to a single man; but am afraid we shall not be able to accomplish it soon. Some Towns have already rais’d and sent forward their full Proportion. This has done much more, besides Manning the State Vessels and Privateers: but others are yet greatly deficient; and yet all Circum stances...
16To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 10 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have lately wrote you more than one Letter which I hope you have receiv’d. Howe has confess’d his Inferiority in the Field by retreating from the Jerseys, but I am sorry He has escap’d so whole. I have been in Hopes that our Army would have been strong enough to have taken some Station between Brunswick and Amboy, and to have cripled Him in his Retreat if not totally cut it off. I long for...
17To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 24 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
No Event since the Commencement of the War has excited such Indignation and Astonishment as the Evacuation of Tyconderoga in so disgraceful a Manner! General Washington’s Idea of the State of that Garrison answers to all the Accounts we have receiv’d here. There were 4000 Troops in the Place well arm’d, and well supplied with ev’ry Thing. Two of the fullest Regiments of this State were at...
18To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 22 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
I write to you in Hast and Confidence—and beg you to conceal me when I speak with Freedom of Men and Things. After many Reports that Burgoyne and his Army were Prisoners of War, we have this Day receiv’d the Articles agreed on between him and our General. Perhaps I may be mistaken, but my Joy is damp’d by the Concessions G ates has made, considering how totally Burgoyne was in our Power. He...
19To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 24 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
Two days agoe I wrote you an hasty Script. Perhaps I express’d myself too suddenly and strongly upon an important Subject. The Terms which Gates has given Burgoyne might be as well for the States as Circumstances would allow; tho I own, from what Glover, and ev’ry Officer on the Spot had written, I concluded the Enemy must have been totally in our Power. But if we have not all we could wish,...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper: Two Letters, 25 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) AL : American Philosophical Society; copy: Henry E. Huntington Library In the last Winter my only Daughter was married here to Joseph Hixon Esqr. of Monserrat, in the W. Indies. He went from hence in the Spring by Way of Cork to London. I beg you to take the Trouble of sending by the first safe Opportunity an enclosed Letter from her to him. The...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 13 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am afraid, not having receiv’d a single Line from you since last May that my Letters to you have miscarried, and your’s to me. I wrote you the latter End of Octr. a long Letter giving as clear and particular an Account as I was able of the Northern Campaign, and it’s truly glorious Success. What has taken Place since will be related to you by Mr. Adams...
22Samuel Cooper to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Many besides my self partake with you in the Sollicitude you express respecting our dear Friend; for no Man could carry with him more of the ardent good Wishes of his Country than Mr. Adams did. His Merit is great in denying himself so much for the Service of his Country, and your’s not a little in giving up so much domestic Happiness for the Sake of this Service. Heaven, I trust, will protect...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 13 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Having been inform’d that the French Frigate from Corunna with Duplicates for the Congress, is immediately to sail, I sit down to congratulate you on the agreable Prospect of our Affairs, and to acknowledge your kind Favors of the 17th. and 27th Feby. last, which were the more welcome as I had not heard from you by Letter for a twelve month, and as they...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I wrote you two Days ago; but hearing the Vessel is unexpectedly detain’d, I send you a plaintive poetic Piece just publish’d here, which I hope will reach her before she sails. You cannot conceive what Joy the Treaties with France have diffus’d among all true Americans, nor the chagrine they have given to the few interested and slavish Partizans of...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 1 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; incomplete ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Your Friends Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Holker left this Place last Thursday for York Town where the Congress sits. The Day before, being the Anniversary for Election of Counsellors, I had the Pleasure of dining with them in Public at Faneuil Hall, where the King of France, his Army and Navy, and our...
26To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 1 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
After various Reports of the Capture of the Boston by a British Cruizer, and of her being struck with Lightning at Sea, it was with peculiar Pleasure I lately receiv’d an Assurance Of your Safe Arrival in France. Not long after you sail’d, Mrs. Adams wrote me a Letter upon a Report of Dr. Franklin’s having been assassinated, full of the tenderest Anxiety, and the most amiable Sentiments,...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 1 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you four or five Times not long since, but from all our Arrivals from France of late have not the Pleasure of a single Line, but I know your Crowd of important Business. Accidentally hearing of a Vessel that sails for France this day, I enclose you a Philadelphia Paper bro’t by a swift Post last Evening, and containing the Proceedings of the...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 21 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just wrote to you by Mr Duncan Ingraham Junr. upon some public Affairs— I beg Leave in this, lest he might be oblig’d to destroy that, should he meet with an Enemy just to mention him to you as my Friend, for whom I have a great Regard— He goes to France on a Plan of Business in his own Vessel: as he is a Stranger there he would be glad to be...
29To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 4 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Four days ago I received the Favor of your Letter of Aug: 12th., and it gave me the highest Pleasure to hear you were well. The Marquiss de la Fayette will do me the Honour to take the Charge of this Letter who carries with him the Esteem and Affection of the Army and the States. His Intrepidity and Discretion, his Conduct in the Field, in Council, and in all private Circles have gained him an...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper: Two Letters, 4 January 1778 [i.e., 1779] (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society; extract: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I shall write you by the Marquiss de le Fayette who goes in the same Vessel with Mr Bradford who begs the Honor of presenting this Line to you, and taking this Opportunity of paying you his particular Respects. He is an amiable young Gentleman; His Father...