1From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy and transcript: National Archives; incomplete copy: Library of Congress I duly received the two Letters your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me both dated the 19th. of June, together with the Letter address’d to the King, & the three Commissions with the Instructions relative to the Negociations for Peace. I immediately went to Versailles, and...
Your Ex y s Fav r . of the 28 May & the Duplicate of it , have been come to my Hands thro those of the minister by whose Courier they were brought from Cadiz to this City. Every thing ^ w h ^ that Letter rendered proper for me to do has been done. The Issue is as yet uncertain. The Court are gone to S t . Ildefonso— I follow Tomorrow—for the Captors of the Dover Cutter I have as yet only been...
3From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 10th announcing your resignation of the Chair of Congress and the Election of Mr McKean to that important Station. I flattered myself with the hopes of an opportunity of personally acknowledging the attentions which I received from you during your presidency; but as I find you could not with convenience make a visit to the Army on your way home, I am...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 11 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, New York Public Library; press copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives The Number of Congress Bills that have been drawn on the Ministers in Spain and Holland, which I am by my Acceptances obliged to pay, as well as those drawn upon myself, the extreme Importance of...
5From John Adams to the President of Congress, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 7 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 264–265. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:549. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of a resolution that the...
6From John Adams to the President of Congress, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 7 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 262–263. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:550. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of an article that appeared...
7From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 6 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inform your Excellency that the Army marched from their Camp near Peekskill on the morning of the 2d without either Tents or Baggage, and reached Valentines Hill about four miles on this side Kings bridge a little after day light the morning following. Genl Lincoln with a detachment of 800 men fell down the North River in Boats, landed near Phillips’s House before day...
8From John Adams to the President of Congress, 5 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 254–261. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:540–543. This is the first of a series of letters to Congress that John Thaxter composed in John Adams’ name during Adams’ absence at...
9From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 29 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 246–251. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:525–527. This letter consists of an English translation of the letter presented to the States General on 21 June by Louis Ernst, Duke of...
10From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 28 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys several Letters of the 20th & 21st instant—with their several Enclosures—sir Henry Clinton has indeed refused to make any Exchange of Genl Burgoyne in the Military Line, but upon my Consent to put the Prisoners taken at the Cedars upon a footing of Exchange equal with any other Prisoners of War—I know of nothing at present subsisting between Sir Henry...
11From John Adams to the President of Congress, 27 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Major Jackson has been sometime here, in pursuance of Instructions from Colo. Laurens, in order to dispatch the purchase of the Goods, and the shipping of the Goods and Cash for the United States, which are to go by the South Carolina. But when all things appeared to be ready, I recieved a Letter from his Excellency Dr. Franklin informing me, that he feared his funds would not admit of his...
12From John Adams to the President of Congress, 26 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Rubicon is passed. A step has been at last taken by the Regency of Amsterdam, which must decide the fate of the Republick. The City of Amsterdam, finding that their proposition of the 18th. of last month was not sufficient to change the conduct of administration, have ventured on another maneuvre. On the 8th. of this month, as soon as the States of Holland were seperated, two Burgomasters...
13From John Adams to the President of Congress, 26 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Emperor appears to be more intent at present upon taking a fair Advantage of the present Circumstances, to introduce a flourishing Commerce into the Austrian Flanders, than upon making Treaties with England or waging War in its favour. His Imperial, Royal, and Apostolical Majesty, has condescended to take off and break the Shackles which restrained the Commerce and the Communication of the...
14From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 24 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Towards effecting the intended Operations of the ensuing Campaign, I had made a Requisition to the State of Pensylvania for a Number of Militia to join the Army under my immediate Comand—but that State having been called upon at the same Time by Congress for a Number of their Militia for the southern service, his Excellency the President has informed me that it will not be in their Power to...
15From John Adams to the President of Congress, 23 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The answer from Petersbourg, as it is given to the Public, is this. Her Majesty, the Empress of all the Russias, declares: That as much as She been satisfied with the Zeal with which their high mightinesses have accepted her mediation, so much and more has her compassionate Heart been affected with the difficulties formed by the Court of London, in referring the reconciliation with the...
16From John Adams to the President of Congress, 23 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 23 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 228–230. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:515–517. This letter consists of an English translation of a memorial that the regency of the city of Zierikzee presented to the States of Zeeland...
17From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 21 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowlege the Receipt of your Excellency’s Favor of the 15th of this Month—with its several Enclosures. By Dispatches from the Count De Rochambeau, dated Providence the 15th instt—I am informed, that he would leave that Place on the 18th with the first Regiment of his Troops—and that the others would follow by Regiments on the next suceedg Days, untill the whole would be...
18From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 16 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of your Excellencys Favr of the 6th instant, inclosing sundry Petitions, Complaints & Evidence against Colo. Broadhead, having before this received a Number of other Papers respecting Colo. Broadhead’s Conduct—& observing that these Complaints have been exhibited in a very diffuse Manner, & will involve a Variety of Matter; I have written to Mr Fowler, Auditor of Public...
19From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The long expected Courier has at last arrived at the Hague from Petersbourg. The Contents of his dispatches are not publick, but all hopes of immediate assistance from the armed Neutrality seem to be dissipated. The Question now is what is to be done next. Some are for Alliances with the House of Bourbon and America: but a thousand fears arise. France, the Emperor and the Republick have...
20From John Adams to the President of Congress, 12 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 12 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 209–217. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:495–498. John Adams provided an English translation of a piece that originally appeared in a Dutch newspaper, probably the Gazette d’Amsterdam , but...
21From John Adams to the President of Congress, 11 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 11 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 197–205. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:487–491. John Adams included English translations of a petition to the city of Antwerp by its merchants and inhabitants and of an essay by Antoine...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , transcript, and press copy: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copy: New York Public Library I have lately done myself the honour of writing largely to your Excellency by divers Conveyances, to which I beg leave to refer. This is chiefly to cover the Copy of a Letter I have just received from the Minister, relative to the Disposition of the late Loans; by which...
23From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 7 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 2nd & 3d Inst. I had upon the former complaints exhibited against Colonel Brodhead; and Mr Duncan the Dep. Qr Mastr Genl at Fort Pitt, directed the proper measures to be taken for calling them to an account, and as the Complainants in the present instance, are principally the same as in the first, they will have an opportunity of...
24From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 6 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys favors of the 28h May, with their several inclosures. I have written to the board of War on the subject of the removal of the Convention troops, and have given it as my opinion, with my reasons, that they had best, for the present, be halted in Pennsylvania. An exchange of those troops, upon proper terms, would certainly be a desirable thing, but,...
25From John Adams to the President of Congress, 5 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 193–195. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:468–469. John Adams included an English translation of a statement made to the States of Zeeland by the deputies from the city of Middelburg on 14...
26From John Adams to the President of Congress, 31 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 31 May 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 181–182. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:461. John Adams provided an English translation of a memorial presented to the States General on 28 April by the Danish envoy, Mestral de Saint...
27From John Adams to the President of Congress, 31 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 31 May 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 185–187>. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:463–464. John Adams provided Congress with English translations of declarations by the cities of Dordrecht and Haarlem in support of Amsterdam’s...
28From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 30 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 23d and 24th Insts. I am sorry that you took the trouble to transcribe the Dispatches from General Greene, as I had received them immediately from him. It is to be regretted that so small an accident should have turned the fortune of the day before Campden. The General’s conduct however in the action, and the perseverance with which he pursues...
29From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
The English, by the capture of St. Eustatia, seem to have committed the most compleat blunder of all. There was found in that Island a greater quantity of Property belonging to the Britons themselves, than to the French, Dutch, or Americans. They have broke up a Trade, which was more advantageous to them, than to any of their Enemies, as it was a Channel through which British Manufactures were...
My last to Your Excellency was of the 25 th ult o . and was the more particular as M r : Toscan, who is appointed Vice Consul of France at Boston was the Bearer of it— He sailed from Bilboa On the 18 th Inst: I received from the Honorable M r . Lovell Three Letters written on one sheet, viz t : 20 Feb y . 9 & 31 March last— No other Copies of these Letters ever reached me— They arrived at...