7501From John Adams to Jean Luzac, 5 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is an Abridgment of a Pamphlet, published in London last Winter. I beg your Attentive Perusal of it and your candid opinion, whether it would be of service to our cause, which is the Cause of Man Kind and especially of Europe, to publish it, and in what manner. You will please to return it to me, if you do not make any Use of it, because there is not, in the World, another Copy. It is...
7502From George Washington to John Dudley Townes, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 10th I have recd your letter of the same date inclosing the Copy of the proceedings of the Court Martial held upon you, and the deposition of the Harbour Master of Charles town. My last having informed you of the propriety of submitting the matter to Major General Greene’s determination, I now repeat my opinion, and return the papers to you, that you may either carry or...
7503November 5. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jay likes Frenchmen as little as Mr. Lee and Mr. Izard did. He says they are not a Moral People. They know not what it is. He dont like any Frenchman. —The Marquis de la Fayette is clever, but he is a Frenchman. —Our Allies dont play fair, he told me. They were endeavouring to deprive Us of the Fishery, the Western Lands, and the Navigation of the Missisippi. They would even bargain with...
7504To George Washington from General Henry Clinton, 8 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having occasion to remit £10,000, Sterling in Specie to Virginia for the Troops of the Convention of Saratoga; and wishing also to send by the same Conveyance that carries this Money, a quantity of Wine and other Refreshments for their Use, I am to request you will be so obliging to send me the necessary Passports for the safe conveyance thereof, in the Brigantine Patsey, of about 180 Tons...
7505To John Adams from the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 6 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
M. Searle nous à remis dans son tems, notre cher et estimable ami, la lettre donc vous l’aviez chargé pour nous, il a dû vous ecrire que nous étions très empressés à faire tout ce qui pourroit lui etre agreable, et qu’il a eu avec un des chefs de la ferme generale un entretien aussi long qu’il pouvoit le desirer. Il nous a paru être très Content du fermier general; nous sçavons que Celui-ci a...
7506From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 6 – 7 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 26 ultimo is before me. That of 9th. have received. I have received the Box of Books &c—but nothing since. Pray drop all the Papers, I will get the Courant the Same way, that I have the General Advertiser and Morning post. I wish to have a Poem that is advertised, in which some American Characters are Said to be drawn —good or bad—let it come. I want also that Volume of the...
7507John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to be lodged here with no less a Personage than the Prince of Hesse Castle Cassel , who is here upon a Visit. We occupy different Apartements in the same House and have no Intercourse with each other to be sure: but some Wags are of Opinion, that if I were authorized to open a Negotiation with him, I might obtain from him as many Troops to fight on our Side the Question, as...
7508From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is the Order Your Excellency required of me in the Letter you yesterday did me the honour of writing to me, relating to the English Prisoners brought into L’Orient by the Black Prince, & other american Privateers. I beg leave to mention to your Excelly. that there are still remaining in the English Prisons 410 Americans, some of whom have languish’d there...
7509To Thomas Jefferson from James Innes, 24 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Return you require was sent from this post to the adjutant General, above nine Days since. But that I suppose having miscarried from the villainy of the Express riders (every one of whom, that I am acquainted with ought to suffer Death) I herewith transmit a second Account of the two Regiments stationed at and below this place. I can with truth assure your Excellency that I never within...
7510From George Washington to John Lamb, 18 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 16th inclosing the proceedings of a Brigade Genl Court Martial held at Burlington upon Salmon and Brown of the 2d Regt of Artillery. It does not appear in the face of the proceedings by whom the Court was constituted, at any rate it must have been illegal—as a General Court Martial can only be held by order of the Commander in Cheif—the Commanding Genl in any of...
7511George Washington to George Clinton, 19 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 19, 1781 . Regrets inability to comply with New York State’s request for regiments to defend frontier. Will send needed supplies to Fort Schuyler. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
7512From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenant of Culpeper, 5 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to inform you [&c. as in the preceding Letter of May 5th] I am &c. FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “County Lieutenant of Culpeper.” Brackets supplied. The “preceding letter” refers to the letter preceding here, also. Below the text is written, “Culpeper 351,” the number of militia to be called.
7513To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 2 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
By the latest accounts from the West Indies there is the highest probability that the French will have a decided naval superiority the Ensuing Campaign To detain their whole fleet on that Station in the hurricane months would be placing a great part of the marine of France in a situation too hazarduous, while the will being of that Nation depends so much on it’s safety—That it will return...
7514To George Washington from Lord Howe, 20 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Being on the point of sailing from Rhode Island when I received the application referred to in your letter of the 10th Inst I could not then obtain an answer to the inquiries it was necessary to make into the particulars of Mr John Chace’s case; Both with regard to the allegations, and the propriety of concurring in the discharge of a person not a prisoner , but retained in an office of trust...
7515To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I forwarded the inclosed early this morning, but thro’ a mistake of the express was this moment returned to me. Since which I am honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, part of which is answered by the enclosed Letter. Every thing in my power shall be carefully attended to, for the public Good. We have plenty of Provision, I am informed it will continue. I forgot to mention in my...
7516From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 October 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned but in JM’s hand. Cover missing. Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison jr. Oct: 15. 1782.” Probably many years later, after this letter was returned to him, JM wrote below Randolph’s docket, “contains Lovell’s cypher.” Words or parts of words which JM encoded in that or the official cipher have been italicized in the present copy. The third paragraph of the...
7517To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 27 July 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 27 July 1779 . Detailed account of Wayne’s capture of Stony Point on the Hudson, 15 July. Postscript reads: “You will oblige me much, by suggesting to me such reflections, as occur to you on the subject of peace: not on the propriety of making it, if possible, but on terms, necessary for America to insist on.” RC ( DLC ); 1 p. Printed in part: Conway, Edmund Randolph , p. 39–40.
7518George Washington to John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, July 29, 1779. Reports that the news of the embarkation of the British was false. Asks if powder can be obtained from Massachusetts or Connecticut. Df , in writing of H, with postscript in writing of Robert Hanson Harrison, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
7519General Orders, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the Day tomorrow Major General St Clair Lieutenant Colonel Adams Major Reid Brigade Major Williams General Gist’s brigade for duty tomorrow. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
7520To John Adams from Henry Grand, 31 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Pursuant to Doctor Franklin’s Approbation I have Settled your Account in the only way you could admit of, that is to Say I have given you credit for the sum you ordered to Mr. Dana’s Account £6857. 3 adding to that the Ballance I owed you on the 10th. of sept of 2557. 16 makes up a sum of £ 9414. 19 from which there is to be deducted 1st. the £400. making with the charges Bf 4045.2 at 53...
7521To George Washington from James Cleveland, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Tack This oppertunity to Let you know how I have proseded In your bisness on the ohio First I proseded To the Tract Directed on the kanhawa 10990 acres as Directed I Sarchet That Extenceve Tract Fore Dayes To Find the best place To be gin my Impruve ments at lingth I Fixt in the great Bend Not be Cause it tis the best Land For it is all So Rich that I Saw no Choss but Thought I had reson To...
7522From John Adams to Joseph Warren, 21 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
This Letter I presume will be delivered into your own Hand by the General. He proposes to set out, tomorrow, for your Camp. God Speed him. Lee is, Second Major General, Schuyler, who is to command at N. York is the third and Putnam the fourth. How many Brigadiers general we shall have, whether five, Seven or Eight, is not determined, nor who they shall be. One from N. Hampshire, one from R....
7523[Diary entry: 13 June 1775] (Washington Papers)
13th. Clear but somewhat Cool.
7524From Benjamin Franklin to Nogaret, 8 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c … (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), I , 74. I received the letter you have done me the honour of writing to me the 2d instant, wherein after overwhelming me with a flood of compliments, which I can never hope to merit, you request my opinion of your translation of a Latin Verse, that has...
7525To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 10 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Addressed to “The Honble James Maddison jr Esqr Philadelphia.” Another copy, made from the missing original, is printed in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society , 2d ser., XIX (1905), 140–41. An extract is given in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue, No. 694 (1892). Very little important hath happened here, at least that has come to my knowledge, since...
7526To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 Dec. 1776. GW on 21 Dec. wrote Putnam : “I have been favoured with your Two Letters of the 17th and 19th Instt.”
7527To John Adams from C.W.F. Dumas, 3 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Je me proposois de vous écrire ce soir, pour vous apprendre la Résolution unanime que doit se prendre ce matin aux Etats-Généraux, pour la Garantie, par L. H. P. des 5 millions de florins que la France empruntera ici pour prêter aux Etats-Unis, lorsqu’on est venu m’apporter les deux Lettres ci-jointes, arrivées ici par la voie d’Ostende, où je suppose qu’un Vaisseau Américain aura abordé...
7528To George Washington from Captain George Lewis, 14 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
By orders receiv’d of Captain Jones, from your Excellency, I have made an exact return of the remainder of our Regiment, which you have inclosed. Those Horses return’d Sick and Lame, will never be fit for the Service Longer, Should be glad to know your Excellencys pleasure what would be best done with them, the Qr Master Complains that the forrage they have already distroyed is more than they...
7529To George Washington from James Mease, 21 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
since I had the pleasure of writing your Excellency I have been confined with a bad fever & Cold, wh. prevents my being able to set out for Camp for a few days In the mean time have thought proper to send the bearer Mr Young to take care of such business for me as may Occur in that department I have engaged him as assistant to me in the execution of the business not doubting but some will be...
7530Henry Laurens, Richard Henry Lee, and John Adams to Joseph Trumbull, 5 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Resolve of Congress which you will receive under this Cover will shew you that we are appointed a Committee and for what purposes. We request you to transmit to us by the earliest good opportunity the fullest intelligence in your late department of Commissary General and you will further oblige us by adding any further information properly authenticated relative to the enquiries which we...