6911To John Adams from Bidé de Chavagnes, 12 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
D’après lespece de certitude que m’avoit donné monsieur allaine que j aurois Ihonneur et le plaisir de vous voir jeudy et de diner chez luy avec vous ce qui en grande partie m’a fait remercier monsieur déné a cambridge pour le même jour. Je me flattois de pouvoir prendre avec vous les arrangements qui vous eussent convenus pour votre embarquement qui reglera avec les vents notre depart. J...
6912From George Washington to Guy Carleton, 6 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of a request from the Executive of the State of Pennsylvania, I must beg the favor of your Excellency to procure and transmit me a passport for the Sloop Cohansy John Kemp Mast. navigated by four Seamen, from Philada to New York and back, with about 200 Barrels of Flour and 100 Bushels of Potatoes, for the use of the Marine prisoners belonging to the State of Pennsylvania. The...
6913General Orders, 29 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The seamen returned in General Muhlenberg’s, Weedon’s, Woodford’s, Scotts, 2nd Maryland and McDougall’s brigades, are to have by them, three day’s provisions ready cooked, and hold themselves ready to march at the shortest notice. After Orders. The ammunition of each brigade is to be inspected without the least delay, and reports of the state of it made immediately. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
6914From George Washington to John Mitchell, 5 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
By Doctr Craik I send you four half Joes—£6.9.3 of which appears to be the Balle due you, allowing the Pensa State Paper (in yr hands) at one for four. I pray you to get me made by the measure inclosed a pair of the neatest & best Leather Breeches. I know not at this time who is esteemed the most celebrated Workman, or I would not trouble you in so trifling a matter. formerly there used to be...
6915From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Yarnold, 27 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday yours of the 25th. On your Arrival here, when you first mentioned to me your purpose. I gave to you and your friend my candid Opinion that your scheme of becoming military Officers in America could not Answer your Expectation, and I advis’d you to return to England and apply your selves to some Profession more likely to be advantangeous. I wish...
6916From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of Yesterday inclosing Capt. Walls Report —Be pleased to direct your Spies who go into the City to be very observant of what is doing there—whether the packing up of Goods seems general or only a few people—whether any magazine of Wood or forage is forming and whether they are constructing any works round the City or any where upon the Island. I am of opinion if they intend to...
6917Enclosure: A Proposal Regarding the Procurement of Powder, 12 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
As the Article of Powder is much wanted to carry on the operations vs the ministerial Army, and as the british Ministry, have taken every Step that human Nature could divise to prevent the Americans obtaining So essential an Article; it is humbly Submitted to the Wisdom, of the cont. Congress, whether it will not be prudent to Supply yourselves with that Article at the Expence of the said...
6918IV. Proposed Article in Place of Articles 22 and 23, 22 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
It is agreed between the two contracting Parties that no Clause, Article, matter or Thing, herein contained Shall be taken or understood, contrary or derogatory to the Ninth, Tenth, Seventeenth and twenty Second Articles of the Treaty of Commerce between the United States and the Crown of France, or to prevent the Said United States from Admitting his Catholick Majesty the King of Spain to...
6919Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 3 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
These may Serve to acquaint your Honours of my arrival at this port, after a short Cruze of twenty four Days. While on the Cruze I took four Prizes one of which I sent for Boston in Charge of a Carefull Prize Master and seven Men she being a Brig from Venus Venice her Cargo chiefly Medicine. The others I Ordered for this Port, two of their Cargos fish the other Coles coal? and Bottles, all of...
6920[Draft Resolution Concerning Instructions to Delegates, March—April 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Whereas, the present State of America, and the cruel Efforts of our Enemies, render the most perfect and cordial Union of the Colonies and the utmost Exertions of their Strength, necessary for the Preservation and establishment of their Liberties, therefore Resolved. That it be recommended to the several Assemblies and Conventions of these united Colonies, who have limited the Powers of their...
6921To George Washington from Isaac Ledyard, 27 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find by the General Orders of this Day that the Court is ordered to proceed no further in my Trial because I am Deranged by Congress. I beg leave to Remark to your Excellency that the Crimes with which I am Charged are said to have been committed before these Resolutions were made and I cannot but think that I am triable by a Court-Martial upon Charges made whilst I was in actual...
6922To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Clay, enclosing His Account against the State, 9 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In the Month of July last I had the honour of waiting on your Excellency with a Warrant of Congress on your State for 1,200,000 Dollars, transmitted me from the Pay Office in Philada. for the purpose of supporting the Southern Army, at which time you inform’d me your Treasury was so drain’d, ’twas not in your Power to take the Warrant up, but assur’d me you wou’d advise me when it was that I...
6923To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The last Letter which I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency is dated the 6th Instant, in the mean time I have received and presented to Congress your favors of the 4th and 5th, the former is committed to the Board of War. By direction of Congress I now transmit Copy of a Letter of the 23d Ultimo from the honorable Major General Schuyler. You will be pleased Sir to direct your next...
6924From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your favors of the 10th & 11th Instant. I had always considered you as having the command of the Troops at Fish Kill. and am fully of your opinion that an investigation into the issues of Provision at that place, and the Landing is absolutely necessary—You will be pleased therefore to take such Measures as you think proper to detect the abuses in this or any other article...
6925From John Jay to Bernardo del Campo, 3 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 2 d . Instant. As M r . Vaughan was favored last Spring at Aranjues with a passport from his Excellency the Count De Florida Blanca to go to and reside at Toledo, I omitted to enumerate in my last, the circumstances requested in your Letter. This Gentleman’s father is an Englishman—his mother is an american. He himself was born ^...
6926To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th came to hand last Evening—I shall pay due attention to its contents—but I fear my situation is too remote to carry on a communication of intelligence to advantage—Ever since I have been here I have been revolving the matter over and over in my mind respecting the subject of intelligence Nothing more elligible has occurd than the plan your Excellency suggests—but I hope...
6927To Benjamin Franklin from Laurent Laffitte, François Mongin and Jacques Fraissignes, 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Laurent lafitte francois mongin lieutenans et jacques fraissigner chirurgien du corsaire legust [ The Guest ] commendé par eduard mackaller de la nouvelle yorce ayant eu le malheur d’etre pris le 14 du mois d’octobre mil sept cens soixante dix sept, apres un combat de trois heures et demy ou dix hommes ont perdeû la vie, et trente huit grievement Blessés,...
6928To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 27 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your favours of the 22d instant, I have not seen the express that brought them, & know not whether he is yet returned, I shall commit this to the care of Genl Lincoln to see it safely forwarded. The British are at length sufficiently humbled to sue for peace tho not in the line we wish they seem to part with every thing more readily than with America. They have...
6929To George Washington from David Brooks, 10 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
Of the articles which Your Excellency has specified in your Letter of this date, we can supply from the store as follows, viz. 320 Uniform Coats blue faced red 20 white faced blue, for Music 340 Coats 500 Vests 500 Wn Overalls (good) 1000 pairs stockings, 500 pairs socks, 500 Milled Caps, 500 pair Mitts, 500 shirts 1500 pair shoes (good) & 150 Watch Coats, such as the one I send here with....
6930General Orders, 29 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief congratulates the Army on the Victory obtained over the Arms of his Britanick Majesty yesterday and thanks most sincerely the gallant officers and men who distinguished themselves upon the occasion and such others as by their good order & coolness gave the happiest presages of what might have been expected had they come to Action. General Dickinson and the Militia of...
6931From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 4 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General requests to know what materials you have for making litters, or whether you have any ready made—a number will be instantly wanted for the service of the trenches. Yours &c. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
6932From Benjamin Franklin to [Creutz], [13 December 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society M. Franklin etant obligé d’etre demain Matin à Paris pour Affaire ne pourra pas avoir l’honneur de recevoir chez lui M. l’Ambassadeur de Suede— Mais il aura celui de lui faire sa Cour sur les 11 heures—si toutefois cela est agreable à M. l’Ambassadeur. In answer to the preceding document: BF described this meeting in the Dec. 14 portion of his letter to...
6933John Adams and Arthur Lee to Ralph Izard, 13 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We had the Honour of your Letter of Yesterdays date, on the same Day, informing Us of your having drawn a Bill upon Us, for five hundred Louis D’ors. We have the Honour to inform you that the Bill, being presented to Us, was accepted the same day by, Sir your most obedient &c BF , opposed to...
6934To Thomas Jefferson from James Wood, 15 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am Honour’d with your Letter of the 9th. Instant with the Several Inclosures, and shall think myself Happy if I am Able to Carry your Ideas into Execution. I have Issued Peremptory Orders for all the Officers without Distinction, to repair within five Days to the Barracks, and shall Certainly inforce them with Strictness; at the same time I must beg leave to Suggest it as my Opinion, that in...
6935To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 28 August [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I wish, my dear Hamilton, you will please to invite your father in law to come and dine tomorrow with me. Mr Duane has engag’d he would do me that honor. I Beg you will also come. Be so kind as to write to me if any intelligence is come to hand, and when the General has determin’d to leave this place. Don’t forget what I told yesterday to you. I request, my dear Sir, you will Beg the General...
6936To George Washington from Robert H. Kirkwood, Jr., 13 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
agreable to a resolve of the Honourable the Congress dated the twenty second of march last the Officers of the Delaware Battalion have unanimously agreed to recieve the Commutation in Lieu of the half pay for life. and take this oppertunity of signifying the same to your Excellency. I am with Due respect your Excellencys Humble Servt DNA : Item 149, Letters and Reports from Benjamin Lincoln,...
6937To George Washington from William Livingston, 15 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honour of your Excellency’s Favour of the 10th Instant inclosing a Return of the Citizens of this State inlisted in Moylands & Sheldon’s Regiments of light Dragoons. I am now to apply to your Excellency in pursuance of an Act of our Legislature for as many officers as your Excellency shall think necessary to be sent into the different Counties of this State for the purpose of...
6938To George Washington from William Moore, 9 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of Yesterday respecting the Troops of Masschusse tts has been read in Council who are of opinion, that it will not be proper for the state of Pennsylvania to open an account with Captain Van Heir by advancing money to him for recruiting, but should any of the men enlisted by the state appear to be proper for that they may be assigned to it, if Your Excellency think it proper. The...
6939To George Washington from George William Fairfax, 26 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I cannot express the Joy with which I take up my Pen to congratulate your Excellency, upon the happy conclusion of the late diabolical War. my gratitude to Heaven exceeds all discription and I pray God incessantly that you (who have been so principal an instrument in the hand of Providence) may long continue to Enjoy the blessings of Peace and Independence, and that those may be sweetend to...
6940To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I now sit down to inform your Excellency what number of our militia may be expected to join your army, which after all will, I fear, be in great measure conjectural. With the county of Bergen your Excellency is too well acquainted to want any information. Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth, are all frontiers, and almost worn out in defending their own borders. The same is the case with Cumberland,...
6941To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Teams of General Nixons Brigade are all Sent off, at Some distance, for want of Forage, which will render it impracticable, to move the Brigade or Transport Provission to it. I have therefore directed him to Send out, a Field officers command of 150 men, with four days Provission, which will come up to the Idea your Excellency last mentioned to me, on that Subject. These can be releived,...
6942Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 12 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will informe You of my Arrival here this Day with only the Duke De Shasell and Brigg two Friends of our Convoy, the other ships not being ready, but I am in hopes the greatest part of them will Joyn us here in the course of this Week; on my Joyning the Fleet I Salluted the Commodore and Imediately Waited on him with my French Captn: to whome he gave...
6943From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 5 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to M. Grand & will send the two Copies required tomorrow Morning. He understands well that he is to receive nothing till the Advances there are Ascertained: And it is for that Reason, that he has required the Receipts to be sent him. But as the Bills expected are mostly of three Usances, will be drawn gradually, and will...
6944To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 30 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that having formd the junction with General Clinton without loss, we marchd from Tioga the 26th in the afternoon, the Rains had swell’d the Cayuga so as to render our march to Chemung very difficult, as we had to ford the River twice in our Rout. We arriv’d there in the evening of the 28th and marchd for the place early in the morning of the 29th...
6945From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 60, 8 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 27–30). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:660–663; extracts in various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 27 Dec. 1780 and the Boston Gazette
6946General Orders, 29 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
For the day Tomorrow Lieutenant Colo. Mellen. Major Trescot For duty tomorrow the 3d Massachusetts regiment. A General courtmartial whereof Colonel Putnam is appointed President, will assemble at the Presidents quarters tomorrow morning for the trial of Major Reid and such persons as may come before them; Lieutenant Colonel Hull—Major Lansdale—Two Captains from the Jersey: Two from the York,...
6947To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to Inform your excelancey that Last night in the night the enemy got two Briggs and one Sloop up past the Island on the side next the Islands and this day they were unloading them at the Lowast ferrey in Schulkill, there has been a verey hevey fiering this day at the fourt from the Battreys on the Islands the fourt Seldom Returned the fier the Galleys went lower down the River then...
6948John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have this day taken a long Ramble, with my son. The Weather is as delightfull as you can imagine. There is not in the Month of May, a softer Air, a warmer sun, or a more delicious Appearance of Things about Boston. We walked all over the Gardens of the Royal Castle of Muet, at Passy. The Gardens are very spacious, on one Quarter looking to Mount Calvare, on another to the famous Castle of...
6949To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Rayber, 22 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay l’honneur de recourir à votre Justice, et vous la demander dans la situation malheureuse ou je me Trouve. Au mois d’aoust dernier J’offris mes services au Commodore Guillin agent des affaires de la Caroline du Sud, apres avoir vû mes Brevets, Certificats de Service et démission au Service du Roy, les petits Talents qu’il m’a reconnu, ont fait agréer...
6950From George Washington to Thaddeus Betts, 11 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 9th Instant, & much applaud the spirit you have manifested to assist in cutting off all kind of intercourse with the Enemy except at Dobbs Ferry. With respect to the Persons who lately came without a Flag from Loyd’s neck to Norwalk, I have to observe, that as this is the first instance that has come to my knowledge, I have not thought it absolutely...
6951To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 30 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library I informed you in my last that the Farmers insisted on the payment of the Duties, & even made a merit of not seizing the Goods. I am sure this is because they do not understand the nature of my Request for it is not an exemption from any Duty which I ask, but I ask not to pay a Duty which I am only liable to by having...
6952From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Huntington, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 18. instant the enemy came from Portsmouth up James river in considerable force, tho’ their numbers precisely are not yet known to us. They landed at Burwells ferry below Williamsburg and near the mouth of Chickahominy above it. This latter circumstance obliged Colo. Innes who commanded a body of Militia Stationed on that Side the river to cover the country from depredation, to retire...
6953From George Washington to Brigadier General Edward Hand, 1 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I arrived here, I received Your favor of the 17th Ulto. I am sorry the Country about Minisincks or within supporting distance could not afford forage sufficient to subsist Count pulaski’s Horse. Matters respecting them and their Quarters are arranged before this. As to the German batallion—should any pressing circumstances arise to make it essential, you may call it from Easton. With...
6954To George Washington from Joseph Hawley, 27 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
For God’s Sake! If it is possible Let all Ward’s People be instantly orderd to Canada or to Some place where they are More Needed than they are here—Pray Sr Consider that they are Officerd Armed and equipd in all respects—Every thing is to do for the Militia—Our People will fight here pro Aris & focis —But very few of them (Believe Me) will be got to Canaday this year—I Pray your Excellency to...
6955To George Washington from Comfort Sands, 17 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Mode proposed by your Excellency for settling the disputes between the Officers of the Army and us is perfectly agreeable to us and we should thankfully have embraced the first moment of your information by Col. Stewart, to have named a Gentleman of reputation on our part, But that our Comfort Sands was sett out on Urgent business to Philadelphia. the preceeding day. we now propose either...
6956To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Very late last night the following intelligence was sent me that sir Henry Clinton was return’d from Long Island, that most if not all the British Regiments had cross’d over and had marchd by the way of Kings Bridge to York Island, that they passd over at Hell Gate Frogs Neck & some other places, and that it was very Confidently talk’d of that you wou’d be attack’d very shortly, that Flat...
6957From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to your Excellency for announcing my election as a member of the Philosophical Society. I feel myself particularly honored by this relation to a society whose successful efforts for promoting useful knowledge have already justly acquired them the highest reputation in the literary world. I entreat you to pres[en]t my warmest acknowledgments, and to assure them that I shall...
6958George Washington to Baron de Kalb, 8 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] July 8, 1779 . Asks De Kalb to appoint an officer “ protempore ” to take the place of Major Henry Hardman. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
6959From George Washington to Elizabeth Nicholas Randolph, 25 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your polite Note of yesterday, and beg leave to assure you, that your obliging Congratulations are very acceptable to me. I have the pleasure to inform you that measures are adopting, for making an equitable compensation to the Inhabitants for such Articles as have been taken for the use of the Allied Army—The Governor has engaged to have a valuation made of them—In...
6960Officers of the Admiralty of Guadeloupe to the American Peace Commissioners, 3 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society En conformité des ordres du Roi, les Officiers de l’Amirauté de la Guadeloupe ont l’honneur d’adresser à Vos Excellences, deux copies de procedures instruites au sujet des prises amenées à la Guadeloupe par des corsaires Americains. Nous Sommes avec respect, Messieurs, de Vos Excellences, Les très-humbles & très-obéissans Serviteurs Notation: Salimon 3. avl....