41Major Sherburne’s Testimony on the Affair at the Cedars, [17 June 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
The place called the Cedars is on the river St. Lawrence, about 43 miles above Montreal. At this place Colo. Bedel was posted with 390 men. He had here laid off some works of defence inclosed the greater part of them with picquets and the rest with lines of earth and had two canons mounted. Colo. Bedel having received intelligence on Wednesday the 15th. of May that the enemy were approaching...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, [21 June 1776?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This note has probably far more importance than appears on the surface, because the likelihood is that Jefferson enclosed with it his draft of the Declaration of Independence. The evolution of that document has undergone repeated and microscopic analysis. A number of minor questions remain unanswered, but the general outline is clear. On June 7 the issue of...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, [21 June 1776?] (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper has been read and with some small alterations approved of by the committee. Will Doctr. Franklyn be so good as to peruse it and suggest such alterations as his more enlarged view of the subject will dictate? The paper having been returned to me to change a particular sentiment or two, I propose laying it again before the committee tomorrow morning, if Doctr. Franklyn can...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, [ca. 30 June 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
I this day received information that the Convention had been pleased to reappoint me to the office in which I have now the honor to be serving them and through you must beg leave to return them my sincere thanks for this mark of their continued confidence. I am sorry the situation of my domestic affairs renders it indispensably necessary that I should sollicit the substitution of some other...
45Notes of Witnesses’ Testimony concerning the Canadian Compaign, [1–27 July 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John Blake. July. 1. 1776. He lives at Montreal. A merchant. Has lived there almost from the year 1760. Was a great scarcity hard cash, could not supply troops with clothes or food, wood. He lent 471–18–9 and 394–15–3 in January. If had been cash in Canada, provisions might have been had. He has lent individuals of army 130. half Joes. Continental bills would not have passed in Canada. A...
46From Thomas Jefferson to William Fleming, 1 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of 22d June came to hand this morning and gratified me much as this with your former contains interesting intelligence. Our affairs in Canada go still retrograde, but I hope they are now nearly at their worst. The fatal sources of these misfortunes have been want of hard money with which to procure provisions, the ravages of the small pox with which one half of our army is still down,...
47Proposed Resolution for Rotation of Membership in the Continental Congress, [before 2 July 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
To prevent every danger which might arise to American freedom by continuing too long in office the members of the Continental Congress, to preserve to that body the confidence of their friends, and to disarm the malignant imputations of their enemies It is earnestly recommended to the several Provincial Assemblies or Conventions of the United colonies that in their future elections of...
48Proposal for the Great Seal of the United States, [before 14 August 1776] (Franklin Papers)
On July 4, 1776, Franklin, John Adams, and Jefferson were named as a committee to suggest a seal. Each man proposed designs, and one of Jefferson’s closely resembled Franklin’s. In addition the painter Pierre Du Simitière, who had been called in as a consultant, produced a version of his own. A letter from John Adams of August 14 described the various proposals; hence Franklin’s had been...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, 8 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
For news I refer you to your brother who writes on that head. I enclose you a copy of the declaration of independence as agreed to by the House, and also, as originally framed. You will judge whether it is the better or worse for the Critics. I shall return to Virginia after the 11th of August. I wish my successor may be certain to Come before that time, in that case, I shall hope to see you...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 15 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 3d inst. came to hand to-day. I wish I could be better satisfied on the point of Patty’s recovery. I had not heard from her at all for two posts before, and no letter from herself now. I wish it were in my power to return by way of the Forest, as you think it will be impracticable for Mrs. Eppes to travel to the mountains. However, it will be late in August before I can get home,...