1From George Washington to James Lovell, 16 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged by the information contained in yours of the 10th —I immediately forwarded your letters and the papers to Mr Morris by Express. I am convinced we have nothing to expect from Great Britain but what her necessities shall oblige her to give up—She is somewhat like a person in desperate circumstances—She can scarcely be in a worse condition and by persevering, something...
2From George Washington to James Lovell, 16 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 9th instant solliciting my favor for acertain Mr George Joy with the Enemy. Should I be so happy as to enter N. York, so early as you mention is the Expectation of the people of Boston—which Event, to me, I must Confess does, not appear so promising as they seem to imagine—It will not be for me to determine upon the Merits or Demerits of Individuals, who may...
3From George Washington to James Lovell, 4 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd yours inclosing a packet for the Honble Mr Morris, which I shall forward by the first safe conveyance. I have the honor to be Sir yr most obt Servt. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
4Abigail Adams to James Lovell?, 10 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since your arrival in Philadelphia, but I have had the satisfaction of hearing from abroad and finding that the situation of my Friend was not so dissagreable as I feard. You have had publick dispatches and probable private Letters. Have you not some intelligence which you may communicate? There is not a prospect of peace I think. Thus my Friend...
5From George Washington to James Lovell, 1 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the trouble you have taken in forwarding the intelligence which was enclosed in your Letter of the 11th of March—It is by comparing a variety of information, we are frequently enable to investigate facts, which were so intricate or hidden, that no single clue could have led to the knowledge of them in this point of view, intelligence becomes interesting, which from but its...
6From John Adams to James Lovell, 25 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter to congress of the 16 of May, inclosing my Memorial, I observed, that the Bravery of our Countrymen in Carolina, De la motte piquets Captures, and the Spanish opperations of Gibraltar, had contributed to raise the Spirits of this nation from that gloom, in which the Capture of Statia Essequebo and Demerara had plunged them. I did not then conceive it possible that I should be...
7Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 8 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yes I have been Sick confined to my chamber with a slow fever. I have been unhappy through anxiety for my dear Boy, and still am apprehensive of our terrible coast should he come upon it, besides the tormenting cruizers infest our Bay with impuinity and take every thing. You have heard I suppose that the passengers all left the Ship and went to Bilboa upon Gillions abusive treatment of them....
8Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 15 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
Do you know a Man by the Name of More What is his character? I have never replied to your favour of october 9th. I felt a reluctance at writing. Yet I love your Letters when they are not too sausy, or do not border upon what I never will pardon or forgive. I cannot withdraw my esteem from the writter, yet if his Friends do not tell him how much his character suffers, they do not act the part...
9From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 5 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Upon the Receipt of yours, relating to Messrs Gouvernier & Curson, & Dr. Witherspoon, I wrote to a Correspondent in London to furnish them with what Money they might have Occasion for. The two former did not want any Assistance, the latter took 20 Guineas, which enabled him to come hither where he found a farther Credit from his Father. I shall always...
10From George Washington to James Lovell, 12 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I h ave received your Favor of the 28th ulto Its Inclosures for Major Genl Greene, shall be forwarded to him, by the first good Conveyance. I am &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
11From George Washington to James Lovell, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged by the Comunication you have been pleased to make me in your Favr of 21st ulto. My Secretary has taken a Copy of the Cyphers—& by help of one of the Alphabets has been able to decipher one paragraph of a Letter lately intercepted going from Ld Cornwallis to sir Hry Clinton. Your letter in Genl Greene will be forwarded by a good Opportunity by which I expect to write tomorrow....
12Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 20 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
In truth Friend thou art a Queer Being—laugh where I must, be candid where I can.—Your pictures are Hogarths. I shall find you out by and by—I will not Build upon other peoples judgements. My philosopher (I like the Name exceedingly) used to say I was a physiognomist. I have tried not unsuccessfully to find out the Heart of many a one by the countanance. I do not recollect that I ever had that...
13From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress Immediately on the Receipt of your respected Letter of May 9. I wrote to a Friend in London, to supply Messrs. Curson & Gouverneur with what Money they might have occasion for: and he writes to me that he has accordingly made them the Offer. Their Liberty is not at present obtainable. I should be very glad if I had it in my Power to...
14Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 12 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
I cannot swallow your prohibition with a good grace and yet I am glad I know the real cause of Marias Silence to my repeated invitation. On one account I could have wished that the Letter containing the conference between Portia and Cornelia might not have been com municated. Portia is loth that Maria should be witness to the freedom of her pen least unknowing to all the circumstances which...
15Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 20 July – 6 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters of june 26 and july 2d came safe to hand together with the resolves which would gratify me if there was a sufficient stability in the Body which confer’d it to render it truly honorary, but the Letter of Janry. 10th strikes me very dissagreably and is highly tinctured with parissian influence. It bears a striking likeness of a servility to a court that ought not to have so...
16Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 14 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour by General Ward was not deliverd me till this day or I should have replied to it by the last post; the Generous acknowledgement of having tran s gressed forbids any further recrimination even tho I had more than the Right of a Friend. The serious part of your Letter drew a tear from the Eye of Portia. She wished for ability she wished for power to make happy the Man who so richly...
17Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 30 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
At length the mistery is unravelld, and by a mere accident I have come to the knowledge of what you have more than once hinted at. A Letter of Mrs. Shippen addressed to Mrs. A. but without any christian Name or place of abode, was put into my Hands Supposed for me, I opened and read it half through before I discoverd the mistake. Ought Eve to have laid it by then when so honestly come at? But...
18Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 23 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
And is there no medium Sir, between terms which might be misconstrued, and the cold formal adieu of mere ceremony tagd with a title. Your Sentimentilist as you are pleased to stile her prizes the Emanations of a pure and friendly Heart, before all the studied complasance of a finished courtier. Uncandid do you say? You never will find Portia so. When the character of the Statesman, the...
19Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 13 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you by the last post with a freedom which perhaps you may think I had no right to make use of. I was stimulated to it by many severe speaches that I had heard, and from not knowing myself what to say in paliation of my Friend. All former excuses were worn out by time and tho I do not believe the hard things I have heard, I think he ought to suffer any temporary inconvenience which a...
20Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 10 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Upon opening your favour of April 17 my Heart Beat a double stroke when I found that the Letter which I supposed had reachd you was the one captured in the room of that you received which was what I had supposed lost, but I should have been secure from the knowledge of the writer if Mr. Cranchs Letter and one I wrote at the same time had not accompanied it. The Letter which I would not have...
21Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 17 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It was not till the last week in Febry. that your favour of Janry. 8th reachd me. I had waited the arrival of each post with impatience but was so repeatedly dissapointed that I almost gave up my correspondent even in the way of Friendship. I struck up of the list of Galantry some time ago. It is a character in my mind very unbefitting a senator notwithstanding the Authority of Chesterfeild...
22Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 3 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of december 19 was deliverd me this day. I would not omit by this post to thank you for it, and for your confidential communications. I cannot however comprehend your Letter to my best Friend for want of the promised key. I am more reconciled to ambiguity and ciphers, than formerly, and not a little thankfull, that the Robberies have been committed now rather than twelve Months...
23From John Adams to James Lovell, 7 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am this Moment finishing the Year, Since my last Arrival in Europe. And the dullest Year, it has been, that I ever Saw. I hope I shall never see Such another. The last Year has compleatly finished our Credit in Europe, Unless France and Spain should lend Us Money there is none to be had. As to the Olive Branch the Seed is not yet Sown which is to produce the Tree which will bear it. I have...
24From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 2 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I duly received your several Favours of Augt 15 & Sept. 7. with the Resolves of Congress for drawing on me Bills extraordinary to the Amount of near 300 thousand Dollars. To keep up the Credit of Congress, I had already engag’d for those drawn on Mr Lawrens. You cannot conceive how much these...
25From John Jay to James Lovell, 27 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 11 July gave me much pleasure. There is a Degree of Ease and Cordiality in it which, as mere Letters of Business do not require, I am the more obliged to you for. It is true that I might write to Congress very often, indeed by every vessel, and there are many of them. But how are my Letters to get to the Sea Side? by the Post! They would be all inspected & many suppressed....
26From John Adams to James Lovell, 20 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 10 July is before me. Mr. Searle and every other Gentleman that you recommend to me, shall be treated with all the respect possible. I hope to see him but fear it will not be soon. I hope you will send Mr. Laurens here Minister Plenipotentiary. We have not shewn so much Attention and Respect to this Republick as it deserves, or as their Interest and ours requires. A Minister here,...
27Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 17 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified at again receiving a few lines from you, tho very Laconick. I wrote you about ten days since by a Mr. Brown, who came in the Alliance and brought Letters from my Friend to congress and to some of his Friends which he put into the post office, but they must be of an old date, as he was waiting near four months for the Sailing of the Alliance. Such conduct with regard to one...
28Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 3 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Where is my Friend Mr. L ovel l? Can he be an inhabitant of this world and inattentive to a Lady? Can he suffer Letters repeatedly to reach him and not deign a line in reply? Can he be so apsorbed in the Region of politicks as to have forgotten Social engagements? Snatch him some friendly Genius from the Region of torpitude, bear him hence Benevolence, he is your intimate acquaintance....
29From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 10 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received on the 12th of June 1780 Copies of your several Favours of April 29. 1779. June 13. 1779. July 9th. & 16th. Augt 6. & Sept. 16th. 1779.— You will see by this what Delays our Correspondence sometimes meets with. I have lately receiv’d two of fresher Date, viz. Feb. 24. & May 4. I thank you much for the...
30From John Adams to James Lovell, 24 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 4 May is received—it is the first from Philadelphia. Mr. Mease and your Friend shall have all the attention and assistance I can give them. I thank you for sending the Journals by the Way of Braintree: but hope you will continue to send them from Phila. also. Your Plan of a Cypher I cannot comprehend—nor can Dr. F. his. You have made me very happy, by acquainting me with Proceedings...