31From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to transmit to your care a Letter for Major General Heath under a flying Seal. From an apprehension that he might have left Boston before it arrived and the importance of the objects to which it extends I am induced to use this freedom. If the General has not returned to the Army, I would request the favor of You to have the Letter sealed after perusing it, and delivered to...
32From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 14 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Two favors of the 29th & 31st of last Month, with the plan referred to, and have to return You my warmest thanks for the same & for your very kind & polite attention to my request. The plan & table of reference are very intelligible and satisfactory—and convey a clear idea of many points, about which I was uninformed before. These may be of great use—and from the manner...
33From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 1 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had not the honor of receiving your favr of the 12th ulto untill the 28th upon my march from Jersey to this place, at which I am collecting our force to move down towards New York in hopes of taking an advantage of the absence of Sir Henry Clinton with the greater part his force. I am much obliged by the information you give me of the quantity of Powder which may be obtained in the State of...
34From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 8 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 31st ulto. The measure of ordering the three months militia to repair to Rhode Island upon the expectation of the British Army was certainly right, but as the force which was embarked on the Sound has returned again to new York—I imagine the Count De Rochambeau will not think them longer necessary and that they will be ordered to proceed to the north River. The...
35George Washington to James Bowdoin, 28 August 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Teaneck, New Jersey ] August 28, 1780 . Believes an operation against New York no longer possible. Regrets that at present the Army cannot repay its loan of arms. Approves of resolutions of the convention of the four eastern states. Reviews European situation. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
36George Washington to James Bowdoin, 28 August 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Liberty Pole [ New Jersey ] August 28, 1780 . Thanks Bowdoin for loan of arms. Reports that Rhode Island Militia except for those at West Point have been dismissed. Mentions need for supplies. Urges completion of Continental battalions. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
37From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you My dear Sir for your letter of the 17th and for the interesting intelligence you do me the favor to communicate. The Blockade of the Port of Brest by delaying the Sailing of the second division makes a material change in our prospects. I fear it will put it out of our power to operate against New York. but if we are not unfortunate in Europe and if vigorous measures...
38From Benjamin Franklin to James Bowdoin, 15 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Facsimile: Reproduced in Charles Hamilton Auction No. 57 (New York; April 20, 1972), p. 28; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I take the Liberty of introducing to your Acquaintance, two of my particular Friends, members of the Royal Society of London, Mr. Jones & Mr. Paradise. You will find them men of Learning & Ingenuity, and have great Pleasure in conversing with them. I recomend them...
39From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 8 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letters of Octob. 10. and 23. by Mr. Barrett. Before his arrival a Mr. Boylston had come here with a cargo of whale oil, and had wished of the Marquis de la Fayette and myself to procure for him the same exemptions from duty as had been obtained the year before for a company. I was of opinion it would be better at once to obtain an abatement for all our...
40From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 24 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honour of inclosing a few Extracts of Letters written in 1783 to M r Livingstone, which it is to be presumed were laid before Congress: but I have not heard that the Plan Suggested in them of purchasing raw Sugars in France, Spain and Portugal, to be refined in Boston, New York and Philadelphia for Exportation to Russia, Germany & Italy, has been ever attempted, untill this...
41From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 9 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellencies Letter of the 12. of January I have had the Honour to receive, and am much obliged to you for the Information in it Your Opinion of the Policy of this Country, will be found in the Result of Things to be just, and your Reasoning in Support of it is so conclusive and at the Sametime, so obvious, that it is astonishing it has not its Effect upon the Cabinet. Every Consideration...
42From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 2 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
D r. Gordon, Yesterday called upon me, with the Letter which your Excellency did me, the Honour to write me, on the 10 th. of April— I have long since transmitted to Congress, the Answer of the Board of Admiralty to the Representations relative to the Conduct of Cap t. Stanhope, in which the Letters of that officers are disapproved, The Representations of the Encroachments on the territory of...
43From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 1 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have lately written to Congress, An Account of the Sentiments and Conduct of the Lords of the Admiralty, upon Captain Stanhopes Letters, which will no doubt be transmitted to you from N. York. It consists in Substance in the Signification to Capt. Stanhope of the “Sensible Displeasure” of their Lordships, and in his Recall from the American Station. In a late Visit to the Hide a Country Seat...
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Ex y herewith enclosed an Extract of a Letter of the 15 ^ of 15 July last ^ I have just rec d from the Honorable John Adams Esq r .; from which your Excellency will percieve that the Conduct ^ Behaviour ^ of Cap
45From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April. To meet the congratulations and assurances of support from those Characters whose opinions I revere, will be of no small service in enabling me to overcome the diffidence which I have in my own abilities, to execute properly the important and untried task which my Country has assigned...
46From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 11 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the Letter you did me, the honour to write me, on the 30. of May: but have not yet had an opportunity to See M r Boid. Whenever that Gentleman shall appear, it will be a pleasure to me to give him all the Attention and Assistance, in my Power, which may be due to public Justice, and to your Recommendation. We proceed Slowly: but in digesting Plans so new, so extensive and so...
47From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 8 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recollect with great satisfaction the acquaintance I had the honour of having with your most respectable father, and have seen with great pleasure the line of conduct you have yourself pursued, so worthy of him. the wonderful combinations of events, with the uses made of them, has been such as might lead even the best men from the true principles of free government. that you have not yielded...
48From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 10 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States being desirous of availing the public of your services as Minister Plenipotentiary to His Catholic Majesty, I have the honor to enclose your commission . As in many respects it would be desireable, that we should have the pleasure of your presence at the seat of government, before your departure for Spain, if it can be reconciled with your private...
49From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 1 January 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 19th. inst: has been duly recd. It gives me pleasure to find that you have reconciled yourself to the Mission to which you have been called, & to a visit to this place before you undertake it. I regret only the indisposition which confines you for the present; but which I hope may soon yield to the means used for reestablishing your health. The precise objects within your...
50From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 15 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. & laid before the President your letter of the 4th. inst. He acquiesces in the postponement of your departure for Madrid, in preference to the loss of your services by a resignation, and thinks the advantage that will result from a previous visit to this place, will overbalance the delay which it will add to the time at which you might otherwise be able to embark. As you suppose...
51From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 14 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 28th. of Feby. has been duly received. The continuance of your infirm health is sincerely regretted on personal as well as on public considerations; the latter of which give some importance to a visit from you here previous to your departure for Spain. The President nevertheless readily acquiesces in dispensing with such a visit in case the obstacles to it should not be...
52From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 16 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
On receiving your letter of Mar. 26 I thought proper to forward it to the President at his Seat in Virginia, whence it did not return till last evening. The President himself will be here about wednesday or thursday next. No time will be lost in drawing his attention to the measures preparatory to your departure for Madrid, which may however be deemed the more or less urgent according to the...
53From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 20 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Having before received your Commission, you will herewith receive a letter of credence as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to His Catholic Majesty. In presenting the latter, the President authorizes and charges you to repeat the friendly assurances it contains, in terms best calculated to satisfy the Spanish Government of the disposition of the United States to maintain the...
54From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 27 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 25. has been duly recd. I regret that the state of your health renders a visit to this place unadvisable. Besides the gratification we should have felt from personal considerations the perusal of the correspondences, for some time back, with the governments of Europe most interesting to us, would have enabled you to act under all emergencies with that satisfaction to...
55From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 18 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr. James Barry, of this City, who has a Claim to a considerable Amount upon the Spanish Government for unfulfilled Contracts, has requested that it might be recommended to your patronage. He requests it, as having been depending for several years under the management of his Agent at Madrid, but without advancing to a prospect of adjustment, notwithstanding the clearness of his right, upon the...
56From James Madison to John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, 13 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received from time to time your several letters bearing dates 3 July 10 & 15 Augt. 10 Sepr. 3 & 25 Octr & 26 Novr. Previous to the arrival of Mr Skipwith with your dispatches of Sept 10th our affairs with Spain had undergone the particular consideration of the President; with a reference as well to the change in the state of things in Europe, as to the approaching Session of...
57From James Madison to James Bowdoin, 18 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have received successively your letters bearing date from the 18 of June to the 31st. of July. The circumstances both personal and public under which you proceeded from Spain to England, without repairing to Madrid, fully justified your conduct in the view of the President; and he has equally approved the Motives for making Paris the place of your waiting for his further instructions. These...
58From James Madison to John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, 26 May 1806 (Madison Papers)
On the supposition that by the time this reaches you the negotiations prescribed in my letter of March 13 will have taken their final turn and that this may not be a favorable one it is thought proper by the president that in such a state of things you should endeavour to bring about an arrangement providing first that the status quo taking for the date the transfer of possession of Louisiana...
59From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 10 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I believe that when you left America the invention of the Polygraph had not yet reached Boston. it is for copying with one pen while you write with the other & without the least additional embarrasment or exertion to the writer. I think it the finest invention of the present age, and so much superior to the copying machine that the latter will never be continued a day by any one who tries the...
60From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 26 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a long letter on the 10th. inst. since which your favor of May 20. has come to hand. by this I percieve, & with the deepest affliction, not only that a misunderstanding has taken place between yourself & Genl. Armstrong, but that it has occasioned a misconstruction of your powers likely to defeat the object of your mission, a mission on the result of which the eyes of all our...