1Address to the Continental Congress, 16 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
The President informed Colo. Washington that the Congress had yesterday, Unanimously made choice of him to be General & Commander in Chief of the American Forces, and requested he would accept of that Appointment; whereupon Colo. Washington, standing in his place, Spake as follows. “Mr President, Tho’ I am truly sensible of the high Honour done me in this Appointment, yet I feel great...
2From George Washington to the Continental Congress, 25 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Rain on Friday Afternoon & Saturday—the Advice of several Gentlemen of the Jerseys & this City, by no Means to cross Hudsons River at the Lower Ferry, and some other Circumstances, too trivial to mention, prevented my Arrival at this Place untill the Afternoon of this Day. In the Morning, after giving General Schuyler such Orders as, from the Result of my Enquiry into Matters here, appear...
3Resolution of Independence Moved by R. H. Lee for the Virginia Delegation, 7 June 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Resolved MS ( DLC : PCC , No. 23); in R. H. Lee’s hand; slightly worn and torn at the lateral edges. Endorsed by Charles Thomson: “[J]une 7, 1776. No. 4. Resolutions moved June 7th. 1776. referred for consideration till to morrow respecting Independanc[e or y] of the U.S.” The present Resolution was introduced in accordance with the instructions sent to the Virginia delegation by the...
It gives me real pain to see the various arts and machinations of our internal Enemies practised with Effect upon the generality of Mankind. From the various reports which have been too successfully circulated for this month past the people will be brought to entertain suspicions with regard to congress which will tend to weaken their Authority and be greatly detrimental to our cause. Mr. D ea...
5Enclosure: Reports on John Adams’ Accounts, 25 October 1779; 27 October 1779; 14 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams’ Letter of Aug. 3d. was referred to the Board of Treasury on the 20th. to take Order. The Commissioners report That agreable to an Order of the honble. Board of Treasury of the 12th Instant, they have examined the Accounts of the honble. John Adams Esqr. one of the Commissioners of the United States at the Court of Versailles for his Expences to, at and from thence, and find that He...
6Enclosure: La Luzerne to the Continental Congress, 16 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
The underwritten Minister of France has the Honor to inform Congress, that the King in pursuance of his affection and friendship for the United States, and the desire he has to put an end by effectual measures to the calamities of the present War, has resolved to send to this Continent a supply of Troops to Act against the Common Enemy and a Fleet to second the Operations of the Land forces....
7I. Robert Morris to the President of Congress, 15 January 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding by the Act of the United States in Congress of the seventh Instant that I am Instructed to prepare and report a Table of Rates at which the different Species of foreign Coins most likely to circulate within the United States shall be received at the Treasury I have been induced again to turn my Attention to an Object which has employed my Thoughts very frequently and which would have...
8From Benjamin Franklin to the Continental Congress, 9 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library From the Knowledge I have of Mr Young, by his Conduct while in my Family, writing in the Secretary’s Office, and waiting the Arrival of Mr. Lawrens then expected here; I esteem him a Person of Virtue and Merit, and I recommend him and his Account to the Consideration of Congress, not thinking myself authorised to discharge it without their Order; tho’ to assist him...
9Enclosure: Account of John Adams’ Salary, 1779–1782 (Adams Papers)
Account stated to be transmitted to Congress, in answer to Secretary Livingston’s Letter of 22d. May 1782. The United States to John Adams. Dr: To two Years & an half’s Salary, commencing, the 13th. November. 1779. & ending the 13th. May. 1782—p 2500 £. pr: Ann: £6250— Cr: By Cash &c: recd. of the United-States, from the House of Mr: Ferdinando Grand, at Paris, and the House of Fizeau, Grand &...
Further Acco’t: stated to be transmitted to Congress, in answer to Secretary Livingston’s Letter of 22d May. 1782. The United States to John Adams Dr: To an House on the Flewelle Burgwal, at the Hague: The Deed taken in the name of the United-States of America, according to Mr: Dumas’s Acco’t: settled . . . fifteen thousand, two hundred & seven Florins, and seven stivers & eight Duits . . . ....
11Enclosure: Account for John Adams’ Sundry Expenses, 1781 (Adams Papers)
The United States to John Adams Dr: To four hundred Dollars, stolen out of my Chest at Dr: Franklin’s at Passy. The bottom of the Box was broke out & the money taken away. . . . 1781. July To Expences of a Journey fm. Amsterdam to Paris began the 2d. July & returned to Amsterdam the 27th. Went thro’ Utrecht, Gorcum, Breda, Antwerp, Brussells, Valenciennes &c. The whole expense of Coach &...
12Enclosure: Account for C. W. F. Dumas’ Expenses, 1782 (Adams Papers)
Doivent 1782. Fevr. Payè ou Procureur Huygens, selon les conventions, de l’Achat de l’Hôtel, son compte de f 185. 11. — Au Domestique de Mad. de Wickrad, come temoin " 1. — Mars. 1. Payè à Mad. de Wickrad, selon le Contrat de Vente " 8000. — " 2. à un Chrocheteur, pour porter de l’argent, m’attendu & messages divers "
13III. The Petition of Zebulon Butler and Others, 11 November 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
To the Honourable The Congress of the United States of America Assembled and Setting at Princetown in the State of New Jersey. The Petition Remonstrance and Address of Zebulon Butler Nathan Denison, Obadiah Gore, John Franklin, Simon Spaulding and the rest of the Proprietors Setlers and Inhabitants of the Lands lying on the Rivers Delaware and Susquehanah in the Latitude of the Charter granted...
14III. Washington’s Address to Congress Resigning his Commission, [23 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place; I have now the honor of offering my sincere Congratulations to Congress and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the Service of my Country. Happy in the confirmation of our Independence and Sovereignty, and pleased...
15American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 11 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Having assembled together at this place about the latter end of August we proceeded in obedience to the commands of Congress to notify our appointment and it’s objects to such Powers as we thought it adviseable at that time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form No. 1 to the Ambassadors or other ministers residing here from the courts of Saxony, the two Sicilies, Sardinia, Venice,...
16American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 15 December 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
In our letter of Novr. 11th. we had the honour of laying before Congress a state of our proceedings till that date. As from that it would appear that the last communications had in every instance passed from us to the other parties we can now only add the answers of such of them as have yet answered, and our replies; these are the courts of Portugal, Tuscany and Great Britain. No. 1. is a copy...
17American Commissioners to President of Congress, [9] February 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In our last of Decr. 15 we had the honour of communicating to Congress our letter to the Ambassador of Portugal which accompanied the draught of the treaty of Amity and Commerce proposed on our part. Since that date he addressed to us the letter No. 1. acknowledging the receipt of ours and informing us that he had forwarded it to his court. The Baron de Thulemeier also, the Prussian Minister...