1From John Jay to John Dickinson, 22 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your Election to a Seat in Congress is an Event for many Reasons pleasing to me. I have for some time past flattered myself with soon having the Pleasure of again seeing you in a Place which you formerly filled with advantage to your Country and Reputation to yourself. Permit me to hint that your State is unrepresented, & that were you apprized of the very important Affairs now under...
2From George Washington to John Dickinson, 15 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the promise contained in my Letter of the 6th to your Excellency, I immediately made application to Sir Guy Careton for the Passport you requested;which he made no hesitation in forwarding with a very polite Letter to me, and which I have now the pleasure of enclosing.I have the honor to be Sir Your Most Obt &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
3From George Washington to John Dickinson, 4 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellenys Letter of the 29th January. Since I had the honor to write the late President respecting the Enemys having put a stop to the incursions of the Savages—I have Reced no intelligence but what has seemed to confirm the declarations the Enemy then made how long they will continue this inoffensive System or what may be their designs for next Spring—it is impossible...
4From George Washington to John Dickinson, 6 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellency’s favor of the 29th ulto I shall immediately apply, thro’ Sir Guy Carleton, for the passports for the Sloop Cohansey. Should I obtain them they shall be forwarded to you. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellency’s Most obt and hble ervt PHi .
5From George Washington to John Dickinson, 16 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the promise contained in my Letter of the 6th to Your Excellency, I immediately made application to Sir Guy Carleton for the Passport you requested—which he made no hesitation in forwarding with a very polite Letter to me; and which I have now the pleasure of enclosing. I have the honor to be Sir Your Most Obed. Sert PHi : Gratz Collection.
6Alexander Hamilton and Oliver Ellsworth to John Dickinson, [23 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
We have the honor to inclose for Your Excellency and the Council a copy of the resolutions communicated in our conference yesterday. Having then fully entered into all the explanations which were necessary on the subject, we shall not trouble your Excellency with a recapitulation. But as the object is of a delicate and important nature, we think it our duty to request the determination of the...
7From George Washington to John Dickinson, 3 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by the Director General, that there will be a necessity of establishing a temporary Hospital at Wilmington, for the accommodation of a number of Soldiers returning from Virginia, whose cases will not admit of their being brought further at this advanced season. Doctor Latimer, the Bearer, is appointed to establish this Hospital, and I must request the favor of your Excellency to...
8From George Washington to John Dickinson, 5 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I must request your Excellency to make it a Rule in future, when persons apply for Liberty to go to or within the Enemy’s Lines, to insert in your passports that they shall repair to Dobbs’s Ferry, which is the only Post from whence Flags are sent or at which they are received. This is absolutely necessary to prevent that illegal Intercourse & Traffic which are now carried to so great a...
9From Alexander Hamilton to John Dickinson, 29 March 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I was not, My Dear Sir, insensible to the kind attention shewn me by your letter of the 30th. of November last. But till very lately the subject has been so extremely painful to me, that I have been under a necessity of flying from it as much as possible. Time and effort and occupation have at length restored the tranquillity of my mind, sufficiently to permit me to acknowlege the kindness of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 21 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved with great pleasure, as I do every thing from you, your letter by Dr. Vaughan , and am thankful to you for making me acquainted with him. it is extremely important to the administration of the public affairs, for me to be on terms of confidence with some persons of dispassionate judgment & integrity in every state, through whom I can obtain a knolege of such matters within their...
11From Benjamin Franklin to John Dickinson, 23 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy and press copy of LS : Library of Congress Permit me to congratulate your Excellency on your Advancement to the Presidency of Pennsylvania, wherein I hope you may find Opportunities of doing much good to your Country, the only Consideration that can make an elevated Situation agreable to a reasonable Mind. Mr Penn, Son of our late Proprietary,...
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 7 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson, with his respects to mr Dickinson, begs his acceptance of a copy of a late resolution of the legislature of Virginia . it was drawn by mr Madison, and the value of whatever flows from his pen is sufficiently known. he prays him to accept his friendly salutations and assurances of his constant attachment. RC ( PHi ); addressed: “Mr. Dickinson”; endorsed by Dickinson. Not recorded...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 19 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The approbation of my antient friends, is, above all things, the most grateful to my heart. they know for what objects we relinquished the delights of domestic society, of tranquility & of science, & committed ourselves to the ocean of revolution, to wear out the only life god has given us here in scenes, the benefits of which will accrue only to those who follow us. surely we had in view to...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Dickinson, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr Charles Helsted, whom his Majesty the King of Sueden has appointed Consul of that Nation, will have the Honour of presenting this Line to your Excellency. He is recommended to me by the Suedish Ambassador at this Court, as a Gentleman of great Merit: As such I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities and Countenance. With sincere Esteem, I have...
15From George Washington to John Dickinson, 28 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your Excellency’s favor of the 15th Instt I have to observe, that considering the several important Circumstances which have occurr’d in public Affairs, and the uncertainty of the operations of the Campaign, I should not think it advisable that the Recruits should march to join the Southern Army, untill further Orders—In the mean Time, the Number ought to be augmented as much as...
16From Benjamin Franklin to John Dickinson, 22 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society M. Märter, Professor of Natural History in the Service of the Emperor, being appointed to make a Collection of Plants and Animals from the four Quarters of the World, for his Imperial Majesty’s Botanic Gardens and Menagerie, proposes to begin his Operations by a Journey thro’ the Countries under the Government...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 13 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 1st. inst. and am ever thankful for communications which may guide me in the duties which I wish to perform as well as I am able. it is but too true that great discontents exist in the territory of Orleans. those of the French inhabitants have for their sources 1. the prohibition of importing slaves. this may be partly removed by Congress permitting them...
18From George Washington to John Dickinson, 12 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
The dispute of Territory between the States of Pennsylvania & Connecticut being now decided, and the frontiers remaining in a perfect State of tranquility; I cannot conceive any reason sufficient for continuing a body of Continental Troops any longer at Wyoming—I propose therefore to take an early occasion of recalling the Detachment of the Jersey Line; to this measure I am particularly...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 6 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
No pleasure can exceed that which I recieved from reading your letter of the 21st. ult. it was like the joy we expect in the mansions of the blessed, when recieved within the embraces of our fathers, we shall be welcomed with their blessing as having done our part not unworthily of them. the storm through which we have passed has been tremendous indeed. the tough sides of our Argosie have been...
20From George Washington to John Dickinson, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I lately gave permission for two Vessells to proceed as Flags of Truce from New York to Wilmington with Cloathing & necessaries for the British and Hessian Prisoners confined in Philadelphia and Lancaster. I thought it proper to give your Excellency this information that such measures as you may think proper may be taken to prevent any improper intercourse between the Flags & the Inhabitants....
21From George Washington to John Dickinson, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was in hopes I should not again have had occasion to have troubled your Excellency on the subject of the Hospital at Wilmington: but our distress on the score of money renders it absolutely necessary. The sick are suffering—indeed perishing—for want of Wood and Straw, which have as yet been partially furnished by the exertions of Docr Latimer and the humanity of individuals. As your...
22From George Washington to John Dickinson, 13 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lloyd did me the honour to call at this place with your favour of the 4th Instt. If the Letters I have given him to the Governor, and others, will, in the smallest degree contribute to his success, I shall think myself happy; but I dispair of it at this time, as his Lordship is, I know, under a prohibition, by a late Instruction, to grant no more Lands to the Westward of us (but on certain...
23From George Washington to John Dickinson, 19 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself much obliged by the friendly Communication of your sentiments to me on the subject of retaliation, conveyed under your favor of the 30th of May, a subject truly disagreeable & distressing to me. The horrid circumstances of barbarity which introduced the instance which now gains your particular attention, came to me under the representation of so respectable a Body of Citizens,...
24From George Washington to John Dickinson, 30 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 25th Ulto recommendatory of Mr Moylan, came duely to hand, & I have the pleasure to inform you that he is now appointed Commissary General of Musters—one of the Offices which the Congress was pleased to leave to my disposal —I have no doubt, from your acct of this Gentleman, of his discharging the duty with honour and fidility. For the occurrances of the Camp, I refer to my...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 23 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 18th. Doctr. Vaughan’s character had been before known to me in a certain degree, & advantageously known as a friend to republican government. your letter in his favor strengthened my confidence in it. for your satisfaction as well as from a regard to truth I assure you that nothing could be more candid than his conduct here. it was at my request he...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 9 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your friendly favor of the 1st. inst. is recieved with that welcome which always accompanies the approbation of the wise & good. the acquisition of New Orleans would of itself have been a great thing, as it would have ensured to our Western brethren the means of exporting their produce: but that of Louisiana is inappreciable, because, giving us the sole dominion of the Missisipi, it excludes...
27From Alexander Hamilton to John Dickinson, [25–30 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Having always entertained an esteem for you personally I could not without reluctance yield to impressions that might weaken that sentiment, and it is with pain I find myself drawn by circumstances to animadvert upon the late message from the Executive Council to the Assembly of Pensylvania relative to the mutiny in a manner which may seem to impeach the candor of those who were the authors of...
28Report of Thomas Story to the Committee of Secret Correspondence and the Committee’s Memorandum upon It, [1 October … (Franklin Papers)
DS and copy: National Archives “On my leaving London Arthur Lee Esqr. requested me to inform the Committee of Correspondence, that he had several conferences with the French Embassador who had communicated the same to the French Court, that in consequence thereof the Duke De Vergennes had sent a gentleman to Mr. Lee, [who informed] him that the French Court could not think of entering into a...
29The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 8 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives Since Our last We have received the inclosed Intelligence from London, which we take the earliest Opportunity of forwarding, in hopes it may be received with Our other Letters by Nantes. A Vessel from So: Carolina, loaded by that state, which sailed the 20th December, is arrived at L’Orient with Rice and Indigo. As We were particular in Our last which was sent...
30Lambert Wickes to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 16 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your orders and Instructions by Mr. Bingham, the 14th Inst. but the Shallop with the provisions did not Arrive till this day. We have now got all the provision on board both from the Wasp and Shallop. You may depend on my best endeavours in your Service to prosecute this Voyage with the Most expedition and Advantage in my power. My People, all to two are in...
31From Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 8[–10] December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives After a short but rough Passage of 30 Days we anchor’d in Quiberon Bay, the Wind not suiting to enter the Loire. Capt. Wicks did every thing in his Power to make the Voyage comfortable to me; and I was much pleas’d with what I saw of his Conduct as an Officer, when on suppos’d Occasions we made Preparation for Engagement, the good Order and Readiness with which...
32Silas Deane to Robert Morris and the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 23 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (duplicate): Library of Congress This letter, in form to Morris but in fact to the committee, is the only one from Deane that Franklin surely saw before his departure for France; it was therefore part of his small stock of information about what would face him in Europe. The letter deals only with the preliminaries of Deane’s mission, because he reached France long after he had hoped to....
33From Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 4 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives I arrived here about two Weeks since, where I found Mr. Deane. Mr. Lee has since join’d us from London. We have had an Audience of the Minister, Count de Vergennes, and were respectfully receiv’d. We left for his Consideration a Sketch of the propos’d Treaty. We are to wait upon him tomorrow with a strong Memorial requesting the Aids mentioned in our...
34The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 6 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; copy: Harvard University Library Since our last, a Copy of which is enclosed Mr. Hodge is arrived here from Martinique, and has brought safely the Papers he was charged with. He had a long Passage and was near being starved. We are about to employ him in a Service, pointed out by you, at Dunkirk or Flushing. He has delivered us three sets of the Papers we...
35The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 17[–22] January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and two copies: National Archives; copy: South Carolina Historical Society We joined each other at this place on the 22d. of December and on the 28th. had an Audience of his Excellency the Count De Vergennes, one of his most Christian Majesty’s principal Secretarys of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs. We laid before him our Commission with the Articles of the proposed Treaty of...
36Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 30 April[– 9 May 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AL and copy: National Archives; letterbook draft: Algemeen Rijksarchief, the Hague. J’ai reçu le 6e de ce mois à La Haie, des mains de Mr. Tho. Storey, les dépêches dont vous l’aviez chargé pour moi en date du 9e Xbr. 1775. Je suis touché, pénétré jusqu’au fond du coeur, de l’honneur que me fait et de la confiance que me témoigne le Committé nommé par le Congrès général pour la Correspondance...
37The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 4 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives We send you herewith the Draught of a Frigate, by a very ingenious Officer in this service, which appears to Us peculiarly suitable for Our purpose, and We are in hopes of being able to ship Cordage and Sail Cloth, and Anchors &c. sufficient for Five or Six such Frigates, by the Time you can have them built. Though deprived of any intelligence from you since the...
38The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 12 March[–9 April 1777] (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; L : British Library; copy: National Archives It is now more than 4 Months since Mr. Franklin’s Departure from Philadelphia, and not a Line from thence written since that time has hitherto reached either of your Commissioners in Europe. We have had no Information of what passes in America but thro’ England, and the Advices are for the most part such only as the Ministry...
39Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 14 May[–6 June 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AL and copy: National Archives; letterbook draft: Algemeen Rijksarchief, the Hague Après vous avoir donné ci-joint copie ou extrait de ce qu’il y avoit de plus essentiel dans ma premiere dépeche que je nommerai A pour la briéveté, je commence celle-ci, que je nomme B, en forme de Journal. Ayez la bonté, conséquemment, lorsque vous m’écrirez, de me marquer que vous avez reçu, ou non, la Dépeche...
40Lambert Wickes to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 11 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This will inform you of my proceedings since I left Cape May the 3d Instant. We left that place in Company with 13 Merchant Men, who I think all got Safe off, as we did not loose Sight of them till they got a good distance from the Land. We Saw no Ships of War at all on the Coast. We this Day fell in with Captain Mackay, in the Ship Friendship from Granada bound to...
41Lambert Wickes to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 13 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives This will inform of a Small Addition to our good fortune in the Prize Way. We this day took Capt. Muckelno in the Schooner Peter of Liverpool from St. Vincent bound to Liverpool in Brittain, Loaded with: Rum: Sugar Coffee Cocoa and Cotton. We also took Capt. Mackey in the Ship Friendship from Granada, bound to London, which I have wrote you of before, and Now Send a...
42The American Commissioners to [the Committee of Secret Correspondence], 28 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library We wrote to you pretty fully on the State of Affairs here, in ours of the 12th of March and 19th of this Month, since which there has been little Alteration. There is yet no Certainty of a sudden Declaration of War, but the Preparations go on vigorously both here and in Spain, the Armies of france drawing towards the Sea Coasts, and those of Spain to the...