1From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 July 1770 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd with your favour of the 18th of June about the last of that Month and read it with all the attention I was capable of but having been closely engaged with my Hay & Wheat Harvests from that time till now I have not been able to enquire into the Sentiments of any of the Gentlemen of this side in respect to the Scheme of opening the Inland Navigation of Potomack by private...
2From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 February 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 20 Feb. 1774. Johnson wrote GW on 21 Feb. : “A Servant just now delivered me your Letter of Yesterday.”
3From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 5 August 1774 (Washington Papers)
As the Resolves of all the Colonies which had come to hand in this Meeting, adopted your Appointment of Philadelphia as the Place to hold the Congress in. As the first of Sepr or thereabouts hath been fixed upon by all of them (except your Province) as a fit Time—and as this Time is now so near at hand as to render it difficult, if practicable, to change it without putting too much to the...
4From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 January 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 20 Jan. 1775. On 24 Jan. Johnson wrote GW that on that day he had received GW’s “two Letters . . . dated the 20 instant.”
5From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 2 February 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 2 Feb. 1775. On 25 Feb. Johnson reported to GW that he had “got your Letter from thence of the 2d Inst.”
6Charles-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...
7Charles-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...
8Lambert 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...
9Silas 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....
10Lambert 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...
11Lambert 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...
12Report 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...
13From 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...
14From 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...
15The 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...
16The 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...
17The 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...
18The 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...
19The 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...
20From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having heard that your State have appointed Lieutt Colo. Geo. Stricker to the Command of a Battalion, I hold myself bound to inform you That the Character he holds here as an Officer will not justify such an appointment—Yesterday he obtained my leave to resign, complaining that his private Affairs indispensably require his presence at home for several Months—Had there been any other Field...
21From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 11 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The latest Accounts received respecting the Enemy, (rendered probable by a Variety of Circumstances) inform Us, That they are very busily engaged in fitting up their Transports at Amboy for the Accomodation of Troops, That they have completed their Bridge and are determined to make their first push at Philadelphia. The Campaign is therefore opening, and our present situation, weaker than when...
22From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 19th inclosing a list of the Feild Officers of your Battalions, with the arrangement of their Rank. I have never received Returns from any of the Colonels, except Colo. price, of the State of their Regiments; if Genl Smallwood is at Annapolis, be kind enough to desire him to collect them, and transmit them to me as soon as possible. I have the Honor to be Sir...
23The 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...
24From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 1 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 1 Sept. 1777. Johnson wrote GW on 4 Sept .: “I recvd your Letter of the first Instant.”
25From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The late Resolution of Congress for sending Genl Smallwood and Colo. Gist from this Army, to arrange and command the Militia of Maryland, now called to the Feild, and the frequent applications I had, before the arrival of those Gentn at this place, to send Officers to the Eastern Shore to take the direction of the Militia assembling there, give me reason to beleive, that the regulations, in...
26From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 6 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The approaching Season, and the scanty suppl⟨ies⟩ of Cloathing in public Store, without an immediate prospect of their being increased, have induced me to send Lt Colo. Adams of your state to procure, if possible, a Quantity for the Troops which come from thence. The distress of the Army in this instance, I am sorry to inform you, is now considerable, and it will become greater & greater every...
27From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 16 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting you the inclosed Letter from a Committee of Congress, now here. These Gentlemen have represented the distress of the Army for want of provision so fully, and in so just a light, that I shall forbear to trouble you with many observations upon the subject. I shall only add, if the picture they have drawn is imperfect, it is because the colouring is not...
28From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose you a representation made to me, by Mr Chaloner Deputy Commy of Purchases, upon the difficulty, under your present law, of procuring Waggons to bring forward the public Stores of provision collected at the Head of Elk and Middletown in your State. The State of Pennsylvania has been already exceedingly harrassed in providing teams, as we have drawn our Horses...
29From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 4 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Congress having by a Resolve of the 26th of February last annexed the German Battalion to the State of Maryland, and no means having been yet taken to compleat it: I have thought proper to dispatch Capt. Hubley to receive information from you, in what manner the Officers shall proceed to recruit. Upon his return, I will send off a proper number of Officers, either to receive directions from...
30From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was, some little time past, empowered by Congress to call for 5000 Militia from the States of Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. This Resolve was, I beleive, occasioned by a report, which has proved groundless, that the Enemy intended suddenly to evacuate Rhode Island —to draw part of their force from New York, and attack this Army before its expected reenforcements arrived. Finding no...
31From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 17 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From a number of concurring circumstances there is reason to beleive that the enemy mean to evacuate Philadelphia. It is necessary therefore to draw together as great a force as can be provided for, with the utmost expedition. But as several of our out posts, covering magazines & the like, cannot be recalled without a body of Militia to act in their room, I am obliged to request of the...
32From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favor of the 22d Instant. Satisfied that an intercourse with Philadelphia would be productive of great disadvantages, I have endeavoured to prevent it, as far as I could; and have not in any instance granted passports for that purpose, but where the parties applying have been recommended, either by some public body or by Gentlemen in whom I had entire...
33From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 29 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 12th inst. I very highly approve of the determination of your Council to reinlist the nine months Men at this period; if it is left undone, untill the time of their service is near expiring, it will be almost impossible to re-engage them. I, some time ago, pointed out to Congress the expediency of adopting this measure but as yet have not received their Answer....
34From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 1 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Sir Henry Clinton in order to supply the British prisoners at Fort Frederick and Winchester with necessaries and money has twice requested a passport for a vessel to go with the same to the port of Baltimore. As it is necessary the prisoners should be supplied, I have granted permission to a schooner to proceed to Hampton road—Where the cargo is to be received into some of the Bay craft, and...
35From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 8 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 26th March inclosing a Resolve of the House of Delegates for the incorporation of parts of the German Battalion and Rifle Corps into a Regiment—and another for forwarding the recruiting Service. I also at the same time received from the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates two Resolves—one empowering me fully to settle the Rank...
36From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 28 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform Your Excellency, that after a variety of attempts, and much time and labour spent by Several Boards of Officers, the Arrangement of the Maryland line has been at length fixed —and Commissions have been issued for the Officers agreably to it, by the Board of War, except in the instances mentioned in the inclosed List. The Gentlemen named in this, belong to the...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Johnson, 30 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg you will be pleased to ascribe to the change in our administration and to my not becoming immediately possessed of all the business which lay before the executive, your letter of the 7th. of the last month remaining so long unanswered. It has happened very unluckily that this was among the latest of the several matters which have come to my hand. I am to return you thanks for your...
38From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 28 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Bainbridge the Wife of Peter Bainbridge has laid before me some papers respecting the proceedings of Capt. Eggleston of Colo. Lee’s Legion on the case of their son Peter Bainbridge which carry the face of a most extraordinary and unwarrantable kind of conduct—But as it is impossible to decide ex part⟨e⟩ I have by the inclosed referred the Matter to Major General Greene commanding the...
39From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 17 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday, & not before, I received authentic information, that the Assembly of this State had passed a similar Act & resolutions, with those of your Legislature, and have fixed upon the 8th of Feby to open Books for the purpose of receiving subscriptions in the City of Richmond & Towns of Alexandria & Winchester: which Books are to be kept open until the 10th day of May following. They have...
40From George Washington to Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee, 18 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Subscribers to the Potowmac Navigation held yesterday agreeable to the Acts of Assembly of both States, a President and Directors were chosen, the former I have accepted of, & you two in conjunction with George Gilpin & John Fitzgerald Esqrs. were appointed Directors which I hope will be agreeable to you[.] As the Season begins to advance I have thought necessary that we...
41From George Washington to Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee, 10 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th ulto did not reach me until the 8th instant; I went the next day to Alexandria & laid it before Colos. Fitzgerald and Gilpin, who with myself, acceded fully to the propriety of your proposal of buying servants. Of this, the Secretary was directed to inform you; also of our sentiments respecting the hire of Negroes by the year, & to ask your opinion of the number...
42From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
It so happened that your letter of the 4th ulto with its enclosures, did not meet a quick passage to me; & that some delays afterwards, more the effect of accident than neglect, prevented the petition & Bill, (which you were so obliging as to draw) from getting to the Assemblies of the two States, so soon as were to be wished; however they are now before them; & from that of Maryland, I am...
43From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 8 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
It was not ’till our return to the great Falls, that Colo. Gilpin and myself discovered the error of the propos’d meeting of the Directors of the Potomac Company at Alexandria on Monday preceding the first day of August. The general Meeting of the company it seems is, by Law, to be held on the first Monday in that month; & this not happening, in the present year, ’till the 7th day of it—we...
44From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 12 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
On a supposition that you are now at Annapolis, the Petition of the Directors of the Potomac Company, is enclosed to your care. A Duplicate has been forwarded to the Assembly of this State. The fate of it I have not heard, but entertain no doubt of its favorable reception, as there are many auspicious proofs of liberality & justice already exhibited in the proceedings of it this Session. I...
45From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 28 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
It gave me pleasure to find by your letter of the 7th that the Petition of the Directors of the Potomac Company had met so ready & favorable a reception in the assembly of Maryland. I am informed that an act similar to the one you sent me has passed the Legislature of this State, but I have received no official advice of it. Permit me, my good Sir, to ask if there would be a probability of...
46From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 22 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you have been pleased to honor me—dated the 16th Instt, came to my hands the day before yesterday; by the Post of tomorrow, this answer will be forwarded to you. Mr Rumsey has given you an uncandid acct of his explanation to me, of the principle on which his Boat was to be propelled against stream. At the time he exhibited his model, and obtained my certificate, I had no...
47From George Washington to Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee, 9 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that Colo. Fitzgerald according to his promise has communicated to you the vote of the Potomack Co. passed at the last general Meeting, held at George Town, and the measures consequent of it, taken by the directors, I shall trouble you with no more than the result which you will find in the enclosed authenticated Act of the Assembly of this State. It is scarcely necessary to observe...
48From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
As well from report, as from the ideas expressed in your letter to me in December last, I am led to conclude that you are disposed (circumstanced as our public affairs are at present) to ratify the Constitution which has been submitted by the general Convention to the People; and under this impression, I take the liberty of expressing a single sentiment on the occasion. It is, that an...
49From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you for informing me, what foundation there is for so much of the following extract of a letter from Doctr Brooke at Fredericksburgh to Doctr Stuart of this County, as relates to the officious light in which my conduct was viewed for havg written the letter alluded to. Since then, I was informed by “the Honourable James Mercer, that his Brother Colo. John Mercer, who was...
50From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
In assenting to the opinion that the due administration of Justice is the strongest cement of good Government, you will also agree with me that the first organization of the Judicial department is essential to the happiness of our Country, and to the stability of our political system—hence the selection of the fittest characters to expound the Laws, and dispense Justice has been an invariable...