1Commission, 22 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Know Ye, That reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Integrity, Skill, and Diligence of Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carroll of Maryland, and David Stuart of Virginia, I do . . ., in Pursuance of the Powers vested in me by the Act intituled “An Act for establishing the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States,” hereby appoint them the said Thomas Johnson, Daniel...
2Report 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...
3The 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...
4Lambert 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...
5From 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...
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...
7The 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...
8The 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...
9Charles-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...
10The 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...
11The 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...
12Charles-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...
13Lambert 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...
14Lambert 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...
15The 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...
16Silas 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....
17Circular on the State of American Agriculture, 25 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Some enquiries having been made of me by important Characters on the state of agriculture in America, comprehending its Several relations, and intended to ascertain the value of our lands, with their yield in the several kinds of grain, grass &ca—the prices of farming stock, the prices of produce &ca together with a list of the Taxes in the different States, which may in any way affect the...
18From John Jay to Thomas Johnson, 12 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your’s of the 3 d . of last month, & regret the Indisposition which detained You from Philadelphia— I hope your Health has been since re-established. The then daily Expectation of an addition to my Family, and which soon after took place, prevented my attending the Sup. Court. Judge Cushing on his Return informed me that there had been a Conference on the Subject of...
19From 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...
20From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 31 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am ashamed, so much after the date of it, to have the receipt of your letter of the 15th of Decr to acknowledge; but truth being the best apology I can make for the omission, you will receive it as follow. Immediately upon the receipt of that letter, I sent it where all other letters relative to the same subject were referred, to the Secretary of War, who was in the act of investigating...
21From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 26 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
I discovered, after my letter of the 24 with its enclosure, was sent to the Post Office, that it would have to remain in Baltimore until friday, before it would be taken up by the cross-post for Frederick Town. This will occasion a delay on which I had not calculated: and as the return Post from the last mentioned place may not be immediate, the intention of this letter is to request the favor...
22From 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...
23From 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...
24From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 23 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d Ulto came duly to hand. With regret I perceive your determination to with draw from the Commission under which you have acted—for executing the plan of the federal City. My wish was, and still is, if it could be made to comport with your convenience and inclination, that it should be changed; or at least suspended: for I should be sorry to see others (coming in at the...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Johnson, 8 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of Feb. 29. the day after I had written a public letter to the Commissioners, which touched on some of the subjects of yours. I may say in this private letter what could not be so well said in a public one, that there never was a moment’s doubt about parting with Major Lenfant rather than with a single commissioner.—I must correct an error in my public letter. I said...
26From 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...
27From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 14 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Without preface, or apology for propounding the following question to you—at this time—permit me to ask you with frankness, and in the fullness of friendship, whether you will accept of an appointment in the Supreme Judiciary of the United States? Mr Rutledge’s resignation has occasioned a vacancy therein which I should be glad to see filled by you. Your answer to this question by the Post...
28From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 23 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instant came Safe, but not until after it had lain many days in the Post Office in Frederick Town, by the mark thereon. Your consenting to remain longer in the Commission of the Federal District gave me much pleasure; for although I have no doubt with respect to the accomplishment of the law (establishing the permanent residence of Congress), nor of the execution of the...
29From 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.”
30From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 6 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
About the 20th of last month I received a letter from you dated at George Town the 12th of Jany—but which, I presume, ought to have been dated the 12th of February. It came to hand at a time when the Session of Congress was drawing to a close, and of course when the business of it pressed upon me. I therefore laid it aside to be acknowledged by Mr Potts, but missing that opportunity, I was...
31From 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...
32From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 5–6 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Ulto, came to my hands at a time when my attention was much occupied on some matters of importance. To this circumstance, and to my knowledge (as you will perceive by the enclosed extract of a letter from the Secretary of State to the Commissioners of the federal city) that one of your requests had been anticipated; and to the expression of your apprehension, that...
33From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 27 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
I regret not having met you at the Federal City, on my way home; and was concerned for the cause of the disappointment. I have made no choice yet of persons to supply the places of yourself & Doctr Stuart, as Commissioners; nor, in truth, do I know on whom to fix for this purpose, at this stage of the business, & under present circumstances. Mr Greenleaf gave me some reasons to believe that...
34From 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...
35From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 8 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
It appearing to me proper that the Commissioners should be apprised of the pretensions—signified in the enclosed letter—I send it to them accordingly, that such prudent use may be made of the information as to them shall seem fit. I have not given, nor shall I give any answer—at least for the present—to the writer of it; and no person is knowing to my having received such a letter. I am—Dear...
36From 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.”
37From 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...
38From 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...
39From 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...
40From 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...
41From 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...
42From 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...
43From 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...
44From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 24 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Secretary of State is vacant—occasioned by the resignation of Mr Randolph. Will you accept it? You know my wishes of old, to bring you into the Administration —Where then is the necessity of repeating them? No time more than the present, ever required the aid of your abilities—nor of the old and proved patriots of this Country. To have yours would be pleasing to me, and I verily...
45From 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...
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, 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.”
48James Madison to Thomas Johnson, 21 November 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 17th. relating of a Course of Instructions on the principles of Dentristry"; and will communicate it to the other members of the Ex. Committee: from whom you will learn the views taken of the subject. With cordial esteem Draft (DLC) .
49From 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...
50From 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...