1From George Washington to Major John Taylor, 28 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Previous to yours of the 26th inst: I had received directions from the Board of War to send part, or if they could be spared, the whole of Colo. Hazens Regt to Albany. Their numbers are so reduced that it is not worth while to make a division, and I therefore desire that you will immediately march with all that are fit for duty. As your nearest Rout will be thro’ Bethlehem you will cross the...
2From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have rec’d your letter of the 20th & am much obliged to you for the intelligence it contains. You cannot promote the service more than by continuing your exertions to get information of whatever passes with the enemy, particularly at New York & in the river. It is of great importance that we should get immediate notice of any embarkation—the sailing of any troops out of the harbour or the...
3From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 5 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received Your two favors of the 30th of July and 2d Instant with the papers—and thank you for the same and the intelligence transmitted. As I am persuaded your best endeavours will be directed to obtain all the information you can respecting the Enemy—I shall not trouble you with any particular request upon the present occasion—except with one, which is, that if at any time the...
4From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 6th inst. The plan you have laid for obtaining intelligence appears to be very well calculated for the end at present. I wish you to turn your inquiries as far as possible or practicable to the ascertaining the extent of the preparations which the enemy may be making to procure waggons—Whether the Inhabitants of Long Island—York Island—and...
5From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 12 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th came to my hands about an hour ago by Mr Garrison with whom I have had a good deal of conversation and think his scheme, if it can be brought to bear, is a very good one—He will relate to you the substance of our discourse, which will save me a recital of it. I have only to request the favor of you to give it yr aid and that you will be so good as to fix a compensation...
6From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 28 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The period is now come (in the arrival of the enemy’s reinforcement ) when intelligence is interesting and important. The first point to be ascertained, as nearly as possible, is the amount of the reinforcement, and whether it consists of complete Corps or of Recruits. If of the former, what the particular Regiments are? The next matter, which I would wish you to endeavour to become acquainted...
7From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 8 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this morning recd yours of the 5th with the News papers and the counterfeit Bill inclosed. I thank you for the very material intelligence which your letter contains, and shall be further obliged by your communicating the true destination of the intended embarkation, if you can come to a knowledge of it. Whenever the person you mention chuses to return he may be assured of my protection,...
8From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 19 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 17th and am exceedingly obliged to you for the intelligence it contains. I send inclosed two half Johannes. Should you expend any more for the same purposes I will immediately remit it to you. Be pleased to endeavour to learn whether the Vessels, preparing to take the Cavalry on board, are square rigged, or sloops and schooners; we may judge of the Voyage by being...
9From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor or Major Samuel Hayes, 10 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is yet a matter of uncertainty whether His Excellency the Count D’Estaing will come to the Northward with intent to operate, or return to the West Indies. Should he determine upon the former and New York should be the object, the possession of Staten Island will be absolutely necessary: to accomplish which, we should be previously well informed of the Strength of the Enemy upon it—what...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, [29 October 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Great Egg Harbor Landing, New Jersey, October 29, 1799. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “… is sending clothing to Taylor by pilot boat. ‘I am getting sick & cant say any more.’” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by G. A. Baker & Company, Inc., May 4, 1943, Item 25. When this letter was written, H and Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail were at Great Egg...
11From James Madison to John Taylor, ca. 27 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 27 August 1793. Mentioned in JM to Jefferson, 27 Aug. 1793 , and JM to Taylor, 20 Sept. 1793 . Acknowledged in Taylor to JM, 25 Sept. 1793 . Written from Monroe’s home near Charlottesville, the letter urges Taylor to organize a public meeting in Caroline County, suggests resolutions supporting the French alliance, and proposes that Edmund Pendleton patronize the measure....
12From James Madison to John Taylor, 20 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I informed you from Albemarle of the step taken with regard to the paper from you. Our distant friend under whose perusal it passed is quite in raptures with it, and augurs the best consequences from it, if its appearance be well timed. He thinks the present in every respect unpropitious, and that under any circumstances the critical moment would be about two or three weeks before the first...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1 May 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
In my new occupation of a farmer I find a good drilling machine indispensably necessary. I remember your recommendation of one invented by one of your neighbors; and your recommendation suffices to satisfy me with it. I must therefore beg of you to desire one to be made for me, and if you will give me some idea of it’s bulk, and whether it could travel here on it’s own legs, I will decide...
14From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 29 December 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long owed you a letter, for which my conscience would not have let me rest in quiet but on the consideration that the paiment would not be worth your acceptance. The debt is not merely for a letter the common traffic of a day, but for valuable ideas, which instructed me, which I have adopted, and am acting on them. I am sensible of the truth of your observations that the atmosphere is...
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 13 April 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
This is not the long letter I intend to write in answer to yours of the 5th. Ult. That must await a rainy day, perhaps a rainy season. But as the sowing the succory will not await, I write a line for the present, merely to cover a little seed which I have procured from a neighbor for you. It must be sown immediately, in drills which will admit the plough, and very thin in the drill as the...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 15 April 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
We have tried the drill with Lucerne seed, and found it shed a great deal too much, so that we were obliged to lay it aside. I presume therefore I was mistaken in saying the band and buckets which came were for turnep seed. We rather guess they were for peas or corn. I must correct therefore my petition for the two larger sizes, and in the uncertainty in which I am, I must rather pray for a...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 8 June 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a few seed of the Rutabaga, or Swedish winter turnep. This is the plant which the English government thought of value enough to be procured at public expence from Sweden, cultivated and dispersed. A Mr. Strickland, an English gentleman from Yorkshire, lately here, left a few seeds with me, of which I impart to you. He tells me it has such advantages over the common turnep that it...
18From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 8 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
We have heard much here of an improvement made in the Scotch threshing machine by Mr. Martin, and that you have seen and approved it. Being myself well acquainted with the original geered machine, and Booker’s substitution of whirls and bands (as I have one of each kind) it will perhaps give you but a little trouble to give me so much of an explanation as will be necessary to make me...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 23 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Novemb.—did not come to my hands till Dec. 13. It had awaited my arrival here: and the ordinary affairs of business and ceremony prevented my applying to the patent office till Dec. 21. I then paid at the treasury the 20. Doll. bill you inclosed adding 10. Dollars, the price of the drill, as you had mentioned. The petition and description are lodged in the patent office. But a...
20From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I had just recieved from New York the box containing mr Martin’s model of the hand-threshing machine, & the drill, when your favor of Mar. 25. came to hand, and I had nearly compleated a drawing to be filed in the Secretary of state’s office. I suspend further proceeding till I hear from you. in the mean time mr Bingham had communicated to me a model which he had recieved from England. I think...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 4 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you mr Martin’s patent. a patent had actually been made out on the first description, and how to get this suppressed and another made for a second invention without a second fee was the difficulty. I practised a little art in a case where honesty was really on our side & nothing against us but the rigorous letter of the law, and having obtained the 1st. specification, and got the...
22From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 26 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
We formerly had a debtor & creditor account of letters on farming; but the high price of tobo. which is likely to continue for some short time, has tempted me to go entirely into that culture and in the mean time my farming schemes are in abeyance, and my farming fields at nurse against the time of my resuming them. but I owe you a political letter. yet the infidelities of the post office and...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 24 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Tazewell died about noon this day after an illness of about 36. hours. on this event, so melancholy for his family & friends, the loss to the public of so faithful and able a servant no reflections can be adequate. The object of this letter (and which I beseech you to mention as from me to no mortal) is the replacement of him by the legislature . many points in Munro’s character would...
24From James Madison to John Taylor, ca. 1 April 1799 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 1 April 1799. Mentioned in John Taylor to Creed Taylor, 10 Apr. 1799 (ViU: Creed Taylor Papers). JM agrees to be a candidate for the Virginia General Assembly. It may have been in this letter that JM requested Taylor to ask Edmund Pendleton to return the letters JM wrote him from Congress (see John Taylor to JM, 4 Mar. 1799 , and n. 1; and Edmund Pendleton to JM, 12 May...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 26 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Wirt, who is of my neighborhood, offers himself a candidate for the clerkship of the H. of Repr. and being known to few of the members, his friends are naturally anxious that what may be said of him with truth should be said. I only fulfill a duty therefore when I bear testimony in this as I would in any other case. he has lived several years my near neighbor, having married the daughter...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 26. has been duly recieved, and was recieved as a proof of your friendly partialities to me of which I have so often had reason to be sensible. my opinion originally was that the President of the US. should have been elected for 7. years, & for ever ineligible afterwards. I have since become sensible that 7. years is too long to be unremoveable, and that there should be a...
27From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago your letter recommendatory of mr Woodford. I knew his father well and can readily believe that his merits are descended on the son, and especially after what you say of him. if we could always have as good grounds to go upon it would greatly relieve the terrible business of nominations. but lest you should not have attended to it, I have taken up my pen in the moment of...
28From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your ingenious friend, mr Martin, formerly made for me a drill of very fine construction. I am now very desirous of sending one of them to the Agricultural society of Paris, with whom I am in correspondence, & who are sending me a plough, supposed to be of the best construction ever known. on trial with their best ploughs, by a dynamometer, it is drawn by from one half to 2/3 of the force...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 23 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Agricultural society of Paris has had a plough presented to them which, performing equally good work, requires but one half the force to draw it necessary for what had till then been deemed the best plough in France. in their zeal for improvement they sent one of them to England, and have sent me one, lately arrived at New York, & ordered round to Richmond where it will be open for...
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 20 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. came to hand only two days ago & I hasten to say I shall be glad to recieve mr Martin’s drill whenever it can be ready. during the present interruption of commerce we send an Aviso every 6. weeks to France & England for the purposes of public & mercantile correspondence, and in any one of these I can send the drill. I have recieved the plough from the Agricultural...
31From John Adams to John Taylor, 12 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
By a great favour and a mere Accident, I have lately obtained for a few hours, the loan of A Volume, by Arator, which has interested me So much that I have an earnest desire to purchase it: but know not where to apply for it. I am informed it is your Work, and as I really think it is the most valuable Treasure of Agricultural and horticultural Knowledge that has yet been given by any...
32From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. John M Carter, Your “Inquiry,” in 656 Pages, neatly bound. If I had any rational Expectation in my 79th. Year, of Life health, unclouded Eyes and unparralysed fingers, for 20 Years to come: I would chearfully engage with you, in an analitical Investigation of all those Subjects, which you Say, have amused Some of your Leisure hours for 20 Years past. The Field is vast....
33From John Adams to John Taylor, 15 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Inquiry in a large Volume, neatly bound. Though I have not read it in course, yet upon an application to it, of the Sortes virgilianæ, Scarce a page has been found, in which my name is not mentioned and Some public Sentiment or expression of mine examined. Revived as they these Subjects are, in this manner in the recollection of the Public, after an Oblivion of So many...
34From John Adams to John Taylor, 16 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
It is unnecessary to discuss, the nice distinctions, which follow in the first page of your respectable Volume; between Mind, Body and Morals. The Essence or Substance of Mind and Body, of Soul and Body of Spirit and Matter; are wholly witheld as yet, from our knowledge; from the penetration of our Sharpest faculties; from the keenest of our inscision knives; the most amplifying of our...
35From John Adams to John Taylor, 19 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I believe that none but Helvetius will affirm that all Children are born with equal Genius. None will pretend, that all are born of dispositions, exactly alike; of equal Weight; equal Strength; equal Length; equal delicacy of nerves; equal Elasticity of Muscles; equal complexions; equal Figure, Grace or Beauty. I have Seen in the Hospital of Foundlings, “the Enfans trouvees”, at Paris, fifty...
36From John Adams to John Taylor, 19 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
That Aristocracies, both ancient and modern have been “variable and artificial” as well as natural and unchangeable, Mr. Adams knows as well as Mr. Taylor, and has never denied or doubted. That “they have all proceeded from moral causes” is not so clear; Since many of them appear to proceed from physical causes; many from immoral causes; many from Pharisaical, jesuitical and Machiavilian...
37From John Adams to John Taylor, 6 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I chearfully interrupt the series of Letters, I was writing to you, to acknowledge the Receipt of your’s of April 24 and that of the 24th of December last I am Somewhat Surprised, at the Failure of Memory in Mr Wythe, which appears in your Letter; for it is as certain as his Existence upon Earth, that the first Project of a Government that I ever, put upon Paper, was at Mr. Wythe’s express...
38From John Adams to John Taylor, 3 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of May. 20, with the thoughts on Government, returned in good condition. The Outline of a Militia in the 22d page, has been Since adopted in Massachusetts. This Commonwealth alone, had at the declaration of the present War, One hundred and thirty Seven Pieces of brass Cannon, belonging to as many Companies of Artillery, ready to march at the command of Government In...
39From John Adams to John Taylor, 4 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
When your new Democratical Republick meets, you will find half a dozen Men of independent Fortunes; half a dozen, of more Eloquence than learning; half a dozen, with more Learning than Eloquence; half a dozen, with Eloquence, Learning and Fortune. Let me See;We have now, four and twenty. To these We may add Six more, who will have more Art, Cunning and Intrigue, than Learning Eloquence or...
40From John Adams to John Taylor, 7 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
In the third page of your “Inquiry”, is an Assertion, which Mr. Adams has a right to regret as a gross and egregious misrepresentation. He cannot believe it to have been intentional. He imputes it to haste; to ardor of temper; to defect of memory; to any thing, rather than design. It is in these Words, Mr. Adams asserts, “that every Society naturally produces, an order of Men, which it is...
41From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
Suppose another case which is not without examples; a family of Six daughters. Four of them are not only beautiful, but Serious and discrete Women. Two of them are not only Ugly, but ill tempered and immodest. Will either of the two, have an equal chance, with any one of the four, to attract the Attention of a Suitor, and obtain an husband of Worth, respectability and consideration, in the...
42From John Adams to John Taylor, 17 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
What Shall I Say, of the “Resemblance, of our House of Representatives to a legislating Nation.”? It is, perhaps, a miniature, which resembles the original as much as a larger Picture, would or could. But, Sir, let me Say, once for all, that, as no Picture great or Small; no Statue, no Bust in brass or marble, gold or Silver, ever yet perfectly resembled the Original: So no Representative...
43From John Adams to John Taylor, 18 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
Observation fourth. “By modifying our temporary, elective, responsible Governors, into Monarchs.” How have I modified our Governors, into Monarchs? My three Volumes were written in “Defence of the Constitution of Massachusetts, and insolent against a rude Attack of Mr Turgot. This constitution, which existed in my hand writing, made the Governor annually elective, gave him the Executive Power,...
44From John Adams to John Taylor, 29 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
“Whether the terms ‘Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy,’ or the one, the few, and the many, are only numerical; or characteristic, like the Calyx petal and Stamina of plants; or complicated with the Idea of a ballance; they have never yet, Singly or collectively been used to describe a Government, deduced from good Moral Principles. ” Linnæus is upon my Shelf, very near me; but I will not...
45From John Adams to John Taylor, 14 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
In your fourth page you “are unable to discover, In Oour form of Government, any resemblance of Monarchy, Aristocracy or Democracy.” “as defined by ancient Writers, and by Mr Adams himself.” As these Words are technical Terms, whose meaning is as well defined both by ancients and moderns, as the Words, Point, Line, Surface, or Solid, in Geometry, I Shall nor turn over Volumes to quote...
46From John Adams to John Taylor, 23 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
You “are unable to discover in our form of Government any resemblance of Aristocracy.” As every branch of Executive Authority committed or entrusted, exclusively to One, resembles and is properly called a Monarchical Power; & Government in proportion as its Powers legislative or Executive are lodged in One, resembles Monarchy: So whatever Authority or Power of making or executing Laws is...
47From John Adams to John Taylor, 21 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
In my last, I ventured to Say, that I would hint, in this, at a principal Misconception that had misled, either you or me. I Shall Submit the question to yourself, and to the World if you or I please, to be decided between Us with candour. You appear to me in all your Writings to consider hereditary descent as essential to Monarchy and Aristocracy. When you mention Monarchy, Monarch, or King,...
48From John Adams to John Taylor, 30 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
In your 4th page, you give Us your Opinion “that the moral Efforts of Mankind, towards political Improvement, have been restrained and disappointed, by the erronious Opinion, that Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy or mixtures of them constitute all the Elements of Government.” And you proceed to State, that “it will be an Effort of your Essay to prove, that the United States have refuted the...
49From John Adams to John Taylor, 12 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
In this fourth page you say, that “Mr. Adams’s System tells Us that the Art of Government can never Change.”— I have said no such thing, Mr. Taylor.!—I know the Art of Government has changed, and probably will change as often as the Arts of Architecture, painting Sculpture Music, Poetry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Medicine &c that is to Say almost as often as the Weather or the fashion in...
50From John Adams to John Taylor, 14 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
In this Number I have to hint at some causes, which impede the course of investigation in will and political knowledge, Religion, however, has been so universally associated with Government, that it is impossible to seperate them in this Inquity. And where shall I begin and when end? Shall I begin the Library at Alexandria, and finish with that at Washington? The latter Saracens more ferocious...