102201From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 30 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d instt came to my hands yesterday afternoon. I thank you for the information contained in it, and for your kindness in offering to draw my answer to Henshaws Bill, now in the high Court of Chancery; before whom it seems, I am to appear. It is really hard that I am so often called before Courts in matters in which I have no interest; but am continually saddled with the...
102202From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 19 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 7th. inst. has been duly recieved. the late election in Pensylvania has to be sure been a triumphant proof of the progress of the republican spirit: and must afford great consolation to yourself personally, as a mark of the public approbation of your administration. I believe we may consider the mass of the states South & West of Connecticut & Massachusets as now a consolidated...
102203From John Adams to Joseph E. Sprague, 30 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
I owe you many thanks for the present of an ingenious entertaining & valuable oration pronounced by you on the 4 July before the Salem charitable Mechanic association. I have read it with great pleasure as I have all the orations which have been sent me this year. I have been much affected with the remarkable uniformity of principles & sentiments & coincidence of topics which pervades them...
102204From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instant with its enclosures, came to hand by the last Post. In the present State of the Army (or more properly the Embryo of one, for I do not perceive from any thing that has come to my knowledge that we are likely to move beyond this) and until the Augmented force shall have been Recruited, Assembled and in the Field, the residence of the Paymaster Genl (I did not...
102205Enclosure I: A Citizen to the Rights of Man, 4 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
A Quere. Frederick, (Anniversary of Independence) ’97. Whether Mr. Jefferson did say, since he has taken his present position that “it was the intention of mr. Adams (the president!) and his party, on the call of congress, to declare war against France if there had been a respectable majority”—or, whether he had indubitable authority for it, if he did say so, is not satisfactorily ascertained....
102206To James Madison from William Jarvis (Abstract), 4 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
4 April 1805, Lisbon . “The Ship Huron Captn. Clark (by which I sent duplicate of mine of the 29th. Ulto and a letter of the 2d. Inst enclosing a letter from Mr. Monroe dup: Copy of a letter from his Excellency Mr. de Araujo and a protest) having been detained, affords me an opportunity to inform you of the arrival of the Ship Erin Captn. Stephenson, in which I understand came passenger Mr....
102207From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
If M. Dalbarton be really Jerome Bonaparte, he will have satisfied thereof the minister of his nation, thro’ whom we shall be apprised of the fact, and relieved from all trouble in deciding on it. this may yet be done, perhaps just as a frigate is ready to sail, and accompanied with a request of a passage in her; when no time will be left for consultation. our duty to our constituents would...
102208Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 22 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Yours yesterday. it should have been two Days earlier, but the Roads are at the worst, and we have now had two Days heavey rain; which upon our Soil will Settle them, but from hence to N york renders them ten fold worse— in replie to your queries, Brisler says that he & mr Bates drew the plan before he came away, and that the cellar must be his guide, that the plan was, to have the...
102209To James Madison from Henry Lee, 17 November 1813 (Madison Papers)
In a former letter, the only one I have written to you, I proffered my grateful & cordial thanks for the kindness you exemplified to me when with one foot in the grave; & intimated that my prospect of restoration to my former state of health was consoling, tho uncertain. Since that period, I have successively experienced the ebbs & floods common to continued disease, which confound my hopes &...
102210From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 9 August 1809 (Adams Papers)
Often as it has been my fortune in the course of my life, to be parted from my Parents, and dearest friends, as well as from my Country, upon no occasion has the separation been so painful, as at the present time—When my wife and Catherine went out to Quincy the Thursday before we sailed, had even the time permitted, I know not whether I could have prevailed upon my feelings, to go and repeat...
102211To Thomas Jefferson from Elizabeth Allicocke, 17 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this, Elizth Allicocke, whom is the writer of this humble address to you, begs for every remission for this intrusion, as real distress obliges her to make application for some assistance, from the humane, and charitable; otherwise She must suffer in the extreme, not having any relations, or friends, in this part of the world, to apply to, for help, in any one respect whatever.—I...
102212From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 June 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
We have for some time past had as little communication almost as if we did not know how to write. mr Randolph’s journies have given us mutual information of the welfare of both families & of course has lessened the occasion for writing. your prospect of a crop here has been as good as could be, independant of the seasons. but there has been through the whole of this part of the country an...
102213General Orders, 21 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
For the day tomorrow Major General Howe Colonel Ogden Lt Colonel Sherman Brigade Major Cuishing Brigade Qr Mr Morrill For duty tomorrow 2d New York & 5th Massa. regiments DLC : Papers of George Washington.
102214To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Barclay desired me to deposit in the Consuls Office my last public Accounts as settled with you. I shall be much obliged if you will please to transmit the Originals to him where they may be always open to public Inspection. I am most dutifully & Affectionately Yours. I return you Doctor Priestlys Paper which I have read with much pleasure. Addressed:...
102215To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 23 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to forward herewith two packets which came by the last French Packet. The business of the constitution as referred to the Town meetings of Rhode Island, is over without producing any effect. Three of the Towns were decidedly for calling on the Legislature to appoint a convention according to the mode prescribed, and this it seems from freindly views to the measure. The...
102216To James Madison from Richard E. Lee, 28 October 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 October 1803, Norfolk . Finds it “inconvenient to exercise longer the office of General Commissioner of Bankruptcy for this District” and so returns his commission. “Several considerations have prompted me to this measure, first the extensive latitude for fraud, which the Bankrupt Law affords, Secondly the obstacles & impediments which are constantly thrown in the way of a complete...
102217From James Madison to George Graham, 27 March 1824 (Madison Papers)
Whilst you were President of the B. Bank of the U. States at Washington you were so obliging as to interpose in behalf of a postponement of a debt due from me. The indulgence was for six months only; but I was led to hope that an extension of it would not be refused. Feeling as I do the obligation I am already under, it is with a double reluctance that I again trouble you on the subject. Such...
102218To John Adams from Richard Rush, 29 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 13th has gratified me very much. When I spoke of New York having joined in with Pennsylvania and Virginia, I alluded to the issue of the late election for governor there. From a variety of local causes existing in that state, this last election seems to have been the only one they have had since the war began which fairly brought to a test the relative numbers of the...
102219To Thomas Jefferson from the Commissioners of the Treasury, 9 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
We are honored with your Letter of the 26th. January last, and are extremely sorry that it is not in our power to transmit to you more agreeable Intelligence concerning the State of the Finances of this Country than you have probably been used to receive from your Correspondents in America. On the contrary, the Languor, which has long prevailed in the several States on this Object, has rather...
102220To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Grand, [between 26 April and 31 May 1780?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. hy. Grand a lhonneur de présenter ses respects à Monsieur le Docteur franklin, il fut hier au soir a Passy pour lui demander de la part de Mr. Girardot si il seroit engagé pour diner vendredi ou samedi, désirant beaucoup avoir lhonneur de sa compagnie celui de ces Jours qui lui sera le plus comode, avec Mr. Paul Jones. Des que Mr. hy. Grand aura la...
102221Collegiate Doggerel, [June 1771–April 1772] (Madison Papers)
Copy by William Bradford in the notebook among his papers in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Filling the first half of this eighty-five page notebook is “Father Bombo’s Pilgrimage to Mecca in Arabia, Volume II,” by Hugh H. Brackenridge and Philip Freneau. This is printed in Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , LXVI (1942), 461–78. The doggerel in the remainder of the...
102222Thomas Jefferson to David M. Randolph (1798–1825), 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments & thanks to mr Randolph for the information in his letter of the 14 th instant respecting the bricklayer. should the legislature adopt the Central College for the site of their University advertisements will be immediately put into the public papers for undertakers of the brickwork and Carpentry & house joinery, from which every one will learn in what way...
102223[Diary entry: 21 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 21st. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind at No. Et. and raining more or less till near Noon, after wch. it continued cloudy till sun down with the wind in the same quarter. A stop put to out doors work till near noon. About sun down Mr. Fendall came here.
102224To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 10 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from Gen. Weedon of the 10th. instant giving us reason to expect the enemies army presently in this quarter, has been the subject of consideration in a council of our Militia Officers, and it has called our attention closely to the singularity of our situation, which exposes us an easy prey to such a force as lately visited James river. This has produced the inclosed determination,...
102225Thomas Jefferson to William Wirt, 15 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10 th was recieved yesterday. I should be unwilling that any use should be made of my letter which would shew my interference in the case in question, because I know how gladly the dogs of federalism would turn from Duane upon me and tranquility is now become the summum bonum with me. should Duane push his state-partyism against mr Gallatin to an opposition to the President ,...
102226From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Clay, 2 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 2, 1789. On December 30, 1789 , Clay wrote to Hamilton: “I received your very obliging favour of the 2d Octr.” Letter not found. ] Clay was a Savannah merchant and planter who had served as paymaster general of the Continental Army in the Southern Department.
102227To James Madison from Thomas Bulkeley, 15 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to write you 6th. Ultimo since which nothing has transpired with respect to the Political situation of this Country on which any dependence can be placed. An express arrived last sunday from Paris thro Spain to this Court. It appears pretty evident that the answer to be sent by this Government i s reduced to the monosyllables yes or no—Peace on certain hard conditions or in...
102228From George Washington to Benjamin Whitcomb, 12 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
After the positive order given to you to send the Men of your Corps to the Regiments of the States to which they respectively belong, I little expected to have heard that they were still at Coos, and to have received a petition from the Men themselves desiring the indulgence of remaining there—You very well know the order was given in conformity to a Resolve of Congress for reforming the Corps...
102229To Alexander Hamilton from John J. U. Rivardi, 6 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honored this instant with your letter of January the 19th. & am exceedingly happy that the measures I took concerning the clothing detained at Oswego met with your approbation—Nothing but the great want of the Soldiers in that respect could have induced me to recur to that expedient, which I much fear will prove abortive after all, having reasons to Suspect that the person with whom I...
102230From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Accept, my dear General Knox my affectionate thanks for your obliging favors of the 29th, 30th, & 31st of Jany and 1st 8th & 12th of the present month. They were indeed, exceedingly satisfactory, and relieving to my mind which has been filled with great & anxious uneasiness for the issue of General Lincoln’s operations, and the dignity of Government. On the prospect of the happy termination of...
102231To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 9 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Nothing extraordinary has happened here; The Frigate that appeard yesterday under Sail standing towards the Town is now out of View—supposd to be in Princes Bay—At this Post & the Blazing Starr are posted about 1000 of the N. Jersey Militia—They begin to be so anxious to return to their Harvest, under the apprehension of their familys being without support, if they continue longer that I have...
102232Enclosure: Lafayette to the Princesse d’Hénin, 15 March [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Imaginé vous une ouverture pratiqué dans le rempart de La Citadelle et entouré d’une haute et forte palissade; c’est par la qu’en ouvrant successivement quatre portes, dont chacun armée de chaines, Cadenats, et Bars de fers, on parvient non sans peine et sans bruit jusques a mon cachot, large de trois pieds, et long de cinq et demi; il est Lugubre, humide, et m’offre pour tout ornemens, deux...
102233To James Madison from John Gardner, 13 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 February 1804, Cádiz. “I take the liberty of Informing you that on the 16 Jany 1804: Comeing from Portsmouth in England to Cadiz in Ballast with the American Ship Hazard of Wilmington No Carolina under my Command: I Run on Shore near Rota forced by the Very Extraordinary Bad weather we Experienc’d & few hours after we Gott on the Rocks my Ship was knockd to pieces by the Violent Seas that...
102234From James Madison to Thomas H. Key, 9 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have recd from Mr Hassler the accompanying copy of a work he has just published on “analytic Trigonometry”: which he wishes to be submitted to the proper department in the University of Virga. He entertains a hope that it will be found well adapted to the course of study in this Country, & have the advantage of being patronized in its Institutions. That his veiws may fully appear, I enclose...
102235John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have taken an House, and now wish you to come on, as soon as possible.— It will be necessary to send by Water all the Carpets that are not in Use, and several Beds, Bedsteads, Bedding Bed and Table Linnen,—Plate, China &c if you can convey it to Providence would come better that Way. The House is on the North River about a mile out of the City, in a fine situation, a good Stable, Coach...
102236William A. Duer to James Madison, 25 April 1835 (Madison Papers)
Your polite and favorable reception of my little work upon our Constitutional Jurisprudence, encourages me in trespassing on you with a request for information upon some curious historical points connected with the branch of study committed to my immediate superintendance in this Institution—and upon which you alone Sir may be able to afford it. I trust however that you will not permit my...
10223718th. (Adams Papers)
This afternoon I wrote a couple of letters to send by Mr. Atkins, who goes to Boston to’morrow. One for N. Freeman, and the other from for Wm. Cranch, and as I could not finish before dark, I ventured to stay in the office till seven o’clock. I then went with Townsend, to Mr. Atkins’s, to give him the letters: Miss Dashwood was there: a young Lady from Boston. She speaks thick, and quick,...
102238[Diary entry: 14 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
14. Mer. at 15 in the Morning & quite Calm. Wind at So. Et. afterwards & lowering. Mer. at 30 at Night.
102239From George Washington to Frederick Visscher, 30 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I request you to accept my warmest thanks for your affectionate address. In a cause so Just & righteous as ours, we have every reason to hope the divine Providence will still continue to crown our arms with success, and finally compel our Enemies to grant us that Peace upon equitable terms, which we so ardently desire. May you, and the good People of this Town, in the mean time be protected...
102240To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
There are in Philadelphia six or eight officers and about one company of the invalid regiment. They are in a situation disagreeable to themselves and expensive to the public. Some of the Officers, by the loss of limbs and other inabilities, are rendered totally incapable of acquiring by their own exertions a support in life—others are in a degree debilitated, while some seem to have recovered...
102241To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 11 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
According to Your Excellency’s orders, The Admiral and I will wait for them at [H]artford, on the 20th instant. I keep it under the greatest secresy, as your Excellency wishes. The bad News that Your Excellency has received From South-Carolina affect me very sensibly. I doubt very much that Clinton should take his Troops to send them to Virginy, as Long as We will be here in situation to...
102242From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 18 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 18, 1789 . “I have received your Letter of the 6th instant, with the laws of Virginia accompanying it.…” LS , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Alexandria, Letters Received from the Secretary, 1789–1795, National Archives. Letter not found. H had requested the revenue laws of each state in “Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs,” November 25,...
102243To John Adams from Henry Guest, 1 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of 29 January Last Came duly to For which be pleased to Except my moste respectful thanks Particularly as it Contained a few strokes of your pollitical oppinion in these Turbulent Times. I find Sir, My Last Letter to you, wants Explenation—As to what I observed of your Son I Wanted Him in the Senate one Season more That He Might have had an opportunity of Displaying His Superior...
10224411th. (Adams Papers)
The Class from 9 to near twelve were reading their forensic; I read in the affirmative as follows. “Whether the diversities of national character, (taking the word, character , in its most extensive Sense) arise chiefly, from physical Causes ?” The many Arguments which naturally present themselves to defend each side of this Question, created in my mind, (and perhaps not in mine alone) a small...
102245To James Madison from William Pinkney, 10 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have it from several Quarters that the Austrian Messenger, who arrived here more than a Week ago, to Prince Stahremberg, and who undoubtedly belongs to the Austrian Legation at Paris, was the Bearer of Overtures to this Government for a Negotiation for a general Peace. It is said that the overtures propose the Mediation of Austria & Russia. Great Secrecy is affected upon the Subject; but I...
102246To Thomas Jefferson from William Phillips, 3 September 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of addressing your excellency, on the subject of a removal of part of the troops of convention, and that, should such a measure take place, it may be left in the option of the British to remain in their present barracks. I form this claim from the British having removed from Cambridge to Rutland, in New England, and that a removal now would be in regular turn given to the...
102247George Washington to Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, 12 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, August 12, 1779. Discusses possible attack on Powles Hook. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
102248To George Washington from Edward Carrington, 9 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 1st Instant, and have the satisfaction of seeing in the papers, the decision of the House of Representatives on the Resolution for carrying into effect the British Treaty. I presume the struggle will not be renewed on the appearance of the Bill—the party in opposition has evidently been weakened by the memorials received before the passage of the...
102249To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Lomax, 16 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased to excuse my troubleing you with this Address. It is made in behalf of my friend Mr. Humphrey B. Brooke, who is considered as one of the best Surveyors in our State. He will be thankful if there are any Appointments to be made in his Line, to any of our new Countries, to receive one. I can safely assert, that he would be found, fully adequate to any Business of the kind. If...
102250Indenture with Peter Gollatt, 19 March 1770 (Washington Papers)
This Indenture made the Nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy—Between Peter Gulatt, of the County of Fairfax, Blacksmith of the one part and George Washington Gentleman of the same County of the other part. Whereas the said George Washington by an Indenture bearing date the same day of these presents has bound to & put under the said Peter...