106091From George Washington to Botetourt, 9 September 1770 (Washington Papers)
The very obliging offer your Lordship was pleasd to make me in behalf of the Officers and Soldiers, who (under faith of Government) lay claim to the 200,000 Acres of Land on the Waters of Ohio promisd them by Proclamn in 1754 I postpond availing Myself of because it was evident to me from the knowledge I have of the back Country & the rapidity with which it is settling that any considerable...
106092From James Madison to Robert Smith, 9 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that the President has determined to send to the Dey of Algiers ten brass twenty-four pounders, and five brass eighteen pounders, with Carriages and the necessary apparatus complete. They are to be long guns fit for batteries. He also wishes the Cargo of the Ship Sally, lost off St. Lucar, be repeated and another Cargo to be shipped to the Dey to consist of plank...
106093To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 18 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some days ago the letter which you did me the favor to write me by Chanor. Livingston . I have not written any since those you there acknowlege (except one by Mr Victor Dupont, of the 18th. of Octob.) I have been fearing for some time, as the commissions mentioned in your letter of March 17th., had not been heard of during the summer, that you might perhaps have been considering me...
106094From Thomas Jefferson to John Perry, 11 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In the beginning of January I remitted you 100. D. and the like sum in the beginning of this month. mr Craven has also furnished you some things debited to me, the amount not known to me. last night I recieved from mr Crump 4-orders for between 3. & 400. Dollars paiable monthly. these I have declined assuming; because altho’ it is my purpose to continue paying for you monthly as usual, yet...
106095Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, [after 22] September 1790 (Adams Papers)
I beleive cousin Thomas has wanted his Trunk. I hear that Barnard did not sail till last week I hope your son has arriv’d safe but wonder that we have not heard from him. He promiss’d to write. The parting on our side was hard I cannot think of it without a Tear He had so indear’d himself to us all by his affectionate behaviour & amiable manners that he was to us a Son & Brother may a good...
106096[Diary entry: 28 April 1772] (Washington Papers)
28. Colo. Bassett & Family set of home. I rid to the Mill and Fishing Landing at the Ferry.
106097To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am requested by Mr Oudinarde to transmit you the Inclosed Account —I observed to him that it was a little extraordinary the account had not been presented before; and that it was probable your accounts with the public had been long since closed, and that, by the delay, you may have lost the oppurtunity of making it a public charge, as it ought to have been. But as the person was very...
106098To Benjamin Franklin from César Bucquet, 22 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L(?): American Philosophical Society Après un travail assidu de plus de trente années Je Suis parvenu a perfectionner la Mouture économique et a la faire Connoitre dans les Provinces ou elle étoit ignorée. Ce fait est Constaté tant par des Procès Verbaux qui ont eu lieu dans Ces Provinces que par le Rapport des administrateurs de l’hopital Général de Paris. Par Mes procèdés Cet hopital épargne...
106099James Robertson to Willie Blount, 11 September 1811 (Madison Papers)
“There is in this place a very noted Chief of the Chickesaws, a man of truth, who wishes the President should be informed, that there is a combination of the Northern Indians, promoted by the English, to unite in falling on the frontier settlements, and are inviting the Southern tribes to join them.” Tr ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). This paragraph was extracted from a 9 Sept. 1811 letter from Chickasaw...
106100To James Madison from George W. Erving, 1 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
The return of Mr Lewis to Washington affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the rect of your private & friendly letter (May 3d) upon the subject of the assessorship to the board of commissioners; It is unnecessary I hope for me to assure you that I feel on all occasions the most perfect disposition to acquiesce in, & chearfully conform to, the Opinions & wishes of the President & of...
106101From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, with Proposed Circular to the Governors of the States, 21 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Sketch of a letter proposed to be written by the Secretary of war to the governors of the states, according to the ideas understood to have been expressed on the subject. Sir A case which has lately presented itself here, and may do the same in other parts of the union, renders it necessary for the General government to provide a remedy which may be prompt, adequate and always within reach. An...
106102To James Madison from James Riley, 19 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
Having (since my return from Slavery in Africa) been appointed by Mr. James Simpson our old Consul in Morocco his agent, for settling his accounts with Government (now of about 23 Years standing) & to Petition Congress in his behalf for arrearages of pay to which he has always considered himself Justly entitled, or such other relief as Congress shall think fit to afford him, in his present...
106103To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 8 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): Columbia University Library I have recd. your Favor of the 22 & 23 Ult. They have determined me to set out for Paris. I shall leave this Place the latter End of next Week. Mrs. Jay & my Nephew go with me. Be pleased to take Lodgings for me, and to inform me of them, by a Line to Mr Delap or Mr Bondfield at Bordeaux. The Embassador of France...
106104II. From the Committee of Cheshire, Massachusetts, [1 January 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding we live remote from the seat of the national government, and in an extreme part of our own state; yet we humbly claim the right of judging for ourselves. Our attachment to the national constitution is strong and indissoluble. We consider it a description of those powers , which the people have submitted to their magistrates, to be exercised for definite purposes, and not a...
106105From John Adams to James Warren, 7 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Debates, and Deliberations in Congress are impenetrable Secrets: but the Conversations in the City, and the Chatt of the Coffee house, are free, and open. Indeed I wish We were at Liberty to write freely and Speak openly upon every Subject, for their is frequently as much Knowledge derived from Conversation and Correspondence, as from Solemn public Debates. A more intricate and complicated...
106106To Thomas Jefferson from John Jefferson, 7 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I Congratulate you on your safe return to your Native Country, and shou’d be Exceeding glad to see you, but not having the Opportunity, I am desirous of informing you of the distress’d Circumstances I am reduc’d to, by Colo. Richard James , of whom I Farm’d the Sherffs place, and after Acting something over a Year, he was desirous that a Nephew of his shou’d Act under me, but his being...
106107Thomas Jefferson to Fernagus De Gelone, [20] August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday evening, and at this place 80. miles South West from Monticello , your letter of the 5 th inst. and lose no time in inclosing you the 8 D. 50 cents, the amount of the books last sent. I am in hopes that notwithstanding the increased distance, they may reach you before your departure. on your return with a new cargo of books I shall be glad to recieve your catalogue as...
106108Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to John Jay, 29 November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Notwithstanding the information of this Morning respecting the Insertion in Dunlap’s Paper on Monday, certain reasons determine us rather to return to you the Paper with our certificate. You will find that we have altered nothing material to your purpose. The omission of what concerned the President has proceeded from a scruple about official propriety. We are with respect & esteem Dr Sir ...
106109[Diary entry: 17 October 1770] (Washington Papers)
17. Exceeding warm & very pleasant till the Evening then lowering.
106110James Madison to Bernard Peyton, 28 August 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have 4 Hhds of Tobo on the road which will arrive soon after this; and which you will make the most of according to their quality & the state of the Market. 2 of the Hhds best of the lugs--l stemmed of inferior lugs. 1 unstemmed. The main cause of the inferior quality of the Crop, was as you suppose the want of rain. The soil was fresh & of the mountain fertility. Please to send by the...
106111To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 28 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy’s intention has been to distroy this army and I conjecture would have been afterwards to distroy the Stores which it covers. They have now undertaken another movement and it appears they are going through the country to Fredericksburg. Their Dragoons were this morning near Hannover Court House and (unless this is a feint) I expect the Army will be there this evening. Our small corps...
106112William Turpin to Thomas Jefferson, [received 5 November 1809] (Jefferson Papers)
this will be handed you by my Neighbor Tho s Mitchell , he intends calling on you as he passes through Albemarle , you will find him a Man of information and friendly to the present administration. the high esteem which I have for you, has originated in the love and good will, which I have discovered in your writings as well as in almost every public act of your administration, the more...
106113To George Washington from Guy Carleton, 4 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Officer who will have the honor of placing this letter in your hands has my orders to proceed to Canada, with letters from me to Genl Haldimand, and I am to desire your Excellency will be pleased to grant him a passport for that purpose. I am Sir Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
106114To George Washington from Claude- Boniface Collignon, 28 April 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Claude-Boniface Collignon, 28 April 1780 . Collignon wrote GW on 15 March 1790: “I have had the honor to write you a letter in date April 28th 1780” (see Papers, Presidential Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series . 19 vols. to date. Charlottesville, Va., 1987–. 5:227–31 ).
106115From Benjamin Franklin to William Watson, 19 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Photostat of copy: American Philosophical Society I have lately perused the 47th Vol. of the Transactions, wherein I find your very candid and favourable Account of my Electrical papers, for which be pleased to accept my grateful Acknowledgments. My Friend Mr. Collinson once gave me reason to hope for the pleasure and advantage of a Correspondence with you, by telling me you intended me a...
106116To George Washington from Jonathan Lawrence, 5 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received a Letter from Colonel Thomas Palmer one of the Commissioners appointed to Carry into Execution the Law for Compleating the Continental Battalions raised by the State of New york —Who informs me that all the Drafts from that State which Can be Collected without a great deal of Difficulty have been Sent forward for this place except a few who I Suppose are now on their way,...
106117To James Madison from William Lee, 8 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose yo u several Bulletins of the Grand Army which co ntain the Armistice concluded the 21 June between Russia & France. In the papers accompanying this w ill be found some account of the late mouvement a t Constantinople. We are in the dark respecting th is revolution. Some accounts say that the French interest is still predominant there, others that the English and...
106118From George Washington to Baron de Calbiac, 23 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of Yesterday and in Answer thereto, I am to inform You, at the same Time that I commend the good Intentions which You profess, induced your Countrymen to leave their Families & Homes, that I have done the only thing in my Power to favor their Views. On their first Arrival & Introduction to me I gave them a Letter to the Continental Congress to whom it was necessary to...
106119To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to add, what I forgot in my former letter, a request to you to be so kind as to communicate to me what you can recollect of Bushnel’s experiments in submarine navigation during the late war, and whether you think his method capable of being used successfully for the destruction of vessels of war. It’s not having been actually used for this purpose by us, who were so peculiarly in...
106120III. The Secretary of State to the President, 17 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 2d. which I supposed would find you at Richmond, and again on the 10th. which I thought would overtake you at Wilmington. The present will probably find you at Charleston. According to what I mentioned in my letter of the 10th. the Vicepresident, Secretaries of the Treasury and war and myself met on the 11th. Colo. Hamilton presented a letter from Mr....
106121To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. is recieved and I now inclose a letter to the Secretary of the navy, which be pleased to seal & deliver after perusal. I think not a moment should be lost in forwarding the stores to Algiers, as it is of im⟨po⟩rtance to keep those powers quiet. Might it not be useful to propose to the Dey with a year’s annuity in stores to recieve another year’s in money? The answer from...
106122From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Colomb, 27 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, les deux Lettres que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 19 du mois dernier et le 19 du courant pour m’engager à vous procurer votre échange, ainsi que les moyens de retourner en Amerique rejoindre vos drapeaux. Je suis bien faché, Monsieur, de me trouver dans l’impossibilité absolue de vous accorder ce que vous me demandez. Les...
106123To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rittenhouse, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit a Brother of David Rittenhouse an Individual Citizen of the Immence Terretory over which you are now call’d by the Voice of your Country to Preside To Congratulate you on the Auspicious event None but an enlarg’d Philosophick mind, such as you possess, can divest itself of those narrow Religious, and Political, prejudices so frequently to found with the best of men in common Life, and...
106124Bernard Peyton to Thomas Jefferson, 13 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favor’d with yours covering Mr. Th: J. Randolph’s df t on me in your favor for $400, which is at your credit, & can be drawn for at sight, at your pleasure— Nothing would have induced me to call on you or Jefferson , for the balances due me, when it possibly might not be convenient to either, or both of you to pay the amount, but the expectation of having to raise a large sum of money,...
106125From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 November 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To James Monroe. 21 November 1806, Department of State . “I have left the inclosed open for your inspection and beg the favor of you to forward it by some safe conveyance, if you have not in the mean while been apprized of Mr Harris’s having received a duplicate.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IM , vol. 6). 1 p. For enclosure, see n. 1. JM likely enclosed a copy of his 15 April 1806 letter...
106126Oct. 10. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
The Comte de Sanafé wrote a Card to Mr. Dumas desiring a Copy in French of the 22d Article. Said that I had read it to him in french but his Memory had not retained it. I desired Mr. Dumas to send it. —Mr. D. at my desire had asked the Duke de la Vauguion what was the Usage in my Case, who am going to Paris. He brought me Answer, to take Leave of the President, Secretary Fagel and Grand...
106127Dumas to the American Commissioners, 4 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; copy: National Archives <The Hague, November 4, 1778, in French: I have just seen our friend and take this opportunity to report our conversation. Amsterdam has sent strong instructions to its representatives and if the evasions continue will use other means, about which they did not wish to tell me. Sir Joseph Yorke has...
106128To Thomas Jefferson from George Walker, 21 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 14th. Inst. I had the honour to receive and have communicated the Contents to the proprietors of this City. In consequence of which I this day received the inclosed letter which they wish may be laid before the President of the United States.—As I may Sometime after take an opty of conveying to you my Sentiments on this business I Shall not add at present but that I am with...
106129Benjamin Austin to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging your Letter of Jan y 9 th & have taken the liberty to read it to many of our republican friends—Its contents are consider’d so valuable, that I induc’d to request your permission to have it inserted in the Chronicle.— There are many observations which are highly interesting, not only as they respect the manufacturs of our Country, but as they relate to Europe...
106130To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 20 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
The present opportunity I avail myself of to send you another copy of the same Book on the Duties & commercial regulations of Spain which I am hopeful you will recieve safe. This will go so slow by Mules to Bayonne & from thence to Bourdeaux that all my other letters written at the same time & I expect others written after will very probably reach you before this as I am obliged to send the...
106131To Benjamin Franklin from ———, 2 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society On ne doit jamais Batonner ny Biffer une signature d’une Lettre de change que quand on l’a payée; on pouvoit Repondre qu’on avoit accepté la seconde et qu’on ne vouloit pas accepter la premiere, cette reponse suffisoit, Mr. petit de Lanauze a qui elle a eté envoyée ne peut se dispenser de faire constater le refus d’acceptation, et de la Renvoyer a son cedant...
106132From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, 11 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is rendering mutual service to men of virtue and understanding to make them acquainted with one another. I need no other apology for presenting to your notice the bearer hereof Mr. Barlow. I know you were among the first who read the Visions of Columbus, while yet in Manuscript: and think the sentiments I heard you express of that poem, will induce you to be pleased with the acquaintance of...
106133From Benjamin Franklin to [ ――― Saintmartin], 1 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received yours of the 26th past, and am much concern’d at the Disappointment you complain of. But as I am totally unacquainted with Mr. Ceronio or his Connections, and have no Instructions relating to him or his Operations; and as Mr. Morris is not under the Direction of the Commissioners from the Congress residing in France, being only employ’d by a...
106134To George Washington from Major John André, 24 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
What I have as yet Said concerning myself was in the justifiable attempt to be extricated; I am too little accustomed to duplicity to have Succeeded. I beg your Excellency will be persuaded that no Alteration in the Temper of my Mind or Apprehension for my Safety, induces me to Take the Step of Adressing you, but that it is to rescue myself from an imputation of having assumed a mean Character...
106135Proclamation of Embargo, 30 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
By His Excellency THOMAS JEFFERSON, Esq; Governour or Chief Magistrate of the commonwealth of VIRGINIA: A PROCLAMATION. Whereas the exportation of provisions from this state will be attended with manifest injury to the United States, by supplying the enemy, and by rendering it difficult for the publick agents and contractors to procure supplies for the American troops, and will moreover give...
106136From Alexander Hamilton to William Gordon, [10 December 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
As your letter of the 23d of September offered nothing conclusive I delayed acknowledging it ’till I should receive the result of your pretended application to your informer. This is contained in your last of the 15th. of November which arrived while I was absent from Head Quarters. The unravelment of the plot in the ridiculous farce you have been acting proves, as I at first suspected, that...
106137From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 9 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of yesterday. Since I explained to you my motives for directing a change of your position, it has been my wish that you should take such an one, as would enable at the shortest notice to prevent the escape of the enemy by land should they attempt it, but at the same time to have a regard to your own safety. The particular spot I leave to your own discretion and...
106138From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 29 June 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Betty Washington Lewis, 29 June 1796. Lewis wrote GW on 5 July : “I receiv’d your Letters of 26th and 29th of June.”
106139To Thomas Jefferson from John B. Prevost, 26 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last evening the note you did me the honor to write communicating your intentions to confer upon me the appointment of Judge of the Superior Court of the Orleans territory—It has for some time past been my wish to remove thither provided I could take with me that approbation of the Executive of the U states which this mark of its confidence indicates—You will therefore be pleased...
106140From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 9 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
My opinion is that Doctr. Shield should be sent immediately back to York Town, & Colo. Gibson reprimanded for having permitted him to come to this place before leave had been obtained for him to go into New York—Unless Gibson has some appointment unknown to me he can only be considered in the light of a private person having resigned the command of (the Virga. State Regimt) which he formerly...