130651From George Washington to Samuel Vaughan, 18 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
The obligations you are continually laying me under, are so great that I am quite overwhelmed & perfectly ashamed of myself for receiving them, notwithstanding your politeness leaves me without a choice. The picture of a battle in Germany, & the Jarrs came very safe. The first is fine: the latter is also fine and exceedingly handsome—they shall occupy the place you have named for them. May I...
130652From George Washington to Samuel Vaughan, 25 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
At the same time that I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th of may, I must beg your acceptance of my best thanks for the publications which accompanied it. I am glad to learn that the good opinion first entertained of Mr Rumsey and his inventions still continues, and I sincerely hope as well for his own emolument and the benefit of mankind, as for the credit of our country that...
130653From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Vaughan, Jr., 27 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself much indebted to Mr. Vaughan your father for the opportunity he has furnished me of a direct correspondence with you, and also to yourself for the seeds of the Mountain rice you have been so good as to send me. I had before received from your brother in London some of the same parcel brought by Capt. Bligh; but it was so late in the spring of the present year that tho the plants...
130654From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Vaughan & Son, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour by Mr. Luard and would on your Recommendation have gladly rendred him any service in my Power but he has found no Difficulty in settling his affairs to his satisfaction. I rejoice to learn that you and all the amiable family of the Vaughans are well, which may God continue. I am ever, with great Esteem Gentlemen y. m. o. h. S. XXX , 512n.
130655From John Jay to Sarah Vaughan, 19 July 1794 (Jay Papers)
Had it not been for an old Rule long confirmed by Habit, of dis pensing ^patching^ Business before I accept the Invitations of pleasure, I Should not for a Moment have delayed that of immediately answering ^thanking^ You for the very friendly Letter with which you have honored me among the pleasing Circumstances The necessity I have since been under of writing a number of public and private...
130656From John Adams to William Vaughan, 13 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
My Friend Mr Thaddeus Mason Harris who has for many years been Ordained Minister of Dorchester the next Town to me, and is every Way worthy of the Friendship of all Men of Letters and of Virtue, is bound to England upon interisting Business And as I wish him to be known I have taken the Liberty to give him this line of Introduction to you recollecting as I do with Pleasure many agreeable hours...
130657From John Adams to William Vaughan, 5 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
A Reminiscence, as the French phrase it, of Civilities received from you and your Brothers, whenever I have met them in France England or America, emboldens, me to introduce to you a Gentleman of Virtuous Character and Worthy Connections. Mr Theodore Lyman Junr of Boston. He is modest, Studious and inquisitive.— I have had this Winter the pleasure of a Visit from your Brother and his Lady, and...
130658From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 28 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had, the day before yesterday, the pleasure of receiving the letters your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the 12 th , from Versailles, & on the 21 st. from the Hague— M r: Jay’s letters, inclosed, I delivered to him yesterday— I should have been very happy in the honor of the Conversation your Excellency intended with me before your departure. I hope to have the satisfaction of...
130659From James Madison to Roberts Vaux, 20 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the copy of your interesting Discourse before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The tribute it pays to her great Founder and first settlers, was due to the memorable example they gave of justice and humanity to the aboriginal inhabitants of the Country. The example was in true harmony with that of their inviolable respect for the rights of Conscience in all men....
130660From James Madison to Roberts Vaux, 22 June 1827 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison, with his respects to Mr. Vaux, thanks him for the copy of his letter to Mr. Roscoe, so judiciously and seasonably interposed in behalf of the Penitentiary System, an experiment so deeply interesting to the Cause of Humanity. Draft ( DLC ); Tr ( PHi ). Tr marked “True Copy R Vaux.” Roberts Vaux, Letter on the Penitentiary System of Pennsylvania: Addressed to William Roscoe […]...
130661James Madison to Roberts Vaux, 16 March 1833 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Roberts Vaux, thanks him for the historical Discourse of Mr. M cCall. It well merited the praise bestowed on it by the Society before which it was delivered. A like task as well executed in every State, would of themselves be a historical treasure; and might guide while they prompted researches, not as yet too late, but rapidly becoming so. RC (Biblioteca...
130662From Thomas Jefferson to Le Vavasseur, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sensible of the extraordinary ingenuity & merit of the work which you offer to the acquisition of our government. it would certainly be an ornament to any country. but with such an immense extent of country before us, wanting common improvement to render it productive, the United States have not thought the moment as yet arrived when it would be wise in them to begin to divert their funds...
130663From John Adams to Hezekiah Veatch, 15 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Resolutions Addressed to the President and Congress of the United States have been presented to me by your Representative Mr Craik. It becomes you, and all your Fellow Citizens to be deeply impressed, at this eventful and interesting Period with the critical and alarming Situation of our Country. It never yet saw a prospect, of greater danger. Its Integrity, fortitude and Wisdom were...
130664From Alexander Hamilton to Abraham Van Vechten, 22 October 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 22, 1795. “In a letter by the last Post I mentioned that I should take the liberty to send you the papers for levying a fine Leonard Ganseevort against Gerrit Boon. They are now herewith sent….” AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Van Vechten was an Albany lawyer. Letter not found. See Sections I, III, and V of “An Act concerning Fines and Recoveries of Lands and...
130665From Alexander Hamilton to Abraham B. Venable, 5 July 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 5, 1797. On July 9, 1797, Venable wrote to Hamilton : “I have received your letter of the fifth instant by the hands of Mr. Wolcott.” Letter not found. ]
130666From Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Bedford Venable, 23 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter to my friend & relation mr Jefferson, I explained to him the unexpected difficulties into which I was likely to fall on my winding up my affairs here, with a request to endeavor to procure me the aid of the bank at Richmond. you have been so kind as to interpose and to procure for me the sum needed on private loan, which is infinitely more eligible for myself. it is the more so...
130667Enclosure II: Extrait de la depeche de Monsieur le comte de Vergennes à Monsieur le Marquis de Verac, 15 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Extrait de la depeche de Monsieur le comte de Vergennes à Monsieur le Marquis de Verac, Ambassadeur de France (à la Haïe) du 15. Mars 1786. Le roi concourera autant qu’il sera en son pouvoir au succès de la chose, et vous inviterez de sa part les patriotes à lui communiquer leurs vues, leur plan et leurs envieux. Vous les assurerez que le roi prend un interêt veritable à leurs personnes, comme...
130668From Thomas Jefferson to Paul Verdier, 9 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I left at your house, the morning after I lodged there, a pistol in a locked case, which no doubt was found in your bar after my departure. I have written to desire either mr Randolph or mr Eppes to call on you for it, as they come on to Congress, to either of whom therefore be so good as to deliver it. Accept my salutations PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “Mr. Verdier”; endorsed by TJ in ink on...
130669From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received the Letters your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 24 of Octr., and the 3d of December past, respecting the Arrest of our Arms & Ammunition by the sieur Puchelberg, accompany’d by Copies of the Letters of M. Le Marquis de Castries and M. Chardon, and a Paper of the said...
130670From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 18 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me yesterday relating to Mr. Jackson Jones. I knew nothing of him ’till his Appearance here. He has shown me a Letter of Governor Johnston’s by which it appears that Mr. Jones was establish’d in a Trading House of good Credit in West Florida, while...
130671The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 18 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Archivo Historico Nacional On March 14 the commissioners received their first dispatches from America. Among them was the letter above of December 30 from the committee of secret correspondence, enclosing the Congressional authorization to offer Versailles territorial inducements to enter the war. Deane promptly informed Vergennes that...
130672From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Count De Vergennes & has the honour of acquainting him with the Arrival of Mr Grenville; who is desirous of knowing when his Excellency will be pleased to admit him to the honour of a Conference. Endorsed: Rec. le meme jour In WTF ’s hand.
130673The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 17, 1778: We enclose a resolution of Congress about the treaties, and request that it be laid before the King. It will show him how he has won the hearts of that body and of the American people by a beneficence that time will never efface.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 298. See also the...
130674From John Jay to Vergennes, 9 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 13 th . March last, was delivered to me by the Count D’Montmorin on my Arrival at Madrid. I should not have thus long have delayed the Pleasure of replying to it, if I could have prevailed upon myself to have given your Excellency complimentary Professions, instead of sincere Assurances. Unreserved Confidence in an Embassador of...
130675II. The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 9 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Some late Proceedings of the Enemy, have induced us, to submit a few Observations to your Excellency’s superior Lights and Judgement. His Britannic Majesty’s Commissioners, in their Manifesto of the 3d of October, have denounced “a Change in the whole Nature and future Conduct of the War,” they have declared “that the Policy as well as Benevolence of Great Britain, have thus far checked the...
130676From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My hand recovering very slowly from the effects of it’s dislocation, I am advised by the Surgeons to try the waters of Aix in Provence. From thence I think it possible I may go as far as Nice. As circumstances might arise under which a passport might be useful, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency for one. I propose to set out on Thursday next. I would at the same time ask an...
130677From Benjamin Franklin to [Vergennes], 26 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress N’ayant aucun moyen de Satisfaire aux payemens de Sommes aussi considerables & ne pouvant Supporter l’Idée de perdre le reste de Confiance que nous avons acquis en Europe par un retour à protest qui apprêteroit à rire aux Anglois à nos dépens en leur fournissant les moyens d’ajouter des realites aux fictions qu’ils...
130678From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening, I had the Honour of your Letter of the thirteenth of this Month, in answer to mine of the Eleventh. I thank your Excellency, for the Politeness, with which you have agreed to my Proposition of a Conference upon the Subject of Mr. Deanes Address, to the People of the united States. At the Time, when my Letter of the Eleventh, was written and Sent to your Excellency, there were...
130679From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 3 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
After begging leave to present my respects to your Excellency on my return to this place, I take the liberty of offering to your attention some papers which I found on my arrival here, written by sundry merchants of l’Orient, and others, some of whom are citizens of the United states, and all of them concerned in the trade between the two countries. This has been carried on by an exchange of...
130680From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de remettre a votre Excellence une Lettre que jai recu de M. Gratien Lieutenant Gal. de L’amirauté de Morlaix avec une copie de la reponse que j’y ai faite, et un Exemplaire du reglement du 27. 7bre 1778 concernant les prises faittes par les corsaires Français et Americains, permettez moi de vous observer, Monsieur...
130681From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 26th. past, enclosing an Official Paper on the Part of the Danish Court, relating to the Burning of some English Vessels on the Coast of Norway, by three American Ships....
130682The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 23 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We beg Leave to acquaint your Excellency, that we are appointed and fully impowered by the Congress of the United States of America, to propose and negotiate a Treaty of Amity and Commerce between France and the said States. The just and generous Treatment their Trading Ships have received, by a free Admission into the Ports of this Kingdom,...
130683The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 26 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had last Evening the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the twenty fourth of this Month, in Answer to ours of the twenty Eighth ultimo relative to the Liberty for Americains to pass through this Kingdom with their Effects, in their Way home, Duty free, inclosing Copy of a Letter from Mr. Necker to your Excellency, upon the same subject. We shall take the Liberty to pursue the Rules...
130684From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 12 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In the enclosed letter Mr. Adams and myself have the honor to inform your Excellency of the measures ultimately taken for procuring arrangements between the United States of America and the States of Barbary, and to ask his Majesty’s interposition. To the information therein contained it is necessary for me to add that Mr. Barclay who is charged with the commission to Morocco will set out in...
130685From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 19 February 1780. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:250–251 . Responding to Vergennes’ letter of the 15th (calendared above), Adams sent copies of commissions, but balked at furnishing copies of his instructions, which he thought Vergennes expected him to provide (see JA, Diary and...
130686From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, by Order of Congress, their Resolution of the 2d of May. It will explain itself; and I can add no Arguments to enforce the Request it contains, which I have not already urged with an Importunity that nothing but...
130687From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 22 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I am perfectly of the same Sentiments with your Excellency respecting Count d’Estaign. I know his Zeal for the Cause, and have a high Opinion of his Abilities. I have therefore not the least doubt but that his going to Boston was a Measure absolutely necessary, and will appear to be for the common Good. We just now learn that our Troops on...
130688The American Commissioners to Vergennes, [26 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères To his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, Minister for Foreign Affairs We the underwritten, Commissioners from the Congress of the United States of N. America, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that Captain Burnel, Commander of an armed Vessel commissioned by the said States, did lately take Refuge in the Port of Cherburgh with his...
130689The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
By some of the last Ships from America, we received from Congress certain Powers and Instructions, which we think it necessary to lay before your Excellency, and which we have the Honor to do in this Letter. We have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Contract made between the Committee and Mr. Francy, a Copy of Mr. Francy’s Powers, and a Copy of the list of Articles to be...
130690From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Having long known Mr Williams to be a very just Man in all his Transactions, I hope the Favour he requests of a Surséance may be granted to him, being confident that it will be employed to the compleat Satisfaction of his Creditors. I therefore earnestly pray your Excellency to obtain it for him....
130691The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have been favoured with a Letter signed by many Gentlemen of Nantes and dated the fifteenth of this Month, informing us that most of their Vessels were ready to sail to America, and that others were expected to be ready immediately, so that the Convoy need not wait at all, but might be ordered as soon as Convenience will permit. These Gentlemen are very desirous of a Convoy through the...
130692From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, with a Letterbook Memorandum, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inform, you, that, upon an Intimation, from your Excellency, Signified to me by Mr. Berenger, and afterwards, by the Duke de la Vauguion, that the Interests of the United States required me here, I arrived last night in Paris, and am come to day to Versailles, to pay my Respects to your Excellency, and receive your farther Communications. As your Excellency, was in...
130693From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress The Congress disregarding the Proposals made by Sir Guy Carleton, and determined to continue the War with Vigour, ‘till a Peace can be obtained, satisfactory as well to the King as to themselves; (as will appear by their Resolves hereto annex’d) but being disabled by the great Deficiency in their Taxes arising from...
130694From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 11 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Mr Franklin presents his Respects to M. le Comte de Vergennes, with Thanks for his kind Care in sending him the Packets that came by the Way of Spain. Mr Franklin sends herewith some Packets he has just Receiv’d from America in a Vessel arrived at Nantes, a swift Sailer, which is soon to return. See Vergennes’ letter of Sept. 8. On a Sept. 12,...
130695From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress I have the honour of sending to your Excellency some Advices I have just received. As the Letter from Virginia was received at New-Caste, a Town on the Delaware 40 Miles below Philadelphia, and probably after the Date of your Letters from thence, perhaps you may not have heard before, that M. De Barras had joined M....
130696The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Passy, April 10, 1778: Mr. Adams, appointed by Congress to replace Mr. Deane, has arrived and will wait on you as soon as he recovers from his voyage. He came on a continental frigate, which took a prize with a cargo valued at £70,000. Congress is detaining Gen. Burgoyne and his army for a breach of the convention, and has more than 10,000...
130697The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 6 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Messieurs Franklin, Lee and Adams present their respectful Compliments to his Excellency le Comte de Vergennes, are extreamly sensible of his good Offices in obtaining the King’s Orders relating to the Presentation of Mr. Adams to his Majesty on Friday next, and will do themselves the Honour of waiting on his Excellency on that Day agreable to his...
130698The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 9 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); translation: American Philosophical Society <Paris, February 9, 1779: For nearly six months Captain Mc-Neill of the privateer General Mifflin has been embarrassed with a lawsuit concerning a French ship he recaptured from the British after it...
130699The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, May 16, 1778: We received this morning your letter of the 13th about the Boston , and assure you that she is an American warship maintained at the expense of Congress. The King’s reply to the farmers general will, we assume, accord with international usage.>...
130700From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministere des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives I have the Honour to transmit to your Excellency by Order of Congress a Resolution of theirs, dated the 11th. of May last, which is in the Words following, Viz, “Resolved, That Doctor Franklin be instructed to express to the Court of France the constant Desire of Congress to meet their Wishes; That these States...