14301From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Résumé printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives … Dec. 29, 1773 [to Dec. 24, 1774] (Philadelphia, 1774), pp. 42–3. <February 2, 1774: He encloses a list of fifteen provincial acts, passed on February 26, 1773, which were presented to the King in council on January 26, 1774. > The letter was laid before the House on July 19, 1774, by Samuel Rhoads as a member of the...
14302[Diary entry: 2 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
2. I still continued home—alone except Mr. Crawford.
14303[Diary entry: 2 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
2. Still warm and thawing with little or no Wind. Ice upon the River beginning to Break & move about.
14304To George Washington from Edward Snickers, 2 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
I Receved youres Dated 15 of Desembr the 30 of Jenery and as Soon as the wether is Good as waggins Can travile I Shall Send you three or fore hundrid Bushils of Good whete and more if I find I have it to Spare and if you Can not make payment in april I must weaight till you Can as I have purchised Mr Huges Rigt Land I Shold be much obliged to you if in youre power to Send me by the Baror Mr...
14305[Diary entry: 3 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
3. Set out after an early Dinner (with Lund Washington) for Mr. Calverts, to Mr. Custis’s Wedding who was this Eveng. married to Miss Nelly Calvert. On 15 Dec. 1773 GW had written to Rev. Myles Cooper , president of King’s College, N.Y., that his hopes of Jacky’s continuing his education were “at an end; & at length, I have yielded, contrary to my judgment, & much against my wishes, to his...
14306[Diary entry: 3 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
3. Raining very close and constant all the Morning with the Wind fresh from the So. West. Ice a good deal dispersd. In the Evening clear & Wind at No. West.
14307[Diary entry: 4 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
4. At Mr. Calverts all day. With much other company.
14308[Diary entry: 4 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
4. Clear, but rather cold, wind Westerly & pretty fresh. Ground froze in the Morng. but thawing afterwards.
14309[Diary entry: 5 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
5. Returnd home to a late Dinner. Found Mr. Gist here who came the day I left home. Also found Doctr. Rumney & Val. Crawford here.
14310[Diary entry: 5 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
5. Cloudy & a good deal like Snow with little or no wind.
14311[Diary entry: 6 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
6. At home all day. Mr. Gist went away after Breakfast.
14312[Diary entry: 6 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
6. Clear with the Wind pretty fresh from the No. West in the Forenoon, but calm, & not cold afterwards.
14313Letter from London, [on or after 7 February 1774] (Franklin Papers)
This letter and the extract from another below, February 19, seem to be companion pieces, and the signs point to Franklin as their author. They were printed in newspapers a few days apart, one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, and describe the scene at the Cockpit in terms that frequently echo what the agent wrote to Cushing on February 15. The present letter, in fact, is little more...
14314[Diary entry: 7 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
7. Went with Mrs. Washington and Nancy Carlyle by the New Church to Captn. McCartys. Dind there & came home in the Afternoon. Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast.
14315[Diary entry: 7 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
7. Pleasant Morning, being clear and Calm. Afterwds. windy from the westward, & Cold with appearances of Snow.
14316To George Washington from Francis Willis, 7 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Mr Alexanders Deed being not recorded caused some anxiety & uneasiness both to Mr Alexander & myself, Colenel George Fairfax hearing it, in order to be a means of bringing matters to a proper light, gave me the inclosed paper with an injunction not to forget sending it to You, a riddle I cannot comprehend, however here it is: I heartily & sincerely wish your good Lady to whom pray tender my...
14317From George Washington to John David Wilper, 7 February 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John David Wilper, 7 Feb. 1774. On 23 Mar. Wilper wrote GW : “I was Favourt with your Letter, Dated february 7th.”
14318Elizabeth Smith to Abigail Adams, 8 February 1774 (Adams Papers)
When I cast my Eyes backward; and take a general survey, of the great alterations which have been made within these few Years, I behold a Portrait whose lines are marked with indeliable Characters—the fickleness of Fortune, the shortness and uncertainty of Life, and the instability of Human Affairs. Those who yesterday glided smoothly on, in the calm Sunshine of Prosperity, “fed high in...
14319[Diary entry: 8 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
8. Rid into the Neck to the Plantation’s there. And to the fishing Landing—where my Carpenters were at Work. Came home by Muddy hole. Mrs. Slaughter dind here & went away afterwards.
14320[Diary entry: 8 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
8. Clear Calm & pleasant again in the Morning. Wind Southerly afterwards and tolerably fresh. Afternoon a little Muddy.
14321[Diary entry: 9 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
9th. At home all day. In the Afternoon Mr. Matthew Campbell & Captn. Crawford came.
14322[Diary entry: 9 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
9th. Wind shifting to the No. West it turnd very cold & freez’d exceeding hard before Night.
14323[Diary entry: 10 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
10th. At home all day. After Breakfast Mr. Campbell went away and in the Afternoon Mr. Hugh Stephenson came. Hugh Stephenson, a son of GW’s old friend Richard Stephenson of Frederick County and a half brother to Valentine and William Crawford, lived in the Shenandoah Valley until the Revolution. In response to a request by the Continental Congress in June 1775, Virginia raised two companies of...
14324[Diary entry: 10 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
10. Not so Cold as yesterday. Wind getting more westerly.
14325To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 10 February 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Boucher, 10 Feb. 1774. On 15 Feb. GW wrote Boucher and referred to “your Letter of the 10th.”
14326[Diary entry: 11 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. At home all day. Mr. Thos. Rutherford came here to dinner & Mr. Resin Bell in the afternn. Rutherford is probably Robert Rutherford’s brother Thomas, of Berkeley (later Jefferson) County (see GREENE [3] Katherine Glass Greene. Winchester, Virginia, and Its Beginnings, 1743–1814 . Strasburg, Va., 1926. , 375–82). Rezin Beall (1723–1809), whose name is variously spelled, was a descendant of...
14327[Diary entry: 11 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. But little Wind, and that for the most part Easterly. Afternoon very lowering.
14328From George Washington to Lord Dunmore, 11 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Application’s for Certificates, under particular circumstances obliges me to give your Lordship more trouble than I could wish to do in reciting matters specially. This is the case at present in respect to Messrs Valentine Crawford and Hugh Stephenson; the first of whom serv’d as Waggon Master for sevl years, and sometimes had the care of his Majesty’s Stores on the Southern department...
14329From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 12 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: Library of Congress Being informed by a Friend that some severe Strictures on my Conduct and Character had appeared in a new Book published under your respectable Name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you sincerely for those Parts of it that [are so] instructive on Points of great Importance to the common Interests of mankind, permit [me to] complain, that if by...
14330[Diary entry: 12 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. After dinner the two Crawfords & Mr. Stephenson set out for Wmsburg. & Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Beall for their respective homes. Valentine Crawford and Hugh Stephenson were carrying a letter from GW to Governor Dunmore , dated 11 Feb., attesting to their satisfactory military service in the early 1760s, by which they hoped to qualify for western bounty land under the royal Proclamation of...
14331[Diary entry: 12 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. Last Night fell a good deal of Rain. Forenoon Cloudy and afternoon Raining Wind being Easterly.
14332From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
I find there will go some matters from this country, which will make my attendance at the Assembly necessary; this I cannot possibly do and go over the Mountains this Spring. I have therefore determined, much against my Inclination & Interest, to postpone my Trip to the Ohio till after Harvest (as I cannot well be absent from home at that Season.) As March therefore (at least the first of it)...
14333From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 30th of Decr was long on its passage to this place, not arriving till I had receivd, and answer’d, an imperfect acct of your Interview with Mr Black from Mr Hill (dated the 10th or 12th of Jany) —I thank you heartily for the trouble you took in attempting to settle the business with that worthless Sc——l, who seems to be an adept in every species of Artifice and...
14334From George Washington to an Unidentified County Surveyor, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Satisfied as I am, of the many application’s you must have had made to you, for assistants to Survey the Officers & Soldiers Lands undr the Proclamation of Octr 1763, I can not help taking the liberty of mentioning my Friend & acquaintance Captn Thos Rutherford to you, as one —To say anything in favour of a Gentleman, whose Character is well known, is useless—to you, altogether unnecessary, as...
14335To George Washington from Samuel Athawes, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
As my Friend the Honble George Wm Fairfax Esqr. has long since acquainted you with his arrival & of his Situation at York my Congratulations on the occasion will come very late however they are very Sincere & the Proverb says better late than never. By a Letter which I have lately received from him I find both himself & his Lady have had a kind of seasoning, indeed we have had a very...
14336[Diary entry: 13 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. At home all day alone.
14337[Diary entry: 13 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. The forenoon of this day Cloudy & afternoon Rainy.
14338From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Noble, 14 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer, William Brown, being bred to the Tanning Business, is desirous of trying his Fortune in America. He is well recommended to me as a sober honest and diligent young Man. If it may not be inconvenient to you to afford him Employment as a Journeyman, I shall consider it as a Favour to me. The Soles you were so kind as to send me have now been in...
14339[Diary entry: 14 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. Again at home all day. To Dinner came Master Geo. Carlyle—who went away afterwards with his Sister Nancy. In the Afternoon Captn. Bullet & his Brother Cuthbert came & stayed all Night. Capt. Thomas Bullitt, who had been surveying land in the Ohio Valley for Governor Dunmore and others, was now reporting to GW on his trip and on land he had chosen for GW. Thomas’s brother Cuthbert Bullitt...
14340[Diary entry: 14 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. Snow this morning abt. 3 Inches deep & weather very Cold—Wind being at No. Wt.
14341To George Washington from Robert Adam, 14 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
In regard to your Design of importing Palantines into Virginia I beleve it would be attended with some difficulty from severall Circumstances, they are in generall much prejudiced against comeing into Virginia or Maryland as in either they are not allowed the same liberty of Concience in enjoying their own Religion, this Naturealy Inclines them more to Pensilvania, as well as the Number of...
14342To George Washington from John Page, 14 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
I have at last purchas’d Mr John Rootes’s Land for you. He this Day assign’d the Governors Warrant for it, to me, for your Use. I don’t chuse to inclose it, for fear my Letter may miscarry, and am in hopes it will suit your Purpose as well, to receive it at Fredericksburg, the first Day of April; when I expect to have the Pleasure of meeting with you there. No Money will be requir’d of you,...
14343From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 15[–19]? February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society , first series, III (1794), 109–16. I Wrote a line to you by the last packet, just to acquaint you there had been a hearing on our petition. I shall now give you the history of it as succinctly as I can. We had long imagined that the king would have considered that petition as he had done the preceding one in his cabinet, and...
14344To Benjamin Franklin from Joshua Babcock, 15 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In your last Favour, alas too long since, of 3rd Augt. 1772, You are pleas’d to say “if they will not beleive poor Richard neither will They tho’ One should rise from the Dead” can’t help suspecting that Infallibility may sometimes mistake, or that One who scarce ever made a political Error may miss in political Casuistry: or will it be justifiable when...
14345[Diary entry: 15 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. These Gentlemen went away. I went to a Vestry at the New Church & returnd in the Aftern. The main business for the Truro vestry at this meeting was recorded in the vestry book: “George Mason Esqr. Executor of Daniel French dec[ease]d, Undertaker [contractor for the construction] of the Church near Pohick, having finished the said Church tender the same to this Vestry . . . and the said...
14346[Diary entry: 15 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear & Cold with but little Wind, & Northerly. River quite Shut up again.
14347From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 15 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Before Mr Beall deliver’d me your Letter of the 10th, which came to hand later than I expected (under a supposition of his willingness to undertake my business on the Ohio) I had conditionally agreed with Mr Vale Crawford for this purpose; who you must know, had Imbark’d in a Courting Scheme (in this neighbourhood) and, as I conceiv’d the task of pleasing a Master & Mistress, equal to that of...
14348The Reply of Homo Trium Literarum, 16 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 16, 1774. This is one of the many contributions to the press that may or may not have been Franklin’s. The only evidence is internal, and it supports nothing more than the most tentative conclusion. One bit of evidence that he was the author is the signature: who would assume the character of Wedderburn’s victim except the victim himself? Who else,...
14349[Diary entry: 16 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. At home all day alone—being engaged in writing.
14350[Diary entry: 16 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. Clear, with but little [wind] & that Inclining to the Southward. Weather moderating.