15601[Diary entry: 13 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. At home. Doctr. Craik and Miss Nancy McCarty came here in the Evening.
15602[Diary entry: 13 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. More moderate, but Snowing fast all the forenoon.
15603To George Washington from James Mercer, 13 December 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Mercer, 13 Dec. 1774. On 26 Dec. GW wrote Mercer and referred to “your Letter of the 13th Inst.”
15604[Diary entry: 14 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. I went up to Alexandria, to an intended meeting of the Committee but was disappointed. Found Doctr. Craik & Mr. Willis here upon my return.
15605[Diary entry: 14 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. Clear and not unpleast. with but little Wind.
15606A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress, &c., [15 December] 1774 (Hamilton Papers)
It was hardly to be expected that any man could be so presumptuous, as openly to controvert the equity, wisdom, and authority of the measures, adopted by the congress: an assembly truly respectable on every account! Whether we consider the characters of the men, who composed it; the number, and dignity of their constituents, or the important ends for which they were appointed. But, however...
15607To Benjamin Franklin from Peter P. Burdett, 15 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My Passage thro London and departure from England was so sudden and unexpected that I was deprived of an opportunity of Paying my respects to you as I otherwise fully intended. I am now arrived at Rastatt and have the Honor to be engaged in the service of the Margrave of Baaden whose Gracious reception and extraordinary Benevolence has placed me above...
15608[Diary entry: 15 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. At home all day.
15609[Diary entry: 15 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. Much such a day as yesterday.
15610XIX. Farell & Jones to Richard Randolph, 15 December 1774 (Jefferson Papers)
We wrote you very fully the 10th Augt by the Virginian since which we have none of your favors. We were in hopes by this time to have transmitted you Account Sales of your 34 hhds. Tobacco consigned us by the True Patriot but we have still 21 hhds unsold. So soon as they are disposed of we will forward you Account Sales. Our prices begin to look up and should the report of your not raising any...
15611Donation for the Boston Poor from Two Virginia Counties, 16 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Virginia, 16 December 1774. LbC ( MHi :Donations to Sufferers by the Boston Port Bill, p. 66); addressed: “To Sam & Jno. Adams Esqrs at Boston”; signed: “John Tabb, of Amelia Ro Bolling, Jno. Bannister Dinwiddie.” This letter was addressed to the two Adamses because the writers knew of no particular committee to which the donation could be sent. The donation was described as “a small...
15612To Benjamin Franklin from a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, [16 December 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia We are directed to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 7 April and 25 July with the Books sent for the Use of our Company, which fresh Instance, of your constant kind Concern for Us is very obliging; but we must just observe, that the prices of those last sent, are not mentioned. Inclosed, you have Barclay & Mitchell’s Draught at sixty...
15613[Diary entry: 16 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. Ditto—Do. Mr. Willis went away. In GW’s ledger under date of 17 Dec. is a payment to Mr. Willis of £47 10s. for 200 barrels of wheat. He received from Willis at the same time £9 4s. 9d. “for Sundrys sold at Belvoir for Cash” ( General Ledger B General Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 128).
15614[Diary entry: 16 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. Very pleasant.
15615Donation for the Boston Poor from Chesterfield County, Virginia, 17 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Virginia, Chesterfield County, 17 December 1774. LbC ( MHi :Donations to Sufferers by the Boston Port Bill, p. 97–98); addressed: “To the Honble Thomas Cushing, Esq., Jno. Adams, Esqr. Mr. Sam Adams and Robt Treat Pain, Esqr. Boston”; signed: “Archibald Cary Benja. Watkins.” Virginia Chesterfield County. This letter notes that “Subscriptions have been made for the unhappy Inhabitants of...
15616To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Wilcox, 17 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter suggests at first glance that Franklin, in the middle of delicate and important negotiations, thought of leaving for home; in fact, however, he was serving as a travel agent and banker for some Norfolk farmers. The Foulgers, the Westleys, and others had long been planning to emigrate to Pennsylvania, and Ralph Westley had already gone to spy out...
15617[Diary entry: 17 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
17. Early this Morning my Brother and Mr. Phil Smith came here—as did Mr. Booth. my brother : John Augustine Washington, whose wife’s sister, Elizabeth Bushrod, married Philip Smith (d. 1782), of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County.
15618[Diary entry: 17 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
17. Ditto.
15619To George Washington from Andrew Morton, 17 December 1774 (Washington Papers)
As I mentioned to you Mr Baylor’s Name, I was anxious to get him for my Security, that you might find in me that probity which I wish you to be convinced of: But unfortunately, Mr Baylor has been abroad ever since my Return. The time drawing near for fulfilling my Engagemt of giving you Security, I consulted Major Lowry on the Matter last night, who very chearfully offered to be my Security,...
15620To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 18 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and extract: Library of Congress Being inform’d by my Nephew, that agreable to the Advice given to the Holder of the Pamphlet, received from the other Side of the Atlantic, it is reprinting, and will probably be published Tomorrow; I am of the Opinion that it will be adviseable to let a little time elapse before any other Steps are persued, more especially when its consider’d, that at the...
15621[Diary entry: 18 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
18. At home all day.
15622[Diary entry: 18 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
18. Warm and pleasant. Wind Southerly very little.
15623To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 18 December 1774 (Washington Papers)
Yough a gahalay [Pa.] Sr December 18, 1774 I am ⟨ mutilated ⟩y Sorrey To heare your uneaseyness Concerning Mills Costing so Mutch; as it is in all Likelyhood To Bee Comple⟨te⟩ and Strong in all Branches and I Make No doubt But She Will grind With as Little Wayter as Eyther Mill Within 150 Mills of her and The Setuation wheareon she stands is in all Likelehod of Becoming a popolus plase For I...
15624To John Adams from James Warren, 19 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
It always gives me pleasure to hear of the Existence and Health of my Friend and his Family and more especially to have it from his own hand. The partiality discovered in yours of the 13th Instant is a strong Evidence of Friendship. I am sorry it should give you any Uneasiness, if the Elections you refer to are not Just such as you and I should Approve. I am Inclined to think they would not...
15625From Benjamin Franklin to Edmund Burke, 19 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Central Library, Sheffield The Congress had told the seven active colonial agents to deliver its petition into the King’s hands. This instruction raised a delicate question of protocol, for the method of direct presentation, although not entirely unprecedented, was contrary to the normal one of delivering a petition to the American Secretary to be forwarded. The meeting that was the...
15626To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 19 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your Cause stands Second in Lord Chancellors Paper For hearing to morrow. And as I must attend it in preference to all other Business I cannot wait on You and the other Gentlemen till the cause is heard or the Court rises; It is therefore very uncertain whether I can be with You at 12 o’Clock but I will go to Waghorns the Moment the Cause is over or...
15627[Diary entry: 19 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
19. Went with Mrs. Washington my Brother & Mr. Smith to Alexandria and stayed all Night. Mr. Booth went to Mary[lan]d. GW went to town on committee business: “at a meeting of the committee for Fairfax County, in the town of Alexandria, on Monday the 19th day of December, 1774, Messieurs [John] Fitzgerald and [Valentine] Peers, informed the committee that the ship Hope . . . had arrived in this...
15628[Diary entry: 19 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
19. Still Warm with Showers of Rain, & Wind fresh from the So. West. In the Afternn. it chang’d to No. Wt. & blew hard.
15629To Benjamin Franklin from William and Robert Molleson, 20 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Having heard, that the Petition from the American Congress, to the King, has been transmitted to You, and that You intended to present it accompanied by the Merchants trading to that Continent, We request to know if such is Your intention, that we may attend You, on that important occasion, to bear our Testimony to their just Representations. We are Sir Your most...
15630[Diary entry: 20 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
20. Returnd in the Afternoon. Found Mr. Booth & Captn. Chs. Smith here.
15631[Diary entry: 20 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
20. Wind still at No. West but not very hard or Cold, clear.
15632From Benjamin Franklin to William and Robert Molleson, 21 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft ): Library of Congress I am much obliged by your friendly Offer of accompanying me in presenting the Petition. It is committed to the Care of sundry Gentlemen who meet this Day to consider the Mode of presenting it. What they will agree on is uncertain. If it were a Petition from Merchants in America on the Subject of Commerce there might be more Propriety in its being accompanied...
15633[Diary entry: 21 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
21st. At home all day with my Brothr. Jno. & Mr. Smith.
15634[Diary entry: 21 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
21. Calm all the forenoon and very warm and pleasant in the Afternoon. Wind at No. Et.
15635From George Washington to Andrew Morton, 21 December 1774 (Washington Papers)
I shall take no advantage of your not producing the Bond with good Security for paymt of Rent & performe of Covents at the day appointed. It will do when you move up, which your Lettr & express tells me you are now ready to do. In the mean while, you will please to recollect, that I can Execute no Lease till the Bond, with such Security, is first produced; and that, if by your means, I am...
15636To George Washington from Thomas Newton, Jr., 21 December 1774 (Washington Papers)
I Received yours & am extreemly sorry for the disapointment at the meeting in October. I was not wanting in my endeavors to collect the whole that was due to you, but such was the scarcity of Cash that it cou’d not be got & beleive in generall the worst payments that ever were known was made at that meeting. I will use my utmost endeavors to get your money by the meeting of the Assembly, tho....
15637A Card, [22 December 1774] (Hamilton Papers)
The Friend to America presents his compliments to Mr. A. W. Farmer, and begs leave to decline making any remarks upon his Examination into the conduct of the Delegates, until he has seen what he may have to offer, in answer to the Full Vindication, &c. His reasons, there is no necessity to communicate. He assures Mr. Farmer, that he never imagined, any thing he could say, would frighten, or...
15638To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, [22 December 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress D. Barclay presents his Respects and acquaints Dr. Franklin, that the Merchants in general highly disaproving of Attendance on anonymous Advertizements, (as no Person would own that inserted in the paper to Day), Agreed to disaprove it, by another to be published Tomorrow, on a more liberal Plan, with an Invitation for All Merchants and others interested in the...
15639To Benjamin Franklin from Georgiana Shipley with a Postscript from Her Father, 22 [December] 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with infinite satisfaction, I am commission’d to assure my dear Dr. Franklin, how happy we shall be to see you at Twyford; Mama has had a very bad cold and cough, and my Papa has been laid up for this last week with the Gout in both his feet, which tho not an alarming [is] a very troublesome disorder; my sister Elizas and my time, has been wholly...
15640[Diary entry: 22 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
22. In the Afternoon my Brother & Mr. Smith went away.
15641[Diary entry: 22 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
22. Again calm & pleasant. Afternoon hazy & Wind Easterly.
15642To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Dartmouth to Franklin, William Bollan, and Arthur Lee, 23 December 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office <St. James’s Square, Friday, December 23, 1774: A note in the third person asking them to meet him at his house at ten the following morning. > To learn how the King had received the petition from the Continental Congress; see the following document.
15643[Diary entry: 23 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
23. Doctr. Rumney & Mr. Thos. Triplet dined here.
15644[Diary entry: 23 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
23. A little Snow in the forenoon. Wind continuing in the same place.
15645From Benjamin Franklin to the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly: a Circular Letter from Franklin, William Bollan, and … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library; draft: Library of Congress When four of the seven agents to whom the Congress had entrusted its petition refused to have anything to do with it, the three representatives of Massachusetts faced the problem of how to deliver it; and they decided to depart from their instructions and not put it directly into the hands of the King. The “regular Official...
15646Note on an Extract from a Purported Letter by Franklin, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Verner Crane reprinted an extract, published in the Boston Gazette of March 20, 1775, of a letter from London dated December 24, 1774. He conjectured that it might have been taken from one of Franklin’s letters to Cushing that are now lost. We are convinced that the writer was Arthur Lee and the recipient Samuel Adams. The extract, which deals with the impact in England of the news from the...
15647To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This and the following letter from William, which went on the same ship, brought Franklin the news of his wife’s death. Until her final stroke neither his son nor son-in-law had warned him that she was failing, at least in letters that survive; both had written frequently and at length but had scarcely mentioned her. Perhaps they saw no change in her...
15648To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came here on Thursday last to attend the Funeral of my poor old Mother who died the Monday Noon preceeding. Mr. Bache sent his Clerk Express to me on the Occasion, who reached Amboy on Tuesday Evening, and I set out early the next Morning, but the Weather being very severe, and snowing hard, I was not able to reach here till about 4 o’Clock on Thursday...
15649To Benjamin Franklin from William Neate, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mr. William Neate presents his most respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and as a report prevailed yesterday Evening that all the disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies were thro’ his application and influence with Lord North amicably setled, conformable to the wish and desire of the late Congress. W N desires the favor of Dr. Franklin to inform...
15650[Diary entry: 24 December 1774] (Washington Papers)
24. At home all day. Mr. Richd. Washington came here to Dinner, as did Mrs. Newman. Richard Washington, a London merchant to whom GW apparently believed he was distantly related, had been a correspondent and tobacco dealer for GW from 1755 to 1763. GW warmly assured him that “in the Event of your ever visiting America . . . Mrs. Washington and I both woud think ourselves very happy in the...