156451From Thomas Jefferson to David R. Williams, 31 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am thankful to you for the explanation in your note of the 29th. without which the cause of declining my invitations to dine might have been mistaken & would have given pain. the independance of the mind is one of it’s best qualities, & if you suppose it could have been lessened, by that kind of intercourse, you are right in declining it, & no one has a right to complain. be assured that...
156452From Alexander Hamilton to Elie Williams, 17 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 10th Instant, in which you inform me, that you have drawn Bills on me on account of Issues under your first Contract, Supposed to be due in the Months of October, November & December, to the amount of Six Thousand Dollars, payable at Twenty, Fifty, and Eighty days. Although I have every disposition to facilitate the execution of your Contract (So far as I can...
156453From Alexander Hamilton to Elie Williams, 12 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have directed a Warrant for fifteen thousand dollars to issue in your favour in addition to the sum heretofore advanced. Of these 15000 I request 5000 may be paid to Ephraim Blaine Esquire at Carlisle in case he should agree to accept the Agency offered to him by the enclosed letter. Should he decline it which I request you to ascertain from him, I will then thank you to make an arrangement...
156454Thomas Jefferson to Ennion Williams, 19 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d yesterday your favor of the 13 th proposing to purchase the copperplate engraving of the University : but that having been done by order of the board of Visitors could not be sold but by a like order & they will not meet until Apr. I know moreover that it would not suit their views because I am, by their instrns , endeavoring to engage a Landscape painter of the 1 st order from Philada...
156455From Benjamin Franklin to Grace Williams, 5 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin ... (London, 1833), pp. 139–40. I received your kind letter by your sons. They are, I assure you, exceeding welcome to me; and they behave with so much prudence, that no two young men could possibly less need the advice you would have me give them. Josiah is very happily employed in his musical...
156456From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Williams, 11 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 4th. is but this moment come to hand. I will pay for William Stewart the £25.17 therein stated. but being in the habit of settling my pecuniary matters the first week in every month, & of then disposing of all the funds I can command, this has been already done for the present month, and I cannot make you the remittance till the first week of the next month. it shall go by...
156457Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to William Shotwell & Company, 13 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States is desirous of obtaining about 10 bushels of the best Clover seed Some timothy d[itt]o to send to his Farms in Virginia—& as you have heretofore furnished him with seed, he has now directed me to ask of you the lowest prices at which the best Clover & Timothy seed is to be had with you. As the time approaches when it will be wanted, & as the President will...
156458From John Adams to James Williams, 5 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour, this morning to receive your favour from New York of the 30th of November. At the same time I had the pleasure to receive two small pacquets of letters from London; I thank you Sir for your kind care of these letters, and congratulate you on your safe return to this Country. I am Sir respectfully, your obliged & obedient Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
156459Thomas Jefferson to John Williams, 30 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I h If I have had any advice as to the small package of Coffee you mention, it has been so long ago that I cannot recollect it, nor now turn to the paper. I rather suspect it to be a parcel of some particular place or quality sent as a curiosity, perhaps from the new cultivators of that article on Florida point, with some of I whom I have had communications on that culture. if you will do me...
156460From Benjamin Franklin to John Williams, 15 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society The recipient of this letter can be identified with confidence. In late June Jonathan Williams, Jr., had sent papers for his Uncle John, the customs inspector, who had come to England with him and Josiah in 1770 and had remained there; these must be the papers that Franklin mentions in his postscript. Other internal evidence confirms that the year...
156461From John Adams to John Williams, 5 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address presented to me by one of your Representatives in Congress Mr Grove. The explicit and unanimous declaration of your fullest faith in the Integrity and Wisdom of all the departments of our Government, and your firm resolution to Unite in opposing foreign Influence, are peculiarly proper and agreable at this time. The Happiness and Freedom, which you candidly...
156462From John Jay to John Williams, 24 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your Letters of the 15 and 17 Instant, which together with a Copy of the Report of the Committee respecting the Fortifications of Ports & Harbours, I rec[eive]d. this morning. It appears to me probable that no measures very effectual will be taken on this Subject by the present Congress—but it is to be hoped that the succeeding one will attend to it. The Nation will have...
156463From John Adams to John Williams, 30 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my kind thanks for sending me the Mecklenberg declaration of Independence. Although these papers have been familiar to me for two or three years past, they are still an incomprehensible mystery. I can scarcely conceive it possible, that such a transaction should have been concealed, for so many years, from the publick. Had those resolutions been published at the time, they...
156464James Madison to John W. Williams, 13 April 1828 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the last mail your favor of the 5th. A newspaper had apprized me a few days before of the afflicting event which it confirms. I had always abundant reason to be assured that I enjoyed the cordial regard of my departed friend, as a I was conscious of a mutual reciprocity in that respect; as well as sensible of what was due in every respect, both to his public & private work. I have a...
156465From James Madison to John W. Williams, 13 April 1825 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the last mail your favor of the 5th. A newspaper had apprized me a few days before of the afflicting event which it confirms. I had always abundant reason to be assured that I enjoyed the cordial regard of my departed friend, as a [ sic ] I was conscious of an entire reciprocity in that respect; as well as sensible of what was due in every respect, both to his public & private work....
156466From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 25 November 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. George S. Maywood, Garden City, N.Y. (1955) I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival and the Promotion of my Son. I am in hopes I shall be able to see Boston the next Spring, and to have the Pleasure of finding you and my other Friends well. I congratulate you on your having such a Number of Sons. You remember the Blessing on him that has his Quiver full of them. My...
156467From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 10 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I am concern’d that I have not for a long time heard any thing of Sister Douse. Pray inform me how she is. Brothers John, Peter and my self, agreed to contribute towards a small Pension for her Support; I should be glad to know whether it is regularly paid. Inclos’d is a Receipt for 30 Reams of Paper. I wrote to you per Morton and refer to that. My Love to...
156468From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Williams, 23 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Beverley Randolph a Cadet, who goes on to take his place under you. he is the son of a friend of mine in Virginia, born to independant expectations, but by the entire reduction of his father’s circumstances, left without any resource but in himself. my concern for the family induces me to sollicit on his behalf your friendly counsel & tutelage on all occasions;...
156469From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 8 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received your obliging Favour of the 27 of October, and am very much obliged to you for the Trouble you have taken, in sending me the Rum. I have not yet received it, but as soon as it comes, I will send a Dozen to Dr. Bancroft and a Dozen to Mr. Alexander as you desire: But I must decline accepting the Remainder as a Present, for obvious Reasons, one among others is that there is no...
156470From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Williams, 14 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
A press of business has prevented me from sooner acknoleging the reciept of your favor of June 18. altho’ I do not feel myself entitled to give an opinion on questions to which the members of the new military institution are solely competent, yet being requested by you, I shall frankly express it as my opinion that if you appoint all the members of the legislature to be members of the...
156471From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 16 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sent you last Week per Capt. Dole 92 Reams of Demi Printing Paper, best, in two Cases, and 98 Ream of brown; which I hope will come safe to hand, and to a good Market. The Printing Paper to be sold at 15 s . and the Brown at 6 s . this Currency, the lowest. My Love to your Wife and Children. I am Your loving Uncle [ Crossed out: ] P.S. I shall order...
156472From Benjamin Franklin to [Jonathan Williams], 26 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Inclos’d is a Receipt for some things of mine sent to your Care. I am thus far on my Journey to Boston, and hope now to have soon the Pleasure of seeing you. My Love to your Wife and Children. Tell my Cousin to have his Harpsichord in good Order, for I love Music and shall be pleas’d to hear him. My Daughter too, that comes with me, plays a little, and will be...
156473From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 11 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have, just now received your favour of the 6th. Who, pray, has injured the Character of Commodore John Paul Jones? and in what manner? It would give me Pleasure to furnish any Evidence in my Power in vindication of his Character against any Injury: but I have no recollection of any Acknowledgement of Jones himself, that his Surname was Paul, though I remember that the English Publications...
156474From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 4 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before I went abroad this last Summer, I left Orders with my Banker to purchase two Tickets for you, and send you the Numbers. Since my Return I understand the Orders were executed. I hope you receiv’d the Banker’s Letter; if not, this will inform you that the Numbers are 33m799 and 33m800. with which I wish you the best Success. I think I mention’d in a...
156475From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Williams, 3 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your circular letter of Nov. 2. with the copy of the Constitution of the United States military Philosophical society & the amendments proposed to it. and in conformity with your request to say in answer whether I assent or dissent, I hereby declare my assent to them. Accept my salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect. NHi : United States Military Philosophical...
156476From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 21 April 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Richard B. Duane, Locust, N.J. (1955) I have received yours of the 12th Inst. As to the Mistake I mention’d, I find on Revisal that it was not in your Account but in my Eyes, which mistook one Figure for another. I wrote to you from Burlington that I should pay your Order in favour of Robinson as soon as I return’d to Town, which I accordingly did. The Sum £47 15 s. 4 d. I should be glad...
156477From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 13 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.], A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 80–1. You may remember, that about ten years since, when I was at Boston, you and my brother sent directions here to attach on Grant’s right to some land here, by virtue of a mortgage given him by one Pitt. Nothing effectual could be done in...
156478From James Madison to Jonathan Williams, 15 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Feby. 23. has remained so long unanswered that I ought to state, in apology, that as I foresaw the Summer Session, would be inattentive to objects not within its particular purview, I did not enter into your idea, of presenting to it, the subject of the Military Academy. To the influence of this consideration at the time, and afterwards to the occupations of a busy period, I must...
156479From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 21 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 12 and yesterday, the Rum was brought here consisting of forty Eight Bottles. Two I Suppose had been used to wet the Whistle of the Porters. I paid Seventy five Livres and the Man was or pretended to be wroth that I gave him no more. Mr. Alexander Shall have his Dozen and his Packet and Dr. Bancroft, his. I beg of you to draw upon me for the Cost of the Rum...
156480From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 30 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have, this day recieved your favour of the 25th., which gave me the first Intimation I had of your Intentions for Home. I am glad to learn that Captain Snelling delivered the Letters to you. I will endeavour to Send Some more, by Captain Jones or Some other Safe hand: but are you not Suspicious of your Passage? Be Sure to keep with your Convoy: for my own part I hardly see a Possibility of...