156851To Benjamin Franklin from Claude Julien, 1 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je m’estimeray bien heureux si vous récévés avec bonté l’hommage de mon respect, et de mes voeux á ce renouvellement d’année, et si pendant son cours, j’ay le bonheur de mériter l’honneur de vôtre protection, et de vôtre confiance. J’ay celluy d’etre avec un trés respectueux attachement Monsieur Vôtre trés humble et trés obéïssant serviteur Notation: Claude...
156852To Benjamin Franklin from Pétronille Le Roy, 1 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je m’etoit flaté mon respectable papa que j’aurois eue l’avantage de voire chez moy d’apres ce que vous m’avez promis. Voyla un mois que je suis a paris sans avoire jouit du plaisire de vous y recevoire. Je vous avoue que cela me fait baucoup de painne par le sinsaire atachement que je vous ai vué. Je m’etois flaté que vous aviez de l’amitier pour moy par...
156853To Benjamin Franklin from E. Thornton, 1 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received a Letter yesterday from Mr. Thornton with the inclosed. Be so Obligen [as to] lett me know if it Comes Savef to Hand. I am Sir your Obegant Humble Servant Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur fankelin / a passy Notation: Thornton Mrs Doubtless the sister or wife of John Thornton; he was sending by her some document, now missing, that presumably...
156854General Orders, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As this day begins the new year The General orders a gill of spirits to be served to each non-commission’d Officer & soldier; And to avoid the irregular and partial distribution of this Article (which has been a good deal complaind of) he expressly orders that no spirits shall issue to any part of the Troops in future but in Consequence of general or special orders from Head-Quarters—A...
156855Arrangement of the Continental Army, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Arrangement of the Army for the Campaign 1778—& present state of the Battalions this 1st day of Jany 1778. [Maj. Gen. Brig. Regt. Col. Statey Strength] [Regt. Brig. Div.] Marqs de la Fayette Mulenberg 1st Hendricks Virga 187 5. Jos. Parker Ditt. 318
156856From George Washington to the Commanding Officer at Albany, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that a number of broad Swords and other horse accoutrements taken in the Course of the last Campaign are deposited at Albany if this be the case you are to deliver those Articles to Colonel Sheldon o[n] his order for the use of the Brigade of Light Dragoons. I am Sir Yours &c. Df , in John Laurens’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The commanding officer at...
156857To George Washington from Colonel David Forman, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Exclys request I herewith inclose a Memorial respecting The Salt Works—in The Memorial I have not Specified the Quantity of Salt that I suppose the Works will Dayly produce as Those matters Cannot be with Certainty assertained—yet I think we shall when intirely Compleat produce at Least Two Hund. Buss. ⅌ Day—a Quantity That will Abundantly Supply all the Wants of your Excelys...
156858To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me the greatest pain to hear the murmurs and complaints among the officers for the want of spirits—they say they are exposd to the severity of the weather subject to hard duty and nothing but bread and beef to eat morning, noon, and night, without vegetables or any thing to drink but cold water—this is hard fare for people that have been accustomd to live tolerable—The officers...
156859To George Washington from Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellencys Desire communicated to your General Officers, I have made a few detached and imperfect Observations on the Subjects mentioned — upon the small Detail . some Gentlemen have been pleased to express their Surprise and lay under Reproach, our civil and military Transactions, because they do not find in this our Embryo state, the Wisdom and Art of those perfect and...
156860From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your several favors of the 23d 24th and 25th ulto with the enclosures to which they allude. In my letters of the 22d and 23d of last month, I mentioned the difficulties which the Service laboured under for want of a Qr Masr Genl and as I am induced to beleive that a new nomination has not been made since Genl Mifflins resignation, because Congress could not fix...
156861To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I presume that before this can reach your Excellency, you will have received from a Committee of Congress consisting of the Board of War & three other Members, to whom your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d Decemr was committed, an account of the measures adopted & put in operation for better supplying the Army with provision. This Evening your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th Decemr was brought...
156862To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
We have recovered our Sloop which I wrote concerning the other Day, & no other Damage sustained by the Tories retakg her, than a few Barrells of Flower, & some Pork, our Party havg surprized & drove them of[f] whilst unloading her. The Brig is like to be much more valuable than was at first supposed, there appears to be a great Quantity of Arms, Baggage & some Cloths, Ammunition Rum & Wine,...
156863From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By this Express from General Armstrong he informs me he is of Opinion that 1000 Militia regularly reliev’d may be equal to effect the necessary duty on the North Side of Schuylkill—he also mentions that he writes you to this purpose, & requires my sentiments thereon. As it has been my constant desire & Study to conduct things in such manner as may be attended with the smallest expence &...
156864Pay Book of the State Company of Artillery, [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
The Continent of Europe is 2600 miles long and 2800 miles broad. The Dutch in the Greenland fishery have from 150 to 200 sail and ten thousand seamen. It is ordered that in their public prayers they pray that it would please God to bless the government, the Lords, the states, and their great & small fisheries. The Dutch were computed by Sir Walter Raleigh to have 3000 ships & fifty thousand...
156865Acknowledgments of Poetic Offerings to Franklin: Five Models, [Spring?], 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Drafts: American Philosophical Society These drafts are impossible to date, except perhaps in a general way. Four of them were composed after Franklin’s move to Passy at the end of February, and are in the hand of Le Veillard, his friend and neighbor there. The fifth is in the hand of the abbé Martin Lefèbvre de la Roche, a house guest of another neighbor, Mme. Helvétius; it does not mention...
156866Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1777 (Franklin Papers)
We have already discussed and described in the previous volume most of the accounts that are relevant to this one; only two of the ten listed there, nos. II and VIII, no longer apply. All that need be done here is to give details of the one newcomer. XI. Ferdinand Grand’s Accounts with the Commission, June 10, 1777, to February 11, 1779: Harvard University Library, 33 pp. plus a 1-p. extract....
156867To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbés Arnoux and de Chalut, [late 1777?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This is the first extant communication, if we are correct in our guess at its date, from an inseparable pair of abbés. They were “elderly but spritely enthusiasts for the American cause,” in Lyman Butterfield’s words, and the following spring they tried to serve it by teaching John Adams French. Arnoux was fifty or sixty (guesses differed) and Chalut, the...
156868Editorial Note on Undated Letters Assigned to 1777 (Franklin Papers)
The undated and, at least as yet, undatable material from the French years is massive. Taking notice of it all together at this point would be in keeping with our general policy of assigning each document to its earliest plausible date. Doing so, however, would not only produce a headnote of stupendous length and dullness but also, more important, would foreclose the possibility that clues...
156869To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Bansais, [1777?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Begging is the common theme of a number of undated letters like this one. The writers run the gamut of occupation and social status, from unemployed sailors to gentlefolk; most want a donation, but a few offer to sell some remaining treasure. None of these appeals seems to have received a response; those that elicited anything, even a few livres, we handle...
156870To Benjamin Franklin from [the Marquise de Boulainvilliers], [1777?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il y a bien Longtems que les habitans De passy n’ont eu L’honneur De voir monsieur franklin. Veut il bien qu’ils se rapellent a son souvenir et qu’ils luy proposent de Leurs faire L’honneur De venir Diner chez eux jeudy prochain. Ils le priront aussy de leur rendre les papiers en question s’il n’en a plus besoin parce que les personnes qui les ont preté a...
156871From Benjamin Franklin to [the Marquise de Boulainvilliers], [1777?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Franklin presents his best Respects to the amiable Family of Passy, with many Thanks for their obliging Invitation to dine with them on Thursday which he and his Friends should embrace with the greatest Pleasure, but that they happen all to be engag’d. Mr. F. returns the Papers with Thanks, and will do himself the Honour of taking his Tea with his kind...
156872Editorial Note on Four Undated Letters from Madame Brillon, [1777?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society We summarize these brief notes here, on the highly questionable assumption that they were written late in 1777. Their tone suggests an early phase of the relationship, but they reveal almost nothing else about it. One, with no date, is an invitation to tea with her and her family. Another, dated eight o’clock Thursday, explains that she cannot come to see...
156873To Benjamin Franklin from the Duc de Croÿ, [1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This undated note, lost in our files under the wrong year, has just come to light. We should otherwise have published it in Volume XXIII under the conjectural date of January 23, 1777, where we believe it belongs. The Duke was curious about Franklin, who he had heard was difficult to see, and took the direct approach of calling at his hotel and announcing...
156874The American Commissioners: Memorandum for the Dutch, [before 31 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: the Marquess of Abergavenny, Eridge Castle, Sussex (1955) When the Ancestors of the present Inhabitants of the United States of America first settled that Country, they did it entirely at their own expence; The public of England never granted one Shilling to aid in their Establishment. Georgia is an exception for which public grants have been made. Had any such grants been ever made they...
156875To George Washington from Henry Babcock, 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have lately been informed from indisputable Authority that Your Excellency tho’t proper to severely reprimand my Worthy Friend Genl Putnam for recommending Me to your Notice, and that he ought to know Me better than so warmly to have mentioned Me as a Person in his Esteem deserving the Rank of a Brigr Genl in the Continental Army. How your Excellency should have presumed thus unwarrantably...
156876Oath of Allegiance Signed by Citizens of Albemarle County, [1777] (Jefferson Papers)
We whos names are hereunto subscribed do swear that we renounce and refuse all Allegiance to George the third King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors and that I will be faithfull and bear True Allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia as a free and independent state, and that I will not at any [time] do or cause to be done, any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to...
156877List of Militia by Counties, [1777] (Jefferson Papers)
militia in 1776. raisd 1776 Militia 1777 1208 Accomack 120[ ] 1270 74 Albemarle * 95[ ] 1150 84 Amelia + 2000 148
156878Will of Ann Eppes Harris, [1777] (Jefferson Papers)
I Anne Harris of the parish of Southam and county of make the following testamentary disposition of my estate. First I give to my son Joseph and his heirs four hundred acres of the tract of land whereon I live, meaning that the parcel I some time ago conveied to him by deed shall be reckoned part of the said four hundred acres, and that the residue necessary to make up his complement be laid...
156879Memorandum Books, 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 9. Recd. of T. Garth £3. Pd. John Coles £4–10. Pd. Wm. Gouge 12/. 13. Pd. barber in Fredsbgh. 1/3. Recd. of G. Wythe 30/. 14. Gave M. Page’s coachman 1/3. 15. Pd. for seeing gunnery 5/. Pd. for seeing weaving 1/3. 16. Pd. for mending watch 7/6. Pd. Smith, tavern keeper Fredsbgh., entt. £4–4.
156880Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, [on or after 18 February 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for your Letter of the 12th. I wish the news may be true. I found a Letter here from London of the 2d. which says, that Ships are actually sent for the ten thousand Germans, which with three thousand british they expect to have very early in America. That they hope for great advantages from dissentions in Pensylvania. That Burgoyne’s destination...
156881To Benjamin Franklin from Coder, [on or after 7 March? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Les persecutions que je ne cesse d’eprouvér, pour avoir constament fait mon devoir, le tendre et vif interet que prenent a mes malheurx, MM. turgot, malherbes, M. le marechal de soubise, MM. le marquis de castries, francès etc. doivent me faire ecouté favorablement, des honnetes gens eclairés et surtout de Monsieur le docteur franklin. Vous aurez du voir par...
156882To Benjamin Franklin from Coder: A Memorandum, [after 14 October 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Notte pour monsieur le docteur franklin. En me retirant dans ma chaumiere je previens monsieur le docteur que les anciens fourniseurs emploies par M. deaene, acoutumés a gagnier cent pour cent sur les fournitures qu’ils font et n’ayant pu se resoudre a se contenter du profit modique qu’il y a a faire sur la miene et honteux de continuér la leur dont j’ai...
156883To Benjamin Franklin from ――― D’honne, [after 3 June 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mrs. D’honne has the honour of presenting her compliments to Mr. Franklin and of Sending him 2 vol. of the history of America and 3 pamphlets which her Son has brought from Lord Shelburne. Mr. Franklin would have had them some days sooner if Mrs. D’honne had known how to direct them. Addressed: A / Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / à passy / Même Maison de M....
156884Enclosure: Congressional Resolution: A State of Facts, December 1777 (Adams Papers)
That by the return of ordinance and stores taken from the enemy in the Northern department from the 19 Sept. to 17 Oct. inclusive it appears, there were only 4647 muskets, which are returned “unfit for service,” 3477 bayonets without scabbards, 638 cartouch boxes, 1458 cutlasses without scabbards, 6000 dozen musket cartridges, 1135 ready or fixed shot for 32 peices of cannon, and only 15...
156885Ward Chipman to Montfort Browne, December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Owing to the very partial opinion and recommendation of my Friend, you have been pleased to apply to me for such observations as have occurred to my mind upon a subject, very interesting in its nature, and of the utmost importance to that cause in support of which every loyal and good subject would wish to use his utmost efforts and exert all the Abilities with which Nature, Industry or...
156886To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand, [December? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society George Grand’s most respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin and many thanks for the Book he was so good as to send him. The dinner appointed at the Chancellor Abbé de Breteuil is for Monday next at two o Clock precisely and at his own house rue st. honoré près de l’assomption. Mr. Grand desires the Dr. not to forget the paper he has left him yesterday and...
156887To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [December 1777]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <[Brussels, December, 1777, ] in French: You do not know me, and my name would not mean much to you. I am fond of great souls, and want to pay tribute to their virtues. Sincere congratulations on the defeat of M. de Burgoÿne, obtained by skill and bravery. M. de Washington has those qualities, and we may hope that Sir Howe, now in check, will be checkmated....
156888To George Washington from Colonel Theodorick Bland, December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Original Establishment of my Regt was one feild Officer a Captain Leiutt Cornet three Corporals, one Drummer one trumpeter & thirty Rank and file ⅌ troop; a Quartermaster to each Squadron; a Chaplain and Surgeon & adjutant to the Regt, and a Rough Rider to each troop. Their Pay as follows Majr Commt 10s. Adjutant 7.6 Capt. 7.6 Quar. Mastrs 5.0 Leiut. 6 Rough Ridr 5.0 Cornet 5 Drummer...
156889To Benjamin Franklin from Le Roy, [on or after 31 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Voulez vous bien mon cher Docteur que je vous fasse demander s’il ne vous est pas resté des papiers du manuscrit de M. le Comte de Lacepede sur l’Electricité car je n’ai trouvé parmi ces papiers que le 3 le 4m et le 9 mémoire et selon la table il y doit en avoir 1 2–5, 6, 7, 8–10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Recevez mille et mille complimens. Addressed: a Monsieur...
156890To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Conway, 31 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am happy to have room to Congratulate you on Late Success of our arms in america and feel a double satisfaction to find by the papers publick that my husbend has been fortunate Enough to exceeded his zeal et bravery on Some occasions. If it true that mr. alien hath one letter for me, of my husband, I not had she, and I desire with all my heart receiving....
156891To Benjamin Franklin from the Duchesse de Deux-Ponts, 31 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mad. de forbach s’empresse de faire un Milion de remerciement a Monsieur francklin de l’exelant livre qu’il a bien voullu lui envoyér, et de l’honeur et le plaisir qu’il veut bien lui faire, de venir diner samedis prochain chez elle. Elle espere qu’il voudra bien lui amennér Monsieur son petit fils. Elle serois tres aise que Messieur dean et Lee voullusent...
156892General Orders, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. George Weedon’s orderly book includes the following general orders for this date: “DETAILS the Same as yesterday only Poors furnishes a Captain instead of Glovers. In order to procure a certain supply of shoes for the Troops The respective Brigadiers and Officers Commanding Brigades are as soon as possible to see Mr. Ewing Commissary Genl. of hides and...
156893To George Washington from Major General Thomas Conway, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was Directed By the Board of war to furnish a sett of instructions according to which the troops are to be Manœuvred. I propos’d to you sir, (in order to Lose no time) to Beginn immediately with officers and non commission’d officers. I meant to work with them the whole Day, and in the evening and Night to write the Regulations concerning camp Duty and the instructions for the Manœuvres...
156894From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Lieutt Colo. Barton I was honored with your Favor of the 5th Ulto with it’s Inclosure. The spirit and disposition of this Gentleman for enterprize and of the Officers concerned with him in capturing Genl Prescot, give them a ⟨hi⟩gh claim to the thanks and esteem of ⟨their⟩ Country. Congress, persuaded of this, ⟨promoted Mr Ba⟩rton on the 24th Instant to the ⟨Rank and pay of a⟩ Colonel in...
156895To George Washington from Certain General Officers, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As General Officers of the American Army we beg liberty to represent that, at a period when the affairs of our country called for the utmost exertion of every friend, we cheerfully embarked in the contest with Great Britain, and accepted such commissions in the army as Congress thought proper to confer upon us—Previous to our appointments we had considered ourselves, as Citizens of America,...
156896To George Washington from Major John Jameson, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I herewith send you a Return of the Detachments on this side the Skuylkill The Parties on the Germantown & Ridge Roads are too small if seperated as I do not think that less then fifteen Privates properly Officer’d will do for either of the Roads and about twenty four will do if they remain together. It will be necessary for the Officers on this side the River to be furnished with Money to pay...
156897From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of Yesterday conveyed to me fresh proof of that friendship and attachment which I have happily experienced since the first of our acquaintance, and for which I entertain sentiments of the purest affection. It will ever constitute part of my happiness to know that I stand well in your opinion, because I am satisfied that you can have no views to answer by throwing out false colours,...
156898To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I schould have much more reproached myself the liberty I took of wraïting to your excellency, if I had believed it could engage you in the trouble of answering to that letter—but, now, as you have wrote it, I must tell you that I received this favor with the greatest satisfaction and pleasure—every assurance and proof of your affection fills my heart with joy because that sentiment of yours is...
156899From George Washington to William Livingston, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
It being of great importance to prevent the Enemy from Supplies of Forage and provisions I must take the liberty of requesting the interposition of your interest & authority for this purpose, and that the most speedy & suitable measures may be adopted & pursued either by your direction or that of the Legislature or Council for the removal of All that lies within the vicinity of the Jersey...
156900To George Washington from James Lovell, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Course of Disappointments has attended the printing of the Journals of Congress. Good progress was indeed making in Sepr last when Mr Aitkin had nearly finished a second Volume with December 1776. This Work he has sent out of the city of Philadelphia, and buried. By all the Scrutiny I can make, I gain no other Knowledge about the Spot where the Books are deposited than a high probability...