157101From Thomas Boylston Adams to Ebenezer Francis Thayer, 12 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received a few more returns from the war Department, of Certificates for pension. Among others, one for old Mr Amos Thayer and one for Mr Solomon Thayer; I saw Dr Wild—one of your Selectmen on Tuesday and informed him as to Mr: Amos Thayer. He promised to call and take the Certificate, and when he does, I wish to know what compensation I shall demand for your services, in taking his...
157102To Benjamin Franklin from John Holker, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je prends la liberté de vous recommander encore la Maison de Mr. Le Couteulx de Cadix: leur Scituation, leur richesse, la considération dont ils jouissent en Europe et Surtout a la Cour d’Espagne, avec leur façon de penser pour la noble cause, mérite réellement votre attention. Mr. Le Normand leur associé doit vous remettre cette lettre et vous me flaterés...
157103General Orders, 23 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Continental Army have unfortunately no Uniforms, and consequently many inconveniencies must arise, from not being able always to distinguish the Commissioned Officers, from the non Commissioned, and the Non Commissioned from the private; it is desired that some Badges of Distinction may be immediately provided, for Instance, the Field Officers may have red or pink colour’d Cockades in...
157104Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, 16 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you, my dear friend, on the 3 d of July , requesting you to send me some wines, and that mr Girard of Philadelphia would place a sum of 200. Dollars at your disposal, in the hands of his correspondents there at Paris , then unknown to me. I now inclose to you a copy of his letter to mess rs
157105From Thomas Jefferson to F. Nichols, 19 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Nichols and his thanks for the copy of Playfair’s geometry he was so kind as to send him. he does not doubt it’s value from the known reputation of mr Playfair, and he cannot but applaud the zeal for promoting public utility which encounters the printing of such books, which tho’ of great value, are of slow sale. MoSHi : Bixby Collection.
157106To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 6 November 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 November 1801, Leghorn. No. 13. Transmits dispatches received on 5 Nov. from Eaton and duplicates of earlier ones already forwarded. Is distressed at news from Eaton that U.S. squadron had gone to Gibraltar and left enemy coast unguarded; hopes at least one frigate will have returned. U.S. citizens trading at Leghorn complain of lack of protection, no warship having appeared at Leghorn since...
157107Introductory Note: To George Washington, [8 March 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
When this letter was written, the United States appeared to be closer to war with Great Britain than at any time since the end of the American Revolution. Henry Lee wondered whether Congress intended “to pick a quarrel with G.B.,” and the latest advices from Thomas Pinckney in London left little doubt that he considered the outbreak of war with Britain only a matter of time. In a dispatch...
157108From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 13 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Dec. 30. I had the honour to inform you that in consequence of yours to me of the 24th. I would ask of you to pay the interest on the 51,000 gelders for the last year, and that I would write to the Treasury board to take their own measures for reimbursing the capital. I wrote to them accordingly. I at the same time desired Messrs. Fizeaux & Co. to call on you for the interest...
157109Samuel Kercheval to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I rece i ved your truly interesting letter , on Monday last; and have shewn it to several gentlemen of both political parties, who unite in the opinion with me, that its importance to society at the present crisis, is of that imperious nature as to counter ballance all consideration of delicacy—and your opinions on the subject of calling a convention so interesting to the Western people...
157110To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of Was has permitted me to peruse your Letters to him dated the 14th. and 29th. of August, and after much reflection and some hesitation, I have ventured to request him to delay transmitting to you, the Commissions of the General Officers, untill I could accompany his official dispatch with a communication of my sentiments, upon the arrangement which appears to be meditated....
157111Enclosure: Benjamin Taylor’s Annotated Drawings of Underwater Mines, [ca. 30 March 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
The drawings below represent an improvement in Submarine Explosion for crippling an Enemies Ships of War. N o 1. Represents a Swimming Exploder to act without the aid of a Time-piece. A . is its float, about 2 feet diameter. B . is the Exploder itself suspended in the water by its float, A . C . is a table, its upper side convex, with a concave bed in its centre, to carry a 6 or 8 lb. ball,...
157112[Diary entry: 14 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Munday 14th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning, 46 at Noon and 48 at Night. A great deal of rain fell in the Night, which never ceased until after 8 oclock. My Boat with the flour went off about day break but whether the flour received any damage or not I cannot tell. The wind remained at No. East until 9 oclock when it died away and sprung up pretty fresh from the No. West when the Sun came out....
157113[Diary entry: 28 April 1768] (Washington Papers)
28. Stayed there all day at Colo. Lewis.
157114To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 4 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to request your Signature to the enclosed Warrant. It is wanted for Mr. Ludlow one of the Midshipmen of the President who has been some time acting but of whose Christian name I am as yet ignorant. FC ( Lb in DNA : RG 45, LSP ); at head of text: “The President.” Midshipman Augustus C. ludlow served on the frigates President , Essex , and Constitution in the Mediterranean from...
157115To George Washington from Nathaniel Peabody, 27 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to address your Excelly respecting the unhappy Situation of Lt Colo. Thomas Johnson of Newburg Co-os—who will take Charge of this letter, & do himself the honr to wait on your Excelly in person. Colo. Johnson is desirous of giving to your Excelly every information in his power, relative to the Situation, Strength, & designs of the Enemy, at the Northward, the embarrassed...
157116To Thomas Jefferson from Daniel K. Minor, 27 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
From a letter recently received, from a young gentleman now in Richmond, Mr Holbrook, I learn that I have been greatly mistaken, as to your intentions, relative to my occupying the station of “ Serjent ” at the University; & perhaps, am, thereby, subjected to censure for not having written to you the second time—. You will, probably recollect that I observed, when I first conversed with you...
157117To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 27 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Muy Señor mio de todo mi Respecto Por Respuesta a su Apreciable de 24 recivida en este Momento devo desir á V.E qe las tres Medias Botas de Vinos, ya pedidas deven ser de la Mas Celecta Calidad, y gusto de V.E pues las tengo encargadas a las Mejores Casas en Philadelphia tengo el Paxarete y Vino tinto qe tanbien he pedido, y deseado Saver á qe nombre devo dirijirlas á esta pensava tener el...
157118Pleasant M. Miller to Thomas Jefferson, 11 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Between persons who heartily wish to promote the Best interest of their country an interchange of opinion, upon the best method to do so, cannot be condemned, atho no previous acquaintance exist between them. that you may know some thing of me, I will state that I was born in the county of Campbell near the quaker meeting hous 4 miles west of Lynchburg & not a great way from your poplar forest...
157119To James Madison from George Davis, 27 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
The letter with which I was charged, for Mr. Nissen H: D: M: late Consul at Tripoli, was yesterday delivered in person; his being in quarantine prevented an unrestrained communication. Mr. Nissen informs me that there exists a Secret Article Singned by the Commissioner stating, “that we shall not have the right to demand the fulfillment ( on his part ) of the 3d: Article of the treaty untill...
157120To James Madison from Adams Herbert & Company, 3 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to receive by the mail of this day, your Excellency’s letter of date the 1st Current, and beg you to accept our acknowledgements for your promptitude in forwarding us the check for five hundred fifty three Dollars & 80/100 which it contained, and which is in full for the original cost and subsequent Charges on One pipe wine from Madeira. We shall attend very particularly to...
157121To Thomas Jefferson from Henry Dearborn, 14 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the decision of the Commissioners appointed at Boston to appraise the value of a site for a battery near the water’s edge, and one for an enclosed work on the highest part of an Island, called Governor’s Island between the Town of Boston and Fort Independence.—The high part of this Island over looks Fort Independence, (which is on what is called, Castle Island) and has an old...
157122From George Washington to John Stanwix, 15 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, that a scouting party, consisting of 5 Soldiers, and 15 Cherokee Indians, who were sent out the 20th ultimo, towards the Ohio, under Lt Baker, returned the 8th instant to Fort Cumberland with 5 scalps, and a french Officer prisoner; having killed two other Officers of the same party. Mr Baker met with this party (10 french, 3 Officers) on the head of...
157123From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 13 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I did not think of your not returning again the next day when you left me, altho we miss you, much yet we know you cannot be in both places at once, but wherever you are, you are doing good, and this is the true end of Life. Thus thought the Dear departed Friend I mourn. Sav’d the parting pangs, and the final adieu. She seems like Enoch, to have been translated. Mrs Shaw writes, that when the...
157124To Thomas Jefferson from James Jay, 14 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Unable to determine, whether the Application I contemplate to make, should be addressed to your Excellency or to Congress, I conclude it most proper to submit it to you, and to request that you will favour me with your opinion what steps it may be most prudent to take on the occasion. I am reduced to this difficulty, by considering whether some particulars I shall state, in order to illustrate...
15712528 [i.e. 29] Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
Fast day. Heard Mr. Maccarty. Spent the Evening at Mr. Putnams. Our proper Business in this Life is, not to accumulate large Fortunes, not to gain high Honours and important offices in the State, not to waste our Health and Spirits in Pursuit of the Sciences, but constantly to improve our selves in Habits of Piety and Virtue. Consequently, the meanest Mechanick, who endeavours in proportion to...
157126To George Washington from Samuel Magaw, 15 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
In venturing to lay before You the discourse herewith presented; my diffidence is overruled, only by a Desire to pay some Tribute of Duty and Respect, where much is owed. The instance, indeed, is, of itself, quite inconsiderable: Yet, it appreciates in my view, as under the immediate direction of those Gentlemen, whose sentiments I can with greater safety rely upon, than on my own. They have...
157127To John Adams from Griffin Greene, 18 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I doubt not that you will excuse the liberty I take in addressing this letter to you, when you make your self acquainted with the motive that I am actuated by, which will be clearly proved by reading the inclosed. I came acquainted with the unhappy Mans case by the information of Mr David Gregorie Jun r. of Dunkerque who is much desposed to help the poor & destressed, I sail from hear in two...
157128To George Washington from Otho Holland Williams, 17 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I assure myself that your moments of leasure are, some times, passed in the contemplation of rural concerns. Your known attachments to subjects of domestic, as well as public, utility; and your former attention to the improvement of Stock, encourage me to mention to you that I have had, for more than two years, an order, in the hands of an American in London, to procure for me one of the...
157129From John Adams to John Lowell, 4 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Favour of the 12 Oct. and for the Trouble you took in conveying my Accounts and Vouchers to the Treasury. I am too fond of the Approbation of my Country men, to refuse, or to hesitate about accepting an appointment made with So much Unanimity, after all the Contests about foreign affairs and I am too nearly of your Opinion in some other Points too. No Man knows better than...
157130To George Washington from Medad Rogers, 27 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
My Brother Washington, I heartily rejoice with thee, that a door is fully opened for retiring from a station, which nothing caused thee to hold, but the free voice of fellow citizens and the desire of doing them all the good which the abilities God had bestowed on thee would permit. Envy never once rose in my breast at thee in they public station, but pity and prayer: knowing thy pillow was...
157131To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 15 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 15 October 1805, New Orleans. “During my late Illness at Natchez I receivd your private Letter of the 20th July [not found], and I immediatly transmitted by a safe conveyance to Mr: Duplantier, the Packet which you committed to my care. “I am inclined to think, that the Land near this City, which has been mentioned to Genl. Lafayette, is not in a situation to be...
157132To Thomas Jefferson from Brown, Benson & Ives, 16 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
We had the honour to address you the 18th. of April last in reply to your esteem’d favour of the 5th. of the same Month on the subject of our Complaint relative to the Detention of our Brig Commerce at Port au Prince. It was then our intention to Prosecute our Claim for Damages but the Amount ‘tho very great We could never estimate—on that particular suffice it to say that Capt. Munro...
157133John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I send you the Letters— I could not keep my hands off of Nabby’s. I beg her Pardon. They write me flattering Accounts from Phil a. M r Anthony writes most confidently. No danger. No fever—alls well.— When Brisler goes he should throw Lime into the Cellar Vault &c. I think We ought to have been together to day. But tomorrow will do. I am glad Malcom came out. We must prepare to go to Phil a....
157134From George Washington to John Hanson, 19 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Congress have been already furnished with Copies of all letters which had passed between the Commander in Chief of the British Forces in New York and myself, respecting the murther of Capt. Huddy, previous to the last of July. I have now the honor to inclose Sir Guy Carletons letter of the 1st instant, (in reply to mine of the 25 t h ulto) and that of the 13 t h which accompanied the...
157135To James Madison from John Morris, 5 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
The tender of voluntary service which I had the honour to offer on behalf of the officers and privates of my company having been invited as well by previous assurances and recommendations communicated by Mr Lacock and others, as by special and peculiar circumstances which recommended that course for the most prompt and efficacious mean of defending their own frontier, those assurances have...
157136[Diary entry: 11 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and 55 at Night. Wind at No. Et. and fresh all day. Very cloudy and sometimes dripping. At Night it began to fall a little more seriously, but in no great qty. Sent my Carriage up for & brought George Washington & his wife down after dinner.
157137From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Keating, 7 September 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved by the hands of mr Short the diploma with which the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has been pleased to honor me as a Correspondent of their association, and I accept it with due sensibility as a mark of their favor. at my advanced age and great distance I can little hope to contribute to the stores of science of which they will be the depository . my only returns I...
157138John Thaxter to John Adams, 22 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
You mention, Sir, in the beginning of your Letter, that you are indebted to me for several Letters. I shall never presume to consider you indebted in that Respect, or myself entitled whilst the public at large, or any Individual of it, has a Title to your Attention in preference to mine. It was not a Consideration of your being indebted Sir, that has prevented my frequent writing to You, but...
157139I. Tables of Justices of the Peace for the District of Columbia, [before 16 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Justices’ Commissions given out . Commissions not given . Washington county l 1 William Thornton
157140To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 29 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 27 instant. The letter to Captain Elliott therein contained has been forwarded—Your letter to the commanding Officer at Fort Mifflin enclosed in yours of the 25 instant has not been sent—I enclose you a letter of appointment for Charles Leonard as a Second Lieutenant in the 14. Regiment which you will be pleased to forward. I am Sir with great respect Your...
157141Charles P. De Lasteyrie to Thomas Jefferson, 25 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
je profite du départ de M r Warden pour vous donner de mes nouvelles, et pour m’informer de l’état de votre Santé. je le prie de vous remettre un exemplaire de la traduction du Torpedo de M r fulton que j’ai fait faire traduire et insérer dans le bulletin de la Société d’Encouragement. je tache de faire insérer dans nos journeaux les découvertes que vous faite dans les sciences et dans les...
157142From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 30 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I will not Suffer the year to close upon me without noticeing your repeated favours and thanking you for them—so long as we inhabit this Earth and possess any of our faculties we must do feel for our fee posterity for our Friends and our Country—personally We have arived so near the close of the drama that we shall feel but few of those evils which await others, (we have past through one...
157143From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 13 of March was brought in to me but this moment— I am not able to give you any information you desire— a Gen t. by the Name you mention & with the title of Colonel has been introduced to me & has dined with me at this House & I saw him in Holland— His Behaviour is Genteel and his Character is in all respects unexceptionable, as far as I know, having Never heard any...
157144From John Jay to Floridablanca, 2 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
Be pleased to accept my Thanks for having ordered the Ballance due on the Cloathing, purchased by M r Harrison, to be paid; & for having so arranged the Payment of the Money to which the Bills of this month amount, as to enable the Embassador of France effectually effectually to interpose his kind offices to relieve me from the distressing necessity of protesting them. I lament the...
157145From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 17 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The permission of the Emperor of Marocco to our Consul to remain for six months for the purpose of explanations, which is their way of declaring a state of peace having materially changed the state of things in the Mediterranean, I had recommended to mr Smith to stop the sailing of the John Adams. I now recieve a letter from him pressing her sailing. I had thought the thing so obvious as not...
157146From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 17 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have only a moment to inform you that I send by Majr. Wingate for the Philosophical society a Prickly lizard living, which I recieved from Louisiana, and a box containing the bones and mineral substances described in the inclosed letter from Dr. James Brown of Kentucky. Accept my friendly salutations. PPAmP .
157147From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 2 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr. Adams will have the Honour to breakfast at Passy with Dr. Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 oClock. RC ( PPAmP : Franklin Papers;)...
157148Wednesday the 27th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Pappa’s house. Went to see the fair. Got back to School at about 9 o clock.
157149From George Washington to Joseph Hopkinson, 27 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
An absence of more than eight days from home (on a visit to our friends in the Federal City) is offered as an apology for my not giving your polite, and obliging favour of the 9th instant, an earlier acknowledgment. I pray you now, my good Sir, to accept my best thanks for the Pamphlet and Song, which accompanied it; and still more, for the favourable sentiments you have been pleased to...
157150From George Washington to the United States Senate, 15 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson the present Minister of the United States at the Court of France, having applied for permission to return home for a few months, and it appearing to me proper to comply with his request, it becomes necessary that some person be appointed to take charge of our affairs at that Court during his absence. For this purpose I nominate William Short Esquire, and request your advice on the...