168341John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 13 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I have been trying ever since you went away to learn to write you a Letter. I shall make poor work of it, but Sir Mamma says you will accept my endeavours, and that my Duty to you may be expressd in poor writing as well as good. I hope I grow a better Boy and that you will have no occasion to be ashamed of me when you return. Mr. Thaxter says I learn my Books well—he is a very good Master. I...
168342[Diary entry: 13 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. Dined at my lodgings—after being at Congress till 4 Oclk. This long day in Congress was caused by an extended debate “about the Parliamentary Power of regulating Trade. 5 Colonies were for allowing it, 5. against it, and two divided among themselves, i.e., Mass. and Rhode Island” ( ADAMS [1] L. H. Butterfield, ed. Diary and Autobiography of John Adams . 4 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1961. ,...
168343[Diary entry: 13 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. Much such a day as yesterday.
1683441774. Wednesday. Octr. 12. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Captn. Richards with Dr. Coombs.
168345From Benjamin Franklin to [William Franklin, 12 October 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society [ Page or pages missing ] on their Virtue, Wisdom and Magnanimity: Lord C——n says he would give half his Worth in the World to be present at the Debates of such an uncorrupted Body on so important an Occasion; and I often regret that I did not leave this Country in time to have been there myself. Your Omission of Remittances to...
168346From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 12 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I wrote to you on the 1st Inst. per Capt. Cook; acquainting you with the Dissolution of the Parliament since which the Elections are going on briskly every where for a new one. The Electors of London, Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, and the County of Middlesex, have obliged their Candidates to sign a written Engagement, that they will endeavour...
168347From Benjamin Franklin to the New Jersey Assembly Committees of Correspondence, 12 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I did my self the honour of writing to you the 7th of last Month acknowledging the Receipt of your Favours of July 26. and promising my Care of your late Acts. I have not yet heard that they are arriv’d here, tho’ possibly they may; but the Officers of the Plantation Board, as well as its Members, being still out of town, no...
168348[Diary entry: 12 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. At Congress all the forenoon. Dined at Mr. Josh. Whartons & went to the Govrs. Club. josh. whartons : This man is more likely to be Joseph Wharton, Jr. (1734–1816), a merchant of Philadelphia, than his father, Joseph Wharton (1707–1776), who was living in retirement outside Philadelphia at his country place, Walnut Grove. govrs. club : An earlier visitor to Philadelphia described the...
168349[Diary entry: 12 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. Rather warm being clear with but little Wind.
1683501774 Tuesday Octr. 11. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. McKean in Markett Street, with Mr. Reed, Rodney, Chace, Johnson, Paca, Dr. Morgan, Mr. R. Penn, &c. Spent the Evening with Mr. Henry at his Lodgings consulting about a Petition to the King. Henry said he had no public Education. At fifteen he read Virgill and Livy, and has not looked into a Latin Book since. His father left him at that Age, and he has been struggling thro Life...
168351[Diary entry: 11 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. Din’d at my Lodgings & Spent the Evening at Bevan’s.
168352[Diary entry: 11 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. Still cool, but pleasant notwithstanding.
1683531774 Monday. Octr. 10th. (Adams Papers)
The Deliberations of the Congress, are spun out to an immeasurable Length. There is so much Wit, Sense, Learning, Acuteness, Subtilty, Eloquence, &c. among fifty Gentlemen, each of whom has been habituated to lead and guide in his own Province, that an immensity of Time, is spent unnecessarily. Johnson of Maryland has a clear and a cool Head, an extensive Knowledge of Trade, as well as Law. He...
168354III. To General Gage, 10 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
The Delegates from the Several Provinces in North America, now assembled in Congress, beg Leave to address your Excellency upon Subjects of very great Importance, to your own Character to your own Happiness and Peace of Mind, as well to his Majestys Service, and to the Welfare of the Province over which you preside, and of all North America, perhaps of the whole British Empire. Your Situation...
168355From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 10 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I wrote to you a few Days since, and have little to add. The Election for Lord Mayor ended on Saturday, when Wilkes was chosen by a great Majority both of the Livery and of the Aldermen; and ’tis thought he will carry the Elections of 4 Members for the City, 2 for the Borough of Southwark, 2 for Westminster, and 2 for the County of Middlesex, himself one of the...
168356To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 10 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Mon cher Maitre, vos deux cheres petites lettres des 21e. aout et 4e. 8bre. et dans celle cy une petite feuille du journal de Pennsylvanie qui m’a fait le plus grand plaisir, et que je tacherai que ne soit pas perdue pour ce pays cy. Je vous prie, lorsque vous aurez quelques papiers semblables, ou autres dont il vous plaira de me regaler, de...
168357To Benjamin Franklin from Marie Catherine Biheron, 10 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society C’est avec la plus grande Satisfaction que jay recu l’honneur de la votre en datte du 13 occtobre de l’année derniere. Si je n’y ait pas repondu plutot ma mauvoise sante en a eté lunique cause, je saisie donc avec empressement d’un jeune Monsieur qui retourne dans votre ville pour vous assuré du vif interest que je prend aux affaires presentes de l’amerique...
168358[Diary entry: 10 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
10. At Congress. Din’d at Doctr. Morgan’s. John Morgan (1735–1789), a graduate of Edinburgh, had also studied medicine and anatomy in England, France, and Italy. In 1765, shortly after his return to Philadelphia, Morgan was responsible for founding at the College of Philadelphia the first medical school in the American colonies. At the outbreak of the Revolution he aligned himself with the...
168359[Diary entry: 10 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
10. Much Cooler than Yesterday. Wind Northerly.
1683601774. Sunday [9 October]. (Adams Papers)
Went to hear Dr. Allison, an Aged Gentleman. It was Sacrament Day and he gave us a sacramental Discourse. This Dr. Allison is a Man of Abilities and Worth, but I hear no Preachers here like ours in Boston, excepting Mr. Duchè. Coombs indeed is a good Speaker, but not an original, but a Copy of Duchè. The Multiplicity of Business and Ceremonies, and Company that we are perpetually engaged in,...
168361John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I am wearied to Death with the Life I lead. The Business of the Congress is tedious, beyond Expression. This Assembly is like no other that ever existed. Every Man in it is a great Man—an orator, a Critick, a statesman, and therefore every Man upon every Question must shew his oratory, his Criticism and his Political Abilities. The Consequence of this is, that Business is drawn and spun out to...
168362[Diary entry: 9 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
9. Went to the Presbeterian Meeting in the forenoon and Romish Church in the Afternoon. Dind at Bevans’s. presbeterian meeting : Which Presbyterian church GW attended is unknown, although prevailing opinion favors the Presbyterian meetinghouse at Third and Arch streets. However, GW may have been with John Adams, who on this day attended the Presbyterian meetinghouse on Market Street between...
168363[Diary entry: 9 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
9. Rather warm in the forenoon with appearances of Rain abt. 2 Oclock but none fell. However it turnd Cool.
168364From George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 9 October 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th ulto from Boston, gave me pleasure, as I learnt thereby that you were well, and might be expected at Mount Vernon in your way to or from James river, in the course of the winter. When I have said this, permit me with the freedom of a friend, (for you know I always esteemed you) to express my sorry at Fortunes placing you in a service that must fix curses to latest...
1683651774 Saturday Octr. 8. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. George Clymer—Mr. Dickinson and a large Company again.
168366[Diary entry: 8 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
8. At Congress. Dined with Mr. John Cadwallader.
168367[Diary entry: 8 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
8. Warm, but somewhat lowering.
1683681774 Fryday Octr. 7. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Thos. Smith, with a large Company, the Virginians and others.
168369John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for all your kind favours. I wish I could write to you, much oftener than I do. I wish I could write to you, a Dozen Letters every day. But the Business before me, is so arduous and takes up my Time so entirely, that I cannot write often. I had the Characters and Tempers, the Principles and Views of fifty Gentlemen total Strangers to me to study, and the Trade, Policy, and whole...
168370From John Adams to William Tudor, 7 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I have just Time to thank you for your Letters by Mr Revere, and all other of your Favours. The Task which lies upon me here is very arduous. You can form no Conception of it: and I can give you no Idea of it. The Assurances you give me, of the great Dependance of the People, upon the Result of the Deliberations of the Congress, increase my Anxiety. I fear the operations of the Continent will...