183451Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
On or about 13 Aug. 1817 Jefferson set out from Poplar Forest to visit Natural Bridge with his granddaughters Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) and Cornelia J. Randolph . Jefferson had most recently visited his Rockbridge County possession in 1815 with his friends José Corrêa da Serra and Francis W. Gilmer . On that occasion Jefferson measured the latitude of Natural Bridge
183452Subscription to Christ Church, 7 May 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Dorr, A Historical Account of Christ Church, Philadelphia (New York and Philadelphia, 1841), pp. 71–2. Whereas, the Episcopal church of Philadelphia, having been long built, and much out of repair, as well as too small for the convenient seating of the congregation, it was therefore resolved, by two several vestries, in the year seventeen hundred...
183453Editorial Note: The Article on the United States in the Encyclopédie Méthodique (Jefferson Papers)
On 25 Oct. 1786 William Short wrote to William Nelson: “You speak of the Encyclopedia. It will be a valuable work Sir in as much as all human science will be there brought together and arranged in a methodical manner. The different parts of the work are allotted to different persons to execute, and as it is impossible to find a sufficient number of learned men fit for and willing to engage in...
183454[An Act to Provide for Calling Forth the Militia], [28 February 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
JCH Transcripts John C. Hamilton Transcripts, Columbia University Libraries. ; JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851–1856). , V, 103. Although John Church Hamilton attributes this document to H, no evidence has been found that H was its author. This act became law on February 28, 1795 ( 1 Stat. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America...
183455To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you a report from the Director of the Mint, comprehending matters requiring legislative as well as executive consideration. He has also made another report respecting the former only, being merely an extract from the inclosed. The Director has just sent me the inclosed new calculation of the expense of coining cents. At the supposed peace-price of copper (and...
183456Enclosure: List of Candidates for Attorney General, 2 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
A list of such charactors as have occured to me as candidates for the appointment of Attorney Genl.— J Brackinridge— G. Hay— J. H. Nicholson C— Rodney A.er—Dallas Alexr. Wolcut B— Bidwell— RC ( DLC : TJ Papers, 145:25243); undated, in Dearborn’s hand.
183457Editorial Note: Drafting the Annual Message to Congress (Jefferson Papers)
Article 2, Section 3, of the Constitution specifies that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union.” Washington and Adams performed the function by addressing Congress at the opening of the session in the fall. Adams gave his last such address on 22 Nov. 1800, soon after the convening of the second session of the Sixth Congress (Vol....
183458Appointment as Delegate to the Continental Congress, 22 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Poughkeepsie, New York, July 22, 1782. On this date the New York legislature passed the following resolution: “ Resolved , That the Honorable James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L’Hommedieu and Alexander Hamilton, Esquires, be, and are hereby declared duly nominated and appointed Delegates, to represent this State in the United States in Congress assembled, for one Year, from...
183459Record of Birth and Baptism of James Madison, Jr., [16 March] 1751 (Madison Papers)
James Madison junr. was born on Tuesday Night at 12 o’Clock it being the last of the 5th. & begining of the 6th. day of March 1750–1 & was Baptized by the Revd. Mr. Wm. Davis, Mar. 31. 1751 and had for God-Fathers Mr. John Moore & Mr. Jonatn. Gibson & for God-Mothers Mrs. Rebecca Moore, Miss Judith Catlett and Miss Elizabeth Catlett. The 1759 publication date of the Bible indicates that this...
183460Circular to the Governors, 17 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ Circular to the Governors. 17 October 1805, Department of State. “Agreeably to an act of Congress, entitled ‘an act for the more general promulgation of the Laws of the United States, passed 3d. March 1795,[’] and the acts in addition thereto passed on the 2d.: March 1799, and on the 27th. March 1804, I have transmitted to the Collector of the Customs copies of the Laws of the United States,...
183461The Bankruptcy of de la Lande & Fynje: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
One of Adams’s most significant achievements as American minister to the Dutch Republic had been his negotiation of loans to the United States with the consortium of Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and de la Lande & Fynje. In 1783, de la Lande & Fynje organized, under its own management, a group of Dutch houses interested in trade with the United States, including the...
183462From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Penington, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received yours of Nov. 14. with that enclos’d for Mr. Sp[ringett] Penn, which I immediately forwarded to him. He continues in Ireland I know not why. I hear from him sometimes, but to little purpose. I think it not unlikely he may suffer him self to be finally impos’d on by his Uncle in the Affair of Pensbury, but shall endeavour to stir him up...
183463Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
Jonathan Wilkins owned a pasture and apple orchard on Mill Brook in Middleton, near the Great Pond. On 10 March 1762, Timothy Fuller erected a dam which on 28 March 1762 and thereafter at intervals until February 1770 caused the stream to overflow part of Wilkins’ land, allegedly damaging his trees and spoiling his grass. For unexplained reasons, Wilkins waited until 1771 before bringing an...
183464To Benjamin Franklin from [Mary] Rich, [1766–1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society As Miss Rich finds her Servant deliverd the money and Reciept to a Little Girl, She is desirous to know that Dr. Franklin recievd it, therefore begs he will just write her a line by the penny Post. She will also be obligd to him for the Direction to the man that made the Spindle &ca in Case She Should at any time want his Assistance. She finds so much...
183465To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States three letters from Mr Campbell, District Attorney of Virginia, two of which relate to the complaint of the French Consul at Norfolk, concerning the purchase of horses for the British; in which the President will observe a concurrence of legal opinions (with the exception of Mr Randolph’s) in the justness of the...
183466Orderly Book (Washington Papers)
This orderly book ( DLC:GW ) includes orders for each day from the time GW and Col. William Byrd arrived on 21 Sept. at Raystown with the Virginia forces from Fort Cumberland until 24 Nov. just before GW viewed with Forbes’s army the smoking remains of Fort Duquesne at the Forks of the Ohio. The primary orders entered in GW’s orderly book are the general orders of the day issued by the senior...
183467John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Tour the English Countryside (Adams Papers)
By 4 April, the commissioners faced a stalemate on several diplomatic fronts, including negotiations with the Marquis of Carmarthen, the Chevalier Pinto de Balsamão, and the Tripoline envoy, Sidi Haji Abdrahaman. With little official business remaining on the docket, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson embarked on a week-long tour of English country seats and historic sites ( JA, D&A Diary and...
183468“F.B.”: The Frenchman and the Poker, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
First printing not located; reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, And Universal Advertiser , March 16–23, 1767. This is the second of two letters Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 16–23, 1767, the authorship of which he attributed to Franklin. In a letter to his sister, Jane Mecom, many years later, Franklin acknowledged that he had “told” the story. Goddard gave no...
183469Enclosure: [Balance Due on the American Iron Company’s Lands], [21 August 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
To the Trustees of the American Iron Company Dr To the last Installment in Lands in Crosbies Patent £605,13. 5 Interest 4 April 1797 on £605.13.5 is 1 Y. 4 M 56.10.7 do 20 Decr. 1798 do 1 Y. 8 M 16 D 72.10.10 do 7 June 1799 do 5 M
183470Editorial Note: Jefferson’s Letter to John Adams (Jefferson Papers)
Anticipating an administration headed by John Adams with himself as vice president, Jefferson apparently hoped with this letter to restore a political relationship that had become frayed following the unintended publication in 1791 of his endorsement of Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man and his implicit criticism of Adams’s “political heresies” (see Editorial Note and documents at 26 Apr. 1791,...
183471Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
John Mein’s stormy career was cut short by two actions brought against him by John Hancock under a power of attorney from Mein’s London creditors. That Mein infuriated the “well-disposed” and the Sons of Liberty is certain; that they rejoiced in his difficulties, including these protracted lawsuits, is equally clear. It is more doubtful whether Mein was correct in attributing to Hancock the...
183472If Life’s Compared to a Feast, 22 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AD : New York Public Library; transcript: Library of Congress William Temple Franklin found this poem among his grandfather’s papers and claimed that it was entitled “B. F.’s Adieu!” The sole extant autograph, written on a small sheet of paper, has no title. Beautifully penned, as though intended for presentation, it fills the sheet, with the dateline placed in the bottom left corner. Whether...
183473Report Relative to a Provision for the Support of Public Credit, [9 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the twenty-first day of September last, has, during the recess of Congress, applied himself to the consideration of a proper plan for the support of the Public Credit, with all the attention which was due to the authority of the House, and to the...
183474Enclosure: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney to James McHenry, 10 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Capn: Shepherd of this place, who I understand has the general superintendance of the public works at Harper’s ferry, informs me, that it is contemplated to employ the Soldiers at the Cantonment the ensuing Spring and Summer, in digging a canal. These Soldiers have hitherto been very little trained, having since they have joined their Regiments been almost constantly employed in fatigue work,...
183475Instituting a New Government: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Following New York’s ratification of the Constitution, Jay continued to play a central role in the activities of the Confederation. As head of a principal department he contributed to the smooth transition from the government under the Articles of Confederation to its constitutionally created successor. Although all through 1788 Congress, verging on dissolution, had difficulty in obtaining a...
183476Introductory Note: To Francisco de Miranda, [23 November 1784] (Hamilton Papers)
According to his biographer ( Robertson, The Life of Miranda William S. Robertson, The Life of Miranda (Chapel Hill, 1929). , I, 43), Miranda, while in New York City in 1784, devised a plan for the liberation of Venezuela which he revealed to Henry Knox and Hamilton. In the Miranda papers there are four lists of names, three of which are in the writing of Hamilton, and one of which is in an...
183477“Arator”: On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor, [29 November 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , November 27–29, 1766. The first editor to identify Franklin in print as the author of this paper was Benjamin Vaughan, who included it in his 1779 edition of Franklin’s writings. Before that it had been twice reprinted. A periodical published by the French physiocrats, called Ephémérides du citoyen , printed a translation in February 1767, introducing it with...
183478Enclosure: From —— to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 6 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The sale of 895,000. lb. Salpetre by our East India Company took place on Wednesday: We had orders from You to buy 100. to 110,000 lb. without limitation of price: Notwithstanding which We could but presume, whenever Orders are not given to be executed at any price, be it ever so high, that you relied upon our not going to prices extravagant beyond Conception, but on the Contrary, that We...
183479To Benjamin Franklin from Sir William Johnson, 10 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Antiquarian Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society At the Request of your Son Govr. Franklyn, and several Gentlemen of Pensilvania, I now enclose you a Scheme proposed for establish[in]g a Colony at the Ilinois, together with my Letter to Mr. Secretary Conway in favour thereof, which the proposers desired might be transmitted thro’ your hands. I have accordingly sent...
183480Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
This complex litigation, a landmark in the history of Martha’s Vineyard, arose out of an unhappy family situation. The genealogical as well as the legal involutions of these cases being what they were, a sketch of the members of the great Mayhew clan of Martha’s Vineyard mainly concerned, and of their relationships, is almost essential to an understanding of the legal issues. The chief figure...