24601From John Adams to Francis Dana, 7 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. the two halves of your letter to Congress, and they have been sent on. I sent you a few days since a packett fm. our Minister of foreign Affairs. Sometime ago, I sent unto you the miniature of Genl. Washington, wh. Mr. Searle gave me, and I am anxious to learn that you have recd. it. I can give you no news fm. America, France, Spain or Holland, but what you will have previously...
24602From John Adams to Francis Dana, 18 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Favour of March 12. O.S.— It has for Sometime been my Intention to embark for the Blue Hills as soon as the definitive Treaty should be Signed, or even Sooner if the Acceptance of my Resignation, which I transmitted on the 8 th day of last December, Should arrive before that Event. M r Vanberckel will Sail from the Texel in June, and it would be agreable to me to go...
24603From John Adams to Francis Dana, 5 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of December 30 th. , I recieved last Night. Orders are long since gone from M r. Grand to his Correspondent at S t. Petersbourg, to furnish You the Money You want.— You will find our Treaty inaccurate and blundering, but You will pardon all our Bulls, when You know the Haste and the Danger We were in, and think that We have done very well. I should advise You not to hesitate a Moment...
24604From John Adams to Francis Dana, 16 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of July 28. I duely received. Am glad to hear that your third Freshmanship is a busy one. I think you commence a fourth, at Philadelphia, very Soon. I have presumed to lay before the General Court a Proposal, to choose Nine Delegates. That their Duty may be discharged here in Rotation. The Service here is too hard, for any one, to be continued So long; at least for me. Who...
24605From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Nov r. 14/25 I recieved the night before last, & went out with it yesterday to Passy. D r. Franklin & I agreed to desire M r. Grand to give Orders to the Banker his Correspondent at S t. Petersbourg to furnish You with the Sum of Money You may have occasion for, so that your Treaty may be made as soon as You please. I should not be surprized, if the English Minister to the...
24606From John Adams to Francis Dana, 7 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received the honor of your letter of the 3d. yesterday. Inclosed is a short answer to the grand jury. I know the hand writing of the address very well. I went to E. Boston on Saturday to dine with you after spending two or three hours with Mr Gerry with whom I wished to converse a little more particularly concerning some things; but I was detained in Boston upon an indispensible piece of...
24607From John Adams to Francis Dana, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This day was brought me, your kind favour of August 28th. the first Line I have received from you, Since We parted. A Line from my dear Son, aug. 21. O.S. which I recd 3 days ago, was the first from him. The publick News from America, you have before now. It is grand and I congratulate you upon it, with a gratefull Heart. Our allies have this year adopted a System, which you and I have long...
24608American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Jay Papers)
We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy, were compleated on the thirtieth of last Month. To Us, at this...
24609From Alexander Hamilton to Francis Dana, 11 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from Colonel Brooks, of which the enclosed is a copy. In my reply to him, I pronounced the whole affair to be absolutely false and groundless, and pledged myself to make it appear so. The intention of this letter is to inquire, whether you avow or disavow the conversation he relates; and if the former, to demand, in explicit and direct terms, your authority. You must...
24610From John Adams to Francis Dana, 15 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Feb 10/21. arrived last night, and I thank you for the Copy inclosed. I think that if the Ct. of St. James’s is capable of taking a hint, she may see herself advised to acknowledge the Sovereignty of the U.S. and admit their Ministers to the Congress. There Seems to be a Change of System in England, but the Change is too late: the Kingdom is undone past Redemption. Minorca, St...
24611From John Adams to Francis Dana, 2 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 27 Ultimo came to hand last night. Mr. Bradford informs me that he Sent to Paris by Post a Packet from Dr. Cooper to me. Have you heard nothing of it? Upon my first Arrival I told Mr. De Neufville, that I had orders to pay him 60£ st. for you and offered to do it then; but he has put it off. There are no Vessells here going to Massachusetts—but there is one going to Rhode Island, and...
24612From John Adams to Francis Dana, 28 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 28 March is this day recd —the other Paper you mentioned I also recd, but after my Letter was written. Your other Letters are also recd. You will have Seen by the Papers, that the great Point is gained here with much Unanimity, and many indifferent People think it a great Point. I may think more highly of it, than it deserves, but it has ever appeared to me, the turning Point. Be this...
24613From John Adams to Francis Dana, 18 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the Pleasure of yours of the 7th. both the Packetts came Safe and in good order. As to a secret Address, you may direct under Cover, A Madame La Veuve du Mr. Henry Schorn, op de Agterburg wall by de Hoogstraat Amsterdam. It is not possible to suppress all suspicions after the Conversation you heard: but your own Coolness and Judgment, will be Sufficient without any hint from...
24614From John Adams to Francis Dana, 8 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The King of G. Britain, by Patent under the Great Seal of his Kingdom has created Richard Oswald Esq, to be his Minister Plenipotentiary to treat with the Ministers of the United States of America. Thus G. B. is the 3 d Power in Europe, to acknowledge our Independence, She can no longer therefore contend that it is a Breach of the armed Neutrality or an Hostility against her to acknowledge...
24615Motion of Instruction to Francis Dana, [22 May] 1783 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, II, 121). That Mr. Dana be informed that the Treaties lately entered into for restoring peace, have caused such an alteration in the affairs of these States, as to have removed the primary object of his mission to the Court of Russia, the acquisition of new supports to their Independence That he be instructed, in case he shall have made no propositions to the Court of...
24616From John Adams to Francis Dana, [10 July 1789] (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write on the 26 th of last month and am much obliged to you for it. The Judicial bill is still under consideration of the senate, and altho’ it has undergone many alterations and amendments it is imposible to say what farther changes may be made in the house of representatives. The district Judges may be annihilated altogether, and the number...
24617From John Adams to Francis Dana, 25 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
In Some of the latest Letters from England, We are told, that they grow more and more out of humour with the Americans every day, and that it is the Fashion now of the Minority, as well as the Friends of Administration to abuse them, both in and out of Parliament. In a Particular Mr. Powis Mr. Fox &c. express their Abhorrence of Congress—call them the worst of Tyrants and Say they deserve to...
24618From John Adams to Francis Dana, 8 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the Pleasure of receiving two Letters from you, one dated Feb. 1. and one without a date, but I suppose written the day before. With these I received the Packetts, but there are in them no Letters from my Wife. The Resolution of Congress of the 12 of December, gives me great Pleasure, as it proves that We had the good Fortune to be possessed of the true Principles of Congress...
24619John Adams to Francis Dana, 4 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I presume this will meet you in Congress where No Doubt it is less irksome to Serve than heretofore, but not yet So agreable as it ought to be, and must be made.— The States will find themselves obliged to make their Delegates more comfortable & more honourable, if they do not See a Necessity of giving more Power to that assembly.— Many Gentlemen in Europe think the Powers in the Confederation...
24620From John Adams to Francis Dana, 6 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
You may easily guess from your own Feelings, what mine may be in communicating to you, the Intelligence that the Preliminary Treaty, to be inserted in the diffinitive Treaty was Signed on the 30 Decr. by the Plenipotentiaries on each Side.— We have tolerable Satisfaction in the Missisippi the Boundaries, & the Fisheries and I hope not much to regret with regard to the Tories or any Thing else....
24621From John Jay to Francis Dana, 16 February 1793 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 19th. Dec r . last , and on the first Day of the present Term communicated it to the other Judges. Such marks of Delicacy and Respect cannot fail of making correspondent Impressions; and it gives me pleasure to assure You that nothing on our parts shall be wanting to cultivate on all occasions that Harmony & mutual Confidence...
24622From John Adams to Francis Dana, 8 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wish you Joy of your new, Scaene and Stage: You will act your Part well I doubt not, and I hope you will have much Pleasure and Reputation in it. I should be much obliged to you for a Letter, now and then. Let me know if you please, the Principal Things done in Congress, and in Camp: but especially, I should be very anxious to know, every Intimation you may have in your Intelligence from...
24623From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved several Letters from You, but have been so busy signing my Name, that I could not answer. I give You Joy of Laurens’s Arrival—it is a great Event. I hope he brought You an important Paper, which Lovel mentions in his Letter to You, and Gerry in an excellent one to me. I rejoice Sir in your Honour, and in the public Good, but I feel myself weakened and grieved at the present...
24624From John Adams to Francis Dana, 1 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favour of the 16 of March, and in answer to it, I do assure you that I do not intend to decline taking a Seat in Congress, if any State in the Confederation shall think it worth while to offer me one. I am grown very ambitious of being a Limb of that Sovereign. I had rather be Master than Servant, upon the Same Principle that Men Swear at High Gate never to kiss the Maid,...
24625From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured Yesterday with yours of 15 Jany. O.S. You must have learnt, sometime that the Peace is made, and the Armistice. You can no longer hesitate to make known your Errand. Whether the Advice of the Marquis de Verac is for it or against it, I should think you would now go to the Minister.— Your Instructions are Chains Strong Chains.— Whether you shall break them or no as We have been...
24626From John Adams to Francis Dana, 3 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the address and my answer. I did receive an address from the sixth regiment in Gen Hulls division, which I sent on to Mr McHenry to answer according to law and usage. I will enquire what he has done. I return your hearty congratulations on the magnificent victory of Nelson. I believe it is without a precedent or parallel I am Sir with great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers,...
24627From John Adams to Francis Dana, 12 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I dont know whether I have acknowledged yours of the 12th. Feby.: that of the 25th. came to me yesterday. The Letter inclosed was from Mr. I. Smith of 18 Decr. He says they were busily employed in raising their Quota for the Army during the War or for three Years, and that the other Provinces were doing the same. He says Mrs. Dana was well a few days before: that Davis had arrived after having...
24628From John Adams to Francis Dana, 24 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of 14 th. February —and am not without hopes of receiving from Congress, in a few days, directions for advancing the money to you: But five thousand Pounds sterling is an enormous sum, and, in the opinion of some, more than the Treaty, in the present Circumstances will be worth. D r: Franklin started to me a doubt, whether you had not been imposed upon, and told of a...
24629From John Adams to Francis Dana, 3 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for with all my heart for your Christmas Oration, which I have read with and reread with increased pleasure loving the philanthropic heart which dictated it not less than admiring the ingenious head which composed it. With any man who denies the Legitimacy of our Revolutionary War, or my Quasi War with France or Mr. Madison’s War with England, I will not dispute because there can...
24630From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Dana, 7 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft); Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I received the Letter you yesterday did me the honour of writing to me, requesting my Opinion in Writing relative to the Conference you had with his Excellency the Comte de...
24631The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, AL (draft), and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: Library of Congress We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the...
24632From Benjamin Franklin to Francis M. Dana, 11 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 1st. Instant; and immediately apply’d to Mr. Grand our Banker to furnish you with the Credit you desir’d at Amsterdam. He acquainted me that having a Correspondent at Petersburgh, he could give you a direct Credit there; and that the Chancellor Count Osterman being an old Friend of his, he...
24633From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Dana, 2 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Inclos’d I send you M. Lovell’s Cypher which you desir’d. The following is a Copy of a Paragraph of his Letter in which he has made Use of it. If you can find the Key & decypher it, I shall be glad, having myself try’d in vain. “Our Affairs at the Southward are to be judged of by the Gazettes. We 11.14.8. 12.1.3....
24634Thomas Jefferson to James F. Dana, 9 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to D r Dana for his two pamphlets on the disease of cattle in a particular district and on the new invention of a waterburner. age having long withdrawn him from the pursuits of agriculture, he cannot better dispose of the former than by presenting it to a very able agricultural society of this section of country, whereof mr Madison is President . with his...
24635From James Madison to Major Dana, 12 September 1819 (Madison Papers)
The motives you assign for your letter, among which is a sense of duty to your parents, are entitled to respect. Bu⟨t⟩ I can not encourage you to seek a fulfilment of them in this quarter. The modes of husbandry here are very different from those to which you are accustomed; and the labour is generally performed by negroes whom a stranger could not advantageously superintend. I can only wish...
24636From James Madison to Samuel Dana, 21 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 6th. I do not possess the publications of the Agricultural Society of Massts. and have no doubt of the valuable instruction comprized in them. I feel however some reluctance in accepting your offer to forward me a copy, whilst I have no returns to make for it. I am very glad to learn that the situation of Mrs. Dana which caused your hasty departure from Washington...
24637From James Madison to Samuel W. Dana, 17 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 January 1805, Department of State. “I have the honour to inclose in consequence of your request of the 14th inst. a statement of the several description of claims recorded in this office, under the 8th section of the act of Congress of the 3d of March 1803, relative to lands south of the state of Tennessee. This statement has been made by Mr. Crawford, the person appointed to record the...
24638From James Madison to Samuel W. Dana (Abstract), 14 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
14 February 1805, Department of State . “As Mr. Eaton’s accounts are depending in the Treasury, the memorial of Mr. Cotton, enclosed in your letter of yesterday has been transmitted together with the letter to the Auditor, in whose power it will be to answer the question you propose.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. Letter not found. For congressional consideration of...
24639From James Madison to Samuel W. Dana, 19 January 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 15th. instant, with the petition of Ann B. West. By the act of Congress of the 13th. of May 1800, provision was made for paten[t]ing lands upon warrants issued to the Virginia line on continental establishment, in virtue of resolutions of the Legislature of that state, provided that the whole quantity of land for which patents should issue,...
24640V. To the Danbury Baptist Association, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing....
24641GW to Bartholomew Dandridge, 5 April 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: GW to Bartholomew Dandridge, 5 April 1797. On 8 April Dandridge wrote GW : “About 2 o’Clock your letter of the 5th was put into my hands.”
24642From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 25 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lund Washington having furnished me with copies of the Accts with Mr Custis, I have drawn the whole into one view and sent it herewith, I could not Balle the Acct because of the blank Articles in it; and because there may be, on Mr Custis’s books, some charges against me of which I have no knowledge—with regard to the first, I leave it to you to extend the Sums in any manner you shall think...
24643From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 15 February 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Bartholomew Dandridge, 15 Feb. 1778. In his letter to GW of 12 April 1778, Dandridge referred to “Your favor of the 15th of Feby.”
24644From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 30th of Decr was long on its passage to this place, not arriving till I had receivd, and answer’d, an imperfect acct of your Interview with Mr Black from Mr Hill (dated the 10th or 12th of Jany) —I thank you heartily for the trouble you took in attempting to settle the business with that worthless Sc——l, who seems to be an adept in every species of Artifice and...
24645From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 26 June 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Bartholomew Dandridge, 26 June 1799. On 17 Oct. Dandridge wrote from London thanking GW for his “very Kind letter of the 26. June.”
24646Henry Knox to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 23 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War presents his Compliments to Mister Dandridge and begs the favor that the enclosed letter from Governor Mifflin, just received, may be submitted to the President of the U: States. L , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Pennsylvania governor Thomas Mifflin’s letter to Knox of 23 May enclosed "a copy of a letter from Brigadier General Wilkins, dated the eleventh current, relatively to...
24647From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 29 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Bartholomew Dandridge, 29 Mar. 1778. On 12 April, Dandridge wrote GW , “your kind, tho’ short, note in my Sisters Letter of the 29th ult. I have received.”
24648From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 6 December 1773 (Washington Papers)
Upon enquiry of Davenport (who went up to the King William Office last Week) I am convinced that, Black has never receivd any conveyance at all, for the Land that was Grisley’s; and I much doubt whether he has ever receivd any for the Mill Tract. What is proper to be done under these Circumstances, I am really at a loss to determine; I think the purchase too advantage for Mr Custis to give up...
24649From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you from Philadelphia I have been favoured with your Letter of the 20th Ulto from New Kent. How far it is proper—or improper to delay the appointment of a Guardian or Guardians to Mr Custis’s Children I shall not take upon me to decide but this I am clear in, & beg leave again to urge it, that whenever the necessity for it arrives you shou’d take upon yourself the trust. I...
24650From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 25 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 11th of May, 16th of July, 20th of August and 10th of October are all before me. The receipt of the two first I have acknowledged; but as my letters wch travel across the Atlantic have not been fortunate in getting to their Address, these may have shared the usual fate. Being of little importance, however, no duplicate was sent, nor copy taken: Nor is it at all material...