25251To George Washington from John Hancock, 29–30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive from the enclosed Resolves which I do myself the Honour of transmitting, that Congress have had under Consideration the State of Ticonderoga and have come onto sundry Re⟨solv⟩es on the Subject. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to them, and am particularly to urge that you immediately write to the Eastern States and request them in the Name of Congress to pursue every Means...
25252From Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 17 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the M.S. history of Bacon’s rebellion with many thanks for the communication. it is really a valuable morsel in the history of Virginia. that transaction is the more marked as it was the only rebellion or insurrection which had ever taken place in the colony before the American revolution. neither it’s cause nor course have been well understood, the public records containing...
25253Anonymous Essay on Madison’s Character, December 1814 (Madison Papers)
Destined for the Bar, the youth of Madison was consecrated to the laborious studies of that vocation. At the age of twenty two years he commenced his carreer of public life, always occupying with superior talents, and fidelity, the most conspicuous places in the gift of his fellow citizens. When a member of Congress, the vigor of his mind, the wisdom of his views, and the force and facility of...
25254From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
In the month of September last, the French ship of War L’Impetueux of 74 guns, being disabled by a gale of wind, and making for an asylum, was fired upon and afterwards burnt by the British ship Melampus and two others, on the coast of North Carolina, within the limits of our jurisdiction. The inclosed communication from the Navy Department, which had instituted an enquiry through Capt....
25255From Alexander Hamilton to Ebenezer Stevens, 6 June 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the inclosed Return of Surgical Instruments &c. at Fort Niagara. It has by some accident remained unattended to; you will observe also a Return for Medicine and Hospital Stores for the present year of which I request you to furnish promptly an adequate supply. with true consideration I am Sir Your obed Servt. ( Df , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers, Library of...
25256[15th of Feb. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
On the 15th of Feb. 1776. Sundry other Letters from General Lee, General Schuyler and General Wooster were referred to the Committee to whom the Letters received Yesterday were referred. On the same day Congress took into Consideration the Report from the Committee of the whole house, and after debate resolved that it be recommitted. Resolved that Congress will tomorrow morning resolve itself...
25257Introductory Note: From Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [3 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The events described in this letter precipitated the final phase of what has come to be known as the “Reynolds Affair.” In pamphlets appearing in June and July, 1797, James Thomson Callender stated that Hamilton, while Secretary of the Treasury, had joined with James Reynolds in a series of speculative ventures that were at best improper and at worst illegal. Two months later Hamilton...
25258From Benjamin Franklin to Clifford & Teysset, 8 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 31st. past, and I immediately apply’d to M. de Chaumont, representing to him the ill Consequences that must attend the Return of those Bills to America protested. He took the Matter into Consideration, and it is but this Instant that I have received his Answer, which I inclose. As I think with you...
25259[Diary entry: 18 August 1770] (Washington Papers)
18. Rid to the Mill—Ditchers—Doeg run and Muddy hole.
25260From James Madison to an Unidentified Correspondent, 21 October 1815 (Madison Papers)
¶ To an Unidentified Correspondent. Letter not found. 21 October 1815. Offered for sale by Charles F. Heartman, Catalogue No. 233, Important Washingtoniana and Rare Americana (1932), item 299, and described as a two-page autograph letter, signed, written at Washington, “referring to financial matters and mentioning Mrs. Washington.”
25261To James Madison from James Simpson, 3 August 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From James Simpson. 3 August 1805, Tangier. No. 99. “The United States Frigate President having only brought to off the Bay for a moment, prevents my addressing you so fully as I could have wished by so good an opportunity. I sincerely congratulate you on the re-establishment of Peace with Tripoly. Mr Gavino advised me of it and it is now confirmed to me by Captain James Barron, which is the...
25262To George Washington from Charles Carter, 5 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
We had the agreable news of the victory obtaind by the Partie under your Command I heartily congratulate you and all the Brave gentlen that were of the company. From this happy begining I am lead to hope you will soon make those cruel men know that numbers can’t support an unrighteous cause God grant you may be blest with the like success and drive them Out of our Colony I had this affair in...
25263To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
General Pepe’s character is so well known to you that it is only as His friend that I claim the Right of introduction to Monticelo: time is not very distant when I will have the delight to introduce myself. But as he goes from England, I from France, and my own arrangements are not yet settled, I thought I Had better transmit these lines for you, sensible as I am of the pleasure you will feel...
25264John L. E. W. Shecut to Thomas Jefferson, 12 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your truly acceptable and very satisfactory answer to my Communication respecting the Establishment of an Antiquarian Society in Charleston , has been duly received, and is gratefully acknowledged, and I shou’d have done myself the Honor of an earlier acknowledgement of its receipt, but that a regular meeting of the contemplated Society was soon to take place, when I promis’d myself the...
25265[Diary entry: 11 October 1768] (Washington Papers)
11. A Frost this Morning to bite Fodder. Calm & warm forenoon. Brisk So. Westwardly wind & like for Rain in the Afternn.
25266To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 12 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you of the 18 Augt.———I have received and laid before Congress the Letters you did me the Honor to write on the 18 . July last. I have some Dispatches of Importance ready for you, but I prefer sending them by a Conveyance that will offer about ten Days hence. I enclose a certified copy of an Act of Congress for recalling Mr. Lamb, another Copy has been sent to Mr. Adams. As...
25267To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Curson, 11 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The Wine from Mr. Stenson, hope reached you in safety, agreeable to the inclosed Bill. A Violent pain in my Head, for some days past, has depriv’d me noticing sooner, your obliging favor of the 25 Ulto. The intelligence therein, did not a little astonish me; that one of your goodness of Heart should be taken in, by so worthless a Wretch. The Letter &c. I sent you by Major Gamble , he took...
25268I. Bounds of a Proposed Northwest Colony, 1 September 1783–1 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Bounded by a line of Longitude running from the most Southernly point of Lake Michigan to the Ouabache, then down the middle of the Ouabache to where it crosses a line of Latitude 40 degrees from the equator, thence along the said Line of Latitude to within five degrees of Longitude of the river Delaware, thence along a line five degrees of Longitude in every point of it from the said river...
25269To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 14th relatively to the fever which has raged so fatally in this city. “Accurate information” of its state it may be impossible to obtain. But I am warranted by Doctor Rush’s opinion, grounded on his own practice and the information of other physicians, that there is an abatement of it by at least one half. For a number of days preceeding the last...
25270From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of April 3. came to hand June 13. my last to you was of Apr. 19. when I wrote so fully in answer to your several favors, that I should not have had occasion to write now but by way of supplement as to the particular article of the purchase of stock for you, not then finished. as soon as the peace had produced the whole of it’s effect on our stock by depressing it, and it was percieved...
25271To George Washington from Edward Carrington, 26 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor a few days ago to receive your Letter of the 30th Ult. enclosing a Commission for the Office of District Marshal for Virginia, together with sundry Acts upon the Judiciary system. The confidence you are pleased Sir, to repose in me, in confering this Commission, is an evidence of your good opinion exceedingly flattering and gratifying; and the terms in which you have thought...
25272To George Washington from James Madison, 1 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have been here too short a time as yet to have collected fully the politics of the Session. In general appearances are favorable. On the question for a paper emission the measure was this day rejected in emphatical terms by a majority of 84 vs 17. The affair of the Missisippi is but imperfectly known. I find that its influence on the federal spirit will not be less than was apprehended. The...
25273To James Madison from James Taylor, 31 January 1813 (Madison Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate you on the Certainty of your being again called on to Preside over the destinies of my beloved Country, but I more particularly congratulate my country, as I conci[e]ve it a most fortunate occurrence that could have happened, both as it relates to the Man & principle. I hope Genl Harrison will be more fortunate with the Present N. W. Army than the a[r]mies lower...
25274To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 22 May 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing my last letters of Nov. 7th. 11th. and 13th. I determined not to multiply my intrusions on your time and patience until I should have the satisfaction of once more hearing from you. The last private letter which I had then recieved from you was of the 11th. of July 1793. by Mr. Blake. The same silence continued until the 26th. ulto. when I recieved by the packet of the Spanish...
25275From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 August 1824 (Madison Papers)
The bearer Mr. E. Tayloe, son of Col: Tayloe of Washington is desirous of making a respectful call at Monticello, and I can not refuse to his motive, the gratification of a line presenting him to you. He is at present a resident at Fredericksburg, reading Law with his kinsman Mr Lomax; and appears to be quite estimable & amiable. Mr T. is so good as to take charge of the 4 last volumes of Las...
25276To John Adams from Henry Knox, 10 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the orders of the President of the United States, I have the honor to submit to the Senate, the copy of a letter from his Excellency the Governor of Georgia, dated the 20th of November last, with certain enclosures, relative to indian affairs.— I have the honor to be, / Sir, / with great respect, / Your most obedt: Servt: DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
25277[Diary entry: 12 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 74 at Night. Warm, with a tolerably bri[s]k Southerly wind all day. Mr. Barnes went away before Breakfast. After which I rid to my Meadow in order to mark out a middle ditch, and to try how much the water within the Meadow is above the water in the run below where the two courses of it unite, below the old Mill Seat, and which is found...
25278From James Madison to David Montagu Erskine, 1 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to submit to Your Attention a Copy of a Letter of June 4th: of the current Year from William Reeves, stiling himself an Officer in the Naval Service of His Brittannic Majesty, and acting as Prize Master to a Spanish Vessel captured by the British Frigate Hebe, to Governor Claiborne of the Orleans Territory. I cannot doubt, Sir, that this fresh Instance of insulting Address...
25279Remsen’s Account of Moving Expenses, [25 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
1790 The Honorable Mr. Jefferson Dr. Augt. 9th. New York curry. To cash paid for a silver Inkpot & pen 2 ½ dollars £1. 0.0 October 1st. “ paid Francis & Mathew 14 ½ dollars each 11.12.0 “ paid for strapping Mr. Jefferson’s cases with hoops 0.10.0 [To cash] paid for carting Mr. Jefferson’s furniture, including Francas’s, to the wharf 1. 5.0 13th. “ paid the freight of Mr. Jefferson’s...
25280To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I landed the day Before yesterday the Eight and thirty mutiners, I am getting Ready for to Sail for Nantes as fast as Possible and Expect to be ready in Eight days thence. I have had here all the Iron work repair’d and nothing but the most necessary things have been done or had. I shall wait for your orders at Nantes in a forteen night if the wind Permits....
25281From Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Ogden, 5 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of Decr. 13th. inclosing the relative Rank of your Officers, it meets entirely with my approbation. You will therefore make it known to the Officers as the definitive arrangement with true consideration I am Sir Your obed Servt. ( LS , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Columbia University Libraries; Df , in the handwriting of Philip Church, Hamilton Papers,...
25282To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 17 November 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, November 17, 1794. “The Contractors (Messrs Scott & Ernest) are desirous of receiving now … the additional advance of 12,000 Dols. which was to have been made on the 15th day of Decmr. next.…” LC , RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives. Alexander...
25283American Commissioners to Vergennes, 28 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honour to enclose an extract of a letter from the Commissioners of the United States of America to your Excellency dated Augst. 28. 1778, Copy of Your Excellency’s answer dated 27 Septr. 1778. and copy of M. de Sartine’s letter to your Excellency of the 21st. of Sept. 1778 all relative to a proposed negotiation with the States of Barbary. Not having any particular authority or...
25284From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 19–22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18) II , 171–3. I received yours of June 30. I am vexed that my letter to you, written at Glasgow, miscarried; not so much that you did not receive it, as that it is probably in other hands. It contained some accounts of what passed in Ireland, which were for you...
25285[Diary entry: 5 April 1767] (Washington Papers)
5. Weather lowering. Wind at No. Et. & Eastwardly all day. At Night Rain but not much.
25286From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no proof of my affection which I would not willingly give you. How far it will be practicable to accomplish your wish respecting your father is however very uncertain. Our republican ideas stand much in the way of accumulating offices in one family. Indeed I doubt much whether your father could be prevailed upon to accept. I do not however urge this point till I can better ascertain...
25287William Armistead to Thomas Jefferson, 15 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You will have the goodness to excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you this letter, when I tell you, that, knowing you to be the frie n d of W C Nicholas Esq r to whom I am indebted through your goodness for the place which I now hold in this Department and whose absence from Richmond at this time prevents me from addressing him on a subject of material importance to me, The recent...
25288To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The more I have thought upon the subject of explaining the reasons and causes of our movements to the Army, and through them to the Country, the more I am confirmed in my opinion, of the propriety and necessity for it. Your Excellency will consider this is a great movement, and has been very rapid. The march of the Army has been very fatiguing. The teams of the Country have been impressed and...
25289To Thomas Jefferson from William H. Cabell, 16 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now enclose to you Major Newton’s last letter, and am with the highest respect Sir yr. ob. St. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
25290To James Madison from Isaac Cox Barnet, 14 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
Inclosing Copy of my last account with Vouchers—I have taken the Liberty to send you a Pamphlet on the Fête of the 18th. Brumaire, in celebration of Peace. Permit me Sir, to congratulate you upon the happy effects it may produce in our Country, among which may be anticipated that of Consolidating our republican System, and of re-uniting all our Citizens in one Common cause—and in one common...
25291From Thomas Jefferson to Green Clay, 28 May 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 4 th is just now recieved, and I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any information on the subject of your enquiries. such a length of time has elapsed, so much is my memory impaired by age, and so much other matter has since past through it, dislodging what had preceded, that not a trace remains of any treaty with the Cherokees concerning the lands you mention. if...
25292To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I don’t know whether to say I fear or I hope this won’t reach you before you leave Holland, for I don’t care how soon we have you in our Island again, and I wish you had no Attachment ever to draw you from it again, that is I wish your Attachments were all here. My Mother wanted me to write another Letter to you while I was with her, but my Time was so...
25293From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 9 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The State commissary having come to me yesterday I sent him on to your Headquarters to provide subsistence for the troops and observe your orders in every thing. A waggon load of fixed ammunition and two feild peices have past this place for General Nelson. The residue (I beleive about two waggon loads) was ordered on to you yesterday. I am very happy to hear you have General Smallwood’s...
25294John Wood to Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to request your acceptance of the small volume on the rotation of the earth, which accompanies this letter. As the theory I believe is new, it would afford me much satisfaction to be favoured with your opinion of the principle upon which it is founded; for I am perswaded there are few persons in this country so conversant with mathematical and philosophical subjects. It gives me...
25295To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Fredericksburg, 9 October 1778 . “I do myself the honor to Communicate my sentiments on the subject of the different routs by which an army may penetrate into Canada from these States, and on the preparations requisite to be made in the quarter from whence an Army would march.” Schuyler favors the Lake Champlain route rather the routes by way of Lake Ontario to the west or Coos, Vt., to the...
25296Henry Knox to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 4 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Will you be so good as to present to the President the enclosed draft of a letter to me on the subject of the resolve of Congress of the 31st Ultimo, and also my answer thereto. I am Dear Sir Your obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The draft was of GW’s letter to Knox of 1 January . For the enclosed answer, see Knox to GW, 2 January .
25297From George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you on the 14th Instant, I had little doubt of receiving considerable support from the Militia of this State, and was taught to believe that a large part of the old Troops (coming on with General Lee) had reinlisted—In the first, I have every reason in the world to fear a disappointment—In the latter, I find myself woefully deceiv’d—It is easier therefore to conceive, than...
25298From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 9 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your favor of the 2d I have to request that you will not be at the trouble of forwarding any money to me from the treasury. If I should attend the Service, it will suit me as well to receive it from you in Philadelphia as at this place. If I should not, I have no business with it at all. It gives me pleasure to find by your letter that there will be so full a representation from...
25299From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 6 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are copies of letters written to you agreeably to their dates. They are sent on the possibility that the originals may have miscarried, although the probability, I hope is much against it. In a late letter to Mr Whiting, at Mount Vernon, I have directed him not to sell the Stud horse, but to deliver him to your order. The sooner you send for him the better. Your Aunt unites with me in...
25300To James Madison from James Monroe, 6 November 1800 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you two days since by my servant who was to put the letter in the post office at charlottesville. This will be presented by Mr. Ervin a young man of merit from Boston. I saw him in Paris, but on some ground wh. I forget refused him my passport, in consequence whereof we did not become acquaint⟨ed. He pub⟩lished my book in Engld., of which he sent me a copy. Last winter he was...