26881To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Every Gentleman of the Army is convinced of the Necessity of recruiting our Troops to a much more respectable Number, than that of wch they consist at present. A retrospective View of the various Successes and Defeats we have met with from the Beginning of the War will indisputable evince that Superiority of Numbers hath given Superiority in the Field. The Scenes of Devastation and Slaughter...
26882To George Washington from Thomas Wharton, Jr., 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honor of receiving your Letter of the 1st Inst. which I communicated to Council, and it is with pleasure I can assure your Excellency that Council is perfectly convinced of the strict attention which you have always paid to the safety and ease of the inhabitants of this state. the proposal which Genl Armstrong has made and to which your Excelly has acquiesced in keeping up...
26883From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 3 January 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
As some Indian Tribes, to the westward of the Missisippi have lately, without any provocation, massacred many of the Inhabitants upon the Frontiers of this Commonwealth, in the most cruel and barbarous Manner, and it is intended to revenge the Injury and punish the Aggressors by carrying the War into their own Country. We congratulate You upon your Appointment to conduct so important an...
26884To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [before 18 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete AL or ALS : University of Virginia Library <[Before May 18, 1778 ], in French: You know about the prize, we believe, that the famous Cunningham, in the corvette the Vengeance belonging to Congress, made last December of the French ship Le Gratieux , Captain Augustin Letournois, bound from London to Corunna with a cargo of English manufacture. This Captain [Conyngham], believing that...
26885William Stevenson and the American Commissioners: An Exchange of Three Letters, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL , (II) L , (III) AL : Harvard University Library We print the letters together because they are an entity: the first elicited the second, the second the third, all on the same day. The first was to the commissioners; the second was from, and the third to, Franklin and Deane alone. This was the second quarrel between Lee and his colleagues over who should carry copies of the...
26886From Benjamin Franklin to Rolandeau, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I can no otherwise give an Order for your Passage gratis, than by giving an Order to our Correspondent to pay the Money for you on my Account, which seems too much to be reasonably expected of me. And as you left the Service of the States in America without Leave, to come home upon your own private Affairs, it seems right that you should be at the whole...
26887From Benjamin Franklin to de Tavarez, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Notes and Queries: a Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc. , 6th series, X (July–December, 1884), 153. The account given in the Newspapers of my having furnished the Physicians with a receipt against the Dropsy is a Mistake. I know nothing of it, nor did I ever hear before that Tobacco Ashes had any such virtue. I thank you for your kind...
26888Gustavus Conyngham to the American Commissioners, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I wrote you last I went on a Cruze and fell in with the Brig Gracieux Mr. Augustin Letournois from London Bound to Spain with A Cargoe of Dry Goods the most of the Bills of Lading Consignd to Order. On my Asking the Capt. if he new that his Cargoe was British property or not he made Answer. I seen where he Loaded and that I had a Good prize. On this...
26889To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Philip Gibbes, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Sir Philip Gibbes presents his respects to Doctor Franklin. He will be glad to pay them in person to Doctor Franklin at any hour to day, that he will be pleased to name. Notation: Sr. P. Gibbs See above, XXIII , 281 n. BF replied to this note, according to Paul Wentworth, by making an appointment for the next day, when he would call at Gibbes’ lodgings...
26890To Benjamin Franklin from James Hutton, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Here is a Letter for Mr. Nathanael Seidel in Bethlehem, whom you know. You will be so kind as to read it, and if you do not dislike it, you will send it. Only I think your Packet should have lead about it, to be sunk in case of attack. Always. I calld to see you before I went, but no body was stirring. I calld at Mr. Grants and was sorry to find He was not...
26891To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Chevalier De Keralio who had the pleasure of dining with you yesterday, sent me the inclosed news this morning. Though I believe you may be already informed of the contents, I thought it proper to transmit them to you. I see, notwithstanding all the boastings of Lord Sandwich, that he has not chased the American Privateers from the coasts of Europe and that...
26892General Orders, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As fast as the men go into Hutts the tents are to be returned immediately to the Quarter-Master General: The Commanding Officers of Regiments will see this performed—The Brigadiers are also to pay proper attention to it; and the Officers of Companies will be answerable for those which have been delivered to them. The Commander in Chief is thus pointed because he is informed that some tents...
26893From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th Ulto came to my hands a few days ago; and, to my great surprize informed me, that a copy of it had been sent to Congress—for what reason, I find myself unable to acct; but, as some end doubtless was intended to be answered by it, I am laid under the disagreeable necessity of returning my answer through the same channel, lest any member of that honble body, should harbour...
26894From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Unwilling as I am to add any thing to the multiplicity of matter that necessarily engages the attention of Congress, I am compelled by unavoidable necessity to pass my answer to Genl Gates through their hands. What could induce Genl Gates to communicate a copy of his Letter to me, to that Honble Body, is beyond the depth of my comprehension upon any fair ground; but the fact being so, must...
26895To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s direction I have informed myself minutely with the country in the vicinity of Radnor-meeting-house. To effect the object of your Excellency’s wishes, vizt security to the camp: I conceive it absolutely necessary to establish two posts of horse. The one to appertain to the picquet, & patrole one mile, more or less, in advance of the advanced centinel. The other to...
26896[John Thornton]: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [between 5 and 8 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Harvard University Library In Company with some American Gentlemen, it was dropped in conversation that it was surprising the Commissioners at Paris Knowing the deplorable situation of the American prisoners confined in the several prisons in England, that they had not sent them any relief; this induced me to wait no longer for an answer from Lord North, to run all risks and to set off...
26897Enclosure: Samuel Moody to Samuel Tufts, 5 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
With a very particular Satisfaction shall I take into our School and Family the Son of your respectable Friend Mr. Adams but as we are now so full and incumbered I believe it must be postponed till the 22 April after our Spring Vacation when he may be Chumm or Chambermate to the Son of the Hon. William Ellery of the State of Rhode Island. Our Pupils find their Bed and Bedding. Board a Dollar...
26898From Henry Laurens, with Appended Note of John Adams to Richard Cranch, 5 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of Addressing you on the 28th. November and 3d. Ultimo in Official Letters from Congress. My present business is to intreat your protection to the inclosed Packet from Baron Kalb which he intimates to me is intended to be of particular service to these States. You will be pleased either to take it under your immediate care if you intend within a few Weeks to embark for France...
26899John Jay to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your favors of the 2d. 8th: and 10 June last have been recd. and Copies transmitted to the Committee. The subject of them certainly merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can...
26900Sir Philip Gibbes: Minutes of a Conversation with Franklin, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library This interview, the second within a year between the two men, was not the isolated episode that the earlier one seems to have been. Sir Philip may have been acting on his own; if so it was coincidence that he was in Paris at the same time as two other emissaries whom Whitehall had sent on the same errand. In any case his interview, when he returned to England,...
26901To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Philip Gibbes, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You did me the honour this morning to say, that if upon considering what I had suggested to you you should judge it proper to communicate any hints to me, you would write to me. I beg leave to acquaint you, that any letter addressed to me at my house in Queen Ann Street, Cavendish Square, or at Messrs. Lascelles & Daling’s in Crutched Fryars will reach me....
26902To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Here is an invitation from the Dutchesses De Mortemart for your son and you to dine with them next thursday Se’nnight, which I hope you’ll comply with. They live Rue St. Guillaume fauxbourg St. Germain. If that day should not suit you, you may appoint friday, but not saturday, as they are to go that day to the Princess de Guemenées ball at Versailles. Be so...
26903General Orders, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court-Martial held 1st instant whereof Coll Scammell was President appeared Denham Ford Commissary in General Greene’s division charged with Theft—The Court having considered the Charge and the Evidence are of Opinion, That Denham Ford is guilty of the Charge exhibited against him and do sentence him to pay Mr Spencer and Mr Holliway two hundred dollars and that after he shall...
26904To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As your excellency’s opinion seems to gree with my ideas for ⟨taking⟩ in our service those Non commissioned officers who came with Mister du Coudray, I schall take the liberty of telling you what I know about the matter—how useful they would be in this army is a thing obvious for every body—those ⟨men⟩ join to a pretty great theory the greatest practice of theyr art—security and exactitude...
26905From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor of your Favor of the 1st Instant with it’s several Inclosures. The Letter you allude to from the Committee of Congress and Board of War came to hand on Saturday morning; But it does not mention the Regulations adopted for removing the difficulties and failures in the Commissary line. I trust they will be vigorous, or the Army cannot exist. It will never answer...
26906To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I was honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st Inst. I presented it this Morning to Congress but have received no other Commands except to acquaint Your Excellency that Colonel Scammel by an Unanimous ballot is elected Adjutant General in the Army which will further appear by the inclosed Certified Act of the present date. I shall likewise inclose a Resolve of Congress of...
26907From George Washington to Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Plan proposed by the Feild Officers of your Brigad⟨e⟩ is Similar to what is Adopted by some New England Corps, does them Honor, & is approved of. You are therefore as soon as possible to make up the 1st 2d & 3d Battalions of ⟨No.⟩ Carolina as nearly equal as Conveniently may be, from the Non Commissioned Officers & privates of the other Regiments of that state, and order all the...
26908To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Morgan, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Potter Militia he tells me, will all leave this place today, which will leave this post very weak, General Polaskey sent for all the horse that was with me to join their rigts, I did not think it advesable to send them before I aquinted your excellency, As none has Come to reliave them, and without Horse we should be very liable to be surpris’d—I have two butchers that Come out of...
26909To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just receiv’d a Letter from Boston which contains a Paragraph that may not be worth your Excellency’s attention, but which I think it my Duty to Communicate. “The British Officers will lay any Betts whatever that before this Day (the Letter is dated Decr 15th) General Washington is no more. What they mean by their Talk we know not, but suppose some infernal Scheme at the Bottom. It...
26910To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As you were pleased to desire my Sentiments upon sundry Matters, I have thrown them together upon the following Sheets without Method as they occurred to me—if they should happen to fall in with your Excellencys, it will be to me a convincing proof that I have not been mistaken. It has appeared to me that the Quarter Master Generals Department has been for some time very ill executed, from...