26941To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 8 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Deane’s Compliments to Docr. Franklin and prays him to be at his house Rue Royale at Six this Evening where he will meet the Gentleman Mr. Deane went this Morning to Visit on an Affair of the greatest Consequence. Addressed: To / The Honle. Benj Franklin Esq In a similar invitation to Arthur Lee, Deane explained that the meeting was at Gérard’s request:...
26942To Benjamin Franklin from ——— De Père Meilhan, 8 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nérac near Mézin, Gascony, January 8, 1778, in French: When the name of Boston was known only in French ports, I love to remember that I publicized its glory in a small town in the depths of Gascony, and waked the kind of enthusiasm that the name rouses today throughout Europe. Hancock and Washington are now as well known as were the heroic liberators in...
26943To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, [8 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Dubourg yesterday gave me a second notice that you were to meet him and some other Company at Mr. Jeaneux’s to day. Upon my going to that Gentleman’s I found some Ladies and other Persons waiting the same Pleasure as myself, viz: that of seeing Dr: Franklin. Mr. Jeaneux beg’d I would inform you of his earnest wishes to see you upon an electrical...
26944General Orders, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief is informed that gaming is again creeping into the Army; in a more especial manner among the lower staff in the environs of the camp: He therefore in the most solemn terms declares, that this Vice in either Officer or soldier, shall not when detected, escape exemplary punishment; and to avoid discrimination between play and gaming forbids Cards & Dice under any pretence...
26945From George Washington to Brigadier Generals John Glover and Ebenezer Learned, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the short time we have to lay in Winter Quarters ought to be spent in training the Men, and endeavouring to bring them into the Feild in a more regular manner than they have hitherto been, I must desire that you will join your Brigade as soon as possible, in order to effect this Measure. I have another reason, which is, that so many of the Brigadiers and Colonels Commandant, who have been...
26946To George Washington from William Gordon, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The cares & fatigues of the campaign are, I hope, so far over, as to admit of your perusing the following lines without interruption, & of writing me an answer however short, as I am desirous of knowing the state of your Excellency’s health, after all the many hardships & difficulties you have been called to pass through. I have been told that they have worn you greatly, but I flatter myself...
26947To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
From several peices of Intelligence which we have lately received, I think there are some grounds to apprehend that the Enemy are removing some of their Troops from philadelphia to New York, and from thence to Newport. Whether these movements are for the security of those places, or with further design is matter of conjecture. It has long been my Sentiment that the great Sea-port Towns are...
26948From George Washington to General William Howe, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to acquaint you, that they have received undoubted information, that a Captain Dick and a number of American Officers are confined in Dungeons in England. It is not known with whom this injurious and unwarrantable treatment originated, nor by what authority it is continued; but it is expected that you will interest yourself to have it redressed. The Board...
26949To George Washington from General William Howe, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the earliest Occasion, after being made acquainted with the circumstances, to make known to you the coming in of 2d Lieutt Eyre of the 23d Regiment of Foot from the Place of his Confinement in Maryland, to lay his Grievances before me, finding no Probability of being otherwise redressed—His Treatment is explained in the Representation enclosed, which by his desire is transmitted to you,...
26950From George Washington to Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I desire you will immediately detatch a proper Officer from your Brigade with orders to bring forward all the Men that may have been left upon command at the posts where the Brigade has been stationed, and who have recovered in the different Hospitals to which they have been sent—If any of the Men left at the Elaboratories have become expert at the Business and therefore useful in preparing...
26951From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have thought proper to give you the following Instructions relative to the Ordnance Department under your command. My wish to have so essential a Department of the Army in the best order the next Campaign induces me to desire that no time may be lost in geting every thing forward with the utmost expedition. As the short enlistments of the Artificers have been, and still may be, productive of...
26952From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
In addition to the Instructions I gave you to day, I beg may be added that of providing a number of Gunscrews for the purpose of Drawing Ball. I concieve this to be a matter well worthy of attention—will prevent the disorderly firings in our Camp—and be a considerable Public saving. If they are to be made, Let them be stout & substantial. but I recollect something of a large importation of...
26953To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I shall take particular care with respect to the Gun screws, and if those imported should not be sufficient they shall be made. The Artillery Artificers will make the cover’d ammunition Waggens and travelling forges. I expect they will be able at Carlile and Springfield to make 200 ammunition Waggons by the Spring which in addition to those we alredy have will be nearly sufficent. I have given...
26954To George Washington from William Livingston, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honoured with your Excellencys favour of the 31 Ultimo, & immediately issued orders to Collo. Ellis a Copy of which I inclose you. your Excellency will observe that the Council of Safety have no Authority to order the removal of any other Articles save those mentioned in the orders to Collo. Ellis. So that with respect to Forage & Provisions your Excellency must recur to the...
26955To George Washington from Richard Peters, 8 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 8 Jan. 1778. GW wrote Peters on 24–25 Jan. : “I have recd your favr of the 8th instant.”
26956From George Washington to Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this Evening favored with your Letter of the 29th Ulto. I had heard before of your unfortunate expedition & captivity, and not without concern. It would give me pleasure to render you any services in my power, but it is impossible for me to comply with your request, without violating the principles of Justice and incurring a charge of partiality. You are sensible, that we have several...
26957I. Bill for Establishing a Land Office and Ascertaining the Terms and Manner of Granting Waste and Unappropriated Lands … (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas there are large Quantities of waste and unappropriated Lands within the territorial Limits of this Commonwealth, the granting of which will encourage the Migration of Foreigners hither, promote Population, increase the annual Revenue, and create a Fund for discharging the Public Debt, Be it enacted by the General Assembly that an Office shall be and is hereby constituted for the...
26958To John Adams from Lafayette, 9 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
Headquarters, 9 January 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 , ed. Stanley J. Idzerda and others, Ithaca, N.Y., 1977– , 1:226–227. Lafayette enclosed letters to his wife and her cousin the Prince de Poix, whom he asked to introduce JA to friends. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the...
26959To John Adams from Samuel and Robert Purviance, 9 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
A Schooner belonging to Us by which our friend Mr. McCreery went to France, being returnd a few days ago, We inclosed you a Letter received by her from Mr. McCreery. And by this Opportunity of our Neighbour Mr. Dugan We have sent you a small Bundle received from Captn. Martin. We presume Mr. McCreery has furnished you with the same Political Advices as he has written us, which therefore may be...
26960John S. Harmanson to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is about 8 Weeks since I arrived here with a resolution of going home to Virginia which I informed Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee of. About the time I got to Bordeaux Capt. Walke of Virginia arrived with whom I concluded to go home, but unluckily for me he has not got away as yet, having been detained some time on Account of a Law Suit with Mr. Barton of this...
26961Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I have received your Favour of the 3d Instant. I have concluded as the shortest and cheapest way to send a Boat out with a French Officer from this place, who has my particular orders relative to his Business. I find that the person you direct me to consult with is returned to [ blank in MS ] I shall therefore write you from thence in a day or two, to which...
26962To Benjamin Franklin from William Blakey, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I am a friend to mankind, I congratulate you on the taking Bourgoin, tho’ I am angry with the American council for using him so kindly, if I had been the cheif he should have been scalped, the officers and men were obliged to follow his buchering orders tho their infamous and Mercenary dispositions are very well known. As You are acquainted with Mr....
26963To Benjamin Franklin from Jane Collas, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Forgive me for dareing to incroch on one of you precious moments by obligeing you to read a trifeling letter from me, but as a number of letters will by Gods permition be handed to you by the Same person who brings this I cant help leting you know that this person is my Husband, whom I tenderly love and in whome all my hopes of happiness in this life are...
26964To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 9 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Here is another paper of news M. De Keralio, who gives you his kind service sends you. I wish the last Article may prove true. That of St. Brieux seems to prove the sea-fight between the Privateers, though I have been told by two Captains of this Navy that the English vessel come into Brest, said, they had cut away one their masts in a storm, and were...
26965To Benjamin Franklin from Jakob Oberleithner, 9 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <Vienna, January 9, 1778, in Latin: Jakob Oberleithner, doctor of medicine, sends greetings to the most illustrious Benjamin de Francklin. We understand from the newspapers that you are acting for the Americans with authority and loving solicitude, and you will doubtless be looking for excellent physicians. If you need me, qualified as I am by my degree,...
26966General Orders, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The execution of John Reily is respited ’till tomorrow ten ôClock in the forenoon, when the detachments from the several brigades are to attend on the grand parade. Some doubts having arisen with respect to the manner in which the pay-rolls for the months extraordinary pay should be made up; the proceeding therein is to be stayed ’till further Orders. The regimental Pay-Masters are to bring in...
26967To George Washington from Ephraim Blaine, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return from the south Branch of Potomack where I made Contracts for a Considerable Quantity of pork, I received orders from the Board of War to seize every Kind of provisions and spiritous liquors necessary for the Army, have been in this County and Berks this ten days & hope to procure six hundred head of Fatt cattle and a Considerable Quantity of Whisky, but Forestallers are giving...
26968To George Washington from William Gordon, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Monsr Le Baron De Steuben beg’d that I would make him the bearer of a few letters to some of my friends. Being in Boston the last week, learning that he had the best of recommendations, had been by some means neglected so as not to meet with the civilities that might justly be expected, & that he felt strongly the disappointment of the expectations he had formed of the manners of the people in...
26969From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favs. of the 17th and 25th of Decemr. At the time of your writing, Genl Burgoyne could not have recd my letters, which were dated the 17th and 20th of December. Colo. Webb wrote to me himself upon the subject of his Exchange, to which I have given him an answer. I beg you will carefully forward the inclosed Letters to Brigadiers Glover and Learned. They contain orders for them to...
26970From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor to receive your favor of the 5th Instant with its Inclosures. The power Congress have been pleased to vest me with for appointing Aids de Camp, I shall use with œconomy, and I will not appoint more at any time, than shall be necessary & essential to advance the public interest. Any future appointments that may be material, will be made out of the line of the...