27011To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Cullet de Pugieu, 13 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lyons, January 13, 1778, in French: I write to ask how I go about getting to America. I was born near Lyons and educated there. My father left seven children at his death; my eldest brother inherited everything, as is the local custom, and I was left with a pittance. After an unsuccessful venture into commerce here I got a financial post with the...
27012General Orders, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress having been pleased to call Coll Pickering to a seat at the Board of War, have appointed Coll Scammell, Adjutant General in his Room who is to be obeyed and respected as such. At a General Court Martial of which Coll Swift was President, held 5th instant Captn Powell of 3rd Virginia Regiment charged with “insulting Lieutt Davis when on his guard and arresting him...
27013To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your kind letter of recommendation, I had the honor to deliver to His Excellency the President, who laid it before congress in my absence. since which, they have appointed me an Auditor with Mr Clarkson to settle & adjust the accounts of the main Army—whether I am equal to the task assigned me, or not, I cannot presume to say; but shou’d I accept The appointment, I flatter myself under your...
27014To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency of the situation of John & Baker Hendricks & John Meeker who it is said have forfited their lives, by a law of this State, in consequence of their being employed by me and others, to bring inteligence from the enemy while at New york and Staten Island, according to your Excellencys direction. The fidelity of those persons I am well convinced of, and the...
27015To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have waited some time, in Expectation of informing You with the Sense of Congress on the several Subjects mentioned in your agreable Favour of the 25th Decr; but am not yet fully able to answer my Purpose. a Committee is appointed from Congress & the Board of War, who in Concert with your Excellency have full Powers to form & execute a Plan for reducing the Number of Batalions now in the...
27016To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by Mr Francis, a french Merchant belonging to the House from which we have received our ample Supply of Ordnance, Ordnance Stores, Fire Arms &c. He is come over to secure his Remittances, and will I am confident receive that respect from our Countrymen that his assistance afforded at a time of need justly merit. Part of the Cannon and Stores which arrived...
27017From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your favs. of the 2d and 3d of Novemr by Genl McIntosh who arrived very opportunely to take the command of the North Carolina Brigade, which had wanted a Brigadier very much since the Fall of Genl Nash. The account you give of the numbers of Indians in the Southern Tribes far exceeds any thing that I had an Idea of, and it therefore behoves us the more to...
27018To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Schall make use in this particular instance of the liberty you gave me of telling freely every idea of mine which could strike me as not being useless to a better order of things. There were two gentlemen, same rank, same duty to perform, and same neglect of it who have been arrested the same day by me—as I went in the night around the piquets I found them in fault, and I gave an account of...
27019To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel La Radière, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
A council called for fixing the place to be fortifyed on Hudson’s River has decided Last night that west point is the best place—this post is on the west Shore of the Nort River over against fort Constution Six mile Higher than fort Montgomery 8 mile below New Windsor. we will bar the River with a chain. this Council was called at my request. I have read before these gentlemen a Memorial...
27020From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be deliver’d to you by the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, who was among the first French Officers that joined the Army of the United States—the gallant Conduct of this young Gentleman at Brandywine, German Town, and his distinguished Services at Fort Mercer, where he united the Offices of Engineer and Commandant of Artillery, entitle him to the particular notice of Congress—he made...
27021To George Washington from William Livingston, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon frequent Complaints that Capt. Kennedy’s Residence at his Farm was injurious to the State, & occasioned great Clamours from the People in This Neighbourhood, the Council ordered his Attendance on the Board—they at the same time desired a Gentleman near the Spot, to procure what Affidavits he could respecting Captn Kennedy’s Conduct—He sent us by return of the Express three Affidavits with...
27022To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 27th Ulto, and am happy to find that Your Excellency is Convinced, my Conduct has not been such as Represented by Col: Drake—I have ever paid the Utmost attention to the Protection of the Inhabitants; and am Vain enough to think, that they Conceive the Army to be as good Neighbours, as Col: Drake. General Parsons has not Yet Return’d, Tho is soon expected; and till...
27023From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you this morning on the subject of the prize Brig Symetry, the Regulations of the Feild Officers of the division for conducting the Sale and disposing of the Cargo was laid before me with a letter from the Regimental Surgeons and Mates to Docr Cochran. These Gentlemen feel themselves so much hurt by the discrimination made by these Regulations between them and the Officers of...
27024VII. Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Bills, [before 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
That bills relating solely to the raising or disposing of public money in any way whatever are not amendable by the Senate. That in other bills if some clauses or sentences relate to the raising or disposing of public money, and others relate to other subjects, the said clauses or sentences so relating to the raising or disposing of public money are not amendable by the Senate; but such other...
27025Bill for Sequestering British Property, [13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas divers persons, subjects of Great Britain, had, during our connection with that Kingdom, acquired estates real and personal within this Commonwealth and had also become entitled to debts to a considerable amount, and some of them had commenced suits for the recovery of such debts before the present troubles had interrupted the administration of Justice, which suits were at that time...
27026Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Due British Subjects, [ca. 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
And whereas his Britannic majesty did on the day of 1775 undertake by the strength of his fleets to shut up the several ports and havens of the American states and to intercept all commerce between the said states and other parts of the world, to which proceeding the British parliament had previously given their sanction by an act entitled an act whereby the monies belonging to the subjects of...
27027To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Arnold “Dit Renault,” 14 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Metz, January 14, 1778, in French: My dear brother went to America during the late Anglo-French wars, and remained at Quebec as secretary to the British governor of Canada. I heard from him several times until your war broke out; since then he sent me two letters by a bearer who, about to be searched at sea, threw them overboard, and could only tell me...
27028To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [14 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld fait bien des complimens à Monsieur franklyn, en lui envoiant le paquet cijoint qu’il s’est chargé de lui faire passer de la part de M. l’Abbé Rozier. Il le prie de vouloir bien lui mander s’il y a quelque chose de vrai à la nouvelle qui se répandoit hier, que les forts de Mud Island et de Red Bank avoient été pris les 20. et 23....
27029From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 14 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M. the Duke of Rochefoucauld; with Thanks for his Care of the Pacquet. The English Gazette which came yesterday gives a particular Account of the taking of those petty Forts about the Time you mention. ’Tis a wonder they held out so long. After sustaining a Days continual Battery from the Cannon of the...
27030To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [14 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents Compliments to Dr. Franklin. He received the Louis. The London paper is inclosed. That with the Boston papers were sent by Mr. Deane to Mr. A. Lee who carried them out with him yesterday as Mr. W. L. tho’t to leave them at Passi, but it seems he left them with Mr. Izard. They will be sent for today and return’d immediately. Mr. L. is just...
27031General Orders, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Majors of Brigade will deliver a list of the Field Officers in the several brigades to which they belong tomorrow at orderly-time. The Court-Martial which was to sit this day, to sit tomorrow ten ôClock at the Bake-House near Head-Quarters. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. Edward Hand’s orderly book for this date includes instructions for a fatigue party of fifty-four men “to parade...
27032To George Washington from John Parke Custis, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am really ashamed of my long Silence: which has been owing altogether to the Want of Meterials worthy of communicating to you, the same Cause still subsists; but the Fear of your imputing my Silence to the Want of regard & respect; compels Me at present, to intrude a few Lines upon that short Moment, you are allowed by the Multiplicity of your Business, to devote to Freindship, and Society....
27033To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since the date of my last the 5th Inst. I have been honoured by the receipt of Your Excellency’s Several Letters of the 2d 4th 5th & 9th all which, together with Copy of a Letter to Major Genl Gates have been in course reported to Congress—a Sealed packet under Your Excellency’s direction to Genl Gates, I forwarded to day to Reading where I expect it will meet the Genl. Your Excellency will...
27034To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s favour of the 27th Decr Inst. And am greatly obliged by your favourable mention of my brother. In my recommendation of him I was influenced more by my hope of rendering him further useful to his country, than by any partial desire of serving him, without having the most distant wish of engaging your Excellency in any promiss that might lead to a preferrence...
27035To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is represented to me, that Robert Wilson, who I am told, acts as Commissary under Mr Blain, for the Counties of Sussex, Morris and Somerset in this State, has in the County of Somerset employed only part of the Mills. By this means, the distance that Wheat must be carted is most amazingly encreased; and either the Farmer put to an unnecessary trouble, or the States to an additional Expence....
27036To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Committee of Congress who are appointed to attend at the Camp on Business will acquaint your Excellency with the Reason of my Detention here —Give me leave to assure you I have not been idle— I have the pleasure to acquaint you two Auditors are now appointed, and I flatter myself the Accounts of the Army will soon be properly adjusted. Mr Clarkson is a Gentleman well acquainted with...
27037To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Recived your favor of the 12th Instant I will do every thing in my Power to put a stop to Carring provision into the City the passes that have been Given I have sent you enclosed a Copey of one of them which has passed Mrs Larrans Sarvant in with Sundrey waggan-Loads if I am not wrong Informed. I would Inform your Excellency that there is a quenty of Buckskin and Britches in Germentown and...
27038From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 9th Instant was deliver’d to me yesterday—and I immediately acquainted the Forage Master General with such parts of it as related to his Department—if proper Magazines for the Subsistence of the Cavalry cannot be formed at Trenton, this is an insurmountable obstacle to their quartering there, and they must of necessity be removed to Flemingtown or some other convenient place...
27039To George Washington from Brigadier General Charles Scott, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As Genl Weedon and I have consulted together with regard to the Arrangement of the Army &c., I would not wish to trouble Your Excellency with reading over the same thing a second time—I approve of every thing he has wrote on that head and refer you to his letter, with this addition, That our light Corps be augmented to at least, One thousand men, Half of which should be Riflemen and the other...
27040From George Washington to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, 14 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, 14 Jan. 1778. John Laurens docketed Tallmadge’s letter to GW of 12 Jan. : “answd 14th Ref. for particulars to C[olone]l Pulaski.”
27041To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am Honored with your Letters of the 15th & 29th Ultimo The Genl Assembly of this State convened at this place the 8th Instant the Latter of yours came to hand on the 10th and was Laid before them The Deficiencies in our Regimts will meet the attention it’s Importance demands Expediency and Necessity require Early and vigorous meas[ur]es Should be adopted to compleat them to their full...
27042To John Jay from James De Lancey, 14 January 1778 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your kind Letter of the 2 d . Inst. with 100 Dollars from M r. Sam l . Broome which with the many other Obligations I am under to you will never be forgot as I have had a plentifull supply of money from home returned it M r. Broome— The Gentlemen of the Army particularly Gen l. Parsons & some of the Inhabitants of this place have been very Civle to me. the Gen l. has made application...
27043Session of Virginia Council of State, 14 January 1778 (Madison Papers)
The eleventh article of Virginia’s Form of Government ( Hening, Statutes William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). , IX, 116) provided for a Privy Council, or Council of State, of eight members to be chosen by the legislature....
27044II. Bill for Settling Titles to Unpatented Lands, [14 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the various and vague claims to unpattented Lands under the former Government, covering the greater part of the Country on the Western Waters, may produce tedious and infinite Litigation and disputes, and in the mean time Purchasers would be discouraged from taking up Lands upon the Terms lately prescribed by Law, whereby the Fund to be raised in Aid of the Taxes for discharging the...
27045From John Adams to the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 15 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had this Moment the Honour of receiving the Order of the Honourable the House of Representatives of the 14th. instant directing the Gentlemen who the last Year represented this State in Congress, and are now in this State, to lay before the Honourable House an Account of their Expences, while in that service. In Obedience to this order, sir, I herewith transmit, all the Account, which it is...
27046To John Adams from Henry Laurens, 15 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured on the 7th. Instant by the Receipt of your favour of the 9th. Ultimo by the hands of Mr. Thaxter. I desired that Young Gentleman to call on me the Morning after he arrived intending to have conversed with him and to have aimed at some plan for procuring a suitable employment for him, but I found that by the Interest of other friends he had been introduced into the Secretary’s...
27047The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
27048To Benjamin Franklin from Valltravers, 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Letter of the 10th. instant mentioned a Book, which I begged your kind Acceptance of. It was: Simlerus de Rebus publicis Helvetiorum . That Book went off this morning, (without my Letter, brought by Mistake to the Post-Office,) by a Merchant of this Place, Mr. Benoit Charpin; recommended to the care of Monsr. Constant, Rüe de Gesvres, a la Tête noire, à...
27049General Orders, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colls Humpton and Gibson, Lt Coll Vose & Majors Furnald and Ball are appointed to repair to the several Hospitals in the middle department; They will receive their orders at the Adjutant Genl’s office tomorrow morning—1st Pennsylvania, Poors, Larned’s, Maxwell’s Huntington’s and McIntosh’s brigades each give a Captain, Woodford’s, Scott’s Weedon’s & Varnum’s each a Subaltern for said...
27050To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have thought it my duty to forward to Head Quarters a Certain Hofman Lowrey—that has under the character of beeing one of my horseman robd a number of Poor people—Takes provisions from the poor and Sel’s it for hard money to others. This man and two others have kept up this trade for some time past. I have Delay’d sendg him in expectation of takeing the others It is not in my power to...
27051To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Ellis, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As I was appointed by Governor Livingston, to the Command of General Newcomb’s Brigade, I thought it my duty to acquaint Your Exellency with the State of the Militia under my Command—There is about five hundred at this time out in Service, wch has in general proved a sufficient force to prevent any trade or Intercourse between this country & the city of Philada—But we have not in other...
27052To George Washington from Archibald Kennedy, 15 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Archibald Kennedy, Jr., 15 Jan. 1778. GW wrote Kennedy on 20 Jan. 1778 : “I received yours of the 15th last Evening.”
27053From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Should it be thought expedient to draw a Body of Men together early next Spring, it will be necessary for us to know precisely what number of Arms we could have ready for such an emergency. I have desired Colo. Flowers to make me a return of all at the magazines under his immediate direction, & have wrote to the Commissary at Springfield to do the like. You will be pleased to make the proper...
27054To George Washington from William Livingston, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
From Intelligence which I believe may be relied on, great Quantities of Provisions are carried into Philadelphia by the way of Coopers Ferry. I have given the stricktest orders against suffering this infamous Practice, both to the civil & military officers, in those parts. But I fear Sir, that without your Interference, it will not be suppressed. I have the Honor to be with great Respect your...
27055To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed recommendation of the honourable house of General Assembly of this state, founded on a recommendation of Congress, has been repeatedly under consideration: As we are persuaded that however it may be in other states, we cannot reasonably expect in this state where property is in general very equally divided, that farmers will exert themselves to enlist their neighbours children in...
27056From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a letter from you of the 25th Octobr last, you informed me that twenty three Boats had been saved from the Enemy, besides what were up Esopus Creek, the number of which you did not then know. You at the same time informed me that you should have those put into repair that wanted it, and set the Carpenters at work to build new ones. I shall be glad to hear in your next what number you have...
27057To George Washington from the Rhode Island Council of War, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
We had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 29th Ultimo, inclosing a return of the Rhode Island Regiments; it gives us very sensible Pain, when we consider the deficiency in our Battalions, and how impracticable it is for us at present to remedy it. We have ever esteemed it of the highest and most important consequence to have the Continental Battalions compleat, for which...
27058To George Washington from Colonel Walter Stewart, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Arriv’d with my party at this place last Night, but have been Oblig’d to halt this day as well for to get my men provisions as to Consult with General Potter Col. Stewart &ca Concerning the manner in which we should proceed in driving off the Stock between the Enemy’s Lines and the River Delaware. We have Concluded it is not worth while beginning nearer to Philada than Eight Miles, as the...
27059VI. Reply of Senate to House of Delegates concerning Money Bills, [15 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate conceive that, in the present Question, it is of no consequence whether the constituent Parts of our Legislature resemble the Lords and Commons of Great Britain , or whether the Senate is made to resemble the House of Lords in this or that Particular. Clearly pointed out as they have supposed the Office of the two Houses to be in the matter on which a Difference of Opinion has...
27060The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, with Arthur Lee’s Dissent and Their Rejoinder: Three Documents, 16[–18] … (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (II) ALS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (III) ALS : National Archives; ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Harvard University Library As it is not in our Power to procure you such a Ship as you expected, we advise you after equipping the Ranger in the best...