27361To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [6 February 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld fait bien des complimens à Monsieur franklyn, en le remerciant des bonnes nouvelles d’Amérique qu’il a bien voulu lui donner; il a l’honneur de lui envoier sa traduction à laquelle il a fait quelques corrections, dont deux assez longues qu’il a mises sur un papier à part; si Monsieur franklyn les approuve, et s’il veut renvoier le...
27362From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his Respects to M. le Duc de Rochefoucauld, with many Thanks for the Pains he has taken, and the Improvements he has made in the Translation. Mr. F. has only one Doubt, which is of the Word habilité in the 2d Article, put for the English Industry: He perceives that Industrie in French has not precisely the same Meaning. And If habilité...
27363John Ross to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I had the honour to address you on the 29 Ulto. on the business of Mr. Thomas Morris late Commercial Agent now deceast, and tho not as yet favoured with your answere, doubt not Your attention to those measures, Proper to command possession and a liberty of Inspection into those Books and papers now under Seals. The Ship La Brune under the direction and command of...
27364General Orders, 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial whereof Coll Clark was President January 27th Lieutt William Williams of 13th Virginia Regiment tried for repeatedly behaving unbecoming the Character of an officer and a Gentleman, 1st in buying a pair of Continental shoes from a soldier and thereby rendering the soldier unfit for service—2ndly for messing and frequently sleeping with the soldiers, taking their...
27365From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the resources of this Country in point of fresh Provision are nearly exhausted, and the Army under my command is in consequence litterally reduced to a starving Condition—it becomes indispensibly necessary for us to avail ourselves as much as possible of our more distant Supplies, and not to suffer any part of them to be diverted into other Channels; which has I am told been heretofore in...
27366From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must take the liberty of addressing you on a subject, which, though out of your sphere, I am fully persuaded, will have every possible attention in your power to give—It is the alarming situation of the Army on account of provision—Shall not undertake minutely to investigate the Causes of this, but there is the strongest reason to believe, that its existence cannot be of long duration,...
27367From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 6 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favors of the 26 Ul t . & 1 st . Inst have reached me. M r Yates has delivered to me the Loan Office Bill— accept my Thanks for your Attention to it. The Council ^ of ^ Revision & the Indisposition of my Father forbid my being at a greater Distance from FishKill at present. God knows how long the latter Reason may exist or in what Manner cease. Of all Evils those of the domestic kind give...
27368I. Summary Notes of Provisions in Treaties with France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, 6 February 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
France. Feb. 6. 1778. United Netherlands. Oct. 8. 1782. Sweden. Apr. 3, 1783. MS ( DLC ); entirely in TJ’s hand; arranged in parallel columns with digest of French and Netherlands’ treaties on recto and of Swedish on verso of eight leaves. In text as here presented, digests are arranged in sequence. Actually, this was Article 13 of the treaty as signed, though Articles 11 and 12 were suppressed...
27369To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7–10 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 2d Instant pr Captain Hopkins of Colo. Moylans Light Dragoons. shall afford him every assistance in my power. Brigadier General Learned called upon me a day or two since and requested that I would transmit your Excellency the enclosed Certificates, and represent his present state of Health. In the Campaign of 1775 by a violent fall he received a breach...
27370George Washington to Henry Champion, 7 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] February 7, 1778 . Discusses Army’s need for meat. Instructs Champion to purchase all that is available. Has directed Major General Israel Putnam to use salt provisions available but to send on all cattle. Df , in writing of H and Robert Hanson Harrison, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Champion was deputy commissary general of purchases.
27371To Benjamin Franklin from Emmanuel-Pierre de La Plaigne, 7 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress J’ay l’honneur de prévenir Votre excellence que je dois mettre a la voile du 20 au 25 du present. Je prens donc la liberté de Vous demander Vos ordres, et reponces que Votre excellence aura a faire a Mr. Le Vice president Jones et autres dont vous jugerés a propos de me charger. La difficulté que nous avons en Georgie de nous procurer les diverses Gazettes de Londres...
27372To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Sarsfield, 7 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je ne me rappelle point Monsieur que vous m’ayez fait l’honneur de m’inviter a diner chez vous demain. Je suis engagé depuis longtems mais je vais faire tout ce que je pourray pour trouver une tournure pour me degager. Vous ne devez pas plus douter du desir que j’ay d’y reussir que des sentimens avec lesquels j’ay l’honneur d’etre Monsieur Votre tres humble...
27373To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Turin, 7 February 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Chateau de Glaye, near La Ferté-Bernard, Maine, February 7, 1778, in French: Your knowledge of the natural world makes me hope that you will help some one who since his retirement from service has given himself to the study of natural history. I should like to acquire live animals and birds of both sexes to breed in France. Any success I may have, even if...
27374General Orders, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Brigade Major of the day will in future take the names of the officers who mount guards, the names of the guards they are appointed to command and the regiments to which they respectively belong. Likewise the names of the serjeants that are to attend as orderlies at the Adjutant General’s quarters and their respective regiments who are regularly to be brought on to the parade at guard...
27375From George Washington to William Buchanan, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The occasional deficiences in the Article of provisions, which we have often severely felt, seem now on the point of resolving themselves into this fatal crisis—total want and a dissolution of the Army. Mr Blaine informs me, in the most decisive terms, that he has not the least prospect of answering the demands of the army, within his district, more than a month longer, at the extremity. the...
27376From George Washington to Peter Colt, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The present situation of the army is the most melancholy that can be conceived. Our supplies in provisions of the flesh kind for some time past have been very deficient and irregular—a prospect now opens of absolute want, such as will make it impossible to keep the army much longer from dissolving, unless the most vigorous and effectual measures be persued to prevent it. Jersey Pensylvania and...
27377To George Washington from the Continental Congress Evacuation Committee, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Committee appointed on the 27th of August 1777 to collect evidence of the State of the Army in the Northern department & also the State of the Troops Military Stores & provisions at the Posts of Tyconderoga & Mount Independence before & at the time when the evacuation was determined upon—In obedience to an order of Congress of the 5th Inst. Copy of which will be transmitted by the...
27378To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of presenting in due course Your Excellency’s favours of 31st Ulto & 3d Inst. to Congress—the former, which introduced Genl Foreman’s Memorial on Salt Works remains unconsidered & no day appointed. the latter was sent immediately to the Board of Treasury. I have at present no other Commands from Congress but to transmit—An Act of the 5th Inst. adopting a plan for filling the...
27379To George Washington from Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
With the utmost Exartion I have Complyd with your Excellancies Direction to me of Jany 8th unless your Exellancy had Regard to Cols. Vanscayks & James Levingstons Regts of N. York State, that was left at Schanaitada, and Johnstown by Genl Gate’s order which Regts was anext to my Brigd. by Genl Schuyler—But not being Positive whether it ware Intended by your Exellancy’s Direction to forward...
27380To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Council had the honour to write to your Excellency on the fifteenth day of last month, in the words of the enclosed copy; and as the urgency of levying men to fill up the pennsylvania battalions, pressed on the spirits of the members, they wished to see officers for that purpose, appear. But after waiting some time, and finding none sent up, they have feared, that their letter had miscarried....
27381From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 8–14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Favor of the 3d Instant and with its Inclosure. As General McDougal’s late severe illness and present feeble state will not permit him to proceed on the intended incursion into Canada, Baron de Kalb will follow the Marquiss agreable to his wish and the direction of Congress. According to the promise contained in my last, I take the liberty of transmitting you...
27382From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, with Postscript by Abigail Adams, 8 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Two Days ago, I was favoured with your polite and elegant Letter of January 22. I have received so many of your Letters, within a few Months, containing such important Matter, in So masterly a style, that I am ashamed to confess I have answered but one of them, and that only with a few Lines. I beg you would not impute this omission to Inattention, Negligence, or Want of Regard, but to its...
27383To John Adams from James Lovell, 8 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Janry. 9th is before me. Deane had inclosed to Congress a long minute corresponding history of what you sent me. He doubted whether Mr. R M had communicated to us what had been sent of the kind formerly therefore he wrote to him lately with flying seals under cover to the President. Mr. R M had been indiscreet in remarking to T.M. upon the Conduct of the Commissioners as not acting...
27384To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 8 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Lancaster, 8 February 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Benjamin Rush, Letters Letters of Benjamin Rush , ed. L. H. Butterfield, Princeton, 1951; 2 vols. , 1:199–200. Detailing some of his charges against Dr. Shippen, Rush complained that his alleged personal resentment was the congress’ excuse for not removing the director general of hospitals; therefore, “to restore harmony,” Rush felt...
27385George Washington to Brigadier General John Nixon, 8 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] February 8, 1778 . Asks Nixon to send return of Connecticut troops to Jonathan Trumbull. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
27386George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 8 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] February 8, 1778 . Asks Putnam to send return of Connecticut troops to Jonathan Trumbull. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
27387Franklin and Silas Deane to the President of Congress, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : South Carolina Historical Society; transcript and two copies: National Archives; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Sheffield City Library We have now the great Satisfaction of acquainting you and the Congress, that the Treaties with France are at length compleated and signed. The first is a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, much on the Plan of that projected in Congress;...
27388From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favour of the 1st Instant. My Sentiments of Esteem for you have been always uniform, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing you. I never had the least doubt of your Integrity, and Zeal for our Cause, in which I know you have been HIGHLY serviceable. My intrusting the enclos’d important Letter to your Care, is an additional Proof of the Confidence I...
27389From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes M. Franklin presents his Respects to M. le Duc de Rochefoucauld, and will, with his Grandson, have the honour of Dining with Made. la Duchesse d’Enville on Monday the 16th. agreable to her obliging Invitation. He will also mention it to Mr. Deane. M. Franklin will expect with Pleasure, the Honour intended him by M. le Duc, of taking a Breakfast with him to...
27390To Benjamin Franklin from Georges-Marie Butel-Du Mont, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai publié, il y a environ vingt trois ans, une histoire des établissemens Anglois en Amérique. L’attention que ces colonies attirent aujourd’hui, et l’interest qu’inspirent leurs habitans par la résolution et la conduite avec lesquelles ils défendent leur liberté m’ont fait naître le dessein de refondre cette histoire et de la continuer jusqu’au temps...