27391To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to refer Your Excellency to a Letter which I had the honour of writing to you yesterday & last Night. Your Excellency will receive herewith an Act of Congress of the 5th Inst. extending the furlough of Colo. Tho. Dyer and also an Act of the 3d Inst. & 5 Copies for obliging all Officers Military & Civil holding appointments under Congress to qualify themselves for acting in their...
27392From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letters of the 24th. of Decmr. & 20th ulto. & thank you for the several articles of Intelligence contained in them. Altho it is devoutly to be wished that Soldiers could engaged for three years, or the war, yet I am perswaded it would not be consistent with good policy to attempt it at this time—consequently, that the plan of drafting for twelve months only, is a...
27393From George Washington to Brigadier General John Nixon, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to request, that you will, immediately, make a return of the troops, under your command, belonging to the State of Massachusettes to the Assembly of that state. It is necessary this return should be very exact and particular, as it is intended for the information of the Assembly, in their arrangements towards completing their batalions. Among other things, you will specify, the time, or...
27394To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellys Letter inclosing a letter to governor Livingston which I have forwarded, I have received no flints. your letter was forwarded ⅌r a second Express—The Court martial Cannot Sit as the parties are not present, if your Excelly will please to order Colo. Moylan to attend or to Send his Charge & evidence the Court Shall be immediately order’d—I wait your Excellys...
27395From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to request, that you will, without loss of time, make a return of the troops under your command belonging to the state of Connecticut, to His Excellency Governor Trumball. It is necessary this return should be very exact and particular, as it is intended for the information of the assembly, in the measures they may think proper to take, towards completing their batalions. Among other...
27396From George Washington to Colonel John Hoskins Stone, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the 29th Ulto I received your favor of the 22d. I have not the least objection to Lt Colo. Smiths taking the command of your Regiment till you or Lt Colo. Forrest are in a condition to appear in the Field—This I shall be happy to hear of. I thank you much for your wishes for my honor & happiness, and you have mine very sincerely for your immediate & perfect recovery. I am Dr Sir with great...
27397From George Washington to Philip Van Rensselaer, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I observe by a Return of military Stores made the 12th January that there were 5000 Muskets unfit for service in the Magazine at Albany. I most earnestly desire that you will use your utmost endeavours to have them put into repair by the opening of the next Campaign. I also observe by the same Return that there is a considerable deficiency of Bayonets, which you will endeavour to make up if...
27398From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 9–12 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The good People of the State of Pennsa Living in the Vicinity of Philadelphia and near the Delaware River—having suffered much by the Enemy Carrying off their Property without allowing them any Compensation —thereby Destressing the Inhabitants—Supplying their own Army and Enabling them to protract the Cruel and unjust War that they are now Wageing against these States. And Whereas by Recent...
27399To John Adams from William Vernon Sr., 9 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
9 February 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 2:272–273 . Vernon asked that his son be placed with a mercantile house in Bordeaux or Nantes and proposed a gratuity of £100, which would also cover board. printed : ( JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed....
27400From Alexander Hamilton to Elias Boudinot, 9 February 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
General Howe has just made a proposition, towards a general exchange of prisoners, or rather has acceded to our former propositions on that subject. His Excellency commands me to inform you of this and to desire your immediate attendance at Camp, which is indispensably necessary. I am with great regard Dr Sir Your most Obdt serv ADfS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress....
27401From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I flatter myself that notwithstanding Distance Absence, and the Interruption of friendly Correspondence which the Circumstances of the Times occasion you may still be pleas’d to hear (what I wish to hear of you and your truly amiable Family) that Health continues, and as much Happiness as public Calamities will permit to sensible Minds. We both of us have the...
27402The Commerce Committee to the American Commissioners, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress The Honorable William Lee Esqr. having been appointed a Commissioner to the Court of Prussia, and Mr. Thomas Morris having been removed from the Commercial Agency, Congress have empowered and directed us to write to you, desiring you would appoint one or more suitable Persons to be...
27403To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Ceronio, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In July Last by the means of Mr. Campi I took the Liberty to convey to you two Letters for my son Stephen Ceronio. Said Gentleman has assured me that you would take charge of them, that they may come safely to his hand. By the same channel I Learnt with a particular pleasure, that my said son was at St. Domingo on business for the Congress who’s confidence...
27404To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My ill State of health oblig’d me to leave Congress for a time, in hopes that a Journey and Relaxation might be beneficial. I have much Recover’d, and shall in a few weeks attend my Duty in Congress. I hope this will meet you in the full enjoyment of Health. We wish much to hear the State of Affairs in Europe. Mr. William Vernon Son of Mr. Vernon one of the...
27405To Benjamin Franklin from G. Tackoen, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As we are here and in all the neighbourhood, like in hole Europe, inform’d of your politeness for whoever man address him to ÿou for some service; so we are full of trust, ÿou should share ÿour goodness to whoever of us should want ÿour help; speciallÿ to know the verÿ truth of the actions, which happen in America, and in which we concern us in a great...
27406To Benjamin Franklin from Roger Wilbraham, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being desired by a Lady at Vienna who is afflicted with a Dropsy to procure for her a receit which you are said to have discovered for that disorder, and having already made several fruitless attempts for that purpose, I find myself reduced to the necessity of addressing myself immediately to you to beg that favour though I have not the honour to be known...
27407General Orders, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On account of the inclemency of the weather the sentences of Courts-Martial which were to be put in execution this morning are postpon’d ’till tomorrow morning nine ôClock in manner as specified in yesterdays orders. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Henry Melchior Muhlenberg wrote in his journal on this date that “The snow is deeper now than we have ever had in a whole winter, and along with it a...
27408From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was duly favoured with your Letter of the 23d of last Month; to which I shd have replied sooner, had I not been delayed by business that required my more immediate attention. It is my wish to give implicit credit to the assurances of every Gentleman; but in the subject of our present corrispondence, I am sorry to confess, there happen to be some unlucky circumstances, which involuntarily...
27409To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 9 February 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 9 Feb. 1778. On 14 Feb., GW wrote Gates : “I am favoured with yours of the 9th instant.”
27410To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley, Jr., 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed, I transmit to your Excellency the proceedings of a Genl Court-martial, held at this place. By order of Major Genl The Marquiss—de La Fayette. I must beg leave to inform your Excellency that the detection of this plot, has discovered a number of considerable persons, possess’d of Estates, chiefly Country people, near this place, who have had a hand in the Vilanous practice of...
27411To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can not let go back my guide without taking this opportunity of wraiting to your excellency tho’ I have not yet public business to speak of—I go on very slowly some times pierced by rain, sometimes covered with snow, and not thinking many handsome thoughts about the projected incursion into canada —if succèss were to be had it would surprise me in a more agreable manner, by that very reason...
27412From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the 20th Ulto I did myself the pleasure of writing you by Colonel Marshall who was going to Boston, to which place I had heard that you were gone. Lest my information on that head should have been wrong and you should still be at Albany, I transmit you a Copy of my Letter of that date by the conveyance which now offers, and I am to request that you will, as soon as your condition will...
27413To George Washington from Colonel Southy Simpson, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I hope youl excuse my taking the Liberty, to Intreat you not to take from this too much expos’d part of the State of virginia, those Soldiers Lately Draughted by virtue of an act of the State: I Esteem it as one of the greatest Honnours to be your Soldier, and Such I consider Myself, and am ready when ever you think the Service of the States makes it necessary, to risk my Life, and I will Risk...
27414To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Regt having finally arrived at a place which will most probably be our Quarters for some time I have set down to report our situation to Genl Polaski, & having other matters to lay before your Excellency, I can at the same time inform that the few men & horses which we have with us are in tolerable good Qrs, & tho’ the place is but small, I trust we shall not want for forage or provisions...
27415To John Adams from Barnabas Deane, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Boston. 10 February 1778. printed (virtually verbatim): JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 2:272 . Deane recommended his nephew Jesse, the only son of Silas Deane, to JA ’s care for the trip abroad. He cautioned against allowing the boy to associate “with the Common hands on board” lest he form bad...
27416To John Adams from James Lovell, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
The week after Mr. C—— was appointed secretary, I saw the P.S. of a letter to Mr. S.A. in which he is said to be a very unworthy person, but he has so good a Character in the estimation of Congress and from Maryland Gentlemen, that I did not think proper to move for a power of Suspension to be given to the Commissioners, as I find it is the opinion of some here that the secretary should be...
27417Dumas to the American Commissioners, 10 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (incomplete draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Je crois vous avoir dit déjà que je donne aussi copie au Su[bstitut] des Extraits que je vous envoie, et que cela lui fait grand plaisir. Jamais on ne m’a parlé avec plus d’ouverture, qu’après avoir vu l’Extrait ci-joint de Paris. On m’a avoué enfin, que toutes les apparences sont pour une guerre...
27418John Paul Jones to the American Commissioners, 10 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Harvard University Library, National Archives (two) I had the honor of writeing to you from Nantes the 27th ulto. The affair of Quiberon (which I did not then know of) is now in every Brokers mouth. Strange! that nothing can remain Secret. Should I find that Force likely to depart within a few days I will Avail myself of its protection, especially...
27419To Benjamin Franklin from Barnabas Deane, 10 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Silas Deane had been trying to get his son Jesse to France since at least the summer of 1777, and became more insistent to his brother Barnabas after learning in October of his wife’s death. Barnabas eventually arranged for Jesse to sail from Boston; the two went there together, apparently, and Barnabas discovered that John Adams and his son were on the...
27420To Benjamin Franklin from Ferdinand Weisheim, 10 February 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Cologne, February 10, 1778, in French: I have waited for a chance to convince you of my zeal for your service, and now hear that you have cordially received a young man from Aixla-Chapelle. God has endowed me with few of this world’s goods, but has trained me in jurisprudence, arithmetic and accounting; if you have any employment for me, I will furnish my...