27781From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 27th ulto was delivered to me by Express and that of the 28th by Colo. proctor, who saw the British Ships and Craft on their return, they had passed Marcus Hook. He says it was reported that they had burnt Salem, he does not know the truth of this, but he saw a great smoke in that quarter. When I heard last from Genl Wayne he was at Haddenfield, and I hope will return safe with...
27782To George Washington from William Gordon, 2–5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by the Baron De Steuben, & by an express that went from Genl Heath. In the last I mentioned Mr Hancock. Do not find out in any way whatsoever, that he hath concerned himself at all about the late subject of conversation: & expect from circumstances that the scheme of changing is dropt, from observing that the voice of the public is against it. There were a few hints also upon the...
27783March 2. Monday. (Adams Papers)
A fine Wind still and a pleasant Morning. The Colour of the Water which is green, not blue as it has been for many Days past, the Appearance of large Flocks of Gulls, and various other Birds, convinced the knowing ones, to say that We were not far from the Grand Bank of N. Foundland. The Captain however thinks it 35 Leagues to the N. West of Us.—Our Mast was Yesterday repaired with two large...
27784[March 2. Monday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
March 2. Monday. 1778. A fine Wind still and a pleasant morning. The Colour of the Water which was green, not blue as it had been for many days past, the appearance of large flocks of Gulls, and various other birds convinced many of the Gentlemen, that We were not far from the grand Bank of Newfoundland. The Captain however thought it thirty five Leagues to the North West of Us. Our Mast was...
27785Samuel Cooper to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Many besides my self partake with you in the Sollicitude you express respecting our dear Friend; for no Man could carry with him more of the ardent good Wishes of his Country than Mr. Adams did. His Merit is great in denying himself so much for the Service of his Country, and your’s not a little in giving up so much domestic Happiness for the Sake of this Service. Heaven, I trust, will protect...
27786George Washington to the Pennsylvania Navy Board, 2 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, March 2, 1778 . Advises that the stores be removed from the galleys and the ships sunk. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
27787From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Adams, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library By this Conveyance the Treaties we have concluded here go over to Congress. I flatter myself they will meet with Approbation. If there should be any Particulars which the Congress would wish to be chang’d or added, there is at present an exceeding good Disposition in this Court to oblige; and no Proposition tolerably reasonable will meet with Difficulty. But the...
27788From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : State M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin Public Library, Leningrad Enclos’d is a Letter from Ben to his Mother. He chose to write it in French as more familiar to him than English. It is, I assure you, all his own, except the concluding Sentence. He grows fast and tall. There are 4 or 5 English Boys in the School, or I think he would be in danger of losing his English. Your Sisters were well...
27789Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: University of Virginia Library Mr. A. Lee presents his compliments to Messrs. Franklin and Deane, and begs to know whether tomorrow at 11 oClock will be agreeable for them to consult on what he proposed relative to their being acknowledged. The proposal to obtain French recognition of the commissioners, made in his letter of Feb. 26: above, XXV ,...
27790From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Boston Public Library Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Lee: Mr. Deane is at Versailles, and Mr. F. cannot say whether the Hour 11 tomorrow will suit him: But as they dine together in town, Mr. F. will endeavour to bring Mr. Deane with him to Mr. Lee’s in their Return, which may be about 5 o Clock, if Mr. F. does not hear, before 11 o Clock to-morrow, that the Evening will not...
27791From Benjamin Franklin to William Lee, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society The Accidents that several times prevented our Meeting for the purpose of complying with your Request in receiving from you Mr. Morris’s Papers having allow’d me more time to consider that matter, I am of Opinion, that if instead of bringing them to Paris, you had thought it proper when at Nantes to separate those that related to Affairs or House of...
27792From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bodleian Library, Oxford; copy: Library of Congress M. de Fontevieux, who hopes to have the honour of delivering this into your hands, is a young Gentleman of a considerable Family, and of excellent Character, who goes over with Views of improving himself in the military Art under your Auspices. He is willing to serve as Volunteer, in any Capacity for which your Exclly. shall find him...
27793Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honnor of writing to you the 14th. ultimo by Mr. Jonathan Nesbitt, to which I take the liberty to refer, being since deprived of your respected favours, this cheafly serves to inform you of the arrival at this place of Capn. Henry Johnson, late Commander of the Continental Brigantine Lexington, and Eliazad Johnson Capn. of the Brigantine Dolton...
27794To Benjamin Franklin from James Hutton, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd. last week your Letters of Feb. 1. and 12. The advice you give is such that I do not well see what use can be made of it. I am obliged to you however for answering my importunate Letter. I should always think it is far better that those Ministers, in whose time the war began, should accomodate matters, than any other persons whatever. I see a...
27795To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft and letterbook copy: Virginia Historical Society We print the letter as sent. It shows a self-restraint quite lacking in the original draft, in which Lee answered in heat what he must have considered the gratuitous censure in Franklin’s letter of the same day, and defended his conduct in Nantes: he was not authorized to deliver Thomas Morris’ private...
27796To Benjamin Franklin from William Whitchurch, 2 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to remind you of my recommendation to you by the Letters from Mess. Rasp, and Dalrymple last October, which engaged your very obliging Assurance of favouring me with a Letter or two to some of your Friends in America for their Advice upon my Arrival in that Country. My long Absence I fear may be construed disrespect but permit me to assure you...
27797General Orders, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial whereof Coll Cortland is President is dissolved and another ordered to sit tomorrow ten ôClock A.M. , at the Bake House, whereof Coll Chandler is appointed President—Each Brigade gives a Captain for the Court—A serjeant from each brigade is to sent to the Court as orderly, daily. The Execution of Joseph Worrell is postponed to a future day. Whenever the Brigade...
27798To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having been detained in New York on the business committed to me by your Excellency, much longer than could have been expected, think it my Duty to take the earliest opportunity of Communicating a Report of my Proceedings and the Reasons of my Conduct. On my Arrival in Jersey I wrote to Sir Henry Clinton for permission to pass to New York, for the purpose of visiting our Prisoners &ca as per...
27799From George Washington to Continental Artillery Officers, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me singular pain to learn by your Memorial of the 10th inst., that there are any discontents in a corps of Officers, so eminently distinguished by their Services—you cannot be more ready to point out grievances, than I am desirous of redressing them, as far as depends on me—at the same time I must confess that I cannot consider all the Articles of complaint, in the same light in which...
27800To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 2 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 2 Mar. 1778. On 9 Mar., GW wrote to Gates , “I have been this day favd with yours of the 27th February and of the 2d 3d and 4th instants.”
27801To George Washington from Colonel George Gibson, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to Your Excelly the 22d ultimo in which I inform’d Your Excelly I had recd a letter from the Board of War with directions respecting 7 Waggon loads of Cloathing that were on the road from York to this place, since which the Waggons arrived, the directions from the Honble the Board of War have been fully comply’d wth except sending the Goods to Camp, Three of the...
27802To George Washington from General William Howe, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think it necessary to acquaint you that Colonels OHara & Stephens of the Kings Foot Guards are the Officers appointed by me to meet Commissioners on your Part at German Town on the 10th Instant, for the Purposes expressed in my Letter of the 5th of February. To these Gentlemen I propose to add Capt. Fitzpatrick of the same Corps, and that you may send an equal Number, this early notice is...
27803From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd yours of the 27th Feby. I had heard of the loss of the Cattle before it came to hand, and I am sorry to say that the loss is imputed to your having refused to let the drovers have a guard when they applied for one. I shall be glad to know whether it is so, and if true, what could be your reason for refusing. I desire you to send a party of 150 Men, under a good Officer, well...
27804To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your Excellency’s favour of the 22d instant and am very happy to find that the State of New Jersey possesses so great a share of your Esteem, which I hope it will never forfeit by any remissness in such Exertions as it is capable of making. I am convinc’d the State is not behind hand with you in mutual regard; and as for the personal friendship of your humble Servant, if it is worth...
27805From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Navy Board, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the Gallies can now be of no service in the River, and the enemy have it in their power to get them into their possession, with all their cannon and stores, I beg leave strongly to recommend it to the Board, without delay, to evacuate them of their cannon and stores; and—removing these to a place of security, in some interior part of the country—to carry the Gallies up into some of the...
27806To George Washington from George Read, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 26th of February was handed to me by Capt. Lee, who was mistaken in his Representation, that there was no Law in the State to punish the harbouring of Deserters; such a Law was enacted in February 1777 upon your Recommendation, and the Mode of recovering the Penalties therein is both easy and expeditious. It may be said, and I think with Justice, that those Penalties are now...
27807To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Remember to have Troubled yr Excy Last Summer with Solicitations in favor of Capt. Sullivan begging your Excys influence in his behalf with Congress —at white Marsh I was informed by General Knox & by the Commissary of prisoners that Capt. Bliss was paid off that if my Brother would Come to Camp there would be no Difficulty in his receiving his money—I wrote him & he has at a most amazing...
27808To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nothing can be more painful to me than the Repetition of a request which is known to be Disagreable to a Commander to whom America in General & myself in particular Stand So much indebted—after So polite a Refusal as I have once had I Should have Remained forever Silent upon the Subject: did not pure necessity which knows no Law Compell me to repeat my request —I Sincerely Lament my being...
27809From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th from Mount Holly came to hand last evening. I am pleased to hear that you had so good intelligence of the designs and motions of the Enemy that you were enabled to withdraw your detatchment from Haddonfeild before they invested it. Considering the disproportion of your strength to that of the Enemy all that can be expected of you is to wait upon and circumscribe them as much...
27810To George Washington from Thomas Wharton, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the twenty third of February last which I layed before Council. I hope as the militia called out, are chiefly arrived at General Laceys camp, they will secure the counties of Bucks and Philadelphia, from any further insults and ravages of the enemy (unless they come out in force) who I am sorry to find have been but too successful. General Lacey I am informed is...