27951John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I had been almost three months without receiving a line from you, or from any other of my correspondents in America; and although upon coolly considering circumstances I was sensible that this was the natural fruit of my own neglect of writing during the last Winter, yet as one’s feelings never make the allowances which sober reason requires, I began to think it strange to be so long without...
27952To James Madison from William Montgomery, 5 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
As a native citizen of this country permit me to express my joy on the prospect of a peace and to assure you that nothing would give more satisfaction to all good citizens. So great is the expectation by all parties that goods at auction have sold from 30 @ 50% less than they did a few days ago. Under all circumstances attending our afflicted country, if in your power to restore peace, be...
27953To James Madison from S. B. Wigginton, 31 May 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 May 1804, Bordeaux. “When inconveniences, or evils of a very small magnitude are suffered to exist for a length of time they are very apt to become serious in the end, & sometimes not easily remedied. My situation and standing in life may make it appear presumption in me to attempt to point out an abuse that arises from passports issued from the Office of Secretary of State, which are of...
27954To Thomas Jefferson from John Melson, 8 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
this perhaps may appeare strange to your ears But withs out the Lest dout of the willingness of your hart. I write these few lines to you. for if I Thought it was out of the Bound of your hospitablness would not request This one favour of you And that is to assist me in geting a complet english education so that I may Be able to improve my mind and gain a small Portion of that knowledge of...
27955[Diary entry: 4 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
4. Still & clear till Evening then Cloudy with drops of Rain.
27956Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 25 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to inclose to your Excellency a paper which was put into our hands a few days ago by the Minister of France at a conference he had with us at his own request upon the case of Capt. Ferrier, the subject of a late Resolution of Congress. Your Excellency must have observed from that Resolution that Congress was careful to avoid a decision as to the Authority to which...
27957Thomas Jefferson to William D. Meriwether, [1 November 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
I recieve this on Monday the 1 st of November a quarter before 11. aclock A.M. and am too unwell to attend RC ( TxDaHCL: JDRC ); on verso of Meriwether to TJ, 30 Oct. 1819 ; partially dated. Not recorded in SJL .
27958The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 13 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter which you did us the honour to write on the 12th. Inst. and shall take the first Opportunity of conveying to Congress the agreable Information contained in it. The Sentiments & Sensations which the Re-establishment of Peace between our two Countries,...
27959To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 January 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have remained here since the adjournment of the Assembly chiefly with a view of gaining from the Office of the Attorney some insight into the juridical course of practice. This has given me an opportunity of forwarding you 6 copies of the revisal with a few of the late newspapers under the cover which incloses this. They will go in a vessel belonging to Mr. Alexander. The gentleman also...
27960Thomas Jefferson to Ezra Sargeant, 21 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of a letter from mr Gilley on your behalf informing me there was a balance of 21. D 50 still due to you for the printing done for me, I desired Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson , on the 17 th inst. to remit you that sum, which I have no doubt you will recieve by the time this gets to hand. mr Gilley’s letter came to this place while I was absent on a journey of several weeks which...
27961To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 12 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Received with all gratitude the Letter your Excellency did me the honnour to write me the 8th. Instant. The expressions of your Excellency are the expressions of Humanity; they will give all Comfort & quietude to the Prisonners & to the Crew of the Black Prince Privateer; they will encourrage the People already Listed for my New fine Vessell the...
27962[1780 January 6. Thursday.] (Adams Papers)
1780 January 6. Thursday. We went to see the Cathedral Church at Leon which though magnificent, is not equal to that at Astorga, if it is to that at Lugo. It was the day of the Feast of the King and We happened to be at the celebration of High Mass. We saw the Procession of the Bishop and of all the Canons, in rich habits of Silk, Velvet, Silver and gold. The Bishop as he turned the Corners of...
27963From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am not about to write you much upon War or peace. You must have enough upon those Subjects in public papers. My principal Topicks will be to inform you that We are all in unusual good health, have had an uncommonly fine Autumn and that We are all extreamly desirous of Seeing you all return to our Embraces. But none of Us can conjecture how it will be possible for you to get home, unless you...
27964To John Jay from Edward Rutledge, 27 March 1787 (Jay Papers)
I am exceedingly obliged to you my dear Friend for the Horses which you sent me by Tincker: & am only afraid, from their answering my Purpose so well, that M rs : Jay has sustained much inconvenience in parting with them. When you assure me that such is not the Case, we will drive them with more Pleasure. That Circumstance alone is wanting to make them perfectly to my Mind. They arrived in...
27965Robert G. Scott to James Madison, 12 July 1831 (Madison Papers)
On my return from a visit to Old Point Comfort, I received your kind letter of the 7th inst , covering a copy of a letter from Mr Robert Walsh of Philadelphia, asking for information in relation to the late Bishop Madison, with a view of introducing into the Encyclopedia Americana a biographical sketch of this most estimable man—Nothing I assure you can afford me more sincere gratification,...
27966From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 1 November 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office I duly received your Favour of the 26th of Augt. with the Letter enclos’d for Lord Dartmouth, which I immediately sent to him. As soon as he comes to Town I shall wait upon his Lordship, and discourse with him upon the Subject of it; and I shall immediately write to you what I can collect from the Conversation. In my Opinion the Letter of the two Houses of the 29th...
27967Henry Banks to Thomas Jefferson, 21 October 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor, herewith to send you, a publication relating to the Manufactory of Arms. Upon perusal you will find a development of a greater tissue of fraud and folly than has ever been before exhibited in this country. Altho many of the guilty persons are unmasked yet there are others, and it is with regret that I speak it, who deserve to be equally exposed. To you it must be obvious that...
27968To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Franklin, [1763?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society These Comes to Inform you that I got Home well In three Days after my Departure From you; I Have not met aney Good Opertunity to Send for that money, desire youd Imbrace the first Good One that you Have. I would Beg one Favour that youd go to the Post Office and Enqur whether there was a Letter for me, In the Time in that Time that I was In...
27969Monday the 18th. (Adams Papers)
Went back to the school. Nothing remarkable to day. Reading in a Volume of the guardian I found something in it which I will copy. Here follows, on two pages of his Diary, Philip Sidney’s translation of Psalm 137, five eight-line stanzas, which appeared in No. 18, not No. 19 as JQA cites it, of The Guardian , 1 April 1713. In JQA ’s edition of the work, London, 1745, at MQA , it is found at...
27970To George Washington from Amos Strettell, 4 August 1772 (Washington Papers)
By yesterdays post I recd a Letter from our mutual good Friend Coll Fielding Lewis—ordering £600 Pensilva. Currency Insurance For your acct on 273 Barls Supfine Burr Flour shippd on board the Brigt. Fairfax Samuel Brodie M[aste]r, but as I am not advisd where she is bound, nor cannot by any means discover, as the Ship Entrys are not printed in the late Virginia papers, I am obligd to wait his...
27971[Diary entry: 5 January 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 5th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 46 at Night. Day clear. In the Morning it was calm but by 8 oclock the wind Sprung up at No. Wt. & encreased till it came to blow hard & continued to do so till Night and some time within it. It grew colder but was not disagreeably cold. A Mr. Smith—Boat builder came here to build me a fishing Boat for which I am to allow him 8/. a foot...
27972To James Madison from James Monroe, 3 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
Some days after Lord Harrowby returned from Weymouth I received from him a note of the 26th. ult. expressing his regret that he had been so engaged since his return, that he had not been able to see me, and, that he could not even then fix a time for the purpose. His note concluded with an invitation to dinner on the 29. at his house in the country. On an attentive consideration of the note...
27973From Alexander Hamilton to William S. Smith, 26 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the nineteenth instant with its enclosure— Were this a time of war I should not be embarrassed by your enquiry, but, in the present state of things, we must rely for a remedy — of the evil of which you complain on the influence of strict discipline up on the troops themselves. Where stores are erected near a high way you can place a sentinel on to prevent the...
27974From George Washington to William Hartshorne, 5 July 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Hartshorne, 5 July. On this date Hartshorne wrote GW that he had received “your favor of this morning.”
27975To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 20 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, M, un mémoire qui concerne M. de Vatteville, issu d’une des meilleures maisons du canton de Berne; vous verrez que cet officier souhaiteroit d’entrer au Service des Etats-unis: les témoignages avantageux que l’on donne de ses talents militaires, me persuadent que le Congres feroit une très-bonne...
27976To Benjamin Franklin from Flandre de Brunville, 4 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire pour me demander de retarder le Jugement de l’affaire du S. Scheffer détenu dans les Prisons du Chatelet jusqu’à ce que M. Barclay consul des Etats unis Soit de retour de Nantes. Quoique cette affaire Soit actuellement totalement instruite, je suis trop jaloux de faire quelque chose qui puisse...
27977To James Madison from James Maury, 20 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
I am requested by Mr Joy to forward the inclosed. I wish there was a better prospect than now presents for amicable adjustment between our country & this. It daily appears more & more the determination of administration to continue the orders in council; yet petitions for their revocation increase; as do the prices of Grain & other articles of food, which, adding to the distresses of...
27978From James Madison to Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 10 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
The latest information from New Orleans makes it certain that altho’ your letters to the Governor & the Intendant of Louisiana had been received, the Edict of the latter against our right of deposit had not been rescinded. It is even found that this obnoxious measure had been followed by a rigorous prohibition of the ordinary hospitalities between the Citizens of the United States and the...
27979To James Madison from Ebenezer H. Cummins, 13 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to address to you an English history of the late war, with a few critical notes by myself. It has many merits. My opinion of it is fairly set forth in the advertisement prefixed: but I would be gratified to receive yours in the most conscientious sincerity; and especially of the character of so much as I have appended to the British performance. I would respectfully request that...
27980[Diary entry: 12 July 1771] (Washington Papers)
12. I set of for Williamsburg & crossing at Laidlers lodgd at Mr. Lawe. Washingtons. GW was going to attend the House of Burgesses, which had convened 11 July to deal with problems resulting from a great flood that had come down the James, Rappahannock, and Roanoke rivers in late May, causing about 150 deaths and much property damage. The calamity had not affected Mount Vernon or the Custis...
27981From Benjamin Franklin to Beerenbroek, 28 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Dr. Beerenbrock and acquaints him that Dr. Ingenhausz is not yet arrived at Paris, but is expected in two or three Weeks he having written from Brussels that Such was his Intention, as soon as he arrives Mr. Franklin will acquaint Dr. Beerenbrock.
27982Thomas Jefferson’s Statement of Taxable Property in Albemarle County, 1 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A list of the taxable property of the subscriber in Albemarle Feb. 1. 1818. 4896 ⅓ acres of land. 2. white tythes to wit E. Bacon and myself. 48. slaves of 16. and upwards. 7.
27983To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Nourse, 24 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Upon my return from Pennsylvania yesterday evening I found a Letter from Miss Aitken who succeeded her Father Mr. Robert Aitken many years a valuable Citizen of Philadelphia and considerd a very accurate printer. This Letter I pray you to indulge me in presenting to your Notice, as the Lady who makes the application is of real merit, and has the famely of her Sister a Widow with four Children...
27984To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 28 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
General Post Office, March 28, 1794. “I have reviewed my calculations respecting Ichabod Grumman’s claim for an allowance on Account of the loss he sustained in carrying the mail between Philadelphia and New York, by reason of the fatal sickness in the former city, during the last Autumn; and seeing no cause for alteration in the statement, I now request your approbation, in writing , as you...
27985From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Colonel John Syme a Warrant for one thousand five hundred pounds on account for removing public Stores. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed.
27986Thomas Jefferson to the Trustees of the Lottery for East Tennessee College, 6 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago your letter of Feb. 28. covering a printed scheme of a lottery for the benefit of the East Tennissee college , & proposing to send tickets to me to be disposed of. it would be impossible for them to come to a more inefficient hand. I rarely go from home & consequently see but a few neighbors & friends who occasionally call on me. and having myself made it a rule never...
27987To Alexander Hamilton from James Jarvis, 10 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The ideas which I proposed to submit to your consideration some days ago, a variety of interruptions have prevented my comitting to paper, in an orderly manner until this day. They are now presented and claim, an exertion of indulgence and patience in the perusal, that I could hope for from no man but yourself in the station you fill. In your report of the 9th. January last there appear two...
27988To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 30 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Lying Rivingtons account of the reduction of C. Town was Sent of[f] by Col. Stewart without my knowledge. Least it should give your excellency as much pain through the night, as it did me for one hour, I have Sent this & I do venture to assert it to be one of Lying Jemys Aberations; within this hour I have received three diffirent accou[n]ts of its not being beleived in N. York, A variety of...
27989To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 2 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your highly esteemed favour of the 24 ult. I had the honor to receive. I am instructed by your remarks upon Hutchinson, Hamilton, and other characters, and by your deep sentiments upon finance, the want of a correct History of American affairs, the conduct of England, &c. I admire your candor to Hutchinson. I think your remarks just as well as candid. If he had fortunately escaped the old...
27990From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 25 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your very friendly Letter— It recalled to my Mind many Circumstances on which it always dwells with Pleasure. I should have been happy in a personal Interview before my Departure, but since that has become impossible, let us endeavour to supply it by a regular and constant correspondence. To render this the more useful & satisfactory a Cypher will be necessary— There are...
27991From Thomas Jefferson to David Shepherd, 13 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to ask the favour of you to give notice to the Officer recommended by you for the Western Battalions that as soon as one half his [quota] of men is raised and delivered by you, he shall be entitled to his commission and must march the men on to Fort Pitt, the remaining half you must send on under a Serjeant to the same rendezvous. Lieutenant Colo. Knox is appointed to take command of the...
27992From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
When I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 17th Inst.—I mentioned the probability of an enterprize being meditated against Rhode Island, as the next capital object, in case the shallow entrance at Sandy Hook, should frustrate admiral d’Estaings first design of an attack, upon the Enemys Fleet, in new York Harbour, The most experienced Pilots have been employed in sounding, and after the...
27993To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you the proceedings and sentence of a court-martial on Lieut. Simon Geddis, and several papers and letters connected therewith. Lieut. Geddis having prayed for a new trial, I shall wave any remarks upon his case, and confine myself to the reasons which favour such an application. It is declared, in the articles of war, vz. Art. 1. for the administration of...
27994James Madison to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 9 January 1829 (Madison Papers)
Will Mr. R. oblige J.M. by turning to the correspondence of Mr. Jefferson with Mr. Pendleton & als Col. John Taylor & telling me whether any thing & what appears to have passed between them, having relation to the publication of Mr. Pendleton in Octr. 1801. subscribed "The danger not over" FC (DLC) .
27995To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 28 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honour to receive your Excellencies Letter of the 14 Instant which is all I have been favoured with since that of the 19th of July. I have at length the Satisfaction to send a pretty correct General Return of the Army in this Part of the Northern District of America; a Copy of my last Letter to General Schuyler, which is in the Packet, will explain the Return to your...
27996To George Washington from Robert McKenzie, 12 August 1760 (Washington Papers)
Though I have as small a Title as any Person whatever to the least Share of your Esteem, yet, by often observing with what Pleasure you seize all Opportunities of using your good Offices for the Assistance of others, I dare to address you and to sollicit your Interest in an Affair of the greatest Importance to me, which from your Benevolence alone I hope to obtain. My Relations in Europe have...
27997To James Madison from Jonathan Russell, 6 December 1816 (Madison Papers)
James De Wolf Ese of Bristol in this State, believing that a vacancy may soon occur among the five Directors dependent on your appointment in the Bank of the United States has engaged me to ask your attention to his qualifications for that situation. With regard to his political character it must be well known to you & cannot have failed to afford satisfaction. He is a man of great wealth & of...
27998From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 16 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
General Smith has so far enabled us to get along with the navy department, by undertaking it’s direction without accepting the [commission], emoluments, or any thing which might vacate his seat in the H. of Representatives. but he will soon be obliged to relinquish it, so that I must make an appointment. before I do so I cannot deny myself the chance that a further view of the subject may have...
27999Abigail Adams 2d to Lucy Cranch, 25 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday my Dear Lucy I received your kind favour of the 9th of April, and it was the only Letter for me, in Pappas packett. However I hope there are others on Board. My Brother I am sure must have written. Indeed my Dear Cousin I feel under great obligations to you for your repeated attentions to me, and only lament that it is not in my Power to make you more frequent returns. I have really...
28000[Diary entry: 23 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 23d. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 75 at Night. Morning lowering, with drops of rain now and then, but none fell to wet the ground. Wind for the most part of the day Easterly. Doctr. Craik came here before Dinner. Visited John Alton in the Evening and returned and stayed all Night. Mr. Shaw returned home in the Afternoon. With the Guinea grass Seed I had on hand, I began...