28171From Benjamin Franklin to John Emery, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 11th. inst: and have the pleasure of informing you that tho Capt: Babson’s prizes were confiscated legally in France for a breach of the marine Laws by entering under a false declaration, and altho’ the King who might justly have profitted of the confiscation had nevertheless for political reasons given it up to the English yet...
28172Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Referring to the letter I had the honnor of writing to you the 14th. instant whereas the Treaty you have gloriously concluded in the name of the united and Independant States of America with the Court of France, is no more a mistery Since it has been declared by his Christian Majesty’s ambassador to the British Ministry, I hope you’ll indulge the liberty I...
28173To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his most respectful Compliments to Dr. Fraklin and will have the pleasure of waiting on him tomorrow forenoon to take leave and hopes the Copy of the Treatys will be ready for him. Addressed: Honble / Benjamen Franklin Esqr. Notation: W. Lee 23 March 1778 to BF. He had requested these copies on the 19th. BF , answering on the 24th, pointed...
28174To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [23 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il faut Mon illustre confrère que je vous importune encore il fait un temps si terrible que je ne puis vous aller voir. C’est un usage dans L’Académie que quand il arrive quelque chose d’agréable à un academicien comme d’être nommé à un nouvel employ à une nouvelle dignité L’académie lui députe plusieurs de ses membres pour lui faire compliment sur cette...
28175To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I find a Disposition among several of my Friends to lend Money to the United States, And I am desired by One of Them, to request the Favor of you to furnish Me with the Manner, in Which the Loans must be made, and inform Me, What Interest The United States give. Mr. Thornton waits, so that I have not Time to add More, Than my hearty Congratulations On the...
28176General Orders, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the Season is approaching fast when everything should be in the most perfect readiness for the field, the Commander in Chief reminds the Brigadiers of the former order to provide Bayonets for their men and the officers of the necessity of procuring Espontoons. A return of the Stores in the Quarter-Master General’s department, also a return from the Waggon-Master General of the Waggons and...
28177To George Washington from Captain Stephen Chambers, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favor of the 15th Inst. and think myself well rewarded for doing my duty in having your Excellencys approbation of my proce[ed]ings—Since my last I have got Nothing Considerable going to Market (Some pork Turkeys, fowls, butter, and five or six hundred of Flower excepted) Notwithstanding I have been Constantly near the Enemys lines, and I believe from my Knowledge of the Country...
28178From George Washington to Mr. Henry, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you to finish the Cloaths herewi⟨th⟩ sent without delay and in the best manner you can. ⟨mutilated⟩ doing you will much oblige Yr Hble Servt P.S. The bearer will give you all the assistance he can. ALS , NjFrHi . Addressed to Henry “at Brunswick,” probably New Jersey.
28179To George Washington from William Livingston, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Perhaps upon the representation of our affairs below in the inclosed, your Excellency will think it expedient to order the Jersey Battalion to our relief —It is true part of our Misfortunes, that of not providing pay for the militia is our own fault—Yet it is pity that the Country should be ravaged upon that account—I know your Excellency will do what is proper, & shall therefore not pretend...
28180To George Washington from Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your orders ⅌ Express this Morning one o’Clock & in obedience to them returned on my way to Camp thus far, where I was obliged to remain till this time to get provision for the Men who suffered much for want of it on their March. I Just recd information that a large detachment of the Enemy came out to Germantown, but hearing of our being here turned off to their right, & are on the old...
28181From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Proctor and Captains Winthrop Sargent, John Doughty, and Thomas Clark, 23 March … (Washington Papers)
Business has prevented my answering yours of the 18th before this time. If I have given Capt. Duplessis a character, in my recommendation of him to Congress, which he does not deserve, I have done it through misinformation. As you very well know, I was not an eye witness of any part of his conduct or behaviour. I took the matter up from Colo. Greens letters, who commanded at Fort Mercer, and...
28182From George Washington to Colonel Silvanus Seely, 23 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 20th informing of the embarkation of Troops at New York—I shall be much obliged to you to endeavour if possible to find out their destination, and if you can find it out, let me know by Express. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, NjMoHP ; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The LS is dated only “1778,” but the draft by Richard Kidder...
28183From James Madison to William Bradford, 23 March 1778 (Madison Papers)
An Express being just setting off for Head Quarters, I cannot help imparting to you some very agreeable intelligence just recd. A Capt. of a Letter of Marke Vessel from thi[s] State, writes to the Govr. from Cheasepeak Bay that he left Martinique on the 23 Ult. that Letters had been recd. there from France as lat[e] as 1st. from sundry respectable Merchts. relating that the French Court had...
28184From James Madison to David Ross, 23 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
Be Pleased to Pay to the Order of Messrs Peter Whiteside & Co. The Sum of Two hundred Pounds this Currency, being the Amount I have received from them on Account of the Virginia delegation, and for which I have given them two dfts on you of this Tenor & date. Sir RC , two copies ( Vi ). Both copies in an unidentified hand, signed by JM.
28185The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 24 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yorktown, 24 March 1778. FC ( PCC , No. 79, I). This is Instruction No. 3, which probably reached the Commissioners in late April, having first arrived at Bilboa on a vessel “from Baltimore in 22 days” (John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 21 April , below). In its first communication to the Commissioners since JA ’s departure, the Committee for Foreign Affairs commented on the depreciation of...
28186From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress My dear old Friend was in the right not “to call in question the Sincerity of my Words where I say Feb. 12. we can treat if any Propositions are made to us.” They were true then, and are so still, if Britain has not declared War with France; for in that case we shall undoubtedly think ourselves obliged to continue the War as long as she does. But methinks you...
28187From Benjamin Franklin to William Lee, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Maryland Historical Society; copy: Harvard University Library Dr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. W. Lee and informs him, that the Treaty of Alliance, is ordered by the Court of France, to be kept a Secret, ’till they think fit to publish it. Addressed: Honble William Lee Esqr / Chaillot. Or possibly a copy; in WTF ’s hand.
28188The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II): copy and transcript of each letter, National Archives I cannot consent to omit this oportunity of addressing a few lines to you though the state of our military operations affords nothing material. The manners of the Continent are to much affected by the depreciation of our Currency. Scarce an Officer Civil or military but feels something of a desire to be concerned in mercantile...
28189Dumas to the American Commissioners, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Voici ce qu’on m’écrit d’Amsterdam en date du 22e. “On soutient aujourd’hui, que la guerre a été déclarée vendredi à Londres contre la France. L’agitation est visible ici: l’un par la crainte pour ses fonds; l’autre par celle que notre république ne soit embarquée avec...
28190Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 24 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library Since my last of 21st Instant I have nothing to inform your Excellencies relative to Business, the weather having been such as to prevent any operation. The last post from Brest brings accounts of the Return of Monsr. la motte Picquet with his Fleet. He left our Ships in Latt. 42 Longd. 17 with a fine wind which continued fifteen Days. After Seperation...
28191General Orders, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Continental Congress have been pleased to appoint Major General Greene Quarter Master General in the Army of The-United-States reserving to him his rank of Major General in the same and John Cox and Charles Pettit Esquires Assistants Quarter Master General, all of whom respectively are to be considered and respected accordingly. At nine ôClock precisely all the Brigades will...
28192From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonels Francis Barber and John Brooks, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
With a view of establishing uniformity of discipline and manœuvres in the army, it is in agitation to form an inspectorship distributed among different officers; the Baron Steuben a Gentleman of high military rank, profound knowledge and great experience in his profession, is placed at the head of this department—as Assistants to him four subinspectors are to be appointed who will be charged...
28193To George Washington from Captain Stephen Chambers, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since the Sealing of my letter of the 23rd Inst. Mrs Morris’s Daughter call’d on me for the Grey horse taken from her Mother as they were going to move into the Country this day. her Situation induced me to return him tho’ he is mentd to your Excellency in my letter. Mrs Morris informs me that there is a Lady at her house who came out of Philada yesterday who knows two fellows that are gone to...
28194To George Washington from Colonel George Gibson, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honour to receive Your Excys favour of the 22d currt, It is not in my power to comply with your Excys order respectg the Two British serjeants immediately. the Horses taken with them have been sent to York town on public business from whence they are momently expected, so soon as they arrive they shall be sent off & your Excys orders respectg them Shall be fully comply’d...
28195To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Express just going off I have only Time to do myself the honor to acquaint your Excellency that the Warren Frigate commanded by Captain Hopkins arrived here the last evening, having made a short Cruise after she sailed from Providence, in which she has taken two or three prises, one of which is from Liverpool and has a quantity of Canvas on board, an Article much wanted at this time. It is...
28196To George Washington from Francis Hopkinson, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you about a Week ago respecting the arbitrary Conduct of Genl Howe in confining Capt. Robinson & Capt. Galt who went in to the City under the Sanction of a regular Flag —altho’ I have no Doubt but your Excellency will do whatever is proper in the affair, yet, as I have not had the Satisfaction of hearing any thing further, I am not a little anxious about it. We have certain...
28197To George Washington from Major John Jameson, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I little expected when I left Camp that Horses were at such an intolerable price there is no such thing as a Horse for less than one hundred Pounds and from that to two hundred for one that will make a decent appearance I am advised to try under the Mountain but really Money is thought so little of here that I have no patience I am well convinced from what I have seen and heard that every...
28198From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Herewith I do myself the honor to inclose copies of a Letter from an Officer of Militia at Elizabeth Town to me, & an extract of a Letter from one of Mr Boudinots deputies, at Boston, to him; both tending to induce a belief, that the enemy have some enterprize in contemplation —what this is, time must discover—I have, this whole winter, been clearly of opinion, that Genl Howe’s movements would...
28199To George Washington from James Lovell, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will form a Judgement upon the following Extract of a Letter from the Honble Thos Cushing by weighing it with the various Intelligence which you receive from other Quarters. It has been long on the Road from the Difficulty of passing Hudson’s River where the Express left his Horse on the 11th of this month. Extract Mr Hancock having just informed me that he shall send off an Express...
28200From George Washington to Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 24 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of yesterday by Major Duvall—As the principal object of your detachment is the protection of the Cattle said to have been expected to cross at Sherards Ferry, all your movements and operations are to be directed to that end, and you will take the best means to answer it effectually. The intelligence which you may receive concerning the motions & number of the Enemys...