28651To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 16 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. Israel Shreve, 16 April 1778. On 25 April, GW wrote Shreve , “I have received your favor of the 16th inclosing a return of the prisoners taken by the enemy near Coopers Ferry.”
28652To George Washington from Cornet [John] White, 16 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Cornet [John] White, 16 April 1778. On 16 April, John Laurens wrote White: “His Excellency has received your Letter of this date giving information of the desertion of one of your Dragoons—as he will probably give intelligence of your Situation and Strength, as well as some account of the Radnor Picket, extraordinary vigilance should be used to frustrate any enterprise...
28653April 17. Vendredi. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home with Company—Mr. Platt and his Lady—Mr. Amiel and his Lady—Mr. Austin—Mr. Alexander &c. After Dinner, went to the long Champ, where all the Carriages in Paris were paraded which it seems is a Custom on good Fryday. See, further, JA ’s Autobiography under the present date .
28654[April 17. Fryday.] (Adams Papers)
April 17. Fryday. We dined home with Company. Mr. Platt and his Lady, Mr. Amiel and his Lady, Mr. Austin, Mr. Alexander &c. There were two Alexanders, one a Batcheller, the other with a Family of several Daughters, one of whom Mr. Jonathan Williams afterwards married. They lived in a House not far from Us, were from Scotland, and had some connection with Mr. Franklin, which I never understood...
28655Joseph Belton to the Commissioners, 17 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Being unforunately, on a Voyge from Baltimore to Charles Town, in January last, disabled at sea, through stress of Weather, which occasion’d my faling into the hands of Capt. Man, and carried into Dover in England, and sent on Board the guard Ship in the Downs, a Prisoner, from Whence at length I obtaind my liberty by an order from the board of Admiralty, And being in an enimies Countery, and...
28656From Benjamin Franklin to James Jay, 17 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I knew before the Receipt of your Letter (to which you request an Answer) that implicit Faith could be no part of your Character; For I remember’d that in January or Feby. 1777, you quarrel’d with all the Commissioners for not engaging two Officers of your Recommending, and would not believe them tho’ they all assur’d you seriously that they had no...
28657Joseph Belton to the American Commissioners, 17 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, April 17, 1778: I was captured at sea last January en route from Baltimore to Charleston, and imprisoned in England until the Admiralty released me; I then came here needing assistance. You will, I hope, lend me fifteen guineas, which I will repay on my return to America. > Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 37. Belton had been experimenting...
28658James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 17 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to refer you to what I had the honor of writing you the 15th instant since which one James Miggins Sailor, a native of America, writes me from on board the Hawk privateer belonging to London, which was brought into this harbour some time since by the Oiseau Frigate, that on his passage from Nantes to America on board the Ship Hancock and Adams...
28659General Orders, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Regimental Quarter Masters are directed to go into the Country and make Contracts with proper Persons for bringing in Milk and other Necessaries for the sick—Such Contracts it is expected they will compleat by the 21st instant, after which day no Passes are to be granted to any Persons whatever to go out of Camp for the Purpose of purchasing Provision of any kind. Henceforward no officer,...
28660To George Washington from Robert Eden, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the different Parts, Sir, that we have taken in the unhappy differences still subsisting between Great Britain and America, I flatter myself there yet remains a mutual Share of Esteem between Your Excellency and me; And I hope you do me the Justice to think that, should the Commissioners, by whom I have the Honour of sending this, be fortunate enough to accomplish a...
28661To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr de Wolffen, a Prussian officer, of the rank of lieutenant, will have the honour of delivering your Excellency this letter. He came to America to engage in the service of the United States. He appears to be extremely active and alert; and having been (as he informs us) an Aid Major to an Inspector General of Discipline in the Prussian Armies, we conceived he might be a useful assistant to...
28662To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing Your Excellency the 14th by Barry. I am now to present & refer Your Excellency to two Acts of Congress which will accompany this. 1. of the 14th for empowering the Commissary of purchases to appoint & remove subordinate Officers & for divers establishments & regulations in that department. 2. of the 15th for appointing the Honorable Major General Gates to the...
28663To George Washington from William Livingston, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I inclose for your Excellency’s perusal the 475 No. of Townes Evening Post on Account of a publication in it in the Character of a Resolution of Congress of the 20 of february; which I suspect for a forgery. If it be it is calculated to do the most intensive Mischief, & Indeed if genuine it will I fear be unhappily attended with fatal Consequences—In the latter case however, we must bear the...
28664From George Washington to James Mease, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
scarcely a day passes but I am either applied to by different Officers for cloathing, or by persons for payment or some Business in the Cloathiers Generals department. To the first, I can give no satisfactory answer, because I am intirely ignorant of the quantity which you have on hand or in expectation—To the last, I can only refer them to you, at such a distance, that they think it very hard...
28665To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 17 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, 17 April 1778. On 18 April, GW wrote to Smallwood , “I have this moment recd yours of yesterday by Capt. patton.”
28666To George Washington from William Tryon, 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having been honored with His Majesty’s Instructions to Circulate the Inclosures; I take the liberty to offer them to you, for your Candid Consideration, and to recommend that through your means, the Officers and Men under your Command may be acquainted with their Contents. I am Sir, Your very humble Servt LS , DNA:PCC , item 152; copy, DNA:PCC , item 169; copy, P.R.O. , 5/1108, Colonial...
28667From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 17 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have long been convinced that one great cause of the backwardness of the people to supply us with Articles in the Qr Masters and Commissary’s departments, has been owing to the imprudent choice of deputies in those departments, who have not only personally abused the inhabitants, but have defrauded them of great part of their dues. So glaring an instance, of one of these improper...
286681778 April 18. Samedi. (Adams Papers)
This Morning the Father of General Conway came to visit me, and enquire after his Son as well as American Affairs. He seems a venerable Personage. Dined at Mr. Bouffets, who speaks a little English. Mr. Bouffetts Brother, Mr. Veillard, M. Le Fevre, L’Abbe des Prades, Mr. Borry, &c. were there. Called and drank Tea at Mm. Brillons. Then made a Visit to M. Boullainvilliers, and his Lady, who is...
28669[April 18. Saturday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
April 18. Saturday. 1778. This morning, the Father of General Conway, a venerable Personage from Ireland originally as I presume, came to visit me and enquire concerning his Son and American Affairs in General. Dined at Mr. Bouffets, who spoke a little English. The Company consisted of Mr. Bouffets Brother, Mr. Veillard, Mr. Le Fevre, The Abbe des Prades, Mr. Borry and others. On our return...
28670John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 18 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of addressing you last, I have found in the office a Narrative respecting Count Pulaski, a copy of which is inclosed. He is a great Character. Congress, in confidence of his military skill and prowess, and attachment to the American Cause, have authorised him to raise sixty eight Horse and two hundred Foot. The Horsemen are to be armed with Lancets, and the Foot in the...
28671John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 18 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Monsr. Le Comte de Fumel Governor of the Castle call’d at my Lodgings to inform me that Monsieur De Sartine in answer to the Letter he wrote had sent him Instructions to pay all the Honors due to Ships of War of forreign States to the Boston Frigate and to every other Vessel belonging and in the Service of the United States of America, requesting I would give him Notice before the...
28672Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 18 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellencies favour of the 13 Instant I have duely received. You may depend that I shall not make any new Engagements without your express Orders. I apprehend I shall very soon satisfy every demand on the public Account, ’till when I must beg a Continuation of your Approbation of my Drafts on Mr. Grand. Had I not been prevented by Illness my Accounts would have been at present before you....
28673To Benjamin Franklin from James Jay, 18 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Affair of the Officers last winter having nothing to do with our present business, I decline saying any thing on the subject, without however admitting that the representation you give of it is free of error. Had you read what I said of implicit faith with a little more attention, you would have found it was applied to matters of judgment, not of...
28674From Benjamin Franklin to James Jay, 18 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society The Affair of the Officers last Winter had this Relation to the Matter of your Letter. If you are convinc’d you ought to have believ’d me then; that might induce you to give me a little Credit now. Your Character and Conduct respecting the Welfare of America are not at present in question. When they are, they will doubtless speak for themselves....
28675From Benjamin Franklin to [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], [18 April 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society The many Affairs [ illegible ] our hands, with the [ illegible ] Departure, who used to take [ illegible ] [correspon]dence with you, have [ illegible ] answering your Letters [ illegible ] got them together, and answering them, if your Arrival here, which I much desire, does not make it unnecessary. If you can [ illegible ] necessary Ac[counts?]...
28676John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 18 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society <Bordeaux, April 18, 1778: The comte de Fumel informed me yesterday that M. de Sartine instructed him to give American warships the honors due to those of foreign states. The careening of the Boston will be finished this evening.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 38.
28677Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Nantes, April 18, 1778: I have received yours of the 13th, and will make no new commitments without your orders; you will I hope, honor my drafts for those already made. The workmen are repairing the less damaged weapons; repairing them all would take at least two years. If the operation were stopped, and the men sent back to Liège, the remaining arms...
28678To Benjamin Franklin from Johann Lorenz Boeckmann, 18 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vôtre noble charactere, pour qui il n’est rien de petit, quand la felicitê humaine y est interessée, excusera, je l’espère, la hardiesse par laquelle je viens de tourner les yeux de Vôtre Excellence des affaires les plus importantes pour les fixer sur un objet particulier et bien moins interessant. Monseigneur, le Marggrave de Baaden, ce grand connoisseur...
28679To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, 18 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Very sudden and particular Business deprive me and Mrs. M. the pleasure we propos’d ourselves in being at Passi to Morrow. But we hope the honour of paying our Respects in a few Days to the amiable Persons whom we venerate at your House. I am Sir Your most obedient Servant Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / A Passi Notation: C. Melmoth, April...
28680To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library As I have never had any recall of the powers the Commissioners gave me, I was in Duty bound to signify to Mr. Schweighauser that I should oppose those of his powers from Mr. Lee that should interfere with mine. Mr. A. Lee is informed of this and demands of me Copies of the Powers I hold from the Commissioners, which I have accordingly made out, but as I do not...