30511From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
The report that John Quincy Adams has written to his father, or any one else that “the war which the United States has declared, and is waging against England is in his opinion unjust and unnecessary;” whether fabricated in Halifax or Boston is altogether groundless. Mr Quincy’s resolve is slacking. Louis 14th Fistula drained his brain of vapours. Vide Talk of a tub. You have not acknowledged...
30512Enclosure II: Notices sur la Vie de Benjamin Franklin, 3 September 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Josias Franklin nè en Angleterre, etabli en Boston en 1680 , a eu sept Enfans d’une premiere femme, & dix d’une seconde. Benjamin est le 8me. des derniers. A l’age de douze Ans Benjamin est mis en apprentissage chez un de ses freres ainès age de vint deux ans , imprimeur a Boston, d’un caractere dur & imperieux. Benj. intelligent, adroit & actif est très utile a son Frere. Il se brouille avec...
30513To James Madison from Philip Freneau, 22 November 1772 (Madison Papers)
If I am not wrongly informed by my memory, I have not seen you since last April. you may recollect I was then undertaking a School at Flatbush on Long Island. I did enter upon the business it is certain and continued in it thirteen days—but—“Long Island I have bid adieu, with all its bruitish brainless crew. The youth of that detested place, are void of reason and of grace, From Flushing hills...
30514From Benjamin Franklin to John Harris, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Letters of the 7th. Instant. I wish it was in my Power to Accommodate the exchang’d Prisoners with every thing they desire. But the Number is so great, and my Means so Small by the Loss of Several Cargoes sent by the Congress, that it is with difficulty I can provide them with mere Necessaries. I have directed M. Sheweighauser to furnish the Officers...
30515[Diary entry: 26 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Munday 26th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 78 at Night. The forenoon was clear and calm—as was the Afternoon except a cloud which rose to the westward and produced rain and a very high wind in the Night. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run and Ferry Plantations. Found the Muddy hole people in the Eastermost cut of Corn having finished (with the hoes) the Middle cut on Saturday. The...
30516Enclosure: James Mather to William C. C. Claiborne, 5 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not been able till this day to collect sufficient information from the French & Spanish authorities, concerning the powers vested in the Governors for the Kings either of France or Spain , to prevent encroachments on the demesne of the crown, & public property in general. I flatter myself however that the following quotations will fully elucidate this point of law. 1 o See Vattel , the...
30517Otto to Vergennes, 10 January 1786 (Jay Papers)
Mr. Jay’s political importance increases every day. Congress appears to be directed only by his promptings, and it is as difficult to obtain anything without his cooperation as to have a measure he has proposed rejected. The indolence of most of the members of Congress and the ignorance of some others account for this Superiority. People find it far easier to ask the opinion of the Minister of...
30518John M. Patton to James Madison, 9 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter was handed to me by Mr. Verplanck Member of Congress from the City of New York, to be sent or delivered to you together with, a package, which I suppose the letter describes. It is about 12 inches square, and Mr. Verplanck, cautioned me against, doubling or folding it so that it cannot be sent by the conveyance which takes this communication Will you if an opportunity...
30519From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 22 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society However glad I am of the Occasion, I forbore indulging my self in the Pleasure of congratulating by the first Post my dear double Confrere, on his Election into our Royal Society; because Mr. Walsh undertook to give you the Information, which would make a Second Expence unnecessary, and I saw I should soon have this opportunity by the favour of M....
30520Thomas Jefferson to Charles Pinckney, 29 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
M rs Trist , daughter of the late mrs House of Philadelphia , both of them probably known to you, is now with us on a visit, and has been rendered extremely miserable by a paragraph in a Charleston paper, called the Strength of the people, mentioning the death of Samuel House ‘an old and respectable inhabitant of that city.’ she had a brother of that name, who has been living in Charleston...
30521From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 3 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
From some returns which have already come to me I am led to fear that smuggling has already began in some parts of our eastern extremity. I have under consideration the business of establishing Guard boats, and will be much obliged to you for you[r] ideas on this subject—the usefulness of the thing, the kind of boats the plan upon which they ought to be established and the probable expence....
30522From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Johnston, 3 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Messrs Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond informed me some time ago that about the last of May, the sent two boxes of mine to you, the one to be forwarded to mr Peale at Philadelphia, the other to myself here. I heard some time ago of the safe arrival of the one at Philadelphia; but hearing nothing of that which was to come to me here, I have feared some inattention of the master of the vessel...
30523To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Finley, 21 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer, Mr: James Lyon, who is well known in Philadelphia, desired me to introduce him to you by a Line. He waits on you for your Opinion of a Scheme for a Settlement on Mississipi, which he will Show you; and for your Directions, and, if you Shall see Cause to approve any thing to that Purpose, your assistance. He is a young Gentleman of a very good...
30524To Alexander Hamilton from James Kitchen, 7 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
James Kitchen of the City Tavern in Philaa. at the request of Amelia Geary begs leave to inform his Excellency General Hamilton that Morris Geary her Husband lived with him for a considerable time, until he was apprehended as a deserter from the Army under the command of Gen St. Clair, that during which he conducted himself as an honest & industrious man & gained the esteem of most gentlemen...
30525To George Washington from Colonel Philip Burr Bradley, 10 July 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Colonel Philip Burr Bradley, 10 July 1776. On 11 July Richard Cary wrote to Bradley: “I am commanded by his Excellency to return you for answer to your favr of yesterday, that upon the representation you have made of the peculiar Situation and circumstances of some Families on Bergen Neck, he has not the least objection to allowing each of them the use of two or three...
30526To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11th. came to hand the day before yesterday. I am just setting off to Monroe’s and hope to prevent the trouble of an express from Monticello with the letter referred to in it. I have already acquainted you with the immediate object of this visit. I have just received a line from him expressing a particular desire to communicate with me, and reminding me that he sets off the...
30527From James Madison to James Monroe, 14 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive the ratification by the President and Senate, of the Convention with the British Government signed on the 12th of May 1803, with an exception of the Vth article. Should the British Government accede to this change in the instrument, you will proceed to an exchange of ratifications and transmit the one received, without delay, in order that the proper steps may be...
30528From James Madison to Congress, 9 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
I lay before Congress copies of certain Documents, which remain in the Department of State. They prove that at a recent period, whilst the United States, notwithstanding the wrongs sustained by them, ceased not to observe the laws of peace and neutrality towards Great Britain; and in the midst of amicable professions and negociations on the part of the British Government, through its public...
30529From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 22 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received this day the letter which your Excellency did me the honour to write me on the Twenty first Day of this Month. I thank your Excellency for the Confidence, which induced you to communicate this letter to me, and the continuance of which I shall ever study to deserve. When your Excellency says that his Majesty’s Minister at Congress, has already received Orders to make...
30530Report on the Petition of Oliver Bowen, [27 February 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred by an Order of the House of Representatives of the 16th of February 1793, the Petition of Oliver Bowen, thereupon respectfully reports as follows— The petition seeks an Allowance of Interest upon a Settlement made by the State of Georgia in the year 1783, for Supplies furnished during the late War. The Secretary is of Opinion that an...
30531[Diary entry: 19 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
19. Calm in the Morning, & somewhat lowering afterwards, Wind Southerly & Mer. at 34 at Night.
30532From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
With what words, My dear Count, shall I express to you the sensibility of a heart which you have warmed by the flattering sentiments that are conveyed in your Letters of the 14 of April, and 13th of July. Your Sovereign has a claim to my highest admiration, respect & veneration. Your Nation is entitled to all my gratitude—and those individuals of it who have been my Companions in War to my...
30533From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 21, 1789. “An application has been lately made to me by the Board of wardens of the Port of Philadelphia for the reimbursement of a Sum of money by them expended for the maintenance and Support of the Light house, Beacons &ca in the Bay and River Delaware.… As it is necessary that these Establishments Should be properly Supported, you will advance to Wm Allibone...
30534To George Washington from George Clinton, 19 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a Letter that I have this Moment received from Colo. Van Schaick by the Express who carries this to your Excellency giving a most disagreable Picture of the Situation of our Frontier Settlements. As well from his Account as from Intelligence I have received from different Quarters there is every Reason to believe that the Enemy meditate the Destruction of Tryon County and this...
30535To John Adams from William Cunningham, 6 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
I was duly favoured with yours of the 24th. ult. The species of sensibility excited by your Letters in March, are defined by the interest I take in whatever affects your repose, your happiness, and your just claims on the affection, confidence and gratitude of a Country reared under your paternal care. If it can be necessary to be more particular—they were the various and refined emotions...
3053616th. (Adams Papers)
We recite two or three times more, in s’Gravesande’s, but next quarter, we shall begin upon Ferguson’s Astronomy. Mr. Williams had a lecture, upon Trigonometry, very few of the Class attended. Charles went to Boston in the morning, and at length, brought the books, which are mostly upon philosophical subjects. Mead was at my Chamber in the evening. About half the Class are gone. I declaimed...
Inclosed is a Letter which was sent to me, two Days ago, by M r . Samuel Nicoll, who lately returned from England to New-York. He informs me that “it contains mercantile Matters of some Consequence tho of an old Date.” M r . Nicoll is a Brother of your old Acquaintance, Ned Nicoll, & went to Edingburgh, in the Beginning of the War, to perfect himself in the Knowlege of Physick. The more I...
30538To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 6 September 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The Chevalier D’Anmour who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, having been lately appointed Consul of France for this State, as he before was for Maryland, comes now to pay his respects to you. I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with this gentleman since early in the year 1777 and I have found in him the same unshaken attachment to our cause in times of its great...
30539To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to refer to a private Letter of yesterday by Gray, in which I acknowledged the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letters to Congress of the 28th & 29th Ulto & 1st Inst. I should have added the 21st Ulto which came to hand the 2d Inst. With some difficulty a Congress was collected yesterday, Your Excellency’s Letters were immediately taken under consideration & the House unanimously...
30540To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Peyton, 17 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to make you acquainted with Mr. Joseph Cowings a gentlemen just arrived here from England, who has solicited me to afford him this introduction I am respectfully Yr Ob. Servt. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 21 June “by mr Cowings” and so recorded in SJL . Joseph Cowing settled in Alexandria, where he became a schoolmaster and filled leadership roles in several civic...