30511Otto 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...
30512John 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...
30513From 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....
30514Thomas 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...
30515From 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....
30516To 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...
30517To 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...
30518To 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...
30519To 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...
30520From 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...
30521From 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...
30522From 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...
30523To Thomas Jefferson from John Augustus Chevallie, 21 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
J. A. Chevallié Present his respectful compliments to his Excellency the President & take the liberty of Enclosing an Abstract of James McKay’s travels up the Missoury which he received last Evening from St. Louis des Illinois. if the President has not seen it before, he will be Very Wellcome to Direct a Copy to be taken, previous to its being returned to J.A.C. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
30524Report 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...
30525[Diary entry: 19 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
19. Calm in the Morning, & somewhat lowering afterwards, Wind Southerly & Mer. at 34 at Night.
30526From 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...
30527From 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...
30528To 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...
30529To 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...
3053016th. (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...
30532To 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...
30533To 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...
30534To 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...
30535George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 17 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point, August 17, 1779. Questions honesty of Elijah Hunter, a spy. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
30536To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
When last in Philadelphia you mentioned to me your wish that I should re dress a certain paper which you had prepared—As it is important that a thing of this kind should be done with great care and much at leisure touched & retouched, I submit a wish that as soon as you have given it the body you mean it to have that it may be sent to me. A few days since I transmitted you the copy of a letter...
30537Henry Clay to James Madison, 10 October 1828 (Madison Papers)
(Confidential) I have been informed, through a respected channel, with which I presume you are acquainted, that it would conduce greatly to the comfort of Mrs. Randolph, the daughter of Mr. Jefferson, if her son in law Mr. Trist was appointed to some Clerkship in one of the Departments here; and that, in that event, she would establish herself in this City. A vacancy having recently occurred...
30538To George Washington from Robert Hanson Harrison, 5 April 1770 (Washington Papers)
I am of Opinion that by the Common Law, you cannot divert the natural course of the Run by cutting of a Race through your own Land; It being stated by Mr Washington that thereby J. Barry would be deprived of Water Necessary for his Cattle &c.—as on the Authorities—1 Bar Abridgement 45.54. Carth. 117. Com. 69. 5 Mod. &c. I also am of opinion that was a Jury by an order of Court founded on a...
30539[Diary entry: 9 January 1775] (Washington Papers)
9th. Clear & pleasant though a hard frost in the Morning being calm. Wind Southerly afterwards & a little lowering.
30540From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The character and circumstances of Capt. McLean, which appear to have interested your Excellency, are such as incline me to favour his views of reentering the Service. The vacancy in Armand’s Corps has been mentioned as the best opening for him—but the pretentions of the Officers in it, who claim succession were opposed as insurmountable difficulties; To obviate these it has been proposed that...