3191To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 2 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society May this find Your Excellency in a better state of health, then we observed by the reception of her last favour, she had been in, this being our wish, and to obey always her most respected Commands, we have Accepted, to be comprehended with those of the Month of October the three thousand eigt hundred and Fifty Gilders on Mr. Laurens, and we have taken the...
3192From Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 26 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson’s compliments to Mr. Carey and incloses him a N Caroli[na] newspaper containing a convention between the two states of Virginia and N Carolina and submitting to Mr. Carey whether it be not worth a place in his Museum. Th: Jefferson has been told that the same convention is complete in the ac[t] of Virginia of about 1786, but he does not possess the act. RC not found but sold at...
3193Tobias Lear to Samuel Hanson, [21 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
I am directed by the President [of the U. S.] to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 10th of March and to give you the following answer. The law appears to contemplate the surveyor where there is one at a Port, as the person who is ordinarily to perform the service of measuring Vessels, and it may be inferred that the exercise of the power given to the Collector to appoint persons for...
3194From Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Zane, [ca. 1773–1778] [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
You must give me leave to return you the inclosed, as I have laid aside the distressing trade of receiving money for serving my friends. the pleasure of doing them an acceptable office is the richest reward which can be conferred on me, and I never think them ungenerous but when they decline giving me an opportunity of proving this. the late occasion too was peculiarly sacred. the packet to...
3195From Thomas Jefferson to Castries, 9 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
On receiving the honor of your Excellency’s letter of December 30 on the subject of the debts due by Robinson and Francfort to Françoise Rippert, I asked of Captain Jones those informations which his office had put him in possession of. I now trouble you with a copy of his letter on the subject. Your Excellency will find by that that Robinson having belonged to the Alliance, and the portions...
3196From John Adams to United States Senate, 13 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
A Resolution of both Houses of Congress, authorizing an adjournment on Monday the 16th of this month has been laid before me—Sensible of the severity of the service in so long a session, it is with great Reluctance, that I find myself obliged to offer any consideration, which may operate against the inclinations of the Members; but certain measures of Executive Authority, which will Require...
3197From George Washington to George Emlen, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 20th November, respecting the damage done to your farm by the Army in the Fall 1777, and am not a little surpd that General Mifflin should refer you to me when he well knows that this is a business clearly within the line of the Quarter Masters department, & that every Acct of the kind is to be settled by him, up to the date of General Greene’s appointment to that...
3198[Diary entry: 27 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Feby. 27. Very little Wind & that Southerly but raind of and on the whole day. Continued plowing while the Weather woud permit, and the People, viz. George, Kate, Doll, & little George were employd in Grubing the Field by the Garden. Nations’s horse that was destraind on for my Rent was sold at Publick Auction to Mr. Tom Triplet for £5. Peter had got his Coal drawn & brought in one...
3199From George Washington to Sarah Franklin Bache, 15 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should have done myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter you did me the favor to write on the 26th of December, at the moment it came to hand, had not some affairs of a very unusual Nature (which are too recent and notorious to require explanation) engaged my whole attention —I pray you now to be perswaded, that a sense of the patriotic exertions of yourself, and the Ladies...
3200From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, 29 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
Our Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, in a Letter of 13. Ap. informs me, that he wrote Us a Letter by Capt. Lamb dated 11. March, inclosing a Variety of Papers respecting the Treaties We are directed to negotiate and conclude with the Barbary Powers. inclosed is a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 14. Feb. 1785, inclosed to me, in the Secretary’s Letter.— I know nothing of Capt Lambs...
3201To George Washington from Landon Carter, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
If any thing could alleviate my feelings for you in your Pro virili retreat indeed! A Small remnant of an army, who respected their general & their country, more than they did a visit to their wives and families, under all the ravagements & ravishments of an enimy, if not properly withstood: I say if any thing could alleviate such feelings, it was my active anxiousness, to encourage the...
3202To George Washington from Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 15 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
Being honoured with a recommendatory letter of the Marquis de La Fayette to your Excellency, in view to adsist my endeavours to Settle my in this commonwealth with my wife and two children, who followed their husband and father from the Unhappy Nethelands I thougth it my duty to Sent that letter to your Excellency, as soon Possible. Althoug I lost the greatest part of my fortune in the defence...
3203To James Madison from John Armstrong, 29 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
The delay in our sailing, which, under various pretences, has been kept up from the 15th. ’till this morning, has afforded an oppertunity of receiving your letter of the 21st. with its inclosures. In another respect We may have lost nothing by it; the winds for three weeks past have been uniformly from the East, and must have produced a tedious and unpleasant passage, without insuring to us an...
3204From Thomas Jefferson to Margaret Bayard Smith, 27 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns mrs Smith many thanks for the plants she was so kind as to send him yesterday, and which are very acceptable. he will not give mrs Smith the additional trouble of taking care of them through the season, but sends them up to mr Maine who has some others in charge for him. he does not recollect whether he gave mrs Smith some plants of the Aspen, of a parcel he formerly...
3205From John Adams to William MacCreery, 25 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours from Bordeaux of the 17th I have received—and congratulate you on your agreable Accounts from America. My Accounts altho not quite so late as yours, are from unquestionable Authority and to the same Effect. The Letter you mention as intercepted and published in a London Paper, has every fretfull angry Symptom of Disappointment in visionary schemes of Gain. If every Man in the service of...
3206To George Washington from Thomas Cresap, 21 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have just now Received Yours of Feby 7 last , wherein You tell me that the Executors of Your Brother have been lately informed of my having taken Possession of some Lands belonging to him, which Information is not true; for I only claim my Own which I have been always in Possession of, And the very Person who made that Complaint has Rented it of me these two Years past and being called on...
3207To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 5 July [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to the Secretary of State—requests to be informed, if it will be convenient to him to meet the Secretary at War and Mr. H. to day at twelve oClock. If it will, they will be at that hour at Mr. Jefferson’s office. RC ( DLC ); partially dated; endorsed by TJ as received 5 July 1793 and so recorded in SJL .
3208From James Madison to Charles Haumont, 16 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th. Ult, and assure you that it would give me pleasure to contribute to the means of restoring you to your friends and Country. The Official dispatches of this Government being entitled to inviolable security in passing to their destinations, it must be an important concern not to include among them papers which might injure or give just offence to the...
3209From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 13 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
The fundamental Article of my political Creed is, that Despotism, or unlimited Sovereignty, or absolute Power is the same in a Majority of a popular Assembly, and Aristocratical Counsel, an Oligarchical Junto and a Single Emperor. Equally arbitrary cruel bloody and in every respect, diabolical. Accordingly arbitrary Power, wherever it has resided, has never failed to destroy all the records...
3210John Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 17 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I am returned to my yearly servitude, and have began to drudge for the winter, if not for both winter and spring. I should long since have been weary of this laborious course, if, insignificant as my office appears, it had not been manifest upon several occasions, that some of the greatest questions upon the Constitution, as well as the great point of war or peace, had depended upon my...
3211Domenico Caracciolo, Marchese di Villamaina, to the American Commissioners, 8 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society Je suis persuadé, qu’il est deja a votre Connoissance, que le Roy des Deux Siciles mon Maitre á ordonné de tenir ouverts les Ports dans tous ses domaines au Pavillion des Etats Unis de L’Amerique au moyen de quoi pour eviter tous espece d’equivoque dans ces tems, que la mer est couverte des armateurs de differente...
3212Thomas Jefferson to John H. Cocke, 19 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Successive circumstances too long to be detailed in a letter, have prevented me hitherto for p from proposing a meeting of the Visitors of the College . that of the Visitors of the University being postponed to the 29 th of March renders our immediate meeting indispensable. I therefore propose to you to be at mr Madison ’s on in the forenoon of Friday next the 26 th
3213To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 7th, & the company of the Count de Custine, & the Marquis de Laval, to breakfast, who have since proceeded on their way to Phila. attended by Lt Colo. Mentges. Major Fishbourn has this moment returned from Elizabethtown, with the Inclosed Intelligence & papers, which is Corroborated by the Information of two Deserters from the 54th who left...
3214Abigail Smith to John Adams, 15 April 1764 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch informs me that Hones will go to Town tomorrow, and that I may not miss one opportunity, have now taken my pen to thank you for yours by Tom, and also for that which I have just now received by Mr. Ayres. You seem in high Spirits at which you know I rejoice. Your minute description of the persons you have seen, are very entertaining to me. I cannot consent you should omit writing,...
3215James Madison to Bernard Peyton, 11 May 1833 (Madison Papers)
Your letters of {2m#} & of {2m#} were duly recd. The articles referred to in the first were safely delivered & in every respect satisfactory. The sale of the 2 Hhds of Tobo. reported in the second, was as good as could be expected as it did not suit the taste of the Manufacturers; & brought the highest price of exported Tobo. On comparing it with a sample brought us by the Waggoner, of Mr...
3216To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Harrison, 2 January 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I have nothing to communicate to you either interesting or entertaining, the bad weather having cut off all communication with the country. Your favor of the 24th. ultimo really alarms me. Your fears of great britains taking advantage of any slip or neglect of ours are just, and what is still more to be dreaded than their resentment is the falling off of our allies in Europe who will never...
321724th. (Adams Papers)
Committee met again at Mr. Ware’s chamber; after reading all the letters, I was requested to select from them. White went to Boston, and spoke to Mr. Dingley, who sent back my volumes of Gibbon’s roman history. Drank tea and passed the evening in Mead’s chamber, and retired very early. The weather has grown quite moderate. The only extant copy of Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and...
3218From George Washington to Lund Washington, 13 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 30th Ulto with a Catalogue of my Books—When you go next to Abingdon, see if there is any there with my name or Arms in them, & forwd the list. I am truly unfortunate that after all the expence I have been at about my House, I am to encounter the third Edition, with the trouble & inconvenience of another cover to it, after my return. That there can have been...
3219[Diary entry: 20 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
20. Morning—lowering—wind Southerly & Mer. at 54. Variable weather all day. Mer. 62 at Night, & 64 at highest. Mr. Peter went away after breakfast and Mr. Townshend Dade & Mr. Nichs. Fitzhugh came to Din. Nicholas Fitzhugh’s sister Susannah Fitzhugh Dade (1757–1808) was married to Col. Townshend Dade of King George County.
3220To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 14 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your letters are full of aphorisms. Every paragraph in them suggests new ideas, or revives old ones. You have given a true picture of parties in our Country. We have indeed no national Character, and however much we boast of it, there are very few "true Americans" in the United States. We have four distinct parties in Pennsylvania. 1. old tories. 2. honest federalists. 3 violent democrats. 4....
3221To John Adams from James McHenry, 25 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of this morning which inclosed the last dispatches I had from General Wilkinson and others, I have thought it proper to write to the General relative to the subject of Mr. Powers’s mission, to prevent should any thing have delayed Cap Guion at Massac, any misconceptions on his part. I submit a copy of it. As I had sent off the original to which this letter refers, it is...
3222Marriage Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
In the spring of 1774, John Jay married and entered politics. At least one contemporary New Yorker, the Loyalist Thomas Jones, saw a link between the two events. According to Jones, Jay was the rejected suitor of two daughters of Peter De Lancey, a member of the family that led conservative forces in New York politics. In retaliation, Jones claimed, Jay “took a wife in . . . the Livingston...
3223To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have omitted writing to you for some time because I had it not in my power to ascertain the number of Volunteers that would enter into the Corps of Cavalry. After taking great pains and riding many Miles to raise this Corps, I am sorry to observe, that I have not hopes of it reaching one hundred, notwithstanding several of the first young Gentlemen in the Country have turn’d out to set the...
3224To George Washington from Alexander McCaskey, 19 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Having been on business in York County Pennsylvania at the time of Coll Ballards Death, & being Just return’d I found myself Anticipated in my intention by a Number of Respectable Applicants for the Surveyors Office. But Presuming on your Excellency’s Candour & goodness I have ventured tho’ Late to remind you of my former Application by letter with the Recommendations accompanying it, to which...
3225From Thomas Jefferson to James Cheetham, 23 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall be glad hereafter to recieve your daily paper by post, as usual, and instead of sending on the Republican Watch-tower , you will retain it, and at the end of the year send it to me in a volume bound in Blue boards.—it is proper I should know what our opponents say & do; yet really make a matter of conscience of not contributing to the support of their papers. I presume Coleman sends...
3226To John Adams from William Lee, 24 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Above ten Daies after its date I was honor’d with your favor of the 10 th. instant, & am indeed apprehensive with you, that America has lost the favorable moment for establish g a desirable commercial connection with Great Britain; but this is not the only, nor the greatest, mischief that has flow’d upon us from the same Source. you will by this time be able to judge of the dispositions of the...
3227III-A–6. Auditor’s Account of Lands and Acreage in the Estate, 1759 (Washington Papers)
An Account of the Lands in the Estate per the Auditors List. In the County of York 3074 Acres New Kent 6264 Northampton 4650 Hanover 911 King William 2880 In all 17779 Acres AD , ViLxW
3228To George Washington from George William Fairfax, 23 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
Being but just now informed that a Vessell is to Sail in a very few days from Bristol for Baltimore Town, I have only time to say, that I have received your favor dated the 30th of June last, and that I immediately applyed to Mr Rack, the Secretary to the Bath Agriculture Society (who corresponds with most of the Societys in this Kingdom) for his friendly assistance in makeing the enquiry for...
3229Samuel Stanhope Smith to GW, 18 May 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: Samuel Stanhope Smith to GW, 18 May 1797. On 24 May GW wrote Smith : “Your favour of the 18th instt was received by the last Post.”
3230Enclosure II: Drawing of the Cotton Gin, 28 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Tr ( GEpFAR : RG 21, U.S. Circuit Court, District of Georgia, Savannah, Mixed Cases); copy made from lost original, with minor copying errors as evidenced by the omission of several reference points in Enclosure I above; certified by Secretary of State James Madison on 27 Apr. 1804 (see note to Enclosure i above). A drawing made at the Patent Office on 18 Mch. 1845 and signed by Commissioner...
3231To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 7 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 April 1804, New Orleans. “I have received an answer to the letter which I addressed to the Marquis De Casa Calvo on the 28th. ultimo; a translation of the answer and of the documents accompanying it are preparing, and when completed, the originals shall be transmitted to you. It seems La Coquette was fitted out at this place, and was permitted to depart after the receipt of assurances from...
3232To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 September 1822 (Madison Papers)
My affairs in Albemarle, requiring my attendance there, again, before the meeting of Congress, & the Phisician deeming the exercise useful to Mrs Monroe’s health, we have resolvd to set out thither in a few days, & to call on you & Mrs Madison on the route. If we go by Loudon, which is not decided, it may be the last of the week (next) before we see you; but if we go direct, about the middle....
3233To Benjamin Franklin from the Conde de Sousa Coutinho, 20 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : Historical Society of Pennsylvania L’Ambassadeur de Portugal a l’honneur de faire ses compliments à Monsieur Francklin, et de rapeler à son souvenir le passeport et lettre de recommendation en faveur du Pere Patrice Ôcleary qui se dispose a passer en Amerique relativement à la succession dont il lui a parlé il y a quelque tems: L’Ambassadeur de Portugal auroit été voir lui même Monsieur...
3234To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 9 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Addressed to “The Hon’ble Mr. Maddison.” Long after JM received the letter, probably he or someone at his bidding placed a bracket at the close of the fourth paragraph. If JM meant that the first four paragraphs should be included in the earliest published collection of his papers, his wish was disregarded by Henry D. Gilpin, perhaps because the...
3235[Diary entry: 10 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
10th. At home all day. After Breakfast Mr. Campbell went away and in the Afternoon Mr. Hugh Stephenson came. Hugh Stephenson, a son of GW’s old friend Richard Stephenson of Frederick County and a half brother to Valentine and William Crawford, lived in the Shenandoah Valley until the Revolution. In response to a request by the Continental Congress in June 1775, Virginia raised two companies of...
3236Monies Expended on the President’s House, 1807, 31 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Abstract of Monies expended on Account of the Presidents House in the Year 1807 per Report No. 20,567— To whom paid & for what purpose N. of Voucher Dolls Cts Ephraim Haines 1 54 95
3237From Thomas Jefferson to John Key, 8 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now engaged in the settlement of my account with Inis wherein I do not think he has credited my tobacco at just prices. As this was during the years you had the management of my affairs, I am obliged to trouble you to endeavor to search for any proofs you have of your contracts with him, or to recollect the contracts. I inclose you a list of the tobaccos and prices, as he credits them. Of...
3238To Benjamin Franklin from Hezekiah Ford, 20 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Notwithstanding I am confident I left the papers containing the Resolves of Congress in your Book at Passi, after I had finished the Copy for M Lee; Yet I have made diligent search for them; and I do assure you they are not at Chaillot. I have therefore only to request, that you woud be so kind as to reexamine your papers, & I have no doubt but that you...
3239To Benjamin Franklin from John Viny and Family, 21 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will forgive my trespassing on your most valuable moments, but I could not forego the Oppertunity by favor of Mosr Du Chateau, to express my great pleasure in hearing of your Health &c. O Sir, how happy shou’d I be, once more to take you by the hand, but from a Line I read of yours at Cheam I have but little hopes as I am confind, but happy...
3240To James Madison from John G. Jackson, 17 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
The Public Papers having announced your arrival in the City; I take the liberty to address you upon a little business I have there which I beg the favor of you to negociate. By a Contract with the Post Master General I am to receive $476 dollars per Ann. for carrying the Mail at quarterly payments; the first quarter will end the last of June; I enclose an order for the Money; which you will...