32851From George Washington to Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, 27 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Army will move to Ver Planks Point in the course of this week—a provision of Forage must be made for the Riding Horses of the Army & others which will be necessarily employed there with the Artillery, Stores, Baggage &c. The number will be small—but as the Hay as well as grain must be brought from some distance, it behoves you to make your Arrangements accordingly under the direction of...
328521772. Feby. 2d. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Have omitted now for 3 months almost to keep any “Note of Time or of its Loss.” Thomas Newcomb dined with me. He says that Etter, the Stocking Weaver, told him about a fortnight ago, that he saw the Governor within these 3 Months, and told him, he hoped the People would be contented and easy now they had a Governor from among themselves. The Governor said, “there were some Discontents...
32853Abigail Adams to John Adams, 6 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favours of the 19 th 23 & 26 of Nov’ br came safe to Hand, together with the pamphlet. the writer appears to have ransakd Pandimonium, & collected into a small compass the iniquity and abuses of Several generations, “sitting down all in Malice & Naught extermating.” If the representations of our Democratic Societies both of Men and measures, for these two years past, were to be...
32854To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 31 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith forward another Portion of our News Papers. You will observe that I have dropt the Freeman’s Journal, and substituted the Evening Herald in its place. The former grew intolerably stupid and uninteresting. The latter gives the Debates in our Assembly, which I doubt not will afford you amusement and knowledge of our affairs. The Arrival of Dr. Franklin has given a Spur to our...
32855To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 21 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to your circular Letters of the 14th. of April and 25th of May, I now enclose an Account of all the Fees and Commissions received, and the Expences paid, by the Officers of the Customs in this District, the latter in detail, and the former as much so as, I hope, will prove satisfactory. By the Statement in the Tenth page, it will appear how the Account stands at the end of the...
32856Thomas Jefferson to John Steele, 27 July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved a letter of Apr. 29. from mr Appleton of Leghorn informing me he had shipped by the brig Free Ocean Cap t Bartholomew , sailing that day for Philadelphia 2. cases of Florence wine of Montepulciano, containing 84. bottles for me addressed to your care. as I presume the letter came by the same vessel, & that she is arrived, I take the liberty of requesting you to forward the...
32857To Alexander Hamilton from John Browne Cutting, 16 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 16, 1796. “You were good enough to offer me last Decr. what I little thought I should have occasion to accept in May—letters to any of your friends in Congress. Business of greater moment than my claim has incessantly occupied the Secretary of State ever since the documents that support it have been in his possession.… I therefore presume to request of you a single line to...
32858To James Madison from George Johnston, Jr., 31 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to receive in March last from the President of the United States, a Commission appointing me Consul for the port of Glasgow in Great Britain. On its receipt I proceeded to arrange my business, and close my concerns in this quarter as speedily as circumstances would admit, in order to depart for that Consulate, and was about to proceed, when the unfortunate outrage was...
32859[To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, 9 April 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 9 Apr. 1781 . War Office Journal (Vi) contains the following minute under this date: “Letter to his Excellency the Governor proposing Mr. Gilbert to superintend the public carpenters.” Not found. A virtually identical entry appears some pages later in the War Office Journal, under the same date but among the May entries; it may be a mere repetition by a careless clerk or it may...
32860Thomas Jefferson to Littleton W. Tazewell, 22 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have still to acknolege the reciept of your letter of Sep. 27 . the preceding one covering the bonds had been previously recieved. your mention of what you recollected from Herodotus put me on examining that author more particularly than I had before done, and this led again to the investigation of the case of the Nile through all the authors I possessed on the subject. the result has been a...
32861From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival at Middle Brook I shall furnish you with Instructions for the command at this post and its vicinity, at which you are to remain with the Jersey Brigade. I have at present to desire that you will take every measure to prevent an intercourse between the Country and New York and that no persons, inhabitants of these States, may be permitted to go thither or into the Enemy’s lines...
32862[Diary entry: 4 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Feby. 4th. White Frost & So[uther]ly Wind. Sometimes cloudy & sometimes clear. The Frost seemed to be getting out of the Ground. Dispatchd Foster to Occoquan, to proceed from thence in Bailey’s Vessell to Portobacco for 100 Barrls. of Corn wch. Captn. Possey purchased of Mr. Hunter the Priest for my use. Sent money to pay for the Corn viz.—37 pistoles and a Shilling, each pistole...
32863To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is paragraph of a letter from Mr Foot, receiver of Cattle at Fish Kill, to Mr Watrous Superintendant of Cattle at this place; the contents of which are very alarming. Instead of haveing large Quantities of beef salted in bulk at this place, the Connecticutt, & New-Hampshire Hutts, as was intended, or pretended; about 200 head of small Cattle only have been salted here, & none on...
32864From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 26 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to favor me, dated the 15th of August last year, accompanying sevl pamphlets on interesting subjects, came safe; though long after its date, as you will perceive by the enclosed note from a Mr Callender; which serves as a wrapper of six guineas which I send for the vols. of the Bee (15 in number) which have come to my hands. As you have never authorised...
32865From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 6 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
My Son would go home, very improperly without a Letter to M rs Warren, whose Virtues and Accomplishments his Father has so long admired. The Time is at length come in which the United States of America are to have a Minister at the Court of Great Britain. a time foretold by the Prophets and Seers, and Dreamers of Dreams but never, untill very lately Stedfastly believed by any to be so near at...
32866From George Washington to John Hancock, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Monsieur Fanueil, who sometime ago laid a plan before you for raising and officering a Corps of Frenchmen, waited upon me yesterday. His success, as I expected, has been small in inlisting or rather engaging Canadians, I cannot find that he has met with more than thirty or forty who would be willing to serve with him. He is now upon another Scheme, that of raising, arming and cloathing a...
32867From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 2 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 29th Ult. reminds me of an omission which I should be ashamed of, did I not conceive that my apology will be as satisfactory as it is just. The omission alluded to, is not acknowledging the receipt of your former favor which accompanied the Books, and thanking you for your care of them. The apology is, the hourly expectation of seeing you at this place on your return to...
32868Memorandum from Henry Knox, 16 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and the Attorney General yesterday in pursuance of your direction an equal division of opinion took place upon the question herein stated. It appeared that certain privateers commissioned on the part of the French Nation by Mr Genest at Charleston equipped and manned at that place partly by Citizens of the United States, have brought prizes taken from...
32869To Thomas Jefferson from Andrew Ellicott, 14 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
If the following proposed arrangement, for executing the Office of Surveyor General of the United States, should coincide with your ideas upon that subject, and come within the meaning of the law , I shall have no objection to the appointment. First , The Surveyor General shall determine every geographical position necessary for forming a chart, or map, by which the vacant lands belonging to...
32870Daniel McNeill to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
On my Cruize in the Ship Genl. Mifflin of Boston, and on August the 22 Instant being about fifty Leagues West and North of the Island Oshant att 9 AM saw Three Sail of Vessells bearing ENE from us about five Leagues Distance Standing to the ENE, which I took to be Enemies by the Course they Steared. I gave them Chase, as soon as they found I was in Chase of them, they spoke each other, and one...
32871To George Washington from Knox & Baillie, 28 February 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Knox & Baillie, 28 Feb. 1775. On 8 Mar. GW answered Knox & Baillie’s “favour of the 28th Ulto.”
32872From George Washington to Beverley Robinson, 27 September 1762 (Washington Papers)
Collo. Carlyle, the bearer of this, going to New York to dispose of some English Horses which he has been encouraged to carry thither, affords me the best of oppertunity’s to present my Compliments to your Lady, self, & Family & to ask how you have all done during an Interval of 3 or 4 years spent in profound silence with each other; thô not without constant enquiries on my side after a family...
32873From Thomas Jefferson to Edmond Charles Genet, 29 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
A complaint is lodged with the Executive of the united States that the Sans Culottes, an armed privateer of France, did on the 18th. of may last capture the British brigantine Fanny within the limits of the protection of the united States, and sent the said Brig as a prize into this port, where she is now lying. I have the honor to enclose you the testimony whereon the complaint is founded....
32874To James Madison from Rufus King, 9 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
Herewith I enclose the Letter of the Comee. of the Senate, together with my answer to yr’s of the 4. Should it still be thought inexpedient to ratify the Convn. without farther Explanation I should think there would be no objection on the part of G. Br before the delivery of the Ratifications, to exchange with Mr Monroe a dec[larati]on that the Conn. was concluded without Reference to the...
32875From John Adams to John Vaughan, 25 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I know not by what right or colour of right, I address you: but as the World agrees that you are Benevolence personified I presume upon that principle to introduce to you Mr Samuel Gilman, whose Accademical Education was in the Family of my beloved Sister, whose University Education was at Harvard Colledge, whose Genius has already exhibited very promising productions in verse and prose from...
32876John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 31 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have been detained about ten days in this place, waiting for a wind, and am very like to be detained as many more; the westerly winds prevailing in the channel at this Season of the year almost without intermission. Since my arrival here I have received your favour of August 25. transmitted to me by my Brother, who remains at the Hague, with the care of our affairs during my absence.—...
32877From Thomas Jefferson to Elias Boudinot, 29 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
As it is desireable that we should receive from our Consuls an exact report of all our vessels with their cargoes which go to the countries of their residence, such fees appear necessary as may induce them to be watchful that every such vessel is noted. At the same time the fee should not be so large as to induce them to connive at foreign vessels reporting themselves as American, merely to...
32878To Benjamin Franklin from Griffith Williams, 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer Captn. T. Barnard has been very liberal to the Unfortunate. You will readily Conceive my meaning without Mentioning particulars. His attachment to the Rights of Mankind Keeps Pace with his Benevolence. Whatever favour he may require (which I dare say will be not unreasonable) grant it if Possible. The Papers by Mr. Channing you Safely Received as...
32879James Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I was much gratified by your late letter to find that you had recover’d your health, which has since been confirm’d by Edward Coles . The view which you take of the late proceedings in Florida , affords me great pleasure, being that which we had formd, on the same evidence, and acted, in the measures connected with them. On receiving Gn l Jackson ’s report, our attention was directed...
32880John Adams to Abigail Smith, 4 October 1762 (Adams Papers)
By the same Token that the Bearer hereof satt up with you last night I hereby order you to give him, as many Kisses, and as many Hours of your Company after 9 O’Clock as he shall please to Demand and charge them to my Account: This Order, or Requisition call it which you will is in Consideration of a similar order Upon Aurelia for the like favour, and I presume I have good Right to draw upon...
32881To George Washington from Thomas Waggener, 10 August 1756 (Washington Papers)
I had got as far as this Place in my way to the Upper Tract; And Imediatly upon Rect of your Letters, I held a Counsel of War, The Resolve of which you have Inclosed, together with a Return of each Compy on the Branch, Capt. Feild with 30 of his Men are willing to Remain at the Upper Fort till Decr, so I Cant Station the Men at the Difft Forts, untill I know, whether his Staying will be...
32882II. The President to the Secretary of State, 2 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Notes are sufficiently descriptive to comprehend the two objects fully; but it is necessary to remark, that if the first line begins at a point on Hunting Creek, the fourth line cannot, in any part, touch (Though it will include ) the Town of Alexandria; because Huntg. Creek is below the boundaries of the Town.—And, if it could be so ordered as for the first line to avoid touching...
32883James Madison to George P. Morris, 22 April 1833 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 13th. requesting the loan of a Likness taken of me by (Stuart) and it would be agreable to me to follow the example of those who have complied with your wishes. But there is a serious obstacle in the aversion of Mrs Madison to whom the Portrait belongs, to trust it to a shift of hands, and an alternate conveyance by Land & by Water: and there is no known or...
32884[From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 23 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 23 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “F. Hopkinson—letter to Bremner—clavichord—spinette—Buffon’s theory—Rittenh’s orrery for k. of Fr.” Not found, but see Hopkinson to Bremner, 28 Nov. 1783. The reference to Rittenhouse’s orrery pertains to a suggestion made by TJ the preceding January at a meeting of the American Philosophical Society. On 3 Jan. 1783 TJ attended his first meeting...
32885From George Washington to Matthias Ogden, 27 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I requested Colo. Smith to reply to yours of yesterday’s date by the return of Lieut. Rhea. I cannot see into the necessity for the removal of the Party under Major Hay, for the purposes mentioned, for if you have been able to keep up the communication without his knowledge, it surely can be carried thro’ with the same Address, untill brought to the last stages when I think he may be of...
32886Thursday February 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
It snow’d, the greatest part of the day; but gently, and without wind. Miss Jones, this forenoon, quite suddenly, resolved to go to Boston and went in the midst of the Snow. She proposes passing a fortnight there, and as our vacation is to close, next Wednesday, I shall probably not have an opportunity of seeing her frequently again. I went to tea to Mr. Pearson’s, and in the evening...
32887From George Washington to Jacob Duché, 10 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 2d of April—and reflecting on its Contents, I cannot but say that I am heartily sorry for the Occasion which has produced it—personal Enmity I bear none, to any Man—so far therefore as your Return to this Country depends on my private Voice, it would be given in favor of it with chearfulness But removed as I am from the people & the policy of the State in...
32888From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 February 1805 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote you a line of Acknowledgment for your Lecture upon Tobacco, I kept no Copy of it, not expecting to ever hear any thing more of it, and I really remember very little that was in it. Tobacco, I have found by a long experience, having learned the use of it upon Ponds of Ice, when Skating with Boys at Eight years of Age, to be a very dangerous Vegetable, extremely apt to Steal upon a...
32889To George Washington from Major General Philemon Dickinson, 29 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am under the disagreable necessity of informing your Excellency, that on my return to this place, I found the number of my Militia greatly reduced, & lessening hourly—there is a universal murmur amongst them, on account their Grass, corn, &c., &c., which they say, will be ruined in a few days, as no Persons can be employed to secure them—as those People, will frequently take it into their...
32890To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Albion Coxe, engaged in England by mister Pinckney as Assayer of the mint, has not yet completely qualified himself by giving security as required by law; in the mean time he has been of necessity employed at the mint in his proper capacity, and of course is entitled to paiment for his services. the Director of the mint asks instruction on this subject, and I should be of opinion he might...
32891From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 18 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A favorable and a confidential opportunity offering by Mr. Dupont de Nemours, who is revisiting his native country, gives me an opportunity of sending you a cypher to be used between us, which will give you some trouble to understand, but, once understood, is the easiest to use, the most indecypherable, and varied by a new key with the greatest facility of any one I have ever known. I am in...
32892To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have since my return, My Dear General, been looking agreeably to your request, among my young friends to see whether I could find among them one who would answer your purpose as a private Secy &c. &c.—I have at last found a Mr Lear who supports the character of a Gentleman & a schollar—He was educated at Cambridge in this State—Since he left College he has been in Europe & in different parts...
32893General Orders, 5 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Officers of the day Tomorrow Major General Baron Steuben Lt Col. Gimott Major Hollingshead B. M. Aorson. The Officers and men of the following Regiments now on duty to be immediately Relieved by their respective Brigades—Barbers—Scammells, Gaskins, Adams, Ogdens and Courtlandts—the whole of the Officers and men of these Regiments to hold themselves in readiness for immediate duty and be...
32894To Thomas Jefferson from David Humphreys, 7 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you, under yesterday’s date, letters to be forwarded by four different conveyances, containing information that a Truce for twelve months was concluded between Portugal and Algiers; and that a Fleet of eight Algerine Cruizers had gone through the Streights into the Atlantic. I observed in a Postscript, that I should afterwards explain by whose instrumentality the Truce was made. I...
32895Notes for a Reply to ——— Stockar zur Sonnenbourg, [before 14 December 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania Different Men who have been present and Witnesses of a Transaction, often give different and inconsistent Accounts of it thro’ Defaults in their Observation or Memory. It is still more difficult for a Historian who writes of Affairs distant either in Time or Place, to come at the exact Truth. It is therefore no Wonder if some Errors have escaped...
32896From James Madison to John Mullowny, 5 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed duplicates of a letter to Mr. Skipwith, respecting the case of the ship Catherine are transmitted to you to be forwarded: Its contents will evince that the Department has not the means of satisfying your enquiries. It is however to be expected that the defect will be supplied by the gentleman on the letter reaching his hands. I am &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 15)....
32897From John Adams to Daniel Hitchcock, 24 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the Twenty Second is before me. You mention, the Delicacy of appointing, an Officer of the Same State over another. And you put the Case of Coll Varnum and yourself. I have been a long Time puzzled to account, for Varnums Standing on the List of Colonells before you, whom I know to be many Years older than that Gentleman, has been represented to me to be. I have heard, this young...
32898The American Commissioners to Benjamin Gunnison, 14 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives We have written to Mr John Daniel Schweighauser of Nantes, to receive your Cargo and dispose of it; but he writes us that he is apprehensive you will require a Letter from us to you. This is therefore to authorize and direct you to deliver, the Cargo of the Morris to Mr....
32899To James Madison from George W. Erving, 10 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor to address you last on the 6th March, since when a great pressure of business consequent upon the ⟨r⟩eassembling of the Board has prevented my writing to you upon ordinary occurrences; When the commissioners reassumed their ⟨f⟩unctions the state in which the cases ⟨b⟩efore them were found seemed to have ⟨r⟩esulted from an Expectation that no adjustment with this government upon...
32900From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1817 (Madison Papers)
Having been detained in Washington untill the 6th. inst. I did not reach home till Tuesday night, and of course too late to comply with the arrangement notified in yours of the 10th. March by Bizet. I take for granted that the other Visitors met, and that for the present at least my attendance will not be needed. As it has always been our purpose to pay a visit to Monticello at no distant day...