3441From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 12 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I should not so long have delayed answering your favor of the 6th. of Oct. but that I have been extremely engaged, and particularly by the Arret of Sep. 28. which prohibits the importation of foreign whale oil, without any exception in our favor. At length I have a prospect of obtaining an exception for American oil. Should any arrive before the matter is finally decided, the Ministers...
3442Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais to the American Commissioners, [6 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je recois, Messieurs, une Lettre de Messieurs Bérard freres de Lorient qui me confirme que vous leur avez donné des ordres positifs et réitérés de vendre la cargaison de l’amphitrite et de n’en remettre les fonds qu’à vous seuls. Ma situation souffrante ne me permet pas d’entrer dans de grands détails, mais cette cargaison m’appartient et je...
3443To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 23 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In the present state of our disturbed Society, by late and uncommon Circumstances, it behoves me, estimating character as the first object of life, to gaurd against the current of side winds , and more especially as the Needle of my Compass, has heretofore pointed out My Course, with truth and precision, and forever conducted me to the port of my destination in Safety. These circumstances in...
3444[To Thomas Jefferson from James Maxwell, 11 October 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 11 Oct. 1780. Minute in the Journal of the Commissioner of the Navy (Vi), under this date: “Letter written to his Excellency the Governor, informing him of the Return of the Boat Nicholson to the Yard.” Not located.]
3445Deborah Franklin: Receipt to Sarah Drury, 10 December 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Know all Men by these presents that I Deborah Franklin Attorney in fact duly authorised and empowered by my husband Benjamin Franklin Esqr. now in London have received from Sarah Drury Executrix: Of William Maugridge Esqr. three bonds of Henry Ferree to said Sarah Drury and by her assigned to Doct. Benjamin Franklin each for one hundred pounds the first...
3446Constitution of the Bank of New York, [23 February–15 March 1784] (Hamilton Papers)
Constitution Article 1st. That the Bank shall be called by the Name and Title of the Bank of New York. –2– That the Capital Stock consist of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars in Gold or Silver, divided into One Thousand Shares of Five Hundred Dollars each Share and that a Majority of all the Directors may at their discretion open new Subscriptions for encreasing the Capital Stock, when they shall...
3447To George Washington from James Mercer, 20 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The Necessity of the Case will I hope be a sufficient appollogy for my addressing your Excellency on the following Subject. You Sir may recollect that Ld Dunmore in Novr 1774 purchased of you & Colo. Tayloe Trustees for the Creditors of George Mercer, under a decretal order of the General Court, certain Slaves to the value of 436£ Va. Currency on twelve months Credit—for which (circumstanced...
3448To George Washington from Francis Deakins, 12 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am Sorry I was from home when you called to See your Land —Since my return I have wrote twice to Mr Jones—who now lives 16 miles from us—for A Statment of your Rents for 1792 93 & 94 the years he has to Account for—he has Just Sent me his Account—but Such as wants a further explanation which I have requested of him, & will forward it to you as Soon as it can be got. It is expected youl...
3449Scheme of the Second Academy Lottery, 11 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , March 11, 1755. Before their lottery for 3000 pieces of eight (see above, p. 435) was drawn, the trustees of the Academy of Philadelphia, encouraged by the approval of a charter making their institution a college (issued on May 14), announced a second lottery, to raise 9375 pieces of eight for maintenance, scientific apparatus, and endowment of salaries....
3450From John Adams to United States Senate, 22 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following List of Gentlemen for Promotions and Appointments in the Army of the United States. Cavalry 2d: Lieutt. William Tharp 1st. Lieutt. vice Simmons, dismissed Artillerists and Engineers Major of the First Regiment, Lewis Tousard. Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the Second Regiment First Regiment. Captain Moses Porter Major vice Tousard, promoted Lieutenant Jonathan...
3451From George Washington to James Nourse and Alexander White, 30 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter from Genl Lee of the 30th Ulto, which came to hand the 26th Instant, he seems to be anxious about the state of his Farm & Affairs and requests me “to recommend the care of them to you & Mr White.” I have taken the earliest Opportunity to inform you of his desires on these subjects, and have no doubt but you will render him every service in your power. I am happy to acquaint you,...
3452To George Washington from the Citizens of Marseilles, 24 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
Free Nations are always in alliance, and are alike interested in affording mutual aid and assistance to each other. A common interest has already united the inhabitants of the American States to the interests of regenerated France. Their three-coloured flags are unfurled upon every sea, proclaiming that the free Americans and French are brethren. The name of Washington is as much revered here...
3453Enclosure: Floor Plan of Poplar Forest by John Neilson, [before 2 November 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( ViU: TJP ; Nichols, Architectural Drawings Frederick Doveton Nichols, Thomas Jefferson’s Architectural Drawings , 1961; 5th ed., 1984 , 41–2 [no. 350]); in Neilson ’s hand; inked, shaded, and tinted; on coordinate paper; undated.
3454To Thomas Jefferson from James Fleming, 24 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
For some time I have had a wish to bee on board of one the United States Frigets and now take this liberty of addressinge you on that part. you have some vessels allmost ready for Sea I expect. and if by your good Will I should be happy if posseable to git in one of them. If you think that it will answer, I am ready at any time and will be happy if you will informe me, and by so dowing you...
3455To James Madison from George Joy, 12 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I attended yesterday at the Court of Admiralty rather to hear what could be said than from any doubt of the result of the trial of the Somerset, captured during the war, and recaptured after the period assigned for exemption by the treaty. The Proctor for the Captor, whom I happened to know, assured me that he had not been able to find a case in point; which I did not think it difficult to...
3456To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 6 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The scene of Action is so entirely transfered to your side of the Atlantick that scarce any occurance among us at present is sufficiently interesting to furnish matter for a publick Letter. The Resolutions which have from time to time evinced the steady Determination of Congress in no event to Relinquish the great Object of the War or to think of Peace but in Connection with their Allies have...
3457From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
The important Post at Dorchester Hill which has long been the object of our particular attention, and which, for various weighty reasons I had delayed taking possession of, I have the pleasure to inform you is now so well secured, that I flatter myself it will not be in the power of the Enemy to dispossess us. A Detachment of twenty five hundred men under the Command of Brigadier General...
345814th. (Adams Papers)
Was employ’d almost all day, in thinking upon the subject of my conference; wrote a few Lines, with much difficulty. Did not like the subject. Wished the conference to the devil: the junior Class being displeased with the distribution of parts for exhibition; so far as respected their Class; assembled this evening at Prescott’s chamber, and made a great deal of noise. The Sodality met at my...
3459[Diary entry: 10 May 1798] (Washington Papers)
10. Morning—clear & calm—Mer. at 52. Lowering all the afternoon with the Wind Southerly, but no Rain fell.
3460VII. To the Baron von Thulemeier, 13 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 24 th: of Jan y. did not reach me, untill two Days ago. I communicated the Observations, inclosed in it, immediately to my Colleagues, who will transmit you our Answers, as soon as Health, and other Circumstances will admit. I have communicated to them also, your personal and confidential observations to me. They will have great Weight as they ought to have. I am weary of...
3461To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Louis d’Anterroches, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Elizabethtown, New Jersey, 23 Mch. 1801. His recollection of the kindness shown by TJ as minister plenipotentiary to France encourages him to write. Born into a noble French family in 1753, D’Anterroches was at the age of eight placed under the supervision of his uncle, a bishop, to be educated for a life in the church. At 15 he hoped to begin a career in the army but was sent to the...
3462To James Madison from Charles Yancey, 27 January 1791 (Madison Papers)
You will please to excuse me for Troubling of you on a private Matter—the case is this. I am about to purchase a Tract of Valuable land And to Effect which Must part with a Quantity Of State Securities As also Those of the Domestick debt Or as we Call them final Settlements, And as our Assembly have taken some Steps that may recommend A reconsideration of the funding System of the State’s Debt...
3463To James Madison from William Jarvis, 17 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Jarvis. 17 January 1806, Lisbon. “Not a Vessel having sailed for the United States since I had the honor to address the foregoing of the 24th. Ulto. by the Bg Truxton, Captn Mooney for Baltimore has prevented my writing since. “Prattic not being given to the American Vessels by the 27 Ult I wrote to the Marquis of Pombal on that day, reminding His Excy of His promise. All the...
3464From George Washington to Marriot Arbuthnot, 21 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The almost daily complaints of the severities exercised towards the American Marine prisoners in New York, have induced the Honble the Congress of the United States to direct me to remonstrate to the Commanding Officer of his Britannic Majesty’s Ships of War in that Harbour, upon the subject, and to report to them his answer—The principal Complaint now is, the inadequacy of the room in the...
3465From Thomas Jefferson to John Milledge, 6 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Govr. Milledge and at the request of the editors of the papers below mentioned he takes the liberty of inclosing him a check on the bank of the US. here for 28 D 50/100 which they express the hope Govr. Milledge will be so good as to recieve & convey to them. the objects are as follows, according to the accounts recieved from them. D The...
3466To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Etienne Bertier, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The first letter about a candidate for American service in this volume, as in the previous one, happens to be a recommendation. Again, therefore, we deal first with those who wrote for others and then with those who wrote for themselves. The total number is far less than it had been, and a larger percentage is from outside France. Frenchmen’s incentive to...
3467To James Madison from Edward Livingston, 25 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 March 1801, New York. Introduces and commends to JM’s attention his friend Josef Yznardy, who “has some title to the favor & I think claims on the justice of our government.” RC ( DLC ). 1 p.
3468From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 27 November 1798 (Jay Papers)
I take the Liberty of requesting the favor of you to give the enclosed Letter to M r . King, a place among your next Dispatches to him; it contains a Copy of one I wrote to him in September last, authorizing and requesting him to purchase three thousand musquets and Bayonets for this State— Accept my thanks for the interesting Pamphlet you was so obliging as to send me. The Fate of Geneva...
3469From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 1–16 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office It is always a great Pleasure to me to hear from you, and would be a much greater to be with you, to converse with you on the Subjects you mention, or any other. Possibly I may yet one day enjoy that Pleasure. In the meantime we may use the Privilege that the Knowledge of Letters affords us, of conversing at a distance by the Pen. I am glad to find you are turning...
3470To Benjamin Franklin from Catharine Greene, 1 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will be Glad to hear of our geting home Safe which we did Friday night being 9½ Days on our Journey 10 on the Rhode layd by one throw a Careless trick of Catharines but as Dont Choose to Leson her in your esteem Shall not tell the Particuliars. I wrote you from New Rochell after we had Past the troubled Waters which hope you have Receivd. After that had...
3471From Levett Harris to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 12 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr Harris has the honor to hand herewith inclosed to Mrs Adams the several passports and Letters Required for her journey to Berlin and Paris. Vizt. 1. Padrogena or order for Relays; to which is Subjoined a Circular Letter from the Minister of the Interior, to the Post Masters on the Road— This paper had better be given in Charge to the Confidential Servant, as it will be necessary to produce...
3472Bill for Raising Six Additional Battalions of Infantry, [28 October 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas it has been thought necessary by the American Congress that the armies of the United States should be augmented to eighty eight battalions, to be enlisted to serve during the continuance of the present war unless sooner discharged, and that fifteen of the said battalions should be furnished by this Commonwealth; and the said Congress by their resolutions have engaged to give to every...
3473To Thomas Jefferson from Cato West, 11 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor to receive your note of the 17th. ultimo, with the enclos’d letter to Mr. Dunbar, which letter has been deliver’d to him agreeable to your request, he not yet having departed the Territory.— I am Dr. Sr. with great respect, and much esteem yours &c RC ( MoSHi : Jefferson Papers); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Pr of the U,S,”; endorsed by TJ as received 6 Sep. and so...
3474From Edmund Randolph to John Adams, 16 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I could not resist the impulse of my long affection for Geneva, to postpone for a moment the papers, which you were so obliging as to send me last night. Its fate is truly afflicting and injurious to humanity. The transplantation of its academy would fill up a vast chasm in the education of the United States. For I do not believe, that a complete system is to be found in any state, and I...
3475From John Adams to John Taylor, 12 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
The painful difficulty of holding a pen which has been—growing upon me for many years & now in the middle of the 84th year of my age has become insupportable must be my apology—not only for terminating my Strictures upon your enquiry but for the necessity I am under of borrowing another hand to acknowledge the receipt of your polite & obliging letter of Feb’y 20th. I have never had but one...
3476To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honour to inform the President, that he received Mr. Pintard’s papers here inclosed, from Mr. Wolcott—read & handed them to Mr. McHenry—& has this moment received them back from Mr. Stoddert. It appears that Mr. Pintard himself first gave them to Mr Lee. The Secretary of State sees no remark upon them from any of the gentlemen; nor has he any to make himself. MHi...
3477From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 21 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 21 Feb. 1790. On 5 Mar. George Augustine Washington wrote GW referring to “your letter of the 21st Ulto.”
3478To James Madison from the Right Reverend James Madison, 25 November 1791 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Otway Bird wishes to obtain your assistance in some Business wh. he has with Congress, & has expressed a Desire that I should introduce him to you. Permit me then to assure you, that he is a Gentleman of real worth. We have few Citizens so distinguished for that disinterested Part, which he took in the late Contest, & none more, for a Conduct truely exemplary & respectable on every...
3479To James Madison from Andrew Ellicott, 10 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
A few days ago I received a note from Genl. Armstrong, requesting “to know if the appointment of Professor of Mathematics in the military school at West point would be agreeable to me?” By the Publick papers I understand the Genl. has left Washington, and therefore may not receive my answer, (which is forwarded to the department of war,) for some time. It has always been my opinion, that my...
3480From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 30 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Arriving this moment, I received your Favour of 26; and am happy to find that you continue in the Same Sentiments. I am Still of the Same mind too, and I Shall call on you, tomorrow, when we will arrange all Things. I wish you would loose no time, in getting a certain Paper, well translated into Dutch. Tr ( PCC , No. 101, II, f. 181). JA ’s memorial of 19 April , above, was translated into...
3481Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately recovered from a severe attack of fever, which confined me to my bed for ten days; & I propose to visit Philad a , tomorrow, where I shall see my old friend S. Gerard , & procure from him some of the genuine Maldonado Pumpkin seed, for yourself. I prefer his, because he has taken more pains in the cultivation of this fine vegetable, & has kept it far separated from any other of...
3482To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 14 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favor of yesterday, this moment, when I am on the eve of a journey to Virginia. The opinion which you have given as to its being necessary to submit the new article to the Senate being in direct opposition to that of the Secretaries and the Attorney general, has occasioned some embarrassments with me. For I always understood it to be the sense of the majority of the Senate,...
3483From George Washington to Francisco Rendón, 21 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I with the greatest pleasure congratulate you in the success of His Catholic Majesty’s Arms at Pensacola, and I have no doubt but a recital of the particulars will reflect much honor upon General Don Galvez and the troops under his command. No material movements on the part of the enemy having taken place in this quarter since my Last. I have no communications of any importance to make to you....
3484[Diary entry: 17 June 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday. 17th. Went to Church. Heard Bishop White preach, and see him ordain two Gentlemen Deacons—after wch. rid 8 Miles into the Country and dined with Mr. Jno. Ross in Chester County. Returned in the Afternoon. William White (1748–1836), a native of Philadelphia, was the assistant minister and then, during the Revolution, the successor to Jacob Duché as minister for Christ and St. Peter’s...
3485From Thomas Jefferson to George Blake, 18 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you the petition of Paul H. Shippey in the state prison of Massachusets under sentence for forgery, with the papers forwarded to me in support of it; and I ask the favor of your opinion and that of the judges who sat on his trial, whether in consideration of the portion of the punishment already suffered, of his conduct since the sentence, of the dispositions he manifests, or of any...
3486To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 3 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 3, 1791. “Your circular Letter 8th April is received. An Account agreably to the form sent shall be transmitted as soon as possible. I now inclose you a Statement of the United States Act Current as it stands in my Book the balance of 26385.83 is deposited in the Massachusetts Bank.…” LC , RG 53, Massachusetts State Loan Office, Letter Book, 1785–1791, Vol. “259–M,” National...
3487From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 13 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library I congratulate you cordially on the News I see with much Pleasure in the Papers, that you are chosen Speaker of the Assembly. I foresee great Good to our Country from your being in that Station, as I know you will fill it ably and worthily. It is long since I have heard from you; not a Line of later Date than Sept. 22. not a Word since the Election, or the...
3488From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting the Committee of arrangement the inclosed from Colonel Cadwallader. It is in answer to my letter at the white-plains, which accompanied one of the committee’s on the same subject. I could wish the committee to consider, if there is any method, yet remaining, by which his scruples might be removed, and the affair settled in a conclusive and satisfactory manner....
3489From John Adams to Selleck Osborn, 27 April 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 24 April & have desired my friend Mr Shaw to subscribe my name to your proposals. I am Sir your very hum Sert MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3490General Orders, 5 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Fast day directed in Yesterday’s General Orders was a mistake, it being ordered by the Governor & Assembly of this State, to be kept the 6th of March, not the 6th of this Month; which the Army is to take notice of. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .