49551From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [4 December 1754] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Museum I mention’d it Yesterday to your Excellency as my Opinion, that Excluding the People of the Colonies from all Share in the Choice of the Grand Council would probably give extreme Dissatisfaction, as well as the Taxing them by Act of Parliament where they have no Representative. In Matters of General Concern to the People, and especially where Burthens are to be laid upon...
49552From John Adams to Theron Metcalf, 8 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
I wish I could give you a satisfactory answer to your obliging favour of August 31 but from the 17 Nov. 1779 to 1788 I was absent in Europe and was not well informed of what passed in the US. I am not minutely informed of the history rise & progress of banks those enormous con corrupters of the people—Mr Maese of Philadelphia has written the life of Mr Robert Morris in which he has given an...
49553To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 3 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Finding neither you nor Mr. Shaw, I take the liberty of enclosing for your consideration a letter from Gen. Wilkinson & another from the united brethren. Perhaps the legislature ought to originate the business referred to by the General; I mean it would be better policy perhaps, tho’ existing laws are I think already sufficient. I see no objection to the charitable views of the united...
49554To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 27 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writing to your Excellency the 25th by Messenger Jones. Inclosed under Cover with this Your Excellency will receive an Act of Congress of the 21st Inst. relative to the treatment of prisoners of War, prefaced by a recital of an Act of the 19th formerly transmitted—also a number of Copies to be disposed of as Your Excellency shall judge proper. I have the honour to be &ca....
49555From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 21 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his salutations to mr Barnes. he has bought of the bearer mr Hollis 10. barrels of fish , cured particularly, @ 3½ D. the barrel, which he will thank mr Barnes to pay for and have warehoused. he will have to get 10. barrels more, and would willingly have taken them of mr Hollis, but he is not willing to part with more at so low a price. perhaps on delivering them he may...
49556To James Madison from Alexander J. Dallas, [ca. 9 May 1815] (Madison Papers)
I transmit to you the concluding Reports of the Board of Officers; and, I presume, that they will express a wish to be discharged, as soon as you have seen their plans. Upon the whole, they have furnished very good materials; and I will prepare from them a general report of the Department, for your consideration and sanction; which, when approved, will be the proper official document for...
49557To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 4 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
4 March 1776 . “As General officer of the Day Yesterday I visited all The Guards herein after mentioned. . . . I also ordered the field officers of the Day to go the Rounds by Night which they Did & found the Guards vigilent & Sentries alert.” ADS , DNA : RG 93, Revolutionary War Rolls. Sullivan included in his report a return of the guards at Winter Hill, Plowed Hill, the White House,...
49558[Diary entry: 23 April 1774] (Washington Papers)
23. All the foregoing Company except Colo. Bassett & Family went away after Breakfast. I rid with him to the Fish[er]y at Posey.
49559From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 2 January 1791 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday yours of the 19 & my father’s of the 20 Decr. I am glad to hear of your recovery, and particularly so of My Mothers whose attack was unknown to me till the receipt of my father’s letter. The inclosed papers will give you the late proceedings of Congs. more fully tho’ often very incorrectly, than could be done in a letter. The excise on spirits distilled in the Country will...
49560To Benjamin Franklin from Castries, 10 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress J’ai reçu la Lettre que Vous m’avés fait lhonneur de m’écrire pour me demander un passage sur un bâtiment du Roi, en faveur de M. franks, Major au service des Etats Unis, qui est chargé par Vous et par le Ministere Espagnol de porter des Dépêches à l’Amérique septentrionale. Je n’aurai rien de plus empressé que de remplir, à cet égard, les vues de Votre Excellence, et...
49561To James Madison from Horatio Gates, 15 January 1806 (Madison Papers)
I take the Liberty to introduce to your Notice Mr: Temple; the Brother of Sir Grenville Temple & the Nephew of Our Ambassador in Spain; He has lately quitted The British Army, at the Instance of His Uncle; who it is presumed intends Him for his Heir. There is something very singular, & extraordinary, in the early life of this young Gentleman; He was upon service with his Regiment in three...
49562To George Washington from Thomas McKean, 18 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed you will receive a Letter from Lieut. Abijah Hammond, which is referred by Congress, by an Act of the 13th instant, to your Excellency. Your favor of the 8th instant was handed to me by the Commissary of Prisoners only yesterday; it was read in Congress and referred to a special Committee. I have the honor to be, with the utmost regard Your Excellency’s Most obedient Servant DLC :...
49563From Thomas Jefferson to Georgia Legislature, 3 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the Senators & Representatives of Georgia, and having recieved through their hands the Address of their legislature, he begs leave, through the same channel, to return the answer, which he presumes he has, with propriety, directed to the Governor in the first instance. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson. The Address which the Legislature of Georgia, the...
49564Editorial Note on Franklin’s Accounts, 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Two accounts that begin in the period of this volume do not throw much light on it. They are: XVI. Cash Book, June 13, 1778, to October 19, 1780: American Philosophical Society, 42 pp. Franklin bought this book in England, for it contains some entries for the early months of 1772; it also has two notes by him, one undated on gifts of soap and the other on books lent in November, 1778. The...
49565Francis Corbin to Thomas Jefferson, 30 April 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just heard of M rs Paradise’s death. M r Wales , M r Waller , and my Father were Col: Ludwell ’s
49566To James Madison from Stephen Girard, 19 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 March 1801, Philadelphia. Reports his ship Good Friends will soon sail for Ile de France. Offers to forward packages or dispatches. Requests passports for four persons returning home after being detained because of nonintercourse laws. Letterbook copy ( PPGi : Girard Papers). 1 p.
49567To Benjamin Franklin from Cornelis Van der Oudermeulen, 15 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de remettre cijoint a votre Excellence un Memoire contenant mes Idées pour établir le Commerce entre Votre Etat et les Européens du continent. Dèsque j’ai cru le tems favorable pour les mettre en execution, j’ai pensé de faire le Voÿage pour vous les communiquer, ainsi qu à Monseigneur Le Comte de Vergennes, mais depuis aiant réflechi qu’il convenait...
49568To John Jay from the New York State Senate, 13 August 1798 (Jay Papers)
While we regret the occasion which has induced your Excellency to convene the Legislature at this unusual season, we cannot but consider the measure as resulting from the menacing aspect of our public concerns, and dictated by a just conception of the crisis, and a solicitude on the part of your Excellency for the dearest interests of our common country. The communications from the Executive...
49569To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Cary, 21 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your kind and obliging Letter, by Mr. Le Croix with the Copy of the new, English Edition of Linnæus’s System of Vegetables; it got to me in excellent Order sometime in Octr. last, and I now return you best thanks for this Book and your friendly Intention of sending me some of the vegetable Productions of France which I shall most gladly receive. The Book is valuable and compiled...
49570To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Hubbart Partridge, 17 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Would my Vanity permitt me to think, my long Silence Requier’d an Apology, I might justly Plead ill Health, and want of Spirets, (not want of affection) has deprived me of the Honor and Pleasure, of writing to you before this Time, but I now take up my Pen, to beg the Favour of your kind assistance to the two Gentlemen Messrs: Austen, and Barrett, they are...
49571[May 1763] (Washington Papers)
Overseer—Cluning 9 Negroe Sharers 10 in all 100,000 holes of Corn { 110,000 } lately countd 120,000 Tobo. Hills 106,100 7 Work steers 56 head Cattle 13 old Sheep 12
49572To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Pendleton, 26 August 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been abroad for some time accompanying Mrs. Pendleton on a Visit to a sick Parent, I find my self Indebted for two of your favors of the 5th and 13th. As to the Allodial System respecting Our Lands, I confess since former conversations with you on the Subject and your late hint, I have thought a good deal on the Subject and still think, that the inconveniencies attending any mode I can...
49573From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 26 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Edmund Randolph, 26 Jan. 1794. In his second letter to GW of this date , Randolph wrote that he “has just had the honor of receiving the President’s letter.”
49574From John Adams to George Hammond, 16 June 1794 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you, rather too formally to be sure, as it is an old Acquaintance, my son John Quincy Adams, whom the President has honoured with an appointment to Holland. His Disposition to Peace is as hearty. as that of his Father, and in every Thing that may depend upon him, his Endeavours will not be wanting I presume to preserve it. M rs Adams joins me in Compliments to M rs...
49575From John Adams to Thomas Dawes, 16 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are copies of two letters written by me to my Wife one in the morning, and the other in the evening of the 3d: of July 1776 the day after the vote of Independence was passed in Congress. An extract of one of them has been published in the newspapers. Once on a time, upon my Stony field Hill, you interrogated me concerning that extract in so particular a manner that I thought you felt...
49576From George Washington to Edward Rutledge, 4 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Edward Rutledge, c.4 Aug. 1777. When writing to Rutledge on 5 Oct. 1778 , GW says: “In the Month of August last year from the House of Mr. H[enry] Hill near Germantown (where I was then encamped) I wrote you a Letter as long as my arm” ( DLC:GW ).
49577To George Washington from James Nicholson, 13 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
pursuant to the request of Doctr Morrow I take the liberty of inclosing to your Excellency this Petition and will at any time with pleasure if needed give you any information that has come to my Knowledge Relative to his Character, integrity, and abilities. I remain with the greatest respect your Excellency⟨’s⟩ most Obedient Humbe servt &ca. ALS , DLC:GW . David Morrow was apparently a native...
49578To James Madison from B. B. Hopkins, 3 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
It is with pleasure I perform the duty my situation injoins, of communicating to your Excellency the following resolution of the Managers of the Philadelphia Bible Society. “Resolved. That the compliment of a copy of the Scriptures from the Stereotype plates on a superiour paper & splendidly bound be made to the President of the United States & to each house of Congress for their respective...
49579To James Madison from Henry Lee, 2 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
In examining the events of the late war I believe I have ascertained that when in the fall of 1813, it became obvious that the campaign in the North would terminate in the disgrace of promising much and doing nothing, the govt. projected a plan for the operations of the ensuing year, of which the principal feature was to assemble a large force just within the limits of Canada—and near the...
49580Saturday 3 July. (Adams Papers)
A fine morning. Rose by six o clock. Went upon deck. None of the Gentlemen up; our Second Mate, a grand son of the Revd. Dr. Chauncy of Boston. He was upon deck and handed me out. A likely young fellow whose countanance is a good Letter of recommendation. We were all prejudiced in his favour as soon as we saw him; he told me to day that he was taken a prisoner during the War, and carried to...
49581Thomas Jefferson to William Wirt, 20 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his friendly salutations to mr Wirt sends him some short Notes on the several queries suggested in his letter of the 9 th inst. RC ( MdHi , 1944); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “William Wirt esquire Richmond”; franked and postmarked; endorsed by Wirt. PoC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: enclosure to TJ to James Madison, 20 Aug. 1810 . Other enclosure printed below.
49582James Madison to John Robertson, 23 May 1836 (Madison Papers)
J. M. with his best respects to Mr. Robertson thanks him for the copy of his speech delivered in the H. of Reps on the 5th & 6th. of April. In this present condition of J. M. the combined effect of his very advanced age & of indisposition much increased within a short-period he has been able to make himself but slightly acquainted with some of subjects embraced in your speech. He may safely...
49583From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 11 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys favor of the 5th, by Monsr de Choissy, who crossed the North River yesterday evening. For my opinion respecting the operation, which the Marquis de Vaudreuil had in contemplation, I beg leave to refer you to the inclosed Copy of my letter to that Gentleman. Your Excellency may be assured, that I undertake with the greatest pleasure, the procuring the...
49584To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 3 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, which has lately been before the Senate, has, as you will perceive, made its public entry into the Gazettes of this city. Of course the merits, & demerits of it will (especially in its unfinished state) be freely discussed. It is not the opinions of those who were determined (before it was promulgated) to support , or oppose it, that I am...
49585Agreement between the American Commissioners and Duportail, Laumoy, and Gouvion, [13 February 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives; draft: American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives Franklin presumably approved this commitment to the three Frenchmen, and to La Radière four days later; but he soon came to regret the whole business. “I was concerned in sending the 4 Engineers,” he wrote eight months afterward, “and in making the Contract with them: but before they went, I had...
49586[Diary entry: 20 August 1774] (Washington Papers)
20. Rid with Mrs. Washn. to Alexa. & returnd to Dinner.
49587To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, 25 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do my self the honour to transmit to you my Accounts which remain unsettled, for the last two years and Eight months of my Administrations abroad in the service of the United States. I have left a Blank for my Salary. In my own opinion it is but Justice that it should be filled up with the Sum of two thousand five hundred Pounds sterling a year, because this was the contract under which I...
49588To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 13 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have made it my business to see the person who was Capt. Browns guide. From a minute examination of him I am confident that Gen. St Clair was named to deceive, that Capt. Brown did not see or hear from Gen. St Clair, & that Capt. Brown passed himself on his conductor as a person engaged in our service, altho’ his object was to communicate with some gentleman of consequence among us—I am apt...
49589General Orders, 22 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Lieutenant James Lord of the 1st Connecticutt Battalion is appointed Pay-Master for the same from September 9th 1778. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . James Lord of Norwich, Conn., was appointed an ensign in the 1st Connecticut Regiment in January 1777 and rose to the rank of second lieutenant in January 1778 and first lieutenant in June 1778. After his appointment as regimental paymaster, he also...
49590From George Washington to Col. Thomas Hartley, 3 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Thomas Hartley, 3 Feb. 1777. In his letter to GW of 22 Feb. , Hartley says that “I received your Favour of the 3d inst.”
49591To George Washington from James Keith, 25 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your man has just delivered me your Favor, desiring to be informed, in what State the papers respecting Colo. Colvills Estate, delivered me to arrange, now stand. I have delayed closing that Buseness to this distant period, hoping to discover some Traces of a Claim, which by Mr Riddles accts Mr West appears to have satisfyed, but for which no account is lodged, among the papers, and to procure...
49592Certificate for Tobias Lear, 25 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
I do hereby certify that I have examined the Accounts which have been kept by Mr Tobias Lear, on my behalf, from the commencement of my Administration of the Government of the United States down to the 31st day of December One thousand seven hundred and ninety two—as will appear by the Journal & Ledger which contain them—and that I am perfectly well satisfied with the clearness and justness of...
49593Elbridge Gerry to Dolley Madison, 3 March 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ Elbridge Gerry to Dolley Madison. 3 March 1814, “Senate Chamber.” “Mr Gerry presents his best respects to Mrs. Madison, & sends a letter this momen⟨t⟩ received from their honest friend at Lynn to herself & a letter accompanying it to himself. The latter contains a paragraph respecting small fishing boats, restrained by the embargo law so as to be useless to their needy owners; to be...
49594To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 3 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Spanish resolutions Three distinct objects to be obtained from Congress 1st. Some public resolutions bottomed on the public message of the President expressive of the determination of that body to support the just claims of the United States in case no arrangement should take place. 2dly. some expression of the intention of the Legislature to enable the President to make an arrangement in the...
495951. To Hendrik Calkoen, 4 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
You desire an exact and authentic Information of the present Situation of American Affairs, with a previous concise Account of their Course before, during and after the Commencement of Hostilities. To give a Stranger an adequate Idea of the Rise and Progress of the Dispute between Great Britain and America, would require much time and many Volumes. It comprizes the History of England, and the...
49596To George Washington from Valentine Crawford, 7 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
I am Sorrey to Enform you the Indens have Stopt all the J[e]ntlemen from going down the River In the first place the Indens Kild one Murfey a trader and wounded and a Nother and Robed the Canews which Elarmed the Jentlemen verey Much and Michal Crisop tuck [a] partey of Men and went and way Laid Som Canews that wase going down the River and Shot two Endins out of them and Scalped them and...
49597From George Washington to Moustier, 25 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
What circumstances there may be existing between our two nations, to which you allude on account of their peculiarity, I know not. But as those nations are happily connected in the strictest ties of Amity, not less by inclination & interest, than by the solemnity of a Treaty; and as the United States are too remote from Europe to take any share in the local politics of that Continent; I had...
49598Opinion on a New Foreign Loan, 5 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Instructions having been given to borrow 2. Millions of florins in Holland, and the Secretary of the Treasury proposing to open a further loan of 3. millions of florins, which, he says, ‘a comprehensive view of the affairs of the US. in various relations, appears to him to recommend,’ the President is pleased to ask Whether I see any objections to the proposition? The power to borrow money is...
49599To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 18 December 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 14th came to hand on the 16th. It should have been answered yesterday, but my engagements did not permit. I wrote to you on the 16th of Novemr last mentioning a Negotiation opened with Boston in consequence of which I expected to redeem $140,000 Deferred Debt which I have pledged there. This Negotiation was opened under the auspices of Mr Swan, but I begin to think...
49600From John Adams to William White, 29 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
From your very kind reception of Mr Colman I am encouraged to introduce to you another of our choice Spirits, who is travelling for health and improvement The Revd Mr Edward Everett is in every view one of the most respectable Men of his Age, that ever arose in Massachusetts. He has given proofs to the World of a Genius, of Learning, and of Industry that have never been exceeded at his Age in...