52401From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 33, 28 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Dutch say that the English are acting the part of the Sailor, having quarrelled with three others as stout as himself, and got his Bones broke and his Eyes beat out in the Squabble, challenged four more to fight him at the same time, that he might have it in his Power to make it up with all seven, with Honour . If the English are not actuated by the same blind and vindictive Passions,...
52402From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 56, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 1–2). LbC ( Adams Papers ); marked: “56.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:640. Congress received this letter on 16 October. Relying on newspaper accounts, John Adams reported on the number and...
52403From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The long expected Courier has at last arrived at the Hague from Petersbourg. The Contents of his dispatches are not publick, but all hopes of immediate assistance from the armed Neutrality seem to be dissipated. The Question now is what is to be done next. Some are for Alliances with the House of Bourbon and America: but a thousand fears arise. France, the Emperor and the Republick have...
52404From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 20, 18 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 18 March, 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 329–332). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:557–558. The first two-thirds of the letter, which was read in Congress on 22 July, was taken from the Gazette d’Amsterdam and included almost...
52405From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 3, 23 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Errand of Mr. Cumberland to Madrid, is a mere finesse of the British Ministry, intended to aid the Stockjobbers, keep up the Stocks, aid the Loan and the Canvas for an Election, and lull the belligerent Powers, while they prepare their measures for future Enterprizes and another Campaign. They have carried this Plot so far, that I see some paragraphs in the foreign Papers, which seem...
52406From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 35, 31 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
It will scarcely be believed in Congress, that at a Time when there are the strongest Appearances of War, there has not been a Newspaper nor a Letter recieved in this City from London since the nineteenth or twentieth of the Month. There are Symptoms of a more general War. If Britain adheres to her Maxims, this Republick will demand the Aid of Russia, Sweeden, Denmark and Prussia, in pursuance...
52407From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 97, 19 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 19 July 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 207–209). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:869–870. In this letter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., John Adams repeated, in more detail, the reports on the Danish, Russian, and Swedish naval...
52408From John Adams to the President of Congress, 23 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The answer from Petersbourg, as it is given to the Public, is this. Her Majesty, the Empress of all the Russias, declares: That as much as She been satisfied with the Zeal with which their high mightinesses have accepted her mediation, so much and more has her compassionate Heart been affected with the difficulties formed by the Court of London, in referring the reconciliation with the...
52409From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Zealand is still endeavouring to divert the Republick from its Interest and its Duty, to embarrass its Operations and involve it in disgrace and ruin. The Directors of the Company of Commerce, and that of Insurance, and a great Number of Merchants, established at Middlebourg in Zealand, have presented a Petition to the States General, to supplicate their high Mightinesses to try again the Way...
52410From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 14, 6 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 6 Oct. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 285–287). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:83–84. Received by Congress on 29 Jan. 1781, this letter consisted of an English translation of the decree of 30 Aug. by Maria I, Queen of...
52411From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is of Importance to the People of America to observe how much lighter their own Burthens are than those of their Enemies, and for this Reason, I have every Year since I have been in Europe taken Notice of the new Taxes laid annually in Perpetuity upon the People of Great Britain by Parliament, in Support of Tyranny, in addition to all former Debts and Taxes. One sixth Part of the new Taxes...
52412From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 37, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 6 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 417–423). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided Congress with a substantial extract from Sir James Marriott’s decision in the case of La Sybellina Hillegonda , one of the Dutch vessels seized by Como. Charles Fielding from the convoy under the protection of Adm. van Bylandt. Marriott condemned the ship because...
52413From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 83, 12 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 12 June 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 126–131). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:779–781. In this letter, read in Congress on 27 Nov., John Adams provided extracts from British newspapers, including the text of Thomas Pownall’s...
52414From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 90, 7 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 7 July 1780. Dupl, both text and signature in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 173–176). LbC with postscript in Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 89 & 90 delivered to Mr. Gridley going to Amsterdam. July 8th. 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States ,...
52415From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
The English, by the capture of St. Eustatia, seem to have committed the most compleat blunder of all. There was found in that Island a greater quantity of Property belonging to the Britons themselves, than to the French, Dutch, or Americans. They have broke up a Trade, which was more advantageous to them, than to any of their Enemies, as it was a Channel through which British Manufactures were...
52416From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 41, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 441–442). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided the text of the British ministry’s statement to the Dutch Ambassador, Comte de Welderen, that there would be no extension of the three week time limit given the States General to answer Sir Joseph Yorke’s memorial of 21 March. RC in John...
52417From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 67, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 16 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 51–52). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:680. This brief dispatch, read in Congress on 11 Sept., served as a covering letter for a number of letters and three packets of newspapers entrusted to the Chevalier de La...
52418From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 78, 2 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 2 June 1780. LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ) notation by Thaxter: “N B. Nos. 76. 77 and 78 were delivered Capt. Robeson of S. Carolina to carry to L’orient, on the 4th. June 1780.” Despite the docketing and the indication in the Journals that Congress received the letter on 5 Sept. ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 ,...
52419From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 9, 24 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since the Receipt of the Dispatches, by the Honourable Mr. Searle I have been uninteruptedly employed in attempting to carry into Execution the Designs of Congress. The first Inquiry, which arose, was, whether it was prudent to make any Communication of my Business, to the States General, or to the Prince. Considering that my Errand was Simply an Affair of Credit, and that I had no political...
52420From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 59, 8 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 31–33). ( LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:663–664. In this letter, read in Congress on 20 Sept., John Adams noted that “the English have a faculty of deceiving themselves,”...
52421From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 28, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 28 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 365–366). With this letter, received by Congress on 31 July and read on 1 Aug., John Adams sent newspapers and reported on John Jay’s arrival in Spain. See Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 March , and note 3 (above). RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 365–366.)
52422From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 30, 25 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
It is very difficult to discover, with Certainty the secret springs which actuate the Courts of Europe, but whatever I can find with any degree of Probability, I Shall transmit to Congress, at one Time or another. The Prince of Orange is himself of the Royal Family of England: his Mother was a Daughter of King George the Second, and this Relation is no doubt one, among the Several Motives,...
52423From John Adams to the President of Congress, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 7 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 262–263. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:550. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of an article that appeared...
52424From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 62, 9 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress, Proposals for a general Pacification, by the Dean of Gloucester. Proposed to the English, Americans, French and Spaniards, now at War. 1. That Great Britain Shall retain Newfoundland, with the Desert Coasts of Labradore, also Canada Nova Scotia, and the Country bordering on the Bay of Fundy, as far as the Bay and River of Penobscot. 2. That all the...
52425From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 63, 10 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 39–40). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:668–669. In this letter, read in Congress on 20 Sept., John Adams described Henry Grattan’s effort in the Irish House of Commons on 19 April to overthrow Poyning’s Law (10 Hen....
52426From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 55, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 3–5). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); marked: “55.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:640–642. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided information that had appeared in...
52427From John Adams to the President of Congress, 23 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 23 May 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 159. printed : JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot Correspondence of the Late President Adams. Originally Published in the Boston Patriot. In a Series of Letters , Boston, 1809[–1810]; 10 pts. , p. 465. This letter requested Congress to offer relief to the owners of an unnamed Dutch vessel captured by a British warship or...
52428From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 7, 16 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to send by this Opportunity, a few Pamphlets and Papers. The Pamphlets relate to Subjects which interest the United States, and therefore ought to be communicated to Congress, for their Consideration. The Attention of Mankind is now turned next to the Congress of America upon that at Petersbourg. The last Letters from London say they have Information that one of the first...
52429From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 32, 3 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 395–400). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “No 32 delivered Capt. Landais 3d. April.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:593–596. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 11 Sept.,...
52430From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 36, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 413–414). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 33, 34, 35 & 36 were delivered Capt Snelling on the 8th April 1780 at the Hotel de Valois by Mr Adams.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. ,...
52431From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 82, 12 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 12 June 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 118–123). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:781–784. In this letter, read in Congress on 27 Nov., John Adams used a French translation to provide the text of a speech made by Lord Shelburne on...
52432From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 98, 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 July 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 211–218). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:873–875. This letter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., contains a series of newspaper reports, the first of which concerned George III’s speech of 8...
52433From John Adams to the President of Congress, 23 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 23 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 228–230. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:515–517. This letter consists of an English translation of a memorial that the regency of the city of Zierikzee presented to the States of Zeeland...
52434From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 12, 5 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 Oct. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 277–280). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:81–82. Received by Congress on 29 Jan. 1781, this letter reported that on 6 Sept. the Dutch plenipotentiaries at St. Petersburg, Baron Willem van...
52435From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 91, 7 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 7 July 1780. Dupl, both text and signature in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 177–180). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:839. This letter, read by Congress on 26 Dec., contains the text of a petition that Amsterdam merchants trading with the...
52436From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 38, 7 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 7 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 425–431) printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:599–602. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, Adams provided accounts of the arrival of Russian couriers at The Hague on 30 March with...
52437Thomas Jefferson to William Huntington, 2[4?] July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jeffe r son asks the favor of mr H u ntington to dine with hi m on Sunday ensuing. RC ( DNDAR ); dateline at foot of text; damaged at crease. Not recorded in SJL . William Huntington (b. ca. 1794), merchant, educator, and Episcopal lay preacher, was a native of Connecticut who moved to
52438From Thomas Jefferson to William Huntington, 26 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Huntington to dine at Monticello tomorrow (Saturday) MHi .
52439Thomas Jefferson to William Huntington, 17 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Huntington to dine at Monticello with mr Dodge of Marseilles tomorrow. RC (photocopy in ViU: TJP ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ M r Huntington .” Not recorded in SJL .
52440Thomas Jefferson to William Huntington, 6 April 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Huntington to dine with him on Sunday the 8 th RC ( Heritage Auctions , auction 6080, Dallas, 11 Apr. 2012, lot 34094); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ M r Huntington .” Not recorded in SJL .
52441From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Hunt, 24 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received yours of Octo. 10 and perceive with concern that you are still persecuted as a heretic in politics. It is remarkable that the objection to you as a libeller should come from that person who is himself one huge, living, walking talking libel against all the worthy characters that come in his way. You ask me my advice on the occasion. The...
52442Enclosure III: John Browne Cutting to J. Hunt, [18 August 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
I entreat the favor of you to return by the bearer that memorial and those papers, which, on behalf of Purdie and other impressed American mariners, I put into your hand on the 10th instant. I vainly flattered myself so far as to expect the indulgence of being heard five minutes by the Earl of Chatham himself in their behalf; especially as one of them is a young man well known to persons of...
52443From Thomas Jefferson to Major Hunt, 9 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has recieved Major Hunt’s letter of Sep. 30. and also the Stylograph forwarded by mr Gelston, & returns his thanks to mr Hunt for his care of it, & his respectful salutations. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
52444From Thomas Jefferson to Major Hunt, 20 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Major Hunt whose note of the 14th. he has recieved, and thanks him for his care of the package from Genl. Lyman. he proposes to be at Washington on the 3d. of the next month, & should Major Hunt be coming there by that time or find any gentleman coming that far in the stage who would take care of it, Major Hunt’s attention to the conveyance in that way...
52445George Washington to Captain Thomas Hunt, 5 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] October 5, 1779 . Asks Hunt to serve as a pilot for D’Estaing. Requests him to hire others in the same capacity. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Hunt was a pilot of Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, New York.
52446II. Henry Dearborn’s Second Draft, with Jefferson’s Revisions, [20 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
having examined the proceedings of a Genl. Court Martial, of which Majr. Thos. Hunt was President, holden at Detroit on the eighteenth day of July last, for the trial of John Spence a private soldier in Captain John Whistlers Company, of the first Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States, charged with seditious conduct at Fort Wayne on the third day of May 1801, by assailing...
52447From George Washington to Thomas Hunt, 17 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Being fully sensible that your knowledge of the Western Parts of the Sound is more accurate, than that of any other Person, I should be extremely glad to see you on that account, especially as there are many questions which I would wish to ask, that cannot be answered except in conversation. I have therefore to request (if your business will possibly admit) that you will have the goodness to...
52448I. Henry Dearborn’s Preliminary Draft, [10 March 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Having examined the proceedings of the Genl. Court Martial of which Majr. Thos. Hunt was President, holden at Detroit in the Month of July last past, in the trial of John Spence a private soldier in Capt. John Whislers Company of the first Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States, charged with seditious conduct at Fort Wayne on the third day of May in the year 1801, by...
52449From George Washington to Thomas Hunt, 5 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
There is a probability that some pilots well acquainted with the entrance into New York Harbour and the two Rivers North and East will be wanted for a service of the most important nature. I am persuaded you will be glad to have an opportunity of serving your Country upon this occasion; and I shall be obliged to you to engage any others in whose skill and fidelity you can rely. There is not a...
52450From Benjamin Franklin to Huquier, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, les deux Lettres que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire. J’aurois repondu immediatement à la premiere si je n’avois pas cru que la seule Demande de M. Williams suffiroit pour rétirer de chèz vous les Objets que j’y avois adressés pour lui suivant ses Ordres mais comme cela ne vous paroit pas ainsi, Je vous prie par la presente de vouloir bien...