52851To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of July 29. Since that I have received yours of May 27. June 13. & 30. The tranquillity of the city has not been disturbed since my last. Dissensions between the French & Swiss guards occasioned some private combats in which five or six were killed. These dissensions are made up. The want of bread for some days past has greatly endangered the peace of the city. Some get a...
52852From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
I will write to you again, and untill I learn from you, that you have taken your passage home.—I have now to acknowledge a succession of Letters from you, arriveing nearly all together No 106. No 107 No 108 No 109 No 10010 and No 111 March the 16th which is the late date— I hope you did not think, when I wrote to you pressing your return to America, that my object was the office to which you...
52853From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 15 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. is recieved. in the paper which your partiality for me proposes to prefix to your work I have ventured to make an alteration in the first paragraph because it contained an unnecessary & perhaps injurious reflection on foreign characters. Certainly it must be to every man the greatest of gratifications to enjoy the good opinion of his fellow citizens, & especially of the...
52854To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 9 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Son Exce. M. l’Ambr. de fce. [France], qui étoit allé accompagner Made. la Duchesse Son Epouse retournant en fce., est revenu. Il doit être parti pour Amsterdam. Je le saurai demain, Avant Son voyage, je lui avois fait ouverture de l’affaire de Saba , & des papiers que vous m’avez envoyés à ce sujet. Il est disposé à interposer ses bons offices dans cette...
52855To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 5 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
An Estimate of the cost of the Rotunda as far as the contracts that have been made towards the completion of it go. Am t Paid for Materials for the brick work $6905.47 “p ⅌ Thorn & Chamberlain for the work— 2856.25 9,761.72 “ To complete the brick work of the Lbrary & Terras Say 1,000.00 Am t Contract with G. Raggi for 10 Bases & 2 Pilaster bases } 715.00 Cost of Capetels in Italy Say 7000.00
52856From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of Maryland, 25 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I think it proper to inform you that I have directed the collector of Baltimore to divide his deposits, hereafter, between the Bank of Maryland and the Office of Discount and Deposit of the United States Bank, until the 1st of October, ensuing; and thenceforth to deposit the public moneys wholly with the said office or branch bank. I am, gentlemen, &c. ASP American State Papers, Documents,...
52857From John Adams to Josiah, III Quincy, 16 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read with great pleasure your brilliant oration. It is as sensible as it is eloquent. It is one of the most precious morsels that our country has produced upon such occasions. I hope it will be the means of bringing you forward out of that domestic repose in which you seem to place too much of your delight. I cannot blame you, however. I love you the better for the motto on...
52858From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
With very sincere pleasure I received your private letter of the 11th instant. This pleasure was not a little enhanced by your reiterated assurance of my still holding that place in your estimation which, on more occasions than one, you have given me the most flattering testimony—highly gratifying to my mind. This assurance came opportunely, as I had begun to conceive (though unable to assign...
52859From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 19 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have duly received but not duly answered your favor of April 3 d . It is a misfortune that a man can never be spoken to by a projectors without being misunderstood or misrepresented I told M r. Forbisher that if he expected any thing from the general government, he must apply to it by petition. But I never told him, that I had the least suspicion that the general government would ever do...
52860From John Adams to James Grubb, 7 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me, on the 23 of May, relative to the seizure of the Brigantine Nancy, Cap t. John Limeburner, by the Pilot Cutter Commanded by Leiu t. Seymor Lynn. You desire me, Sir, to demand from the Court of Great Britain, that the Ship and Cargo be given up, with Damages for the detention, but this is not in my power. The Laws of every Country...
52861To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour to forward, will inform you of the ample Provision the Congress have made for the Support of both Officer and Soldier who shall enter into the Service during the War. The Pay of the former is considerably increased, and the latter is to receive annually a compleat Suit of Cloaths, or in Lieu thereof, the Sum of twenty Dollars, should he...
52862To George Washington from Henry Bicker, Jr., 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Henry Bicker Jun. of the City of New york Most Humbly Sheweth That in the Year 1775 your Petitioner being well acquainted with the Use of Arms was called upon to teach the Militia of the City of Philadelphia—And for this Purpose left his Business in this City and went to Philadelphia where he instructed the Citizens in the Manual and other Exercises without Fee or Reward—that...
52863To James Madison from Hodijah Baylies, 31 August 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 August 1804, Collector’s Office, District of Dighton. “Enclosed is the deposition of Preserved Read, master of the Sloop Polly of Somerset in this District, which arrived here on the 25th. inst. from Turks Islands. “On his outward bound passage from this port for Turks Islands, he was plundered by a French Privateer. He could obtain no information of the name of the privateer or of the...
52864Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
Prescott v. Keep, in which Keep, Adams’ client, was the original plaintiff, began with a complicated argument on a pleading point. The defendants sought to bar the action on the ground that the plaintiff had failed to join (bring in) his cotenants as coplaintiffs. The issues which seem to have been argued were whether defendants should have raised the point at the outset (that is, by plea in...
52865From James Madison to Thomas Lloyd, 1 January 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 January 1813. “J. Madison will see Mr. Lloyd as he requests tomorrow morning at 10. OC.” RC ( PPACHi : Thomas Lloyd Papers). 1 p. Dated “Jany. 1.”; year assigned on the basis of evidence presented in n. 1. Thomas Lloyd (1756–1827), a Federalist sympathizer and skilled stenographer, had edited the Pennsylvania ratification debates on the Constitution published in 1788 and had reported the...
52866From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 29 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter to Ellen will explain why I must be brief. a negociation between France & England is I believe certainly begun under the mediation of Austria. the Moniteur (a government paper) says France will not require from England to renounce her maritime principles. nothing need be said about them in the treaty, and each will retain their own. this stumbling block being removed, I suspect they...
52867To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 26 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
Supposing that the first Consular convention agreed on with France, and not ratified by Congress, may explain as well as account for some articles in that which was last agreed on & ratified. I take the liberty of inclosing, for the members of the Senate, copies of the two conventions as they were printed side by side, to shew where they differed. These differences are not as great as were to...
52868[Diary entry: 1 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
[1.] Mercury at 50 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 58 at Night. Wind variable—from So. West to No. Wt.—pretty fresh, and towards Evening more cool; then being at No. West. Mr. Hanson went away after breakfast. Grafted 12 Duke, 12 May Duke and 12 black May heart Cherries & 12 Burgamy Pears. The Cherries were chiefly on Stocks wch. had been taken up a considerable time, & the roots covered with...
52869Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 14 April 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
The 30. barrels of flour which in mine of the 9 th I informed you that Johnson had taken off for me, he deposited at Columbia , returned here and took on board the balance for a full load, of which 6. more barrels were for me. he left this about a week ago to proceed to Richmond with the who le where he will have delivered you 36. barrels for me. these with the 57.D. on hand, besides paying...
52870[Diary entry: 15 April 1768] (Washington Papers)
15. Now and then slow Rain. Very cloudy till abt. 4 Oclock when it cleard—but little Wind, and that abt. So. Et.
52871From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, 15 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I know of no new Order being given relating to the Action against M. Peltier. I never heard of any being commenced against you. I am at present confined by the Gout: but should be glad to see you when convenient to you, that I may better understand the Affairs between us. I have the Honor to be with much Esteem &c— Jean Peltier-Dudoyer was involved as Beaumarchais’...
52872To Alexander Hamilton from John Glen, 11 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Some time since I made application to the Pay Master General, through my friend Mr John Othoudt of New York, for the amount of my Pay & subsistence Accounts—He refers me to the Regimental Pay Master, who I am informed is dead, and if another should have been elected in his place it is probable that he is at the Head Quarters of the Regiment at Detroit—in this situation I have not known how to...
52873From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Smith, 29 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter informing me of your determination to proceed to Frederick Town. It is the wish of the President, that you proceed with the Militia under your command with all reasonable expedition to Fort Cumberland there to form a junction with that of Virginia, which he is desirous should not be delayed. Orders went yesterday to Mr. Gale by express to provide and forward to Fort...
52874From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Wheeler, 3 April 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In November, 1771, just a year after the first sample of Pennsylvania silk had been sent to Franklin, the first consignment was dispatched to him for sale in London. But this was not his only responsibility to the Managers of the Philadelphia Filature; they also wished his help in acquiring some land in the city, presumably for their establishment. Obtaining a...
52875To Thomas Jefferson from Peter Frailey, 31 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Understanding that Col. William McKennan of Washington county, Pennsylvania, is an applicant for the office of Receiver of the Land office to be established, in virtue of an Act of Congress passed at their last session, for the sale of the tract of United States lands lying between the Connecticut reserve & the United States military tract, in the State of Ohio we take the liberty of adding...
52876To Thomas Jefferson from David Parmelee, 26 February 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In the year 1801, there were in the County of Washington, in the Mississippi Territory, 756 white persons, and 494 slaves. In the year 1805, a census of the souls in that County was taken, but I disremember the aggregate. I regret that I have not with me the documents necessary to furnish the information you requested. But I beleive I am correct in Saying, that the number of families, in that...
52877To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 27 August 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Above is Copy of my Last by Captain Friend. This incloses a second Bill of Exchange for £100—Sterl N 1876 drawn by Colonel J. Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson &c. as it is uncertain whether our late Governor Denny will call and I do not certainly know when Capt. Hamet (by whom I purpose to send this) will sail) I shall send it to Town to be...
52878To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I sent Mr Putnam down the River yesterday by Water, to learn for certain whether any of the Enemys shipping was up. He return’d last night, and informs me that he went down on the West-side nearly oposite Philips’s; that there is one Gally laying near Philips’s, which is the only Water Craft of any kind, above Fort Washington. The Boats with which the Enemy landed at the Slote , have all...
52879New York Committee of Sixty to the New Haven Committee, 17 April 1775 (Jay Papers)
We have rec d . your friendly ^ Your ^ Letter of the 6 th : March Inst. and haves ^ been ^ laid it before the Committee. They have directed us to return you their Thanks for the Candor diffused thro’ & particularly for your
52880To George Washington from Matthew Cantine, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Convention of the State of New York to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed Resolves, by which it will appear that we have made every exertion in favour of our Sister States which our present Situation will admit. But we are extreamly Sorry to find by a Letter received last Night from General Heath, that he is ordered over to the West Shore; by Reasons of which the...
52881To John Adams from John Morton, 29 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
Having furnished the respectable Editon of the Medl. Repository with a summary Accot. of the City of Hava. I beg a presumption to request your acceptance of a Copy of that article from their last number. You will perceive Sir that, as there stated, it is but a summary; but as I intend collecting all my Notes into one View, I shall at a future day beg your acceptance, also, of that collection....
52882Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 6 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Please to submit to the President of the United States, the enclosed letters, from Brigadier General Wilkinson and John Belli deputy quarter master—dated Oct: 4th and 8th 1792; which I have just received. Yours sincerely, LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letters from James Wilkinson and John Belli have not been identified.
52883To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Patterson, 24 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to the directions in your favour of the 17th I am getting a stand made for the sextant , and the whole will be carefully packed up, and, by Mr. Roberts, sent on, by water, in the course of a few days. With respect to the cypher, when applied to a single word or line, I would observe, that in strict conformity with the general system, each letter must, in this case, be considered as a...
52884To James Madison from Samuel Stanhope Smith, 28 November 1799 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 25th. Aug: I immediately wrote to you; but I have reason to apprehend, from the fate of one or two other letters written about the same time, that it was lost by a robbery of the mail between Baltimore & Fredericksburg. I have just been informed of the loss of the others to which I refer; & lest that addressed to you should have been among them, permit me to...
52885To John Adams from Elkanah Watson Jr., 30 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
If a disinterested wish to contribute to the Glory & happiness of America will sufficiently plead my excuse, for the liberty I take in writing your Excellency, I claim no other advocate. Doubtless Sir you are not unacquainted with the spirit of Emigration that so generally prevails throughout England, Ireland & Scotland, but more particularly in this City; every Vessel is crouded with...
52886[March 1759] (Adams Papers)
Reputation ought to be the perpetual subject of my Thoughts, and Aim of my Behaviour. How shall I gain a Reputation! How shall I Spread an Opinion of myself as a Lawyer of distinguished Genius, Learning, and Virtue. Shall I make frequent Visits in the Neighbourhood and converse familiarly with Men, Women and Children in their own Style, on the common Tittletattle of the Town, and the ordinary...
52887Appendix E. Consolidated Inventory of Personal Property in the Estate, c.1761 (Washington Papers)
D , ViHi : Custis Papers. The manuscript of the consolidated inventory, in John Mercer’s hand, is arranged in five columns: (1) the number of each entry, running from 1 to 399; (2) the item or items in each entry of this inventory, often followed by a number or numbers referring to other entries in the inventory; (3) a number corresponding to the number of an entry in the Combined County...
52888From George Washington to David Stuart, 5 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
The Vessel which brought the inclosed, has delivered the 800 Bushels of Oats for which you contracted with Mr Savage—Besides these, I have taken 100 more; for which I am to pay Flour. L. Washington has taken anothr & the remaining 200 hundred are taken to Alexandria for you. I have engaged this Man to bring the Corn from York River—He expects to stay no longer than Monday (to morrow) at...
5288915 [i.e. 16]. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
A pleasant morning. The Week past was Court week. I was interrupted by Company, and the noisy Bustle of the publick Occasion, so that I have neither read or wrote any Thing worth mentioning.— Heard Mr. Thayer, and spent the Evening at Mr. Putnams, very sociably.
52890From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to accept my acknowledgment of and thanks for your obliging favors of the 12th 16th & 19th of last month, and particularly for the trouble you have had in procuring and forwarding for me a suit of the Hartford Manufacture. It is come safe, and exceeds my expectation. I will take an early opportunity of paying the cost of it. The result of the late Elections will not only soon be...
52891From James Madison to [James Monroe?], 3 November 1822 (Madison Papers)
My neighbour & your Acquaintance Mr Richard Taliaferro is desirous that one of his sons should receive a military education at West Point. His progress in the preparatory studies is certified by his present Tutor, and I have myself had a slight opportunity of witnessing that he has some knowledge of Latin. Of his general character I know nothing which is not favorable. If there be no bar to...
52892From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 30 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Unsigned, but in JM’s hand. Cover franked by “J. Madison Jr” and addressed by him to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Richmond.” Docketed by Randolph, “J. Madison Aug: 30. 1783.” We hear nothing from Europe that can be depended on relative to the definitive Treaty, nor any thing from N. York as to the time of its evacuation. A Pamphlet has lately come over from G. Britain...
52893To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 5 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
At Mr Astor’s request I enclose a letter which he read to me. I gave him no opinion on the contents. But he desired me to request that if it was not thought proper to give to the person he means to send a recommendatory letter for Mr Adams, the enclosed might be considered as private and not be sent to the Department of State. I have not yet received the papers for Mr Poinsett; but there...
52894[Diary entry: 26 February 1774] (Washington Papers)
26. At home all day. Captn. Crawford and Mr. Gist went away after Breakfast.
52895To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 25 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I could not fail to take the opportunity of writing a line by Mr. Williams, tho I can give you but a very short letter, just to tell you that I and my little ones are well: I wish I could say the same of my mother. She has had her leg bad again which lowers her spirits. I was obliged to come to town and should have been very uneasy if I had not left my...
52896To James Madison from Jacob Read, 8 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to offer you my Congratulations on your Election to the Office of the Supreme Executive of the United States, and my Very Sincere Wishes that your Presidency may be happy and honorable to yourself, and peaceful and prosperous to our Country, which has Conferred on you So distinguished a Mark of Confidence and respect. I hope Sir I do not presume too far on our former Acquaintance...
52897From Alexander Hamilton to Daniel Bradley, 1 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received Your letter of the eighth of September, and have written to the Superintendant of military stores urging that a supply of woolen overalls be immediately forwarded to you at Staunton. General Pinckney is now at Newport. I have communicated to him your request on the subject of a furlough, and trust that you will soon have the permission which you desire. With great considerat. I...
52898To Thomas Jefferson from George Weedon, 9 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered you by my Aid-De-Camp, Major Robert Carter Page, who your Excellency was so Obliging as to Appoint my Additional Assistant on the 8th. of Novr. last. This Gentleman from that time to the present, has been mostly employ’d in Public Business and has discharged it so much to my Satisfaction as to induce me to mention his situation to your Excellency. We are now in...
52899John Barnes to Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your fav r 21 st Ult o as well that of Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson , of the 29 th —Covering $540: are duly recd. and the Amo t placed—as you directed—as more particularly Appears, from the inclosed statem t of your a/c —which, I have Ventured—(being on so near a Scale) to Balance—
52900From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 31 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
May the blessing of God, whose justice is remembered at the close of your last Letter rest upon you through the year about to commence, and many more, as long as it shall be his pleasure that you live upon earth, and then follow you to a better world. Your Letter and scrap of the 22d. and 23d. have brought up tolerably well the arrears of your correspondence with me, excepting that I am still...