52951John Thaxter to John Adams, 16 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose You the 23d. No. of the Politique Hollandais. I have this moment heard of your safe arrival, and of your good health and Spirits, which is a vast addition to my happiness. I had a hint of your visit at P aris , and altho’ some Folks are surprized at the peculiar Nature of it, yet I am persuaded that Chaleur and froideur can exist politically, if not naturally,...
52952From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 16 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter of the thirteenth, upon further Reflection I have thought it necessary to explain myself a little more particularly in some Points to your Excellency. If I comprehend the Facts, the British Court first proposed to the Imperial Courts, a Congress, and a Mediation, upon two Conditions 1. The Dissolution of the Treaties between France and the United States. 2. The Return of the...
52953To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Haine, 16 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Excellency will be so kind is to Excuse the Liberty of my troubling your honr. in Ragard of my Sitttion which as oblidged me to take the Liberty of Writing to you. Sir I am a Stranger Whome is married to an amaricn Belonging to new Berry naetief of that Country in the State of Masituseds Bay in new England Who Sailed out of This Pourt & as had the...
52954[Diary entry: 16 July 1781] (Washington Papers)
16th. The Cannon & Stores were got out of the Vessels & every thing being removed from Tarry town, two french twelve pounders, & one of our 18 prs. wer[e] brought to bear upon the Ships which lay of Tarry town, distant about a Mile, and obliged them to remove lower down & move over to the West shore.
52955General Orders, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the day Tomorrow Major General Lord Stirling Lieutenant Colonel Vose For Picquet Major Scott Inspector Capt. Converse A Captain from the New Hampshire brigade to join the Light Infantry under Colonel Scammell this day. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
52956From George Washington to Board of War, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I very much approve and am exceedingly obliged by the Resolutions which have been entered into by the Board for the supply of my table, and which have been communicated to me by Mr secretary Carleton. I have for a long time past seen the advantages which would arise from having a trusty person about me in the character of a Steward, and have endeavoured without effect to procure such an one....
52957To George Washington from William Grayson, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board have the honor of enclosing you, two letters from Brigadier Genl Knox; in consequence of which they will take measures for transporting the Stores &c. agreeable to the plan mentioned in his letter of the 27th of June. The Board however have thought it necessary to send an express to you on the subject to know if you would chuse to direct any alterations in the matter: They are more...
52958From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by the Receipt of your Excellency’s Favor of the 8th instant—with a Resolution of Congress of the 7th & an Extract of a Letter from Goverr Greene of the 7th of June, inclosed. Your Excellency is not unacquainted with the Measures which had been taken to draw forth the Aid of Militia for the Security of the State of Rhode Island, on the Withdraw of the French Troops...
52959From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 7th. I am exceedingly happy to find that the mode of procuring the specific Supplies demanded of the state is now upon such a footing that we may hope for a full & regular Compliance in future: and I doubt not but if the other States will follow the Example, and appropriate a proportion of their Revenue to the Disposal of the Superintendant of...
52960From David Humphreys to Charles Stewart, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency desires you will either go yourself, or send some Gentleman of your Department to the White Plains to examine the Position, number & state of the Ovens at that Place; & to report to him tomorrow Morng where they are, What number there are, what quantity of Bread they will Bake pr day, & what condition they are now in, with as much accuracy & precision as possible. I am Sir Your...
52961From George Washington to John Dudley Townes, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 10th I have recd your letter of the same date inclosing the Copy of the proceedings of the Court Martial held upon you, and the deposition of the Harbour Master of Charles town. My last having informed you of the propriety of submitting the matter to Major General Greene’s determination, I now repeat my opinion, and return the papers to you, that you may either carry or...
52962To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Retreat of Lord Cornwallis to Portsmouth, & the advance of Colonel Tarlton with about nine hundred men, Cavalry, and Infantry towards South Carolina, probably with a view of putting General Greene in a disagreeable situation, has determined the Marquis la Fayette to order the Pennsylvania, and Virginia troops under my command to that quarter. The smallness of our numbers has also induced...
52963Tuesday July 17th 1781. (Adams Papers)
Stay’d at Francfort all day, nothing remarkable happen’d.
52964James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 17 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Dates of my Letters connected with the Time of the Receipt of yours are become somewhat essential towards a right Judgement of my Character, so much called in Question lately by the Censorious. Though John Paul Jones may not even yet have left the City you will sometime or other find what I wrote to go by a Mr. Anderson and afterward delivered to the said Chevalier Jones. You will also...
52965From John Adams to the President of Congress, 17 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 17 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 319–329 printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:584–588. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains a full English translation of the memorial...
52966From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress In my last of the 8th Inst. I mention’d my ordering a Remittance to be made to you of 110£ Sterling, which I hope you have receiv’d. I am oblig’d to you for your Goodwill in the Hint you gave me by yours of the 8 May, concerning Money of Digges’s in the Hands of Bouffé & Co. here. The Attaching of it would have been an easy Way of recovering what He has...
52967From Benjamin Franklin to the Baron de Thun, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I am really ashamed to have been so long without answering the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 6th Instant. I had receiv’d one at the same time from the same Mr Auer, and it being in the German Writing which I cannot read, I sent it to a Friend requesting a Translation of it. I have waited for that, in order to be able to...
52968To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache: Two Letters, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I had the pleasure of writing to you very fully under date of the 19h. & 22d: Ulto. by the Captains Josiah & Proule— when I sent you two more of the Indian spelling Books, & Newspapers, both Dutch & English, up to the latter date; I now commit to the care of Mr. Saml. Griffiths, the son of your old Friend Mr. Wm. Griffiths another bundle of...
52969To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you lately by the Ship Delaware Capt Prowl, and by Major Franks, which letters I hope may get safe to hand, this will be delivered to you by the Son of an Old Friend by whom Mr Bache has wrote, his Fathers kindness to me in your Absence when I was ill of the Measles, and afterwards in sending his Carriage every day for me to ride I shall never...
52970To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you many Letters, but fear very few ever reached your Hand. In particular I wrote fully by the unfortunate President Laurens enclosing some of my Labours in the Cause (such as they were). They fell into the Hands of the British & were probably handed up to Court with great Solemnity, along with Papers of more Consequence—they are heartily...
52971[Diary entry: 17 July 1781] (Washington Papers)
17th. The Vessels being again fired at in the position they took yesterday run up the River to Tellers point & there came to burning the House of the Widow Noy⟨e⟩ll.
52972General Orders, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the Day Tomorrow Major General Lincoln Lieutenant Colonel Olney For picquet Major Woodbridge Inspector Captain Remick The Commander in Chief is exceedingly pleased with the Conduct of Major General Howe for marching with so much alacrity and rapidity to the defence of the stores at Tarrytown and repulsing the Enemy’s shipping from thence. He requests General Howe and all the officers and...
52973To George Washington from Joseph Carleton, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board beg leave to request your Excellency’s opinion upon the inclosed plans, for promoting and appointing Officers in the Hospital Department. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect yr Excellency’s Most Obedt Hble servant DLC : Papers of George Washington. Present Mr Peters Colo. Grayson The Board in obedience to the directions of Congress to report a plan of succession for the...
52974To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote your Excellency at little River near Ninety Six I have been favored with your dispatch of June the 1st. It affords me great pleasure to hear that an attack is meditating against New York. This measure no doubt will create a powerful diversion in favor of the Country; and I wish most ardently that the Northern States may enable you to compleat its reduction. But I confess this is...
52975To George Washington from Alexander McDougall, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 15th instant. Your Orders respecting the Boats expected from Albany will be punctually attended to. The Salted meat is stopped coming on from the Eastward, and we have had fresh but once since I came to the Post. all the former, except, what are in the works, is expended, and the Garrison has been three days on half allowance of meat. The...
52976To George Washington from Thomas McKean, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
a Mail from Falmouth having been captured, sundry original letters have been sent to Congress, from which the following are extracts. Lord George Germain to the Commissioners for restoring Peace White Hall March 7th 1781. "Your declaration of the 29. December inclosed in your joint dispatch will I trust be productive of all the good effects you hope from it and which so well timed a...
52977To George Washington from Thomas McKean, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose you an Act of Congress of the 16th Instant—And am with the highest Respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient humble servant. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
52978To George Washington from Lewis Nicola, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honour of writing last to your Excellency I expected in a few days to have informed you of our arrival at Trenton but have been dis appointed, not being able to procure a warrant for the pay that has been promised to the regiment, unhappy least this delay should be attributed to me & I should incur your censure I applied yesterday morning to the President & several members of...
52979To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I Send to your Excellency the order from the Commander of the artillery, to have fifteen thousand sand bags delivered at Providence, on your Excellency’s Command. it is the half of what we have, and we’ll Share them together, as we Will the Champaign, of which I send to your Excellency a Basket, just arrived. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
52980To George Washington from Elijah Taylor, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I have chearfully served my Country without intermission of upwards of six years yet it is with the utmost Regret that I find myself at this late Period under the Disagreeable necessity of Requesting a Discharge from it’s service, because I can no longer support myself in the field, with the least Degree of Decency or grant that support to a young Riseing Family which the common Bonds...
52981To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to Your Excellency, I have received a letter from General Parsons dated 10th instant, filled with severe remarks and reflections on our legislature—copy thereof, with my answers, is enclosed. I wish to do the things that make for peace with both officers and men of the Connecticut line of the army, consisting of our own people raised for defending and securing the rights &...
52982Wednesday 18th 1781. (Adams Papers)
This afternoon at about 4 o’clock we set of f from Francfort upon the Meyn for Hannau where we arrived at about 7 o’clock. It is about 12 English Miles distant from Francfort. The road for the most part is Sandy, the soil poor; about two Miles from Hannau is a Chateau belonging to the prince of Hannau. About this City are several very large fields of the same corn, we saw some days ago, but...
52983To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois. C’est par une Suite de la confiance que je mêts dans vos lumières et dans votre Zèle pour votre Patrie, que je vous ai confié les propositions des deux Cours Impériales, et que je vous ai prié d’y faire les observations dont vous les jugeriez susceptibles. Les choses ne sont pas encore assez avancées...
52984The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 13th of this month. It was owing to the confidence I placed in your judgment and zeal for your country that I entrusted to you the propositions of the two imperial courts and requested that you would make such observations as you might think them susceptible of. Things are not yet sufficiently advanced to admit of...
52985From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, Sir, which you did me the honour to write me of this Days Date: and I assure your Excellency I never had a Thought of appearing upon the Scaene, or of taking ministerially or otherwise any Step towards the two mediators. I must confess to your Excellency, that I have too many Jealousies of the motives, and too many Apprehensions of the Consequences of this...
52986To Alexander Hamilton from Colonel Hugh Hughes, 18 July 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Fishkill [ New York ] July 18, 1781 . States that Hamilton’s letters have been forwarded “by careful Hands.” Also states that “there are some very inquisitive Gentry on the Route.” Requests “a line now & then, on the appearance of a Phenominon &c.” LC , New-York Historical Society, New York City. See H to Hughes, July 13 , 15, 1781 (printed in this volume).
52987From Benjamin Franklin to Deacon M. Auer, 18 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 23d past, containing a Request that I would advance to the Widow Hockterin of Ebingen, the Sum of 1450 fl. which is said to be due to her from a Mr. Christian Schneider at Germantown in Pennsylvania. As I have no Knowledge of M. Schneider, nor of Mrs Hockterin, nor of the Justice of the...
52988From Benjamin Franklin to J.F. Frin & Co., 18 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Je reçois dans l’Instant, Messrs. votre Lettre d’hier. J’ai examiné mes Livres de noveau et je trouve qu’effectivement la 4me. de la Traite en Question a été acceptée le 12. May 81. presentée par M. Le Ray de Chaumont. Comme vous avèz entre vos Mains, Messieurs, la premiere de la dite Traite que j’ai refusé d’accepter, ayant dejà rempli cette formalité à l’Egard de la...
52989To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Rush, 18 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I profitted so much by your kindness and conversation while I was abroad that I cannot refuse an Application from a young Student for a letter of introduction to you in order that he may assist in obtaining your Mantle and transporting it to your Native country before you leave our world.— The bearer Dr Saml Griffitts has genius and an insatiable desire for...
52990[Diary entry: 18 July 1781] (Washington Papers)
18th. I passed the North River with Count de Rochambeau Genl. de Beville his Qr. Mr. Genl. & Genl. Duportail in order to reconnoitre the Enemy Posts and Encampments at the North end of York Island. Took an Escort of 150 Men from the Jersey Troops on the other side. From different views the following discoveries were made—viz.— That two Ships of 20 Guns & upwards lay opposite to the Mouth of...
52991General Orders, 18 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the day tommorow Major General Howe Lieutenant Colone. Reid For Picquet Major Trescot Inspector Captain Drew An Active industrious Serjeant is much wanted to serve as Provost Marshal any officer who can recommend a suitable person is requested to send his name and regiment to the Orderly office. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
52992To George Washington from François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de Chastellux, 18 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
your excellency Knows very well that it is an old precept to offer the tytles of all earthly goods to the ministers of god. I think in my opinion that the true ministers of god are those who at the risk of their life employ their virtues and abilities to promote the happiness of mankind which consists for the greatest part in freedom and liberty. accordingly I believe that I am bound in duty...
52993To George Washington from Moses McFarland, 18 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Compliance with your Excellency’s Directions, communicated in a Letter of the 20th Ulto, I have made every Preparation to march those of the Corps of Invalids on this Station, to West Point; they will commence their March on the 19th Instant, & I hope will accomplish it in fifteen Days. It has given me much uneasiness, to be unable to forward this Detachment sooner, but the want of Money, &...
52994To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 18 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have now the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that having with great difficulty accomplished a Loan of some hard money we have begun the recruiting the rifle corps requested by your Excellency, to the Command of which Major Parr has been appointed. The plan of the business as well as the bounty was settled in concert with General St Clair, and Major Parr, and we flatter ourselves it...
52995To George Washington from John Paul Schott, 18 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The memorial of Captn John Paul Schott most Humble shewed. that your memorialist has Served these United States ever since the 6d of Septmr 1776 as a Captn, and by the last Arrangement of the Army your Memorialist became Supernumerary that after delivering the noncomisioned offecers and Soldiers to Colo. Hazon, your memorialist then Calld at Head Quarters, but your Excellency were not at home,...
52996Thursday 19th 1781. (Adams Papers)
This morning we set away from Hannau at 4 o’clock A.M. and arriv’d at Hunfeld (which is distant 75 Miles,) at about 8 o’clock P.M. The roads this day were for the most part mountainous but in some places there was a very good made road. The mountains in general, which we have pass’d over this day are pretty well cultivated.
52997From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter, Sir, of the Eighteenth, I had the Honour to mention Some Things which lay upon my Mind: but am Still apprehensive that in a former Letter, I have not conveyed my full meaning to your Excellency. In my Letter of the Sixteenth, I Submitted to your Excellencys Opinion and Advice, whether an American Minister, could appear at the Congress at Vienna, without having his Character...
52998To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I think your Excellency will not be Surprized to find that I am stil at Amsterdam. Mr. Dana is so well Accompanied on his Route, that it was quite Unnecessary any one Else should attend him; and the Difficulties daily arising in the Dispatch of the South Carolina take from me any certainty of leaving this Place yet awhile. Tis true we are told that she will go on such a day and such a day. But...
52999The Continentalist No. II, [19 July 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
In a single state, where the sovereign power is exercised by delegation, whether it be a limitted monarchy or a republic, the danger most commonly is, that the sovereign will become too powerful for his constituents; in fœderal governments, where different states are represented in a general council, the danger is on the other side—that the members will be an overmatch for the common head, or...
53000To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 19 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: University of Pennsylvania Library, Library of Congress The foregoing are Duplicates of my Letters of the several Dates there mentioned, by Major Franks who has sailed for Cadiz. I now enclose to you Duplicate Copies of the Letters and Resolutions referred to in mine of the thirteenth.— I do not write to Colo. Laurens, because I know not whether he is still in France, and because I am...