52981IV. Madison’s Observations on Jefferson’s Draft of a Constitution for Virginia, [October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
Senate . The term of two years is too short. Six years are not more than sufficient. A Senate is to withstand the occasional impetuosities of the more numerous branch. The members ought therefore to derive a firmness from the tenure of their places. It ought to supply the defect of knowledge and experience incident to the other branch. There ought to be time given therefore for attaining the...
52982To Benjamin Franklin from Tristram Dalton, 22 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am honor’d with your Favors of the 17 October last respecting the Compensation order’d by the good King of France, for Reperation of the loss of the Brigantine Fair Play, & did flatter myself, that there would have been no further Occasion of troubling or interrupting your more important Business, on this account, but that of asking Acceptance of the...
52983To Alexander Hamilton from Asher Robbins, 26 April 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Gibbs of this Town, who is doubtless known to you, will deliver you this. I have mentioned to him & to others that you were kind enough to engage to reflect on the situation of this Island, & to give an opinion, upon the most elegible mode of putting it into a State of defence. To enable you to do this Mr Gibbs, will put into your hands, a map, which is esteemed a very correct one, & some...
52984From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 13 March 1800 (Jay Papers)
M r Coleman, who was Yesterday appointed Cl[er] k . of the NYork Circuits, will be the Bearer of this. M r . Skinner was first nominated, for where Character and qualifications for office are admitted, the Candidate who has age Standing and prior public Services on his Side, should I think take the lead; unless perhaps in Cases peculiarly circumstanced— M r . Skinner did not succeed. M r...
52985The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the Amerìcan Commissioners, 30 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; Haverford College Library; LS without postscript: Joseph E. Fields, Joliet, Ill. (1958); AL (draft ): American Philosophical Society; copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; National Archives (two) The military defeats that had followed consistently on the Battle of Long Island, and had brought the British so near Philadelphia that Congress had fled to...
52986Thomas Jefferson’s List of Landholdings and Monticello Slaves, [ca. 1811–1812] (Jefferson Papers)
1000 . a. s pat d 1735. 1743. Abram. 27 ½ purch d from N. Lewis 49.
52987To George Washington from Thomas Burke, 24 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Governor of South Carolina has pressed the Governor of Virginia for an aid of Cavalry, and the latter has recommended to the Several Counties of his State which lie contiguous to Carolina to raise Corps of Volunteer Cavalry in order to march to the aid of the Southern army and has transmitted his proceedings to Congress. the affair is Comprehended in a Business referred to A Committee of...
5298829 [i.e. 30] Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A hazy, dull Day. Reading Milton. That mans Soul, it seems to me, was distended as wide as Creation. His Powr over the human mind was absolute and unlimited. His Genius was great beyond Conception, and his Learning without Bounds. I can only gaze at him with astonishment, without comprehending the vast Compass of his Capacity.
52989Meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, [12 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, on Thursday, the 12th of April, 1792, Present, The Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General. Resolved , That the Secretary of the Treasury be authorised to expend, in the purchase of stock, a further sum, not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, on the principles of the resolution of the...
52990To George Washington from Stephen Sayre, 3 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
May I be permitted to bring myself, once more, to your recollection, without offence —Presuming you are uninfluenced, by any recommendation to offices, beyond the merit of the person, to be appointed; I come before you, without friends to sollicit, and without fears, from my enemies, if opportunity is offer’d, to vindicate my character, & conduct. It is not my conjecture, alone, but it is the...
52991To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 23 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Being called by General Greene to the Southern Army, I have the honor to Report to your Excellency my proceedings whilst in this State. The unfortunate Affair of Camden having intirely broke up the remains of the Virginia Line, a few Officers only remaining uncaptured—the State passed a Law to raise 3000 Men, some for 8 Months and others for 18, not more than one half of this number ever came...
52992To Thomas Jefferson from Mark Willcox, 10 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Presidents, Managers, and Commissioners of the several incorporated Turnpike Road, and Canal Companies, in the State of Pennsylvania, viewing with Anxiety the deficiency of Individual Capital to complete the various important Undertakings of interior Improvements, which, in their Estimation are National Objects of great Magnitude, and such as can only be adequately encouraged by the funds...
52993From John Adams to United States Congress, 19 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Dispatches, from the Envoys Extraordinary of the United States to the French Republic which were mentioned in my Message to both Houses of Congress of the fifth instant, have been examined and maturely considered. While I feel a Satisfaction in informing you, that their Exertions for the Adjustment of the Differences, between the two Nations have been sincere and unremitted, it is...
52994To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Evans, [18 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This morning I have had my difinitive answer from the family I am in, and am to go with them. The Ship in which they are to sail is now ready at Portsmouth and they only wait for the Consuls Credential letters which are hourly expected. The reason therfore Sir for my troubling you in this manner is to beg you will endeavour to have some estimation put on...
52995From George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 29 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I observe, by the late regulation of the Quarter Master General’s department, that the appointment of the Deputies and Assistants is left to you, subject to my approbation. As I must suppose, that you will appoint none, but such as are sufficiently qualified for their respective offices, I hope I shall not be under the disagreeable necessity of putting a negative upon any of your nominations....
52996George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, 2–4 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] July 2–4, 1777. Approves of suggested exchange of prisoners, but states that Colonel Elias Boudinot must first be consulted. Refuses request for arms. Discusses probable British moves and American plans to counteract these moves. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
52997General Orders, 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
52998To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State having recieved from the Commissioners for the State of Vermont a letter proposing these Questions 1. Whether, as that state will not be a distinct member of the union till the 4th day of March next, the President can, before that day, nominate officers for it? and 2. if he cannot, whether he can nominate them after the recess of the Senate? makes thereon to the...
52999[Diary entry: 25 April 1771] (Washington Papers)
25. Mr. Alexander & I rid to my Mill & then to the Fishg. Landing at Posey and came home to dinner after wch. he went away.
53000From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I wrote a Line to you via Maryland, and another via New York, lately, enclosing with each a Bill for £15 Sterl. The Third I now send you. I receiv’d the Books and Letter you sent in good Order, and purpose to write for another Parcel of Books by Mesnard who is to sail in 2 or 3 Weeks. I have now every Thing ready for Mr. Hall to go to the W. Indies, but...
53001General Orders, 14 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The army is to march to morrow morning as soon as it is well light. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Muhlenberg’s orderly book includes the following general orders from “German Town” on this date: “The Troops are to march to Sweeds Ford in the follg Order by subdivisions from the right, the first two Thirds of the light Dragoons from which the Comm[andin]g Officers will detach small parties to...
53002To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 27 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d I yesterday recieved. I waited upon Mr Brook today to make the necessary enquiries respecting Mrs Forbes. The Character he gives her, assures me that she will fully answer the purposes for which my Aunt wants her. She is honest, industrious, & well acquainted with nice as well as common Cooking, and other subjects of domestic employment necessary in her profession. But...
53003Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 15 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Not one word have I heard from my Dear Sister, since I left Boston, nor have I had any intelligence from Washington excepting what we have gathered by the News Papers, & those we have read with a peculiar degree of anxiety. My mind as well as the publicks, has been long held in painful suspense, nor do we yet know but that he , who has been the stability of Our Times, may again preside, &...
53004To James Madison from Thomas Machin Jr., 8 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
Premit me to address You on the subject of my situation on my return from the north to Plattsburgh with our army I received a letter on the 20th. December last informing me that my Father whas at the point of Death and requested that I should return home as soon as posable to see him & to settel som business of the greatist importance to my Family. I immediately applyed to the commanding...
53005To James Madison from Edward Preble, 3 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 26th December last the contents of which to me was highly flattering, and be assured that my first and most ardent wish is, that I may continue to merit the approbation and confidence of my Country. I take the liberty of enclosing for your perusal a letter and memorandum which I presented to General Acton, Prime Minister of the Neapolitan Government...
53006To Thomas Jefferson from James Main, 9 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith is sent the first Six Numbers of the Sunday Monitor, a paper recently established here; and as I have undertaken to Edit it, beg your acceptance of a Copy Intending that it shall become a Literary paper, and that our republican institutions shall be defended & supported, by all the energies I am capable of. I have the Honor to be, With every sentiment of Respect Sir, your Mo Obt. &...
53007[Diary entry: 14 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Wind Eastwardly & very Cloudy in the Afternoon, it set in to raining & continued to do so most part of the Night. Warmer than yesterday.
53008Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 2 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
The letter, of which the inclosed is a Copy, was written on the second day of July last to the secretary for foreign affairs. His communication on the subject of Ferrier is dated on the 13th. of June. The Executive entered into a consideration of it immediately upon its receipt and lost no time in preparing and forwarding an Answer. That answer is unquestionably in the office of foreign...
53009To Benjamin Franklin from John Jebb, 15 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Baynes the bearer of this Letter has conceived that I am honoured with a share of your confidence & friendship—& has sollicited from me an introduction to you. I am at a distance from him—and if I were to assure him that I had only the pleasure of being twice in company with you when in England, he might imagine that I underrated the nature of my...
53010De Scarnafis to the American Commissioners, 2 February 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Ayant donné connoissance dans son tems à ma Cour de la lettre, que vous m’avez, Messieurs, fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 22. 7bre de l’année passée, pour me notifier que Vous étiez autorisés par les Etats Unis d’Amerique de traiter avec Sa Majesté le Roi de Sardaigne relativement à des Etablissements de commerce entre les deux Nations, j’aurai celui de vous dire, que le Roi verra avec grand...