53701To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 4 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
I received a few Days since a very obliging Letter from you. I have it not with me here, and therefore cannot mention the Date. I shall answer it particularly by the next Opportunity. This serves chiefly to cover the Communication of two Letters, which I have viewed, one from M r Adams, relative to the Propos’d Mediation. The other from some Merchants who possess Congress Drafts of a Late...
53702Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 4 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Entirely in JM’s hand, except for Jones’s and Bland’s signatures. Docketed: “Delegates Sept. 4. recd 13th.” and “Genl Washington with a part of the American Army and the Count de Rochambeau with the whole of the French thus far on their way to Virginia.” “No. 8.” is written at the top of the letter. Yesterday’s post brought us no letter from your Excellency. We...
53703September 1781 (Washington Papers)
5th. The rear of the French army having reached Philadelphia and the Americans having passed it—the Stores having got up & every thing in a tolerable train here; I left this City for the head of Elk to hasten the Embarkation at that place and on my way—(at Chester)—received the agreeable news of the safe arrival of the Count de Grasse in the Bay of Chesapeake with 28 Sail of the line & four...
53704From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 5 September 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Head of Elk, Maryland, September 5, 1781. On September 6, 1781, Hamilton wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton : “Yesterday … I wrote to you … to the care of Mr. Morris.” Letter not found. ]
53705From Alexander Hamilton to Philip Schuyler, 5 September 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Head of Elk, Maryland, September 5, 1781. On September 6, 1781, Hamilton wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton : “Yesterday … I wrote to you, inclosing you a letter in one to your father, to the care of Mr. Morris.” Letter not found. ]
53706From Benjamin Franklin to William Nixon, 5 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I duly received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 25th past, together with the valuable little Book of which you are the Author.— There can be no doubt but that a Gentleman of your Learning & Abilities might make a very useful Member of Society in our new Country, and meet with Encouragement there either as an Instructor in one of...
53707To Benjamin Franklin from Besse, 5 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Je n’ai reçu l’honneur de votre Lettre que le 21 d’août & si je ny pas répondu plutôt, c’est que je n’ai pu trouver de traducteur qu’à Strasbourg. Je ne Suis pas le Seul dans cette manufacture qui se plaigne du retardement des Lettres; nous en cherchons infructueusement les causes, c’est pourquoi, Monsieur, si jamais vous voulez bien me procurer...
53708To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 5 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Letter will be delivered to you by Coll. Dubuysson, an Officer of distinguished Merit and who has bled freely in the cause of America and wishes to return to it. I shall be obliged to you for your friendship and Attention to him. Enclosed you have a Letter from me to your old friend & acquaintance Governer Sharpe, which I beg you will Seal and forward...
53709[Diary entry: 5 September 1781] (Washington Papers)
5th. The rear of the French army having reached Philadelphia and the Americans having passed it—the Stores having got up & every thing in a tolerable train here; I left this City for the head of Elk to hasten the Embarkation at that place and on my way—(at Chester)—received the agreeable news of the safe arrival of the Count de Grasse in the Bay of Chesapeake with 28 Sail of the line & four...
53710To George Washington from David Forman, 5 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
An Indisposition for a few days past has prevented my riding out for the Better Intilligence—Your Excly is well informed that Intillegencers who live in the power of the Enemy must be delt with very guardedly on acct of there personal safety and to gain there confidance—I therefore dare not send a Messenger to them for fear of allarming them or Causing suspitions in Others. That has prevented...
53711To George Washington from William Heath, 5 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have not been honored with a line from you since that of the 29. ulto from Trenton—The post rider with the southern mail, I am apprehensive has been stopped and robbed of the mail in his way from Philadelphia. I am this moment informed that yesterday at 12 o’clock a fleet of about 26 sail, some of them large vessels, passed by Stanford to the eastward—But whether they were merchant men—a...
53712From George Washington to Henry Knox, 5 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to commit the Box & Map herewith sent to some person in whom you can confide—to go by water to Christiana. Present my Compliments to Mrs Knox, & repeat to her my wishes that she would spend her time at Mount Vernon—if it is convenient & agreeable to her to go to Virginia—I am very sincerely—Dr Sir Yr Obedt & Affecte Servt MHi : Henry Knox Papers.
53713From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 5 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
With the highest Satisfaction, I do myself the Honor, to transmit to your Excellency, the inclosed Copy of a Letter, announcing the arrival of the Count DeGrasse with 28 Ships, in the Chesapeak. With the warmest Congratulations on this happy Event. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servt AAE .
53714From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 5 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
With the highest Pleasure, I do myself the Honor to transmitt to your Excellen c y the inclosed Copy of a Letter from Genl Gist—It announces the safe Arrival in the Chesapeak of Admiral D. Grasse with 28 Ships of the Line. On this happy Event, I beg your Excellency to accept my warmest Congratulations. I shall proceed myself with all possible Dispatch—forwardg as I go on, the Troops, Stores...
53715To John Jay from Floridablanca, 5 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
Le Comte de Florida Blanca a eté bien mortifié de ne pas pouvoir recevoir la visite de M r de Jay non seulement par les affaires trop pressantes qui l’ont pris tout son temps, mais aussi a cause des incommodites qu’il a souffert et soufre encore. Cependant quoiqu’il ne soit pas en état de s’engager dans des longues et serieuses conferences par les motifs susmentiones, il sera charmé de pouvoir...
53716To John Adams from Jean Luzac, 6 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Ce fut avec la plus grande satisfaction et reconnoissance, que je reçus, il y a quelque tems, de la part de Votre Excellence, le Recueil des Constitutions et autres Actes fondamentaux de la République Fédérative, qui s’est formée dans le Nouveau-Monde. J’en ai témoigné ma gratitude à Mr. Thaxter; mais il est de mon devoir de présenter à Votre Excellence même mes vifs et sincères remercîmens....
53717Jean Luzac to John Adams: A Translation, 6 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
It was with the greatest satisfaction and gratitude that I received, some time ago from your Excellency, the collection of constitutions and other fundamental acts of the federative Republic formed in the New World. I expressed my gratitude for this to Mr. Thaxter, but it is my duty to express my great and sincere thanks to your Excellency. If this collection is by itself a testament worthy of...
53718From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 6 September 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday, my lovely wife, I wrote to you, inclosing you a letter in one to your father, to the care of Mr. Morris. To-morrow the post sets out, and to-morrow we embark for Yorktown. I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of writing you a few lines. Constantly uppermost in my thoughts and affections, I am happy only when my moments are devoted to some office that respects you. I would give the...
53719To Benjamin Franklin from Dominique-Louis Ethis de Corny, 6 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am inform’d that Mr. Robert Morris has Written niewly to his correspondents in Metz in order of sending With great haste, and sooner as possible, several articles Reckoned in the memorandum Which I did speak of, With your Excellency, When I have had the honor to see you Lately. The Wants of every...
53720General Orders, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is with the highest pleasure and satisfaction the Commander in Chief announces to the Army the arrival of the Count de Grasse in the Chesapeake with a very formidable naval and Land force; at the same time he felicitates them on this auspicious occasion he anticipates the glorious Events which may be expected from the combined Operations now in contemplation—as no circumstances cou’d...
53721From George Washington to Daniel Brodhead, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have receiv’d your Letter of 23d Augt, with its inclosures. Had you adverted to the plain construction of mine of the 5th of May, you would not have been in doubt as to the propriety of your holding the Command at Fort Pitt, while your Trial was preparing and hearing—as you seem to have misconstructed my meaning in that Letter, I have now to request in positive terms, that you do immediately...
53722To George Washington from Daniel Brodhead, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Savages have killed & taken three men since my last. Col. Gibson still continues to counteract me, and the officers who favored his claim refuse my orders. Others refuse his, and things are in the utmost confusion. Mr Fowler has wrote me repeated insolent Letters, denying the right of any person to act as Judge advocate but himself. I intend to take no notice of him at present; lest he...
53723From George Washington to David Forman, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your Favr of Yesterday—and have to inform that I am thus far on my Way to Virginia—that the Count DeGrasse with 28 Ships of the Line with some Frigates, is arrived in the Chesapeak—where Lord Cornwallis is at present Blocked up & fortifyg in York River. Notwithstandg the Distance—if any Thing worthy Notice takes place under your Observation, I shall thank you for its...
53724To George Washington from David Forman, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excly yesterday that my indisposition had prevented my going below for the Better Intilegence. allthough far from well I rode down this Morning and am now able to Inform your Excly with certainty respecting the Troops that arrive with Adml Hood—the y are three regts as they Call them selves—but not exceeding five hundred in the Whole and hardly a well man amongst them they were...
53725From George Washington to Alexander Fowler, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Being informed that upon a Construction of my former Letter you have insisted on acting as D. Judge Advocate in takg the Depositions & preparing the Necessary Evidence previous to the Trial of Colo. Broadhead, on the Accusations bro’t against him during his Comand at the Post of Fort Pitt in which you have appeared as a Principal—I do hereby direct you, from the manifest Impropriety of the...
53726From George Washington to John Gibson, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Broadhead having been Directed, in my Letter to him of this Date, to resign his Comand at Fort Pitt, during the Dependance of his Trial on sundry accusations bro’t against him whilst in Comand—You will immediately on the Receipt of this assume the like Comand at the Post of Fort Pitt & its Dependances as has been committed to Colo. Broadhead. Mr Fowler, who appears to have been a...
53727From David Humphreys to Mordecai Gist, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Commander in Cheif had the pleasure to receive your favor announcing the arrival of the Count de Grasse, at 1/2 past two oClock P.M. near Chester, and directed me to come forward to make some arrangement for expediting the Movement of the Troops, Ordnance, Stores &c. & ha ste ning the embarkation as much as possible. I have it in command from His Excy to write to you...
53728To George Washington from Mordecai Gist, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose You a list of the Vessels that have sailed from this port for the Head of Elk, ammounting in the whole to 1,012 Tons, which I hope are arrived before this. About 300 Tons of Shipping are now in the Harbour discharging their Cargoes, including a Galley of four 18 Pounders, belonging to the merchts of the Town, who have had her sometime under repair, she is not...
53729From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored by your Excellencys Favor of the 2d Instant—& do myself the Pleasure to felicitate you on the happy Arrival of so formidable a Fleet of his most Christian Majesty, in the Bay of Chesapeake, under your Excellencys Comand—this happy Event, I hope will be improved to the most salutary Purposes, for the united Interests of both Nations. Expecting to have the Honor of a personal...
53730From George Washington to Robert Morris, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every Day discovers to me the increasg Necessity of some Money for the Troops—I hope by this Time you are provided to give a Month’s Pay—I find it of the last Importance to hasten forward myself—to join the Marquis as soon as possible—I may leave this in a few Hours—I cannot do It however, without intreatg you in the warmest Terms to send on a month Pay at least—with all the Expedition...