5551From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 10 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Having but just been acquainted with this Opportunity which goes directly, I have only time to write a few Lines; and only leave to send a Letter without any Pacquets of News Papers. Count d’Estaing is gone to Spain to take the Command of the United Fleet. The important Alliance of the Neutral Powers for the Protection of Trade, is nearly compleated It...
5552To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Lee, 9 March 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I trust you have got back to New York where I hope among many delights which will encircle you, may be the leisure necessary to attend to distant friends. I very much wish to derive for a good purpose a piece of information which you only can give. If you feel yourself at liberty to do so in the strictest confidence pray impart to me the authors of the several pieces of publius. This you can...
5553To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont, 16 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society M. Bernier et gourlade qui vendent avec moy la fregatte que vous avez fait visiter par le Capitaine Lambert Vickes me prient de leur envoyer promptement vostre decision; Ils veulent vendre cette fregatte quatre cents mile livres. Il fait beau tems, venez diner avec nous amenez vos deux confreres et nous concluerons. J’ay l’honneur d’estre avec Respect...
5554From George Washington to John Laurens, 10 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me your Letter of the 19 May. I must confess that I am not at all astonished at the failure of your Plans. That Spirit of Freedom which at the commencement of this contest would have gladly sacrificed every thing to the attainment of its object has long since subsided, and every selfish Passion has taken its place—it is not the public but the private Interest which...
5555Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 27 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The Parliamentary Manual, originally compiled for my own personal use, was printed on the supposition it might be of use to others, and have some tendency to settle the rules of proceeding in Congress , where, in the lower house especially they had got into forms totally unfriendly to a fair extrication of the will of the majority. no right over it was therefore wished to be retained over it...
5556General Orders, 30 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass the following Resolves. By the United States in Congress assembled May 4th 1781, Resolved, That Thomas Hutchins be appointed Geographer to the Southern army with the same pay and emoluments as are allowed to the Geographer of the main army. May 8th 1781 Resolved That the Commander in Chief be and he is hereby authorized and directed to...
5557To Alexander Hamilton from George Thacher, 30 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Biddeford [ District of Maine ] March 30, 1791 . “… The Bonds which Mr. Cutts gave the Collector for the port of Biddeford & Pepperellborough will become payable about the 10th of May, & he is anxious to have your opinion on the justice of paying them as early as possible.” ALS , Maine Historical Society, Portland. Thomas Cutts. Jeremiah Hill.
5558From George Washington to Col. John Lamb, 25 September 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Col. John Lamb, 25 Sept. 1780 . Lamb wrote GW on 26 Sept. : “Your favor of Yesterday, came duely to Hand” (see Document I with The Smith Family and Major General Benedict Arnold’s Treachery, 26 Sept.–30 Oct., editorial note ).
5559August 26. 1796. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Cloudy. Wind. N.E. but not rainy. The shower last night has refreshed Us. The Corn, the Gardens, the Pastures, The After feed, the Fruit trees all feel it. Sullivan gone for a Load of Seaweed. The other Men upon the Wall. In digging a Trench for the Wall We find Stones enough, in Addition to the old Wall to compleat the New one. Four hands with a Yoke of Oxen have done Six Rods in four days...
5560From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter from Genl Hand of the 13th, which came to hand to day, I received the disagreable intelligence that the Enemy had proceeded to the settlement of Cherry Valley—surprised and slain Colonel Alden, who was stationed there and committed many outrages. I wish it may not turn out, that the whole of his Regimt has been cut off, as the accounts seem to have left matters in a very doubtful &...
5561From George Washington to the Commanding Officer in Philadelphia, 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
My situation will not admit of the smallest delay in dispatching & forwarding to this place all the Troops in Philada. Let the utmost expedition be used in fitting them out as fast as they arrive, & no time be lost in sending them on under proper Officers. I am Yr most Obedient Humble Ser. LS , in George Johnston’s writing, NHi : Gates Papers. Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates apparently received this...
5562To James Madison from Jedediah Huntington (Abstract), 16 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
16 May 1805, New London . “In compliance with your communications of the 2d. & 4th: of this month, the draughts of Mr Cathalan have been paid to William Hazard, & are enclosed with the letters which accompanied them.” RC ( DLC ). 1 p. No letter of 2 May 1805 from JM to Huntington has been found. For JM’s letter of 4 May, see William Hazard to JM, 8 Apr. 1805 , n. 3.
5563Alexander Moore to James Monroe, 28 January 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ Alexander Moore to James Monroe. 28 January 1814, Washington. “At the request of several persons who are very much interested in the appointment of a Judge of the Orphans Court for Alexandria County, I take the liberty of calling your attention to that subject. There is at this time a number of administrations to be granted which cannot be effected until the appointment takes place. It was...
5564From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is devoted to one Subject. Since the Death of Judge Cushing there has been frequently expressed in Conversation, much regret at your Absence, among People of all Parties. Presuming that Absence to be an insuperable Bar to any Nomination as a Judge, I have taken very little Notice of such Insinuations of Regret and imputed some of them to one Motive and Some to another. I need not...
5565To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor of addressing your Excellency in April, by Genl Jackson, & have since that period been extremely gratified by hearing of your happy arrival at the seat of Government, & acceptance of the supreme Executive Authority of the United States—an event, that I am confident affords the sincerest pleasure to every true friend of America. I also observe that the Impost Act was in...
5566From James Madison to Jacquelin Ambler, 4 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
Please to pay to the Honble. Edward Carrington or order two hundred and fifty dollars and charge the same against me as Delegate to Congress for the State of Virginia, computing from Ocr. 1st. 1788. RC ( Vi ). Docketed by John Pendleton (state auditor).
5567Executive Pardon, 12 October 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 October 1811, Washington. JM remits the sentence of death imposed 12 Aug. 1811 by a court-martial at Baton Rouge on Sgt. Peter B. Conger of the Consolidated Infantry Regiment for the offense of desertion. Leaves standing that part of the sentence reducing Conger to the ranks. Tr ( DNA : RG 107, LSMA ). 1 p.
5568From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1819 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 3. came safe to hand, with the seeds you were so kind as to send with it. I return Mr. Cabell’s letter. I hope his fears exaggerate the hostility to the University; tho’ if there should be a dearth in the Treasury, there may be danger from the predilection in favor of the popular Schools. I begin to be uneasy on the subject of Cooper. It will be a dreadful shock to him if...
5569The Defence No. X, [26 August 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
The object of the third article is connected with that of the second. The surrender of the posts naturally drew with it an arrangement with regard to inland Trade and navigation. Such an arrangement convenient in several respects appears to be in some respects necessary. To restrain the Indians on either side of the line from trading with the one party or the other at discretion, besides the...
5570From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 5th. and 9th are received. My Eyes and my hands forbid every unnecessary Word. I have read Lardner and Jones; the latter 50 Years ago, and twice Sinse; the last time within a year. They both give Us their opinion but not proofs. They take for granted the Authenticity of Gospels Acts Epistles and Apocalypse, and then produce them as Witnesses. Sillimans Stones are not So...
5571From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, Sr., 4 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The marriage of your son with my daughter cannot be more pleasing to you than to me. Besides the worth which I discover in him, I am happy that the knot of friendship between us, as old as ourselves, should be drawn closer and closer to the day of our death. I am perfectly contented to leave to yourself the provision for your son. What you propose is liberal. I feel myself tied up by the...
5572From Alexander Hamilton to William Skinner, 2 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 2, 1791. On August 12, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Skinner and referred to “my letter to you of the 2nd instant.” Letter not found. ] Skinner was commissioner of loans for North Carolina.
5573To George Washington from Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 1 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
As to reinforcing the southern Army from this, (the first Matter proposed by your Excellency to the Council) my Judgment has rather ponderated in Favour of the measure—for the following Reasons. —The Subjection of the southern States seems to be the favorite Object & last Hope of the british Ministry and Army. —Those States border on the British Territories; and contain a large Number of...
5574To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 16 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport, Rhode Island, December 16, 1793. “I received your private and confidential letter of the 20th. of Novemr. last on the seventh of this month, and should have answered it by the last post, but I wished for time to discover if I could whether a third person I had in view would accept if he should be appointed District Attorney. I have avoided taking any part in the contest for that...
5575George Tucker to James Madison, 21 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to say that I have not been able to find, among the papers of R. H. Lee, deposited in the University, that part of his correspondence with Mr. Pendleton to which you refer. As the papers are not arranged according to any known rule, and are not always endorsed, it became necessary to examine the whole mass, which I believe I did with sufficient accuracy yesterday & today to warrant...
5576To Thomas Jefferson from William Harrison, 2 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inform your excellencie that the Provision required for the Western expedition is nearly Compleat and will be at Fort Pitt with Boats sufficient to Transport it by the fifteenth Inst. I find the expence Considerabley augmented from My first expectation. Owing to the Depreciation of the Currency, the Money Sent Me from the Treasurey with 100000 pounds furnished me by...
5577[Diary entry: 22 February 1772] (Washington Papers)
22. Wind very fresh all the forepart of the day from the Southward Melting all the Snow in the Fields & drying the Ground fast.
5578From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 27 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Finding the Commissioners appointed to liquidate the accounts of Monies due for the maintenance of Prisoners, and make permanent provision for their future support, have seperated without accomplishing any thing; I think it highly expedient that measures should be adopted, at this moment, for taking the German Prisoners of War into our service: as this measure has been considerably agitated, I...
5579To George Washington from Major General Riedesel, 17 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I hope your Excellency has received my Letter dated from Newburgh, and which I forwarded to Head Quarters by my Aide du Camp Lieutenant Cleve, who arrived at Middle Brook a few days after your Excellency’s departure for Philadelphia. Lord Sterling opened my Letter, and was so obliging as to grant all the Requests it contained, in the most ample manner. I have met with here, some Hessian...
5580To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Willing, 30 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of the 25th. did not reach me till yesterday noon. I call’d the Directors at 9 oClock this Morning and by the enclosure to the Treasurer with the Post Notes also sent him you will see that your application for a further Loan of twenty thousand dollars has been complied with; and I have no doubt that you will send forward a Treasury Warrant indorsed by the Secretary for the Amount...
5581From George Washington to La Luzerne, 5–6 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Two days since I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of 29th of April. The polite terms in which you mention the attention which my respectful attachment for you dictated during your stay in Camp adds to the obligation I felt for the honor of your visit. I was happy in that oppertunity of giving you new proofs of my sentiments and I entreat you to afford me others as frequently...
5582From George Washington to Francis Dana, 9 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured with a resolution of Congress of the 4th Inst., by which you are appointed to assist in the arranging of the army. As so important a matter ought not to be delayed I would be glad to see you at camp as soon as possible; and to know when I can have that pleasure. I am &c. Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The resolution is printed in JCC...
5583From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be put into your hands by Mr Lear, who is well known to one, or more of you. He has it in contemplation to make (in conjunction with others) a considerable Mercantile establishment in the Federal City; if he should be able to obtain such a site therein, and upon such terms, as will answer his, and the views of his associates. What these are he can best explain to you; and you...
5584To James Madison from George W. Erving, 17 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
My last unofficial letter was of June 22d. My last publick dispatch (of the 14th. Inst.) by original & duplicate, inclosed Copy of an Extraordinary gazette announcing the conclusion of an Armistice between Russia & France, a triplicate of which is herewith transmitted: The News of the ratification immediately followed, & to day we hear that the peace is Signed at Tilsit, & that the two...
5585[Diary entry: 11 September 1770] (Washington Papers)
11. Cloudy with appearances of Rain but none fell.
5586To George Washington from Brigadier General Nathanael Greene, 27 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have examind the prisoners and find them to be a poor parcel of Ignorant Cowardly fellows. Two are Taylors named John & James Dunbar, and the other two are common labourers named Isaac Petit & Will Smith. They candidly confess they set off with an intention of going to Statten Island, but not with any intention of Joining the Enemy; but to get out of the way of fighting here. I believe the...
5587To George Washington from John Gunby, 27 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
As there Will be under the New Goverment a number of Offices to dispose off, some of greator, and Others of less importance, I beg your Excellency would be pleased to consider me an applicant to fill one of them, (The Navel office for the port of Snow Hill,) For as Much as the business of that port have been small, and in all probability will continue so for a time to come, Could the business...
5588To James Madison from George W. Erving, 31 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 March 1804, London. No. 32. “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 18 . instructing me to correspond in future with the Secretary of the Treasury and to pursue his directions respecting all Monies which I have or hereafter may receive on account of the United States, & to settle my official Accounts with him.” Adds in a postscript that he encloses a copy of...
5589To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 8 August 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 8 August. GW wrote Biddle on 17 Aug. : “Your letter of the 8th came safely by last Post.”
5590To James Madison from Isaac Briggs, 16 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
Having had, for a considerable time past, opportunities of observing the rapid progress of various manufactures in our country—and the increasing production of articles of primary usefulness, and believing in the good policy of promoting and fostering the spirit of enterprise already excited in laying this surest foundation of National Independence, my mind has been forcibly impressed with a...
5591The Marquis de Lafayette’s Note Containing Vergennes’ Proposal, [11 September? 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress Vergennes had advised the American commissioners against delaying negotiations over the issue of Oswald’s commission. As he wrote to La Luzerne, in politics one should yield on form when satisfied with the substance. Franklin agreed. When Jay continued to object, Vergennes and Lafayette proposed to him a solution that might expedite matters: having Oswald write...
5592The American Commissioners to William Hamilton and John Welch, 11 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your Situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large Sum of Money. But as We have already lent you as much, as We have been able to lend to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances, we cannot, without a...
5593Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Fox, 6 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Jan. ___ informing me of your intention to publish the result of your experience in the art of dying and coloring various substances used in common life; and the prospectus specifying the objects particularly. whatever doubt may have heretofore existed it must now be apparent to all that we must become a manufacturing nation, to the extent of our own wants....
5594To James Madison from John Elmslie, Jr., 29 March 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
29 March 1802, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. Has supplied the American merchant ship Equator with a mast, which he procured in lieu of a spare foreyard left behind by Captain Preble of the Essex . Encloses a promissory note [not found] from the master of the Equator to pay the secretary of the navy “what ever sum may be assessed for the value of the same.” Also encloses a copy of a protest...
5595To Alexander Hamilton from Edmund Randolph, [17 April 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor of informing the Secretary of the Treasury, that the President of the United States grants a passport to the Spanish Vessel, to which the inclosed papers relate, she being Parlamentario; and that the Spanish Commissioners are informed, that upon application to the Secretary of the Treasury, they will receive the Passport. LC , RG 59, Domestic Letters of the...
5596To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Crafton, 11 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you (as an American) have not caught that epidemical Disorder, that infects our Senators on this Side the Atlantic: Law Makers should not be Law-Breakers! You and I, cum aliis, laid our wise Noddles together, and framed a wise Statute; that we and all other Persons under a certain Predicament therein express’d, should dine every Thursday at the Dog...
5597To Thomas Jefferson from John Polson, [ca. 20 July 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the honor of being Introduced to your Excellency at Paris in May 1785, you were so good as tell me that you would write to some Gentlemen in Virginia to know whether the Lands that were Granted to me as the Representative of my Brother William Polson Deceased (being 6000 Acres, he being a Lieutenant in the Virginia Troops before the Battle of the Meadows in the year 1754,) were...
5598From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 29 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
You will please to obtain a certificate from the Cashier of the Bank of North America, expressing the sums paid in the said Bank by you in the course of the present month, upon which a warrant shall be issued for the amount. You will not fail transmitting the said certificate by Thursday’s mail, in order that it may reach me on Saturday. I am Sir Your Obed’t Serv’t ALS , Mrs. Arthur Loeb,...
5599To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday brot to my Hand your Favr of the 1st instant—The Circumstances of our Infomation fm N. York are indeed suspicious—yet I fear will prove but too well founded. Our Genl Assembly, now sitting, had previous to your Letter, on Application from Genl Howe, furnshed Mr Hubbard D.Q.M. with Cash to forward the salted Provisions deposited in this State —by this means 600 bbs. are now on the...
5600From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 8 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Bristed, in his Hints, p. 389 to 413, has published some account of an affair which he says John Adams quashed. Whether this is a reproach or an honor, the public will judge from the Documents. On the 25th of August, 1798, I received at Quincy, the following Letter from the Secretary of State. (No. I.) Trenton, August 21, 1798. Sir—I enclose a letter which I received last evening, under...