571[Diary entry: 25 February 1788] (Washington Papers)
Monday 25th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 46 at Night. Calm and clear Morning. Wind Southerly afterwards which occasioned a considerable thaw. Mr. Fairfax going away directly after breakfast I rid to the Plantations in the Neck—at Muddy hole and Dogue run. At the first (that is the Neck) the Women were grubbing & fencing along the Creek. At Muddy hole doing the same. The...
572To James Madison from H. Potter, 11 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am just informed that Mr. Francis X Martin has been named to the President as a proper character to fill a vacancy on the bench of the Orleans Territory, and am desired to commmunicate to Our Senators in Congress such knowledge as I Possess of his Character. He is a frenchman, as you know, but I think him a correct Lawyer & a man of honesty & integrity. His standing at the bar has been very...
573To George Washington from Henry Knox, 7 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to submit to you, the pleasing information of a treaty with the Wabash indians; and which appears to have been a general one. After you shall have perused them, they shall be copied, to be laid before the two houses. Mr Bradshaw says, there were upwards of seven hundred indians present —He came by the way of Kentucky, and says that he understood that about twenty people had...
574To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 27 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh; Your exaltation, has so perfectly fulfilled my wishes, and gratified the strong feelings of my heart, I cannot suppress the sentiments which it inspires: Having long indulged a belief of “the high destinies of our country,” this event seems an additional omen, and brightens the glorious hope.—The ruling characters of the world have...
575To Thomas Jefferson from Henry Dearborn, 9 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The following gentleman are proposed to your consideration, as Candidates for military Agencies : (viz) For the Northern Department Peter Gansevoort , of Albany. For the middle Department William Linnard of Philadelphia. For the Southern Department Abraham D. Abrahams of Savannah. I have the honor to be, Sir, with high consideration, Yr. Obt. Servant RC ( DLC ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by...
576To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 24th. since which yours of the 20th. is recieved. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. It was false arithmetic to say that two measures therein mentioned to be carried by majorities of 11. would have failed if the 14. absentees (wherein a majority of 6. was ours) had been present. 6 coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was...
577To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 27 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
We refer to what we had the Honour to write yoúr Excellency the 24 th. of this month. Since we received your much esteemed favoúr of the 19 th. Inst t: whereby yoú Excellency was pleased to sent ús half a dozen Passports to be used by ús. we are much obliged for yoúr Excellency’s attention, & Shall make the needfull use of ’em, if it happen we want any more we Shall be free with the permission...
578From George Washington to Louis Guillaume Otto, 5 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the 16th of October only came to hand the 28th of last month. My particular acknowledgments are due to you for your recollection of and attention to me; and I pray you to be assured of the pleasure I felt at hearing that the place lately filled by Mr de Marbois, near the Sovereignty of these States, was so happily supplied—On this...
579To George Washington from Charles Washington, 7 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
I labour under Many Afflictions On Acct of the Orphans, Money is Such a Scarce Article amongst us, that there are scarcely coming at any, the Rents & profits of the Estate wou’d (could they be Collected) plentifully Answer all demands—but Fortitude & Patience is my only resource—However in the space of two or three Months I hope to be able to remit £200—I have Sent a Small Supply at present of...
580Memorandum to George Washington, 22 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Taking them up in their order, they appear susceptible of answer in the following way. The 1st. and 2d. by a concurrence of sentiment for the maintenance of the constitution, and preservation of peace, and the pleasure with which the President recieves their assurances of support in these objects. 3. Notice of the expressions of their personal respect . 4. Approbation of their expressions of...
581To James Madison from William Lambert, 8 April 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose two printed copies of a report relative to the latitude and longitude of the Capitol in this City; one of which is intended for your own use, the other for the use of the University or Seminary of learning near Charlottesville. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your most Obedt. servant, RC ( DLC ). Addressed by Lambert to JM, and franked. Docketed by JM....
582To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 8 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Lacks docket and cover. Although Joseph Jones clearly dated this letter “8th June,” he either wrote portions of it on 7 June or else mistakenly used the term “yesterday” to date certain proceedings of the House of Delegates which had taken place on 6 June. Thus at the outset of his third paragraph he mentions as happening “Yesterday” an election which had occurred on...
583From John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 24 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had, by yesterdays Post, the Honour of your Letter of the 15th. instant. I Should esteem it an Honour, and an Happiness, to discharge the friendly Trust of Executor to Mr. Quincys Will, (because I have a great Respect to his Memory and a great Regard for his Family,) if my Situation and Circumstances were such that I could possibly accomplish it, with Advantage to the Interest of the Family....
584To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Dean, 5 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Being informed by Mr Robert Moss that Coll. Danl. C. Brent the present Marshal of the District of Columbia is about to Resign that appointment and that he is an applicant. with due Respect I have taken the liberty to State that he is a Gentleman of Integrity and Respectability in my estimation well Qualifyed to fill that office. haveing acted as Deputy Marshal for some time past with Honor to...
585The 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...
586To Alexander Hamilton from Ebenezer Stevens, 23 September 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favor’d wth. yours of 20th Inst. and with Respect to the Cloathing for the Companies at Bennington, I will immediately attend to the Same— Should you think Proper, I should like you to direct that the Artillery Vests be composed of Red Cloth (instead of present fashion of White) and Blue Pantaloons with half Gaters, instead of White overalls My Reasons for this is, that white cloth is...
587Observations upon [Thomas Pownall], State of the Constitution of the Colonies, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
MS (copy): American Philosophical Society In December, 1769, or possibly in the following month, Thomas Pownall attempted to formulate general principles of law that applied to the issues in dispute between Britain and her colonies. He composed a short document in two parts; the first set forth six principles, and the second adduced corollaries from them. This document he had printed but not...
588General Orders, 28 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
[Officers] Of the Day Tomorrow[:] Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Hubley. Major James Moore[,] Brigade Major Bradford The Picquet on the right to be increased with the Addition of a Captain Sub. Serjeant Corporal and twenty nine privates. A Sub., Two Serjeants two Corporals and twenty five men to be Posted at the Mill on the left. A jill of Rum ⅌ man to be issued to the troops this evening. The...
589From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 31 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , II . I wrote a line to you yesterday, and having this opportunity, write another, just to let you know that we all continue well, and much the better from the refreshments you have sent us: in short we do very well, for though there are a great number of things, besides what we have, that used to seem necessary to comfortable living, yet we have...
590To George Washington from Charles Carroll (of Carrollton), 28 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
I received the 25th instant, late in the evening, your letter of the 23d. Early in the morning of the 26th, the post left this place, so that I had not Sufficient time to make up my mind respecting the acceptance or refusal of the commission mentioned in your letter, nor to inform you by last Saturday’s post of my determination. I have seriously weighed the reasons urged to induce me to accept...
591From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Barry, 18 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here a week ago and shall continue till the middle of May. I shall then return to Washington for two months only, and return here to stay till the last of September. as the most important work you have to do here is to finish the floor of the hall & to paint the floor of the Dome room exactly in the same way, which would not have time to harden during my next short absence, I think...
592To Thomas Jefferson from John Steele, 1 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am extremely gratified, and obliged by your favor of yesterday . It has determined me to postpone my journey to Carolina until the last week of this month, which is the more agreeable to me, as my absence will then correspond with the general arrangements of the Executive. If my private affairs can possibly be made to admit of it, a sense of gratitude for what I consider equivalent to a new...
593Willis Alston to James Madison, 25 December 1829 (Madison Papers)
It may not be otherwise than gratifying to you to hear from one who you have long known and whose political course seldom if ever differed from yours Your late vote in convention where you stood alone I should feel proud of, having viewed your proceedings throughout I think you have very few if any old friends here who does not feel perfectly satisfied The vote you give alone I most certainly...
594To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Granger, 25 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have visited Our friends at Providence and had a full conversation with the Govr: Messrs. Russell, Wheaton & Others, on the subject of the Office at Providence . The Governor was impatient for an appointment, all the other Gentlemen were solicitous that the business might be postponed for the present. There are some very serious difficulties among Our friends in that State and there is some...
595Description of a Cipher, [23 May 1803] (Hamilton Papers)
Pour se servir de l’Echiquier cy inclus, en place d’un Chiffre, afin d’empecher la decouverte de votre correspondance; employer la maniere suivante. Ayant ecris votre lettre comme de coutume; vous prepárerez le papier sur lequel vous ētes intentioné a coucher votre copie secrete de la meme grandeur que le carré en Echiquier, lequel ētant placé sur le dit papier, vous l’y fixerez par les quatre...
596To John Adams from William Gordon, 28 June–2 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Should you find in this ms a deal of the caput mortuum don’t wonder, for the weather is & has been very hot for several days. The last wednesday the house opposite to the old brick was so violently hot, that in their zeal against the absentees they broke the good frame of government you had a hand in erecting. The brains were for providing that persons taken up as such, should have a trial by...
597From George Washington to Metcalf Bowler, 19 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 21st of July together with the Treatise on Agriculture & practical Husbandry. I consider the latter as a mark of attention which merits my warmest acknowledgments. It is a subject highly worthy the attention of every gentleman in this country who has leisure, abilities, or opportunity to improve it. It is the only source from which we can at present draw any...
598To George Washington from Jacob Broom, 3 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you upon the success of that inestimable Constitution, which I had the honor to witness your weighty and influential support and approbation of; and it is with singular pleasure I stand informed, that you have the unanimous suffrages of the Electors, to fill the Chair of first President. I take the liberty to solicit Your Excellency for an appointment as Collector or receiver of...
599To John Adams from Harry Innes, 30 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
Pardon me if my zeal for the public good hath induced an address to you in your official capacity different from the common rotine of business; yet sir when you reflect on both the importance & delicacy of the subject, I trust this deviation will be excused as I would not be willing to commit myself upon the occasion to any other person except yourself. Thro’ the medium of a correspondence...
600The American Peace Commissioners: Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, 20 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS and AD (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain: A Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea, as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty the King of Great Britain and the United States of...