67751From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [28 August 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you some days since, that to request you to inform me when there was a prospect of your finishing as I intended to be with you, for certain reasons, before the conclusion. It is whispered here that some late changes in your scheme have taken place which give it a higher tone. Is this the case? I leave town today, to attend a circuit in a neighbouring County, from which I shall...
67752To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, 18 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Col: Bland having sent in his Resignation, which the Board of War tells me is æccepted of; pardon me for applying to your Excellency for a Certificate of my being the eldest Lt Col: in the Cavalry, without which the Board inform’s they cannot give me the Commission I am intitled to, which deprives me from procuring many things that the Regt is in great want of. I have the honor to be your...
67753To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Claxton, 1 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is the report made by me to the committee on the subject of furniture—it was read in the house this morning by Mr Nicholson—the question was taken on a joint resolution, appropriating fourteen thousand dollars —no debate took place, nor was there any opposition—This resolution vests the President with the power of spending the money as he may think fit—I have settled all my accounts,...
67754To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of Mr Pinckney’s letter of the 21st of July from Madrid. No key has yet been found, or rather none exists here, to decypher his figures. On Saturday a packet arrived from Mr Bayard containing one of the spoliation cases decided by the High Court of Appeals—on principles extremely unfavourable. I sent the whole immediately to Mr Fitzsimons for the...
67755Sunday July the 8th 1781. (Adams Papers)
This morning Mr. Dana and Mr. Deneufville The day’s entry breaks at this point because the succeeding MS leaf containing p. 113–114 of the Diary volume is missing. This and similar losses of leaves from the same volume containing p. 127–128 and 149–156, affecting entries for 11, 12 July, and 27 July–17 Aug., were noted in the MS by Worthington C. Ford in April 1911. Dana’s Journal, which...
67756Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
British impressment of American seamen, a grievance normally associated with the War of 1812, actually antedated even the Revolution, as the present case shows. Early in the morning of Saturday, 22 April 1769, H.M. Frigate Rose, patrolling on the high seas off Marblehead, intercepted and stopped the brig Pitt Packet (Thomas Power master), owned by Robert “King” Hooper, manned with a crew of...
67757To Thomas Jefferson from John Page, 15 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just Time to inclose you a Copy of General Lee’s Letter written the Day after the Cannonade of Fort Sullivan. It came to Hand two Days after his other though written 4 Days before it. This was a glorious affair. Ld. Dunmore has had a most compleat Drubbing . The Fleet left 7 fine Cables and Anchors worth at least £1200, three of their Tenders compleatly furnished fell into our Hands. If...
67758From Peter Force to John Adams, 21 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have been requested by a gentleman, whom I am desirous of serving, to call upon the President. Not knowing, however, whether it would be convenient to him, or better for me, to do so, without first making the inquiry, I take the liberty of asking of you the favour to inform me, if I can have an interview with the President, on the subject of this request; and if so, what time would be the...
67759From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 12 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will see by the inclosed Letter that your presence in Camp is essential to settling matters of importa⟨n⟩ce. you will therefore leave pr⟨oper⟩ instructions with the next in com⟨mand⟩ and return as speedily as p⟨ossible⟩ to Camp. I am Sir Your most obedt Servt LS , in John Laurens’s writing, anonymous donor. Where the document has been mutilated, the conjectured characters are supplied in...
67760From Thomas Jefferson to John Dorr, 10 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Dorr and his thanks for the transmission of the books from mr Levitt, which he has recieved safely. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
67761To Thomas Jefferson from William Kilty, 1 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this morning, the Honour of receiving your letter of the 27th July enclosing the Petition of Thomas Rustic, or Duffy On Considering his Case We have thought it proper to make a recommendation in his favour, which you will find returned with his Petition I am Sir With Great respect Yr obt Servt RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR ); at foot of text: “Th: Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 4...
67762From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 22 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have received a late order of the Senate on the subject of a Petition of Arthur Hughes. Diligent search has been made for such a Petition, and it has not been found. Neither have I now a distinct recollection of ever having seen it. Whether therefore it may not have originally failed in the transmission to me, or may have become mislaid by a temporary displacement of the papers of my...
67763From George Washington to Colonel William Irvine, 26 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
imediatly upon receipt of this Letter you are desired to march the remainder of your Battalion Directly to this City in order to embark for Albany on your Rout to Canada. the Congress have been pleasd to order that upon Your march or Imbarkation from hence for Canada, the pay of your men, Shall be the Same as those of other Regiments employd in the Same Service to wit 6⅔ds. dollars ⅌ month of...
67764To George Washington from Brigadier General David Forman, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honr of Transmiting your Excely An Acct of the Enemies Fleet’s sailing, Nothing of Importance has Come to my Knowledge—The Cork Fleet Consisting of 34 Sail Left Sandy hook on Tuesday Morning Last. The Accts respecting the Situation of our Northern Army as handed to us at this place is so Various as to Induce me to beg the favr to have the Accts from Some one of your Excelys...
67765From James Madison to Mann Page, Jr., [post 23] August 1791 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr. Childs who solicits subscriptions to a new Gazette to be edited at the Seat of Federal Government, from his press by Mr. Freneau. He will communicate to you the plan, which speaks its own merits. Those of Mr. Childs have, besides other vouchers, the character & success of a paper of which he has long been the Printer in New York. With Mr. Freneau I have been long...
67766From John Adams to Jean de Neufville & Fils, 27 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have just received yours, inclosing the Lettres Hollandoise, and thank you for your Attention. You give me great Joy by your Account of the Arrival of a Vessell from Boston—hope We shall soon hear of more. As to the Loan, I am not indifferent about its Success. My own Reputation with Some People, in Europe and America will depend in Some measure upon it. But this has little Weight with me—it...
67767From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commissions for Lee, Folsom Varnum Cushing, Homan, Wadsworth & Woodward to be midshipman, and sent them in your letter to Capt James Sever, as you proposed in your favor of 28 ult. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
67768From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Addressed to “The Honble Edmund Pendleton Esqr. Caroline County Virginia.” Yesterday’s post brought me your favor of the 11th instant, which if my recollection does not fail me is an act of supererogation, the terms of our contract entitling Mr Jones alone to your correspondence of the present week. To show you how acceptable it is to me I have selected the inclosed...
67769Leonard Sargent to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the publication of your Letter of y the 21 st Sept last to the Hon e S. H. Smith relative to the disposal of your Library: it has become a theme of much conversation in this part of our Country of what this vast number of Books can consist; Could you Sir without much inconvenience to yourself forward to this place a Catalogue of s d Library you would not only confer a great favor on many...
67770From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 28 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday your favour of the 23d. proposing a Ship to be freighted for our Goods. I some time since put that Business into the Hands of M. Williams, who has agreed for a Ship accordingly, that is large enough to take all we have to send. He will inform you of the Particulars. I am nevertheless thankful to you for your Obliging Attention to this important...
67771From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 8 November 1809 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 ult. I rec d . your Letter of the 1 st . of Aug t . last, and I thank you for it, and for the Pamphlets enclosed with it.— It was not without Surprize and Regret that I percieved from it, that my Letter to you of the 14 April 1806, in answer to your’s of the 7 Nov r . 1805, had never come to your hands; and it appeared to me the more singular, as a Duplicate was also sent. As they...
67772From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 14 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I was happy to find by the letter of Aug. 1. 1786. which you did me the honour to write me, that the modern dress for your statue would meet your approbation. I found it strongly the sentiment of West, Copeley, Trumbul and Brown in London, after which it would be ridiculous to add that it was my own. I think a modern in an antique dress as just an object of ridicule as an Hercules or Marius...
67773To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [3 February? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This note, unlike the Duke’s others to Franklin at the time, carries a sense of urgency; but the reason is not immediately clear. He encloses what he considers an important letter, which he wants kept secret; some of the news in it Franklin has doubtless heard already at Versailles. Du Coudray, under an alias, is somewhere in the offing. These subjects seem...
67774From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Willing, [23 May 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to Mr. Willing incloses the rough draft of an agreement comprising the ideas contained in Mr. W Letter of today. If approved Mr. H will have it corrected & copied. If any alterations are desired Mr. W. will pleased to signify them. Mr. H is desirous of finishing the arranget as soon as may be. AL , courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library. The...
67775General Orders, 5 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Hazen’s regiment to embark tomorrow morning at Fishkill landing where transports are provided for them. The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass the following Resolves By the United States in Congress Asssembled May 25th 1781 The Report of the Committee on the Letter of the 20th of december last from the Commander in Chief was taken into consideration whereupon Resolved...
67776From Thomas Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 25 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s & your Mama’s letters of the 20th. are recieved. tell her I will take care of her accounts with mrs Madison. I thank you for your care of my wines. I will endeavor to send bottles for the two doubtful casks into which you have drawn a part. I put a letter from Jefferson to your Mama into your Papa’s newspaper packet which went by the stage yesterday. yours to him shall be immediately...
67777From Thomas Jefferson to Silas Deane, 13 August 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Shore comes to Europe on behalf of a mercantile house of which he is a member for the purpose of establishing a proper correspondence. With himself I have but little personal acquaintance, but consider his character as sufficiently certified when appointed to transact business by those with whom he is connected, whom I know to be men of business, punctual, able and...
67778From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Salem County Historical Society, Salem, N.J. I have before me your Favours of May 1. and July 12. and thank you for the Readiness with which you have supplied Mrs. Franklin from time to time. Here is a dead Calm of Politicks at present, the Publick being tired with the Invectives against Lord Chatham, and no fresh Game started for the political Beagles to hunt down; and probably none...
67779George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 24 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania ] October 24, 1777 . Answers questions concerning Sullivan’s conduct at Brandywine. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
67780From George Washington to Lafayette, 19 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Renewing to you, my dear Sir, assurances of the most perfect esteem and affection, I desire to refer the interruptions which our correspondence has lately sustained, on my part, to causes which I am persuaded you will readily admit as excusable. To the fulfilment of public duties, too interesting to be neglected, and too multiplied to allow me much leisure, I am forced to sacrifice the wishes...
67781From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 18 October 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have receiv’d your several Favours of April 1. June 2. June 14 and Augt. 20, and some others, with all the Books and Pamphlets you have sent at sundry Times for the Library Company: We wish it were in our Power to do you or any Friend of yours some Service in Return for your long-continued Kindness to us. I am pleas’d to hear that my Electrical Experiments were...
67782From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 25 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Despairing of seeing the bearer again, I wrote an answer to your favour from the Conestoga Waggon (without date) yesterday; and put it into the hands of a Man who faithfully promised to deliver it—since wch your own Messenger has called upon me, & that you may have two chances of getting my passport to the Camp, you will receive one under this cover. In my Letter of yesterday I assurd you, and...
67783Adams’ Diary: 16 May 1767 (Adams Papers)
The Court was fixed in the Sandwich Case. Cotton is not only a Tory but a Relation of some of the Judges, Cushing particularly.... Cushing was very bitter, he was not for my arguing to the Jury the Question whether the Words were Actionable or not. He interrupted me—stopped me short, snapd me up.—“Keep to the Evidence—Keep to the Point—dont ramble all over the World to ecclesiastical...
677848th. (Adams Papers)
A colder day, than I have experienced, for nearly these three years. It froze very hard in the night, and if this weather continues, we shall have very fine slaying. The cold has ruin’d my horse; for it is put him in such a situation, that I have no expectation that he will be alive three days hence. Immediately after dinner Eliza, went home; between 5 and 6. I went down to Major Bartlett’s,...
67785“X.Y.Z Cosmopolite” (Christian Schultz) to Thomas Jefferson, [30 December 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
My apology for addressing to you the inclosed extract from a manuscript volume of 300 pages and now in my possession, is, that fame has given you credit for cherishing sentiments too liberal for the age we live in. If this should be the case, and you think the enclosed extracts worthy of your notice, I shall be gratified with your permission to send the whole work for your private perusal— at...
67786To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 6 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last , which inclosed a letter to Major Lewis, I have been informed that Monsieur Pieroux, while Commandant near the mouth of the Missouri, had sent a party of Indians up the river on a voyage of discovery, & that they returned after an absence of two years—this was communicated to me by Col: OHara of Pittsburgh who saw Pieroux at Kaskaskias during the Revolution War—I believe that...
67787To James Madison from John Armstrong, 19 February 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From John Armstrong. 19 February 1814, War Department. “I have the honor to request that you will be pleased to order the Brevet-rank of Brigadier General to be conferred on Colonel Joseph G. Swift of the Corps of Engineers in the Army of the United States, under the provision of the act of July 6. 1812, authorizing the President to confer brevets for meritorious conduct.” Adds in a...
67788From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 10 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of October 5. is just now brought to me, and I beg your Excellency to accept of my Thanks for your Congratulations on my Recovery, which is however, as yet but imperfect. I am much Surprized to find, So many appearances, which seem to shew that certain neutral Powers of whose Sagacity and great Spirit, the World had formed an high opinion are amused and imposed upon by very...
67789Address to the Inhabitants of Bermuda, 6 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
In the great Conflict which agitates this Continent I cannot doubt but the Assertors of Freedom & the Rights of the Constitution are possessed of your most favourable Regards & Wishes for Success. As the Descendants of Freemen & Heirs with us of the same glorious Inheritance we flatter ourselves that tho. divided by our Situation we are firmly united in Sentiment. The Cause of Virtue & Liberty...
67790To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas L. Winthrop, 5 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you a Letter from my friend & relation Mr. Bowdoin, together with two Letters from Cadiz recommending Mr. OBrien of St. Anders, son to the late Consul at that place, as a fit person to succeed his father in that Office, provided you shall be pleased to give him the Appointment. One of the Messrs. Davis to whom the Letter of Strange & Co. is addressed is deceased,...
67791From Thomas Jefferson to Auguste Belin, 27 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to M. Belin and his thanks for the funeral oration of M. Chaudron on General Washington. he has read this very eloquent production with great satisfaction. it is in truth a very pleasing thing to Americans to see foreigners so liberally participate in their grief on the loss of their great countryman. it is but justice to acknolege that the citizens of...
67792To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 23 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for yours of the 20th. The only part of it which surprises me is what you mention respecting Clinton. I cannot however believe that the plan will succeed. Nor indeed do I think that Clinton would be disposed to exchange his present appointment for that office or to risk his popularity by holding both. At the same time the attempt merits attention and ought not to be...
67793To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 16 November 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Private I sent you on Saturday an imperfect translation of Fauchets Letter I now send you a Copy of the original; you may at your discretion use the Letter, except causing copies to be taken, or suffering it to be printed. Mr. Randolph has intensively circulated a Letter in which he attributes his disgrace to the artifices of a “British Faction” —his Letter is accompanied with an explanatory...
67794From John Adams to United States Senate, 8 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Smith our minister plenipotentiary to the court of Portugal to be envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to The Sublime Ottoman Porte with full powers to negotiate a treaty of Amity & commerce between the United States of America & the dominions and Dependencies of the Sublime Porte DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
67795The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 2 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society; three copies: National Archives On April 17, 1777, Congress renamed the committee of secret correspondence the committee for foreign affairs, and we adopt the new title at the beginning of this volume. The commissioners, however, did not learn of the change for months to come, because they received no word from the committee until September. The present...
67796To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn: Two Letters, 9 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to refer to the letter I had the honour to address your Excellency on the 3d. inst. being since deprived of your Excellencys favours, the purport of this is cheafly to inform your Excellency, that M. Stephen Merchant late Captain of the black prince has resign’d the command of Said privateer, and return’d me the Commission your...
67797To Alexander Hamilton from William Polk, 20 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I wrote you last from Hillsborough I suggested to you that I was doubtfull of the Instrument for stamping the Certificates for the Inspectors would not be received before it would be incumbent on me to deliver them to the different Officers. In this I have not been deceived. No such instrument has yet been received & I have delivered to the Inspectors the Certificates without Stamping. No...
67798From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 8 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 31st of October, & am pleased to find your appointment so agreeable to the veiws and wishes of Congress. So fully sensible have I long been of the distressed situation not only of the Army in this quarter, but also at the southward, and of all our great departments, from the embarrassed state of our finances , that it has been not only a constant subject of...
67799To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 27 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 19th Instant I was honoured with your Favour of the 31st of December. I am happy to hear the Impediments which suspended Genl Schuy[l]er from Command are removed with so much honour to that worthy Officer, and I am anxious for his resuming it, as I shall always think myself happy in being Commanded by a Man of such distinguished Abilities. I hav just received a Letter from the...
67800From George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 3 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 26th Ulto inclosing proceedings of a Court Martial upon Nagel, Key and Querry, who are sentenced to suffer Death, for desertion. The plea, of ignorance of our law, is frivolous, and if admitted, we should never convict a Criminal. Examples must be made, to put a stop to that prevailing Crime, or we may as well disband the Army at once, I therefore desire that the...