77851To Thomas Jefferson from James Maury, 2 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Liverpool, 2 Dec. 1787 . Thanks TJ for his letter of 13 Nov.; is pleased that so much progress has been made in the commercial negotiations with France; hopes he will receive further details on this subject. Has observed with satisfaction “that the Diffusion of American produce directly to the various Markets of Europe has, contrary to the predictions of a Sett of malicious prophets, increased...
778523d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Moore breakfasted with us. Mr. Parsons is quite unwell, and has been so for two or three days past. This evening White called at the office; he came from Haverhill this day. He passed the evening, and lodged with me. Townsend, Thomson and Putnam were like wise here in the evening. I feel neither the inclination nor the power to expatiate, upon the events of the day, which were very...
77853To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Troup, 3 December 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] December 3, 1787 . Requests Hamilton to make arrangements for the purchase of a house and lot which Troup wishes to buy. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
77854[Diary entry: 3 December 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 3d. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 60 at Night. Very little wind. Mild & pleasant all day. In the first of the Morning, what wind there was came from the No. Et. Afterwards it was Southerly. Mr. Booth going away after Breakfast I rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck 6 Plows were at Work. All the other hands were gathering & husking of Corn. At Muddy hole 3 plows were...
77855From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 23d of Septr & 15th of Novr came duly to hand. You may inform Mr Haines that my Barley, this year, shared the same fate with my other crops. The drought during the summer was so excessive that I cannot form any just opinion of what it might produce in a seasonable year; it yielded about 14 bushls to the acre which was a proportionate crop to any other kind of Grain which I...
77856From George Washington to Embree & Shotwell, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Henry Lee (who called upon me as he returned home from New York) informed me that you dealt largely in grass seeds (saved in this Country)—that you sold none but what was good—and those on the most moderate terms. Under this information I beg leave to ask the price of the following, and whether an opportunity could be depended upon for sending them by water to Alexandria before the month...
77857From George Washington to John Langdon, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6th Ulto and am much obliged to you for the information contained in it. I am happy to find that the dispositions in your part of the Continent are so favourable to the proposed plan of Government; if the true interest of the United States was consulted I think there could be but little opposition to it in any part of the Country. The publick papers have...
77858From George Washington to Thomas Smith, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 26th of Octr and am much surprised to find that my letters to the Western Country so often miscarry. I enclose a duplicate of a letter which I wrote to you from Philadelphia, and committed to the care of Captn Bradley who informed me that he lived at the Court House in Washington County, should pass through Carlyle, & promised to deliver it himself. I have...
77859From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
A Mr H. Banks, of your Assembly is disposed to be kind to me or has some view of being so to himself. Charity leads to the first—suspicion to the latter opinion. He has informed me that the Sherif of Greenbrier has a considerable demand upon me for the taxes of my land on the Great Kankawa, in that Country—but has forborne (through his means) from proceeding to extremities till he could advice...
77860From George Washington to George Weedon, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 25th Ulto enclosing the proceedings of the Cincinnati of this State, which I am much obliged to you for forwarding to me. I will, agreeable to your request, send some cuttings of the Golden willow to Alexandria to be forwarded to you, but I imagine this is an improper season to put them out, for as they are to be propagated from the slip the spring seems to...
77861[To Thomas Jefferson from Martha Jefferson Carr, 3 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ 3 Dec. 1787. Recorded in SJL Index. Not found.]
77862To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 3 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured by the receipt of your Letter of the 13th. ulto. and notice the alarm of your patriotic spirit, on the subject of the newly proposed project, of a fœdral Constitution. I have read it frequently and with great attention, and tho’ I am a great friend to fœdral Men and fœdral measures, and am decidedly of opinion, that some alterations were necessary, still on the plan...
77863To Thomas Jefferson from Martha Jefferson Carr, 3 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long wisht for an Opportunity of writing to you but since Mr. Madisons departure from this state I have been at a loss how to convey my letters untill he made me a polite and friendly offer to inclose them to him and put them into some post office. This method I shall take now as Peter is going down and can carry this. Yours of July 25th. came to my hands in about two Months from the...
778644th. (Adams Papers)
White returned this morning to Haverhill. At the office all day. Mr. Parsons still very unwell—somewhat vapourish: fears he has the distemper which is now very prevalent in the town.
77865Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
you put too much value on trifles which are only small marks of real regard & affection to you & yours. I have always conceived it to be more difficult to give than receive. as the sense of obligation sets heavy on minds inflated with riches or pride & not capable of enlarged ideas or of the pleasing sensations which arise from mutual gifts & good offices abstracted from their intrinsick...
77866The Federalist No. 16, [4 December 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. THE tendency of the principle of legislation for States, or communities, in their political capacities, as it has been exemplified by the experiment we have made of it, is equally attested by the events which have befallen all other governments of the confederate kind, of which we have any account, in exact proportion to its prevalence in those systems....
77867[Diary entry: 4 December 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 4th. Thermometer at 47 in the Morning—47 at Noon And 46 at Night. Wind Southerly all day—varying sometimes to the East, & then to the . Morning very heavy with slight rain. Clear afterwards & very pleasant. After Mr. Jones went away I rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations. At the first 3 plows at Work in field No. 2. The other hands finished measurg. the Corn...
77868To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 4 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was in Fauquier County Last week among the Tenaments, and have Tenants Engaged For all the Lots Excepting one which is a wood Lot on goos creek, Part of the Lot that Tompson Lived on, no one will have it on any Terms; and many of the Lots on the upper Tract are Setled with Very Poor Tenants on accot of the Poorness of the Land—on those Poor Lots I cannot get a Tenant to stay Two years, as I...
77869To George Washington from David Stuart, 4 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from David Stuart, 4 Dec. 1787. GW wrote Stuart on 11 Dec. “to acknowledge the receipt of your favor dated the 4th Instt.”
77870From Thomas Jefferson to Brizard, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson a l’honneur de remercier Monsieur de Brizard de l’excellente ouvrage sur feu l’Abbé Mably, qu’il a eu la bonté de lui envoyer. L’eloge est vraiment digne de cet auteur celebre, et estimable autant que celebre. Ses ouvrages y sont analysés et characterisés de sorte à faire voir que l’analyste en feroit d’excellentes dans la meme genre s’il le voudroit. M. Jefferson prie très...
77871To Thomas Jefferson from Clérisseau, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous faire part de la note que vous m’aves demandé. Je me serois fait un honneur de vous la porter et vous aurois expliqué ma note . Je suis de retour a paris, j’attend vos ordres pour me transporter auprès de vous, n’aiant rien tant a coeur que de vous manifester l’empressement que j’ai d’obliger un amateur zelé de ma cher Antiquité. J’ai l’honneur d’estre tres...
77872To Thomas Jefferson from Du Bois, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 4 Dec. 1787 . Inquires concerning the present whereabouts of John Paul Jones and when he is expected to return to Paris; also wishes to know whether there is any means of obtaining payment of a note for 4,400₶ which has been due from Jones for some time; accepted the note because he knows that Jones has an excellent reputation. RC ( DLC ); 2 p.; in French; without name of addressee and...
77873From Thomas Jefferson to Du Bois, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je crois, Monsieur, que Monsieur Paul Jones doit etre actuellement à Copenhague, ou sur son passage de la Nouvelle York à Copenhague; et qu’il recevra très surement des lettres addressées à luimeme à Copenhague poste restante, ou chez Monsieur le Baron de Houze à Copenhague. Il doit faire un séjour assez considerable dans cette ville pour solliciter des remboursements de la cour du Dannemarc...
77874To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Votre Excellence verra par la note jointe à l’incluse, que j’ai cru bien faire d’omettre ces mots, dans l’Extrait from a change of opinion in them, or. Mr. De Linde est rappellé de sa Mission de Londres. Ce soir et demain, fête de St. Nicolas, fait trembler ici tous les honnetes, bonnes et paisibles gens. Mr. v. Staphorst, qui est à Paris, vous dira pourquoi. La poste part. Je suis avec le...
778755th. (Adams Papers)
I pass’d the evening with Little and Townsend at Miss Cazneau’s. We play’d Commerce, and whist: but it was dull work. Miss Cazneau, has nothing in her person to recommend her, but a very good shape; her complexion is very dark, and not very clear. No feature of her face is peculiarly agreeable, and her eyes are rather unfavourable to her. A capricious, passionate, imprudent character is...
77876The Federalist No. 17, [5 December 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. AN objection of a nature different from that which has been stated and answered, in my last address, may perhaps be likewise urged against the principle of legislation for the individual citizens of America. It may be said, that it would tend to render the government of the Union too powerful, and to enable it to absorb in itself those residuary...
77877[Diary entry: 5 December 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 5th. Thermometer at 47 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 46 at Night. The Wind getting to No. Wt. in the Night blew hard but lulled in the Morning, & by Nine Oclock, grew calm and very cloudy. About noon it dropped rain and had appearances of a wet afternoon tho’ it turned out otherwise—a bright horizon about Sundown. Went out, in Company with Colo. Humphreys, with the hounds after we...
In your letter, inclosing the Morocco signals, you desire them to be delivered to American masters of vessels. The council have interpreted this expression to mean masters of American vessels; that is, of vessels belonging to American citizens. They seem justified in this construction, by the Morocco treaty itself. One instance only of granting these signals has occurred; and the captain was...
77879To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 5 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Adams presents her respectfull compliments to Mr. Jefferson and asks the favour of him to permit petit to purchase for her ten Ells of double Florence of any fashionable coulour, orange excepted which is in high vogue here. Mrs. A. excepts green also of which she has enough. Mr. Muchier if in paris will be so kind as to take charge of it, and Mrs. Adams will send the money by Mr. Trumble...
77880To Thomas Jefferson from William Shippen, 5 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 5 Dec. 1787 . Introduces his son and asks TJ’s “protection and friendship,” knowing that TJ “will receive him affectionately” and that “no person in France can be of so much use to him”; has “directed him to continue in France four months,” and to take TJ’s “advice on the mode of his spending his time there to the greatest advantage and with the most Œconomy. Improvement more...
77881To Thomas Jefferson from the Commissioners of the Treasury, 5 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor of enclosing to you a Letter from Thomas Barclay Esqr. late Commissioner for settling the Public Accounts in Europe relative to the Books and Papers of his Office. You will oblige us in removing them to your own house, and in taking charge of them till it is determined in what manner it will be best to dispose of them. It may be proper to observe that we consider the safe...
778826th. (Adams Papers)
Spent the evening with Thompson and Little, at Putnam’s lodgings. We conversed upon a diversity of subjects. Law, Physic, History, poetry, religion and politics, by turns engaged our attention. These meetings renew the recollection of those happy scenes, which we have all gone through in college; and in this manner, I now pass some of my most agreeable hours. But after I came home this...
77883From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 6 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
After much anxiety on your account and many ineffectual Inquiries after your health & welfare, I was happy to learn by Your Letter, that you was safe at Paris, where I hope you will find friends, Employment & Satisfactions better than those you have left in Holland.— Inclosed are letters of Introduction to M r. Jefferson & the Marquis de Lafayette. The strange turn, which affairs have taken is...
77884From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Project of a new Constitution, has Objections against it, to which I find it difficult to reconcile my self. but I am so unfortunate as to differ somewhat from you in the Articles, according to your last kind Letter. You are afraid of the one—I, of the few. We agree perfectly that the many Should have a full fair and perfect Representation.— You are Apprehensive of monarchy: I, of...
77885From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, [6 December 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I this morning wrote a short and hasty line to your other self and did not then expect I should have been able to find a moment for the more agreeable purpose of dropping a line to you. Your husband has too much gallantry to be offended at this implication of preference. But I can not, however great my hurry, resist the strong desire I feel of thankg you for your invaluable letter by the last...
77886From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 6 December 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 6, 1787. On December 6, 1787, Hamilton wrote to Angelica Church “I this morning wrote a short and hasty line to your other self.” Letter not found. ]
77887Report of a Committee of the Trustees Columbia College, 6 December 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 6, 1787. As members of a committee of the trustees of Columbia College appointed “to settle the Accounts of Leonard Lispenard Esquire the late Treasurer of the Corporation,” Hamilton, John Mason and Henry Brockholst Livingston on this date signed a report recommending a settlement of Lispenard’s account. DS , Columbia University Libraries.
77888[Diary entry: 6 December 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 6th. Thermometer at 40 in the morning— at Noon and at Night. Cloudy & raw in the morning, wind being at No. Et. Abt. Noon it veered to the East, and then to the So. Et. Many changes in the appearance of the Weather, it sometimes threatning immediate Snow or rain, and then promised to be fair. Once or twice a few flakes of Snow fell. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, finished...
77889To John Jay from Matthew Ridley, 6 December 1787 (Jay Papers)
A few Lines I wrote you, crossed your esteem’d favor of the 5 th : Aug t : Want of health, which has not been a little encreased by Disappointments, has occasioned my long silence—I was glad to learn by Sister Susan that your Family were again restored to Health—Mine, excepting self, have all been happy in that way—As to my Dear Kate, she has been better than for years past. Sometimes she...
77890To James Madison from James Monroe, 6 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have had hopes of being able to give you something from the proceedings of the Assembly of an interesting nature which might also be agreeable. But perhaps yr. wishes in this respect may not even yet be gratified. The resolutions respecting the Constitution you have long since receiv’d. In those you find no provision for the pay or priviledges of the members of the Convention. These...
77891To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, ca. 6 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 6 December 1787, Tarborough. Mentioned in Hawkins to JM, 14 Feb. 1788 . Reports the time set for the election and meeting of the North Carolina ratifying convention.
77892To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Project of a new Constitution, has Objections against it, to which I find it difficult to reconcile my self, but I am so unfortunate as to differ somewhat from you in the Articles, according to your last kind Letter. You are afraid of the one—I, of the few. We agree perfectly that the many should have a full fair and perfect Representation.—You are Apprehensive of Monarchy; I, of...
77893[To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ London, 6 Dec. 1787. Recorded in SJL as received 17 Dec. 1787, “recommending of Cerisier.” Not found. Antoine-Marie Cerisier, French historian and diplomat, was attached to the French embassy in Holland, where Adams met him in 1780 (Didot, Nouvelle biographie générale; Adams, Works , I , 330; vii , 492).]
77894To Thomas Jefferson from H. Fizeaux & Cie., 6 [December] 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Nous avons observé par la reponse dont vous nous avez honoré le 23. juillet que vous avez eu la complaisance d’envoyer nos lettres du 1er. Janvier et 16. Juillet derniers au trésorier des Etats-Unis, reclamant les fonds nécessaires au remboursement de la levée de f 51,000. que nous fimes pour l’Amérique, et qui echeoit le 1er. du mois prochain. Le silence que l’on a gardé de toute part sur cet...
77895From Thomas Jefferson to Montmorin, with Enclosure, 6 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of asking your Excellency’s perusal of the inclosed case of an American hostage confined in the prisons of Dunkirk. His continuance there seems to be useless, and yet endless. Not knowing how far the government can interfere for his relief, as it is a case wherein private property is concerned, I do not presume to ask his liberation absolutely: but I will sollicit from your...
77896To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 6 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by Mr. Littlepage on the 4th. inst. That Letter contains an account of Cash recieved and disposed of on your account. I do not know whether I have made a just calculation of the Livrs. expended in Paris on my account, but this and every other article is submitted to your alteration. I enclose the reviews of the last Month as both your and Mr. Adams’s Names are mentioned, and have...
778977th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Parsons, has recovered in a great measure from his illness: so that he was the chief part of this day in the office. I spent the evening in part with him. Play’d Backgammon, and draughts. At the former of these games he beats me; at the latter I beat him. I should suppose him to be a great proficient, at those games which require reflection, and a train of reasoning, which is very much the...
77898To John Adams from John Lillie Jr., 7 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
Nothing but the importance of the following subject which immediately concerns myself could have induced me to beg your attention upon it, by being persuaded your time was gennerally employed in National affairs,— But as the result of this business is very interesting to me, I have taken the liberty to write & request your assistance & advice, and that you would have the goodness (if not too...
77899The Federalist No. 18, [7 December 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. AMONG the confederacies of antiquity, the most considerable was that of the Grecian republics associated under the Amphyctionic Council. From the best accounts transmitted of this celebrated institution, it bore a very instructive analogy to the present confederation of the American States. The members retained the character of independent and sovereign...
77900[Diary entry: 7 December 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 7th. Thermometer at in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Raining good part of the Night moderately. Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning; and continued so pretty fresh through the day and cool. For the most part cloudy. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck 5 plows only were at work—not more through the week. Finished cleaning and measurg. the Stack of Oats wch. was tread out...