79051To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter written at the time of its date, but which I have since had transcribed on account of an alteration I have since made in my sentiments. The letter was delayed to allow me time to make experiments, which I have not been able to accomplish. I send the hygrometer I describe in it, somewhat doubtful however of its success. I have the pleasure to add another,...
790526th. (Adams Papers)
A Parson Allen preach’d this day for Mr. Carey. I went to hear him in the forenoon. His Sermon was sensible, but his delivery was quite disagreeable: his manner of speaking was so singular that several times it was with difficulty I restrained myself from laughing. I did not feel a great inclination to hear him again, and I therefore, went in the afternoon, and heard Mr. Murray. He is an...
79053[Diary entry: 6 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 6th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 60 at Night. What wind there was, was from the Southwd., but not much. Clear and very pleast. Sent my two Jackasses to the Election at Marlborough in Maryld. that they might be seen. The Maryland General Assembly set 7 April as the day for electing all delegates to the state convention that was to meet in Annapolis two weeks later to...
79054From George Washington to Richard Peters, 6 April 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Richard Peters, 6 April 1788. On 27 April Peters wrote GW : “I was honoured yesterday with yours of the 6th instant.”
79055To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 6 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a very long Time indeed since I have had the Satisfaction of a Line from you. Mr. Rittenhouse had a Letter last Fall in which you mention some Books to have been forwarded for him in a Package address’d either to me or Dr. Franklin, but those Books have not come to hand. I have another Gathering of Magazines, Museums, and News Papers for you, waiting a suitable opportunity.—We are in a...
79056To Thomas Jefferson from John Rutledge, 6 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Having considered the Idea which you suggested, of my Son’s going (after visiting Paris, London, and Amsterdam) to Madrid, Lisbon and Italy, I have, this day, written to him, advising to adopt that Plan. I thank you, most cordially, for the very great Attention and Friendship, with which (as he has repeatedly inform’d me) you have been pleased to honour him, and request a Continuance of your...
79057To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 6 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of March 29. arrived here yesterday. I see that you have received all the letters I have written. I have not been so fortunate. Your first (from Leyden) never reached me. Yours from Amsterdam of the 13th was the first I received. I have heard no complaints from the convent and consequently suppose your daughters are perfectly well. I know they were so some days ago. Letters by the...
790587th. (Adams Papers)
I went with Thompson, to Mr. Atkins’s, to answer to an action which we had brought before him this day. The first Monday in April, being the day appointed by the Constitution for the choice of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Senators The Town meeting here began at ten in the morning, and the poll was closed at four in the afternoon. Mr. Hancock and General Lincoln, had a great majority in...
79059Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adams, 7 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
It is an ill wind blows no body any good owing to that I received your favor with the greatest sense of gratitude & love for the distinguishd regard you have always showed me which is returned & cherished with increasing interest I was sensible how much you avoided an explanation as to your departure & I was equally unwilling to enquire. I shall always rejoice to hear from you & esteem it...
79060[Diary entry: 7 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Monday 7th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—50 at Noon And 50 at Night. The Wind was at So. Et. & East all day; abt. 7 Oclock it sprinkled rain and abt. 1 Oclock, began a slow & thin Rain, which continued with intervals the remainder of the day and in the Night a good deal fell. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck, the Posting, Railing & ditching was compleated this Morning up to the...
79061To James Madison from Cyrus Griffin, 7 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Colonel Wadsworth has thought proper to leave us—and his state being unrepresented we are again reduced to six only—and probably may continue in that situation a week or two longer. The N. York delegates do not attend—it seems to me the period is fully arrived to close the Confederation. As no french packet has yet appeared or been heared of the minister is inclined to think that a prohibition...
79062From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Jacques Peuchen, 7 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Les attentions, Monsieur, que vous eutes la bonté de me faire pendant les peu de moments que j’eus le bonheur de passer avec vous a Cologne, m’encouragent de vous demander encore une grace. Vous vous rapellerez peut-etre que, pendant notre promenade, nous sommes entrés dans le magazin d’un marchand de poëles en fer fondu, et qu’il y avoit, dans la piece qui donnoit [dehors ?] une poële, dont...
79063From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas & Jacob van Staphorst, 7 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Having asked the favour of Mr. Peuchen, merchant at Cologne, to send me a couple of stoves which I saw there, and which I have described to him in a letter of this date, I have taken the liberty of assuring him you will pay for me his draught on you for the amount, and that you will be so good as to receive and forward them to me to the care of Mr. Limozin merchant at Havre de grace. This...
79064Sarah Livingston Jay’s Invitation Lists, [8–17 April 1788] (Jay Papers)
the 8 th . invited for the 15 th . of April M r . & M rs . Paradise—, French Ministers—, M r . x & Lady M. Watts—, M r . & M rs . J. Watts—, Sir John & Lady Temple—, M r . M rs . White & Miss Cortlandt—, The President of Congress—, M
790658th. (Adams Papers)
Pickman returned last evening from Salem. The votes in that Town, and in several others from which accounts have been received, are equally favorable or more so, than they were in this Town, to Mr. Hancock, and General Lincoln. I called and passed an hour or two at Mrs. Hooper’s in the evening: Miss Cazneau was there. Came home early in the evening.
79066John Callahan to Abigail Adams, 8 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of Receiving a letter from you yesterday— we have had such—Boysterous weather Since your Departur from here that for 6 day s. I had the Pilot on board, & he Would not ventur to moove the Ship: but She is Now in the Downes & will be at Portsmouth the first fair wind: I Shall proceed from here so as to get to Portsmouth before the Ship so that my Departure from here will in some...
79067[Diary entry: 8 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind Easterly all day. Besides the Rain which fell in the Night it was Showery all day. In the course therefore of the 24 hours much rain had fallen. About 10 Oclock, in company with Colo. Humphreys, Mrs. Washington Harriott Washington and Washington Custis I set of for Abingdon—where we dined and stayed all Night.
79068From James Madison to George Nicholas, 8 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. instant was duly handed to me last evening. The sentiments contained in it appear to me to be dictated by the most perfect propriety both as they regard the importance of the present moment, and the measures which it renders expedient. As I wish not to decline any co-operation that may tend to save America from Anarchy and disunion, I shall cheerfully execute the task...
79069To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 8 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Having an opportunity by Mr. Burnley I embrace it to acknowledge the Rect. of your favor of the 3d. Ult. from N. York, and also to congratulate you upon the success which attended your efforts to turn the Sinners of Orange from their wicked ways. The Rage in Powhatan was, a few days before the election, as high as where, but by the day of trial, the Town was so changed that Mr. Turpin who had...
79070To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 8 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
By my Letters to the Count de Bernstorff, and his Excellency’s Answer, you see that my Business here is at an end.—If I have not finally concluded the Object of my Mission, it is neither your fault nor mine: The Powers I received are found insufficient, and you could not Act otherwise than was prescribed in your Instructions. Thus it frequently happens, that good Opportunities are lost, when...
79071[To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 8 April 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 8 Apr. 1788 . Recorded in SJL Index. Not found.]
790729th. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Pickman and Thompson, at Mr. Parsons’s upon Salmon, which begin now to be caught in the river. We did not do much business in the afternoon. I called upon Putnam, after taking a walk with Thompson, but Putnam was engaged for the evening; so that I soon came home to my lodgings.
79073Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 9 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
It is now ten days since we left London, and have been waiting at Portsmouth and here for the ship, but cannot yet learn that she has passed Gravesend. The weather is fine, but this waiting is very tedious, in a place where we have no acquaintance, and very little to interest or amuse us. We took a ride, yesterday, to Newport, the principal town in the island, and visited Carisbrook Castle....
79074From John Adams to Thomas Brand-Hollis, 9 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have, to day, received your kind letter of the 7th and the valuable books that accompanied it. Mariana, Corio, and Ramsay, for which I most heartily thank you. I wish I could write romances. True histories of my wanderings and waitings for ships and winds at Ferrol and Corunna in Spain; at Nantes, Lorient and Brest in France; at Helvoet, the island of Goree, and Over Flackee in Holland; and...
79075[Diary entry: 9 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—64 at Noon And at Night. Clear and temperate with the Wind variable, but chiefly from the So. W. Dined at Abingdon and returned home in the evening—all, except Harriot Washington.
79076To George Washington from John Porter, 9 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
With the advice of many of my military frinds of rank & respectability I am induced to address this on a subject of which I but too sinsibly feel the misfortune—’Tis that of my discharge from the Army, by a Court Martial for going beyond sea without proper leave for that purpose, &c. which will no doubt immediately occur to your mind; I have been mostly in Europe & the West Indies since the...
79077From James Madison to John Brown, 9 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
The returns of our elections as far as they are published, have raised somewhat the hopes of the friends to the Constitution. Those who are best informed think the adverse party will be outnumbered at the start. It seems pretty clear now that in point of characters the advantage will be on the federal side. The three chancellors are elected and are to be included in the description. So are...
79078To James Madison from John Brown, 9 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
I herewith inclose you two Letters which were this Morning brought for you to our Lodgings—also the News Papers of this day which contain all intelligence in circulation here worthy your Notice. The French Packett arrived a day or two ago (being the first since you left us). I hear it has brought some public Dispatches but am not yet inform’d of their Contents. Nine States have not appeard in...
79079To Thomas Jefferson from André Limozin, 9 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Havre, 9 Apr. 1788 . Acknowledges TJ’s letters of 3 and 27 Mch.; the latter informs him that TJ is having the Van Staphorsts ship three boxes containing “Iron works” costing 13 guilders; “a Wooden Screw press for Letters” costing 18 guilders, both of which may be imported; and “China ware such as Cups for tea, Coffee and Chocolate” which cannot be imported. Suggests that the Van Staphorsts...
79080From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 6th. inst. having been overtaken at Cleves by the commencement of a storm of rain hail and snow which lasted to this place, with intermissions now and then. The roads however continued good to Bonne, where beginning to be clayey and to be penetrated with the wet they became worse than imagination can paint for about 100 miles which brought me to the neighborhood of this...
7908110th. (Adams Papers)
From the divers interruptions which we met with in the course of the day, we did but little at the office. We met this evening at Pickman’s chamber: he has joined us and is regularly with us. Stacey likewise pass’d the evening with us; and Mr. W. Farnham; I agreed to go with Pickman to Haverhill to-morrow. From thence I intend in the beginning of the next week, to proceed to Cambridge; attend...
79082[Diary entry: 10 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 10th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night. Clear with the wind what little there was in the Morning at No. Et. In the afternoon at So. Wt., and much fresher & warmer. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck, the Plows having crossed the ground (which left it in as rough a state as before) that was intended for Flax, began this morning (Six of them) to list No....
79083To George Washington from James Madison, 10 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Having seen a part only of the names returned for the Convention, and being unacquainted with the political characters of many of them, I am a very incompetent prophet of the fate of the Constitution. My hopes however are much encouraged by my present conjectures. Those who have more data for their calculations than I have, augur a flattering issue to the deliberations of June. I find that...
79084To George Washington from Richard Ratcliff, 10 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am Sorry that after Serving in the Capacity of a Publick Servant for Eight years Succesfully, and haveing (I flatter myself) Discharged my Duty therein faithfully, that I Shou’d now at this Period be loaded with Injustice threats &c.—& that for no Other Cause, than haveing Innocently given you, or Some friend an Affront, for Sir with Respect to the Tax Recd for yr Slaves in Fairfax Parish...
79085From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Since I got home which was on the day preceding our election, I have received your favor of the 29th. of Feby. which did not reach New York before I had left it. I view the amendments of Massachussetts pretty nearly in the same light that you do. They were meant for the people at large, not for the minority in the Convention. The latter were not affected by them; their objections being...
79086From James Madison to George Washington, 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Having seen a part only of the names returned for the Convention, and being unacquainted with the political characters of many of them, I am a very incompetent prophet of the fate of the Constitution. My hopes however are much encouraged by my present conjectures. Those who have more data for their calculations than I have, augur a flattering issue to the deliberations of June. I find that...
79087From James Madison to Daniel Carroll, 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 10 April 1788 . Mentioned in JM to Washington, 10 Apr. 1788 . Acknowledged in Carroll to JM, 28 Apr. 1788 . Urges speedy adoption of the Constitution by Maryland. A delay there could prove fatal to ratification in Virginia.
79088From James Madison to Cyrus Griffin, 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 10 April 1788 . Acknowledged in Griffin to JM, 28 Apr. 1788 . Requests Griffin to send The Federalist No. 69 (No. 70 in the McLean The Federalist, A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, by a Citizen of New-York. Printed by J. and A. McLean (New York, 1788). edition), omitted as enclosure with his last letter. Adoption of the Constitution in...
79089From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, ca. 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 10 April 1788 . Alluded to in Hamilton to JM, 11 May 1788 . Prospects for the Constitution in Virginia. Requests Hamilton to send copies of the first volume of The Federalist .
79090From James Madison to James Mchenry, ca. 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 10 April 1788 . Mentioned in JM to Washington, 10 Apr. 1788 . Urges speedy adoption of the Constitution by Maryland. A delay there could prove fatal to ratification in Virginia.
79091From James Madison to [Charles Pinckney?], ca. 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 10 April 1788 . Mentioned in JM to Washington, 10 Apr. 1788, and Griffin to JM, 28 Apr. 1788 . Adoption of the Constitution in South Carolina is of critical importance in determining the question in Virginia.
79092To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 10 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I must depend on your kindness to pardon my omission in not writing you oftener, for I will not pretend to justify it. I should have wrote you as before, and can give no satisfactory reason even to myself why I have not, for that my communications will not be of much importance I do not urge as an excuse. I will however make amends in future. The real pleasure of my life, which consists in...
79093To Thomas Jefferson from Jacob Vernes, 10 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai obtenu de M. le Controleur General une conférence composée des mêmes personnes qui se trouvoient à celle d’Octobre dernier, dans laquelle on éxaminera et l’on décidera si la ferme a rempli fidèlement l’engagement de la décision de Bernis, d’après le mémoire imprimé pour le port de L’orient que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous remettre. Le Ministre avoit bien voulu m’accorder cette conférence...
7909411th. (Adams Papers)
I set out with Pickman this morning at about nine o’clock: the weather was clear though rather windy: before twelve we arrived at Haverhill. I went immediately to Mr. Shaws; and Pickman, went to the tavern to meet a carriage, which he expected from Salem; but very unfortunately he found the Carriage, had past through the Town, not more than a quarter of an hour before he got there: such...
79095John Cranch to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
Understanding by my sister Elworthy, that your Excellency complains of having read yourself out of books, I am tempted to send you down the latest publication that I can find promises amusement enough to justify me; and accordingly I have to intreat your excellency’s acceptance of “Costigan’s view of society and manners in Portugal.” I was just now in hopes to have gratified your excellency...
79096[Diary entry: 11 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning— at Noon And at Night. Clear & very pleasant all day with but little wind, and that Northerly in the morning and Southerly afterwards till eveng. when it was fresh fm. So. Et. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, Fr[enc]hs and the Ferry plantations and to the Fishing landing. At Muddy hole, finished sowing Oats qty. bushls. but would not more than get...
79097From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 11 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 31st Ulto enclosing a letter & some seeds from Mr Peters, and will thank you to send me, by the first Vessel bound this way, a good Wheat-fan (if there have been any late improvements on the common sort, which have been found useful, I shall prefer one with such improvements)—and a steel-plated Whip-saw of the best kind, seven & an half feet long; if you are not a...
79098To George Washington from Charles Lee, 11 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive by post your letter inclosing a certificate for sixty nine pounds a moity of what was due for a slave executed in 1781 and I have endeavoured to negotiate it but I find the terms so disadvantageous to you that I have retained it for your further directions. The value of all the state certificates depends upon the laws of taxation & revenue and as tobacco is...
7909912th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon I went down, and spent a couple of hours with Mr. Thaxter: the rest of the day I employ’d in reading, upon several subjects. I took up Hudibras in the afternoon, and diverted myself with it for an hour or two. JQA adds, in his line-a-day entry, “Mr. Shaw’s. All day” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 16).
79100Campaign Broadside, 12 April 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
From a sincere Attachment to yourselves, and a Regard to our mutual Interest, we are induced to apprize you of our Opinions on a Subject, which we view as of the most essential Consequence to both. YOUR Countrymen in New-York, in Union of Sentiment with the true Friends of America, have long lamented the want of a FIRM, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT; without which they consider Property as insecure, and...