82451James Madison to Richard M. Johnson, 9 May 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Emmons, a copy of his "Fredoniad" with a request, that in reference to the cost of publication $5 might be inclosed to you to be forwarded to him. This I now do with pleasure inferring from what appears that I follow safe examples in this mark of respect for the author, both as a poet and a patriot. I am sorry I could not make it the result of my own perusal of the work;...
82452From James Madison to Richard M. Johnson, 2 April 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. a copy of your Speech on imprisonment for debt, which I owe I presume to your friendly attention; and I take occasion, in thanking you for it to do the same for the like favors heretofore recd. from you. Your Speech & that of my neighbour in the same House, on the same subject ⟨h⟩ave infused great force into the appeal to the public sensibility. The views taken of the subject are...
82453James Madison to Richard M. Johnson, 22 December 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. a letter from Mr. Wm. Emmons accompanied by a copy of the "Fredoniad," elegantly bound; observing at the same time that the Edition had left hanging over him a debt of $2000, and that if disposed to assist the effort $10, the price of the work might be forwarded to you. I am truly sorry that such an undertaking should have left him in such a situation, and consulting only my...
82454Thomas Jefferson to Richard M. Johnson, 29 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter which I wrote you on the 26 th inst. at the request of mr James M c Kinney of this neighborhood, and transmitted thro’ him, requires that what I could not, without offence, say in that should be added in this. every thing was true which was said in that but all there said does not qualify him for military command. for subordinate employment in the Commissary’s or Quartermaster’s...
82455From John Quincy Adams to Richard Mentor Johnson, 18 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
If on your way to the House this Morning, you can do me the favour to call at my house, it will confer an obligation on your friend and very humble Servt MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
82456From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Mentor Johnson, 10 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sure you can too justly estimate my occupations to need an apology for this tardy acknolegement of your favor of Feb. 27. I cannot but be deeply sensible of the good opinion you are pleased to express of my conduct in the administration of our government. this approbation of my fellow citizens is the richest reward I can recieve. I am conscious of having always intended to do what was...
82457From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Mentor Johnson, 28 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Johnson and returns him the statement of the case of Richard Berry as one which must await the pleasure of his successor. he observes at the same time that his practice has been never to pardon till he recieved the opinion of the judges who sat on the trial of the offender an authentic copy of the judgment is also indispensable, as it is recited in...
82458From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 13 December 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry S. McNeil, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (1962) I received your Favour of the 5th Inst. and thank you for your kind Congratulations. I wrote to you sometime since, and sent you a Dozen of the best bound Books; the Parcel was recommended to the Care of Mr. Stuyvesandt at New York: I wonder it is not yet got to hand. I wish I could with Truth give you a good Account of the Sale of those...
82459From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 23 August 1750 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Port Folio , n.s., II (1809), 115–16. We received your favour of the 16th instant. Mr. Peters will hardly have time to write to you per this post, and I must be short. Mr. Francis spent the last evening with me, and we were all glad to hear that you seriously meditate a visit after the middle of next month, and that you will inform us by a line when to expect...
82460From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 25 October 1750 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Adrian H. Joline, Meditations of an Autograph Collector (London and N.Y., 1902), p. 129. Enclosed I return your Noetica as you desired, that you may add or alter what you think fit before it goes to the Press, in which I should be glad you would be as speedy as conveniently you can. Since your Way to us is at present block’d up by the Spreading of the Small Pox...
82461From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 22 November 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library (Berg) You are very obliging in your Compliments on my Sketch of the English School; But I find ’tis deficient in the main Thing; like the Man’s excellent Race-Horse that had every good Quality, Courage excepted. I approve exceedingly of the Additions you propose, and guess you could if you would make an equal Amputation as much to its Advantage: But you are too...
82462From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 15 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library When I return’d from Maryland in February last, I found your Favour of Jany. 1. but having mislaid it soon after, I defer’d answering ’till I should find it again, which I have now done. I think you ought not to be, as you say you are, vexed at your self that you offered your Noetica to be printed; for tho’ the Demand for it in this part of the World has not...
82463From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 9 January 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of the 14th past, with the Noetica, which I shall immediately put to press, for I think it scarce necessary to ask Subscriptions for so small a Work; and believe we can not find a more suitable Piece of the kind to use in our Academy. Please to accept the enclos’d (with my Compliments) for the New Year. The Assembly sitting hurries me so...
82464From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 27 October 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I herewith send you Twelve of the Noetica’s. Ten are bound as you desired; which are all I have of that best Paper, the other two are more ordinary. I hope they will go safe to hand. My sincere Respects to good Madam Johnson and your valuable Sons. With great Esteem and Regard, I am, Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant Addressed: To The Revd. Dr Saml Johnson...
82465From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 24 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I received your Favour of the 11th Inst. and thank you for the Hint you give of the Omission in the Idea. The Sacred Classics are read in the English School, tho’ I forgot to mention them: And I shall propose at the Meeting of the Schools after the Holidays, that the English Master begin and continue to read select Portions of them daily with the Prayers, as...
82466From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I have sent you via New York 24 of your Books, bound as those I sent you per Post. The Remainder of the 50 are binding in a plainer Manner, and shall be sent as soon as done, and left at Mr. Stuyvesant’s as you order. Our Academy, which you so kindly enquire after, goes on well. Since Mr. Martin’s Death, the Latin and Greek School has been under the Care of...
82467From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 9 August 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library At my Return home I found your Favour of June the 28th. with the Bishop of Cloyne’s Letter enclos’d, which I will take care of, and beg Leave to keep a little longer. Mr. Francis, our Attorney General, who was with me at your House, from the Conversation then had with you, and reading some of your Pieces, has conceiv’d an Esteem for you equal to mine: The...
82468From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 13 September 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I am sorry to hear of your Illness: If you have not been us’d to the Fever and Ague, let me give you one Caution. Don’t imagine yourself thoroughly cur’d, and so omit the Use of the Bark too soon. Remember to take the preventing Doses faithfully. If you were to continue taking a Dose or two every Day for two or three Weeks after the Fits have left you, ’twould...
82469From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 11 July 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favours of June [ and] July 4. I am sorry for the Faults in the I[ntroduction] and shall endeavour to be more careful. The Contents and Introduction are to be prefix’d, tho’ printed last; they shall be plac’d in the same Order as in the M.S. Perhaps a few of the Oeconomy’s might sell in your Parts by your Recommendation: If you think so...
82470From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen W. Johnson, 13 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Johnson for his book on Pisé building which he was so kind as to send him, and which he doubts not will be useful to the public as well in that article as the others which it embraces—these as well as the other subjects will be sufficiently worthy of mr Johnson’s attention, & furnish sufficient useful matter for any future additions he may chuse to make....
82471Thomas Jefferson to Stephen W. Johnson, 15 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Johnson for the information on the subject of our manufactures communicated in his letter of Jan. 25. he inclosed it to mr Gallatin as the only channel to which he could commit it in order to render it useful. he salutes mr Johnson with assurances of his respect. PoC ( MoSHi : TJC-BC ); dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ. Stephen William Johnson was...
82472From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen W. Johnson, 13 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Johnson & acknoleges the reciept of his letter in the moment of his departure on a short visit to Monticello. it cannot but be gratifying to him to find his name connected with useful things, and entertains a due sense of mr Johnson’s favorable opinion, in proposing to him a dedication which cannot but be flattering to him. he asks leave to enter...
82473From John Jay to Thomas Johnson, 12 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your’s of the 3 d . of last month, & regret the Indisposition which detained You from Philadelphia— I hope your Health has been since re-established. The then daily Expectation of an addition to my Family, and which soon after took place, prevented my attending the Sup. Court. Judge Cushing on his Return informed me that there had been a Conference on the Subject of...
82474From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 12 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
On a supposition that you are now at Annapolis, the Petition of the Directors of the Potomac Company, is enclosed to your care. A Duplicate has been forwarded to the Assembly of this State. The fate of it I have not heard, but entertain no doubt of its favorable reception, as there are many auspicious proofs of liberality & justice already exhibited in the proceedings of it this Session. I...
82475From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 31 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am ashamed, so much after the date of it, to have the receipt of your letter of the 15th of Decr to acknowledge; but truth being the best apology I can make for the omission, you will receive it as follow. Immediately upon the receipt of that letter, I sent it where all other letters relative to the same subject were referred, to the Secretary of War, who was in the act of investigating...
82476From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 26 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
I discovered, after my letter of the 24 with its enclosure, was sent to the Post Office, that it would have to remain in Baltimore until friday, before it would be taken up by the cross-post for Frederick Town. This will occasion a delay on which I had not calculated: and as the return Post from the last mentioned place may not be immediate, the intention of this letter is to request the favor...
82477From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having heard that your State have appointed Lieutt Colo. Geo. Stricker to the Command of a Battalion, I hold myself bound to inform you That the Character he holds here as an Officer will not justify such an appointment—Yesterday he obtained my leave to resign, complaining that his private Affairs indispensably require his presence at home for several Months—Had there been any other Field...
82478From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 8 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
It was not ’till our return to the great Falls, that Colo. Gilpin and myself discovered the error of the propos’d meeting of the Directors of the Potomac Company at Alexandria on Monday preceding the first day of August. The general Meeting of the company it seems is, by Law, to be held on the first Monday in that month; & this not happening, in the present year, ’till the 7th day of it—we...
82479From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 23 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d Ulto came duly to hand. With regret I perceive your determination to with draw from the Commission under which you have acted—for executing the plan of the federal City. My wish was, and still is, if it could be made to comport with your convenience and inclination, that it should be changed; or at least suspended: for I should be sorry to see others (coming in at the...
82480From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Johnson, 8 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of Feb. 29. the day after I had written a public letter to the Commissioners, which touched on some of the subjects of yours. I may say in this private letter what could not be so well said in a public one, that there never was a moment’s doubt about parting with Major Lenfant rather than with a single commissioner.—I must correct an error in my public letter. I said...
82481From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose you a representation made to me, by Mr Chaloner Deputy Commy of Purchases, upon the difficulty, under your present law, of procuring Waggons to bring forward the public Stores of provision collected at the Head of Elk and Middletown in your State. The State of Pennsylvania has been already exceedingly harrassed in providing teams, as we have drawn our Horses...
82482From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 14 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Without preface, or apology for propounding the following question to you—at this time—permit me to ask you with frankness, and in the fullness of friendship, whether you will accept of an appointment in the Supreme Judiciary of the United States? Mr Rutledge’s resignation has occasioned a vacancy therein which I should be glad to see filled by you. Your answer to this question by the Post...
82483From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 23 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instant came Safe, but not until after it had lain many days in the Post Office in Frederick Town, by the mark thereon. Your consenting to remain longer in the Commission of the Federal District gave me much pleasure; for although I have no doubt with respect to the accomplishment of the law (establishing the permanent residence of Congress), nor of the execution of the...
82484From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 2 February 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 2 Feb. 1775. On 25 Feb. Johnson reported to GW that he had “got your Letter from thence of the 2d Inst.”
82485From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 6 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
About the 20th of last month I received a letter from you dated at George Town the 12th of Jany—but which, I presume, ought to have been dated the 12th of February. It came to hand at a time when the Session of Congress was drawing to a close, and of course when the business of it pressed upon me. I therefore laid it aside to be acknowledged by Mr Potts, but missing that opportunity, I was...
82486From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you for informing me, what foundation there is for so much of the following extract of a letter from Doctr Brooke at Fredericksburgh to Doctr Stuart of this County, as relates to the officious light in which my conduct was viewed for havg written the letter alluded to. Since then, I was informed by “the Honourable James Mercer, that his Brother Colo. John Mercer, who was...
82487From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 5–6 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Ulto, came to my hands at a time when my attention was much occupied on some matters of importance. To this circumstance, and to my knowledge (as you will perceive by the enclosed extract of a letter from the Secretary of State to the Commissioners of the federal city) that one of your requests had been anticipated; and to the expression of your apprehension, that...
82488From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 27 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
I regret not having met you at the Federal City, on my way home; and was concerned for the cause of the disappointment. I have made no choice yet of persons to supply the places of yourself & Doctr Stuart, as Commissioners; nor, in truth, do I know on whom to fix for this purpose, at this stage of the business, & under present circumstances. Mr Greenleaf gave me some reasons to believe that...
82489From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 17 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday, & not before, I received authentic information, that the Assembly of this State had passed a similar Act & resolutions, with those of your Legislature, and have fixed upon the 8th of Feby to open Books for the purpose of receiving subscriptions in the City of Richmond & Towns of Alexandria & Winchester: which Books are to be kept open until the 10th day of May following. They have...
82490From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 8 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
It appearing to me proper that the Commissioners should be apprised of the pretensions—signified in the enclosed letter—I send it to them accordingly, that such prudent use may be made of the information as to them shall seem fit. I have not given, nor shall I give any answer—at least for the present—to the writer of it; and no person is knowing to my having received such a letter. I am—Dear...
82491From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 1 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Johnson, 1 Sept. 1777. Johnson wrote GW on 4 Sept .: “I recvd your Letter of the first Instant.”
82492From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 17 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From a number of concurring circumstances there is reason to beleive that the enemy mean to evacuate Philadelphia. It is necessary therefore to draw together as great a force as can be provided for, with the utmost expedition. But as several of our out posts, covering magazines & the like, cannot be recalled without a body of Militia to act in their room, I am obliged to request of the...
82493From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 16 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting you the inclosed Letter from a Committee of Congress, now here. These Gentlemen have represented the distress of the Army for want of provision so fully, and in so just a light, that I shall forbear to trouble you with many observations upon the subject. I shall only add, if the picture they have drawn is imperfect, it is because the colouring is not...
82494From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
In assenting to the opinion that the due administration of Justice is the strongest cement of good Government, you will also agree with me that the first organization of the Judicial department is essential to the happiness of our Country, and to the stability of our political system—hence the selection of the fittest characters to expound the Laws, and dispense Justice has been an invariable...
82495From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 July 1770 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd with your favour of the 18th of June about the last of that Month and read it with all the attention I was capable of but having been closely engaged with my Hay & Wheat Harvests from that time till now I have not been able to enquire into the Sentiments of any of the Gentlemen of this side in respect to the Scheme of opening the Inland Navigation of Potomack by private...
82496From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
It so happened that your letter of the 4th ulto with its enclosures, did not meet a quick passage to me; & that some delays afterwards, more the effect of accident than neglect, prevented the petition & Bill, (which you were so obliging as to draw) from getting to the Assemblies of the two States, so soon as were to be wished; however they are now before them; & from that of Maryland, I am...
82497From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favor of the 22d Instant. Satisfied that an intercourse with Philadelphia would be productive of great disadvantages, I have endeavoured to prevent it, as far as I could; and have not in any instance granted passports for that purpose, but where the parties applying have been recommended, either by some public body or by Gentlemen in whom I had entire...
82498From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 5 August 1774 (Washington Papers)
As the Resolves of all the Colonies which had come to hand in this Meeting, adopted your Appointment of Philadelphia as the Place to hold the Congress in. As the first of Sepr or thereabouts hath been fixed upon by all of them (except your Province) as a fit Time—and as this Time is now so near at hand as to render it difficult, if practicable, to change it without putting too much to the...
82499From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 24 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Secretary of State is vacant—occasioned by the resignation of Mr Randolph. Will you accept it? You know my wishes of old, to bring you into the Administration —Where then is the necessity of repeating them? No time more than the present, ever required the aid of your abilities—nor of the old and proved patriots of this Country. To have yours would be pleasing to me, and I verily...
82500From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 11 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was, some little time past, empowered by Congress to call for 5000 Militia from the States of Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. This Resolve was, I beleive, occasioned by a report, which has proved groundless, that the Enemy intended suddenly to evacuate Rhode Island —to draw part of their force from New York, and attack this Army before its expected reenforcements arrived. Finding no...