85401To George Washington from James McHenry, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
private. Since I had the honour of writing you, the Chevalier Freire’s Secry has called to inform me, that the extreme heat of the weather had induced Madam Freire, to induce Chevalier Friere to postpone the projected visit to Mount Vernon till September. You will not therefore I presume have the pleasure of seeing them. Mr Pickering has mentioned to me, that such of the materials as are not...
85402To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 23 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose the sketch of an Act for organizing the new district of Sacket harbour in conformity with the act of 3 March 1803 (6th Vol. page 273). If you approve of the form, and division, a fair copy shall be prepared for your signature. Pierce’s plan of a depreciating paper is returned. Herman Husband the Pennsylvania madman proposed a similar one to the legislature of that State in the year...
85403From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
My last to your Excellency was on the 10th Inst. Since that time nothing material has occurred. It is with pleasure I inform you that Congress shews every disposition to make the most vigorous preparations for the next Campaign—which I sincerely hope may prove, as honorable to the Allied Arms as the past. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration and sincere personal Regard Yr...
85404From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 4 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 31 st was recieved yesterday and gave me a fine night’s rest which I had not had before since you left us, as the failure to hear from you by the preceding mail had filled me with fearful forebodings. I am pleased with the train you are proceeding in, and particularly with the appointment of valuers. under all circumstances I think I may expect a liberal valuation, an...
85405To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Burgoyne recd the information of the Resolve of Congress of the 1st Decemr (restricting the embarkation of his Troops to the port stipulated by the Convention of Saratoga and no other) with no small disopointment. I had before given him my opinion that an alteration would never be allowed; but he flattered himself otherwise. He is now anxiously waiting an answer to his Letter some time...
85406[Diary entry: 8 May 1771] (Washington Papers)
8. Dined at Southalls with Colo. Robt. Fairfax & some other Gentlemn. & went to the Play & In March, James Barrett Southall had moved his place of business from the Wetherburn Tavern across Duke of Gloucester Street to the Raleigh Tavern, which he bought from the executors of Anthony Hay’s estate. Southall operated the Raleigh for at least the next ten years, and under his management it...
85407To George Washington from William Preston, 10 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
Some Gentlemen who have been honored with the appointment of Captains of Volunteer Companies of Rifflemen not accepting their appointments, leaves a vacancy now to be filled. Though I have not the smallest acquaintance with your Excellency yet I hope soliciting an appointment of this nature will not be taken amiss. I am the third Son of the late Colo. William Preston, with whom you formerly...
85408To Thomas Jefferson from George Jefferson, 13 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to night favor’d with yours of the 9th. covering the remaining halves of the $:350.; the first of which came by last post; and which, with the 1500$: the receipt of which I acknowledged last night , makes $:1850. to your credit. I am Dear Sir Your Very humble servt. RC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “Thos. Jefferson esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 Jan. and so recorded in SJL connected by...
85409To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 17 February 1796 (Madison Papers)
I was not only astonished but concerned to see in what manner the resolutions of the Virginia Ass: was treated by the Mass. Legislature as well as some others but by others with more decency —these are strange and unaccountable things to me but I suppose are well warranted in the opinion of others better informed. I had supposed there was nothing unconstitutional in a state legislature...
85410To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 14 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your most esteemed favoúr of 12 Curr. we shall have tomorrow morning a conversation with M. Charles Storer to be ac quainted with the articles, he chuses to fill up the trunck which we have received bÿ your Excellency’s order, and we shall take the utmost Care to procure the best goods at the lowest rate and sent it, if possible by Cap: Coffin to the Address of Isaac Smith Esqr....
85411[Diary entry: 2 January 1769] (Washington Papers)
2. Went to Colo. Fairfax’s with the Family and stayd all Night.
85412To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
[Watertown, Mass.] 23 December 1775 . Recommends for commissions several officers named in an enclosed letter from Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge. LS signed by William Sever, DLC:GW . Woodbridge’s undated letter to the council requests commissions for four officers whose names were omitted from the council’s letter of 24 Oct. to GW ( DLC:GW ).
85413Notes on Debates, 24 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). For a description of the manuscript of Notes on Debates, see Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (6 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , V, 231–34 . On the day preceding this, intelligence arrived which was this day laid before Congs. that the preliminaries for a general peace had been signed on the...
85414Account of a Meeting with Isaac Briggs, [21 January 1816] (Madison Papers)
“Fifth day the 21—I called on the President, found him polite, affable, & friendly, as usual. While he was in conversation with me, a servant announced the minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Spain —he bid the servant request the minister to wait in another room—when our conversation was finished and I rose to take leave, he invited me to return and take pot-luck with him at 3...
85415From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 17 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
What have you been doing? where has your reason flown? while your poor Grandmother was yet warm in her grave; while your own mother whose all of happiness in this world depends upon the good conduct of her children was confined to her bed with a fever, what were you doing? following the foolish example of a set of wild and unruly young men whom you had not fortitude to condemn tho’ you must...
85416From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copy: Yale University Library I see in a Vote of Congress shown me by Capt. Franval, that Mr. Deane is disown’d in some of his Agreements with Officers. I, who am upon the Spot, and know the infinite Difficulty of resisting the powerful Solicitations here of Great Men, who if disobliged might have it in their Power to...
85417To Alexander Hamilton from Hercules Mulligan, 7 January 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 7, 1785. At the bottom of an itemized account of money owed Mulligan by Philip Schuyler, Mulligan signed the following receipt: “Recd payment (by the hands of Col. Hammelton) in full.” ADS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Despite the reliance by H’s biographers on Hercules Mulligan’s narrative of the life of H (written sometime between 1810 and 1815), this receipt and...
85418From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Captain Patrick Fletcher recommending Captain John Cruft to be a Lieutenant in the Navy.—I have so good an opinion of this Captain Cruft from a personal Knowledge, that I desire you would place him on the List for Promotion among the first Lieutenants that Shall be appointed. Mr Breck of Philadelphia can probably give you Satisfactory Information concerning him. I...
85419[Diary entry: 19 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 43 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day; and more or less rain mixed in sml. degree with Snow; which with what fell in the Night made the ground so wet that I could plant no trees to day. Many of those planted yesterday yielded to the Wind & Wet, and required propping. Received a Swan, 4 Wild Geese, & two Barrels of Holly Berries (in...
85420To Thomas Jefferson from Archibald Stuart, 5 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed to you by Robert B. Taylor Esquire of this place—For the first Time he takes an excursion to the Mountains & promises himselfe the pleasure of giving you a call—. He occupies the first Station at the bar in this quarter & I believe would do so any where—I am sure you will be pleased with the acquaintance of a young man who promises to do so much credit to our Country adieu...
85421To James Madison from Stephen Ranney, 4 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
For an officer of the Army to address the President of the United States on the subject of the propriety or impropriety of any measure which has constitutionally been adopted would I presume be deemed improper. My motive at this time being only to spread before the first Magistrate of the United States such pretention as I have expected would be sufficient to secure to me my continuance in the...
85422To George Washington from Abel Weyman, 27 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am under the Necessity of sending an Express, To inform Your Excellency of the distressed Situation of the Troops, at this Garrison, being in a Manner destitute of all kind of Cloathing, for the Approaching Season: and have for these Three Months past, been much Neglected for the want of Provision, Thro’ the negligence of Col. Cooke, who was Authorized for that purpose. as his Time expired...
85423To Thomas Jefferson from John Vaughan, 28 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed was just recieved by me under cover, should any reply be necessary & be forwarded under cover to me, it will be safely conveyed to its destination— I have the pleasure of informing you that our much valued friend Dr Priestly is now on his recovery from a most dangerous Illness, & will I hope in two or three Weeks be able to resume his pen & his Labors— The plates to the 4th Vol....
85424Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 12 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for the copy of the laws of your College , from which I am sure I we shall recieve good aid whenever we proceed to form those for our institn if ever that day is to come. our last legislre indeed has had better disposns than the preceding one. they agreed to lend us another 60.M.D. but
85425Presidential Proclamation, 4 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
Whereas, by the act of Congress entitled “An act providing for the sale of certain lands in the state of Ohio, formerly set apart for Refugees from Canada and Nova Scotia,” passed the 29th of April 1816, it is enacted, that such part of the said lands as have not been located, shall be attached to, and make a part of the land district of Chillicothe, and be offered for sale, to the highest...
85426To George Washington from David Forman, 28 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am this Minute Informed that Eighteen Large Ships of War appeard Standing in from the Southward to Sandy Hook this morning a Sevin oClock—by Nine there Colours was discovered British—a Frigate that had been Cr ui sing off Stood towards the Fleete & fired a Gun—No Answer was observed to be made—the Frigate Tacked and Stood for Sandy Hook again—Soone after some Time this Frigate Sent her Boat...
85427From George Washington to Henry Woodward, 6 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby Ordered, to proceed with the Detachment under your Command to Fort Cumberland, according to the Route prescribed in the General Orders: You are to provide yourself at this place, with Sufficient Ammunition for your Detachment, as there is none at Winchester —When you arrive at Winchester, you are to procure a Waggon to assist you to Fort Cumberland. You are to apply to the...
85428From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
Kealing marred Hannah Storer. Look at the seal of this Letter, and send me from London a new One exactly like it, with this Motto Piscemur, Venemur ut Olim and I will the Price to your Brother, / No more MHi : Adams Papers.
85429To Thomas Jefferson from Jacob Wagner, 14 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
This treaty and copy were heretofore sent to the President, in order that he might send it to Congress for the necessary appropriation. They were however returned by the President to the Dep. State; but lest any misapprehension may have taken place about their having been before sent for the appropriation, they are now handed to Mr. Madison, that he may be pleased to ascertain the point. DLC :...
85430To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 18 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
J’ai fait ce matin les démarches dont j’ai eu l’honneur de vous parler. L’effet en question sera mis demain 19e. en vente publique, pour savoir qui en offrira le plus. Nous laisserons offrir, sans nous en mêler. J’ai envoyé un Expert, dont le rapport est satisfaisant quant à l’essentiel: C’est-à-dire que l’Effet est bon et sain; qu’il a seulement été négligé, et que les réparations comme...
85431To George Washington from Richard Dobbs Spaight, 16 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I now do myself the honor to enclose to you the papers which I enformed you of in my last letter respecting the Spanish brig St Joseph. I likewise enclose you copy of a letter from Edwd Jones esqr. Atto. for the Spanish Commissioners demanding from me a reimbursement of the monies expended by him as Atto. for said Commissioners, in sending expresses, seeing lawyers &c. and also for me to repay...
85432From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 22 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is the Letter of D r Tucker.— If I should agree with him in his Maxim Fiat Justitia ruat Cælum the question would Still remain what is Justice. Justice to the Negroes would require that they should not be abandoned by their Masters and turned loose upon a World in which they have no Capacity to procure even a Subsistance. What would become of the old,? the young? the infirm? Justice...
85433From John Adams to John Farmer, 25 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 12th but I have not received the memoir. The Brackets and Thompsons were amongst the earlier settellers of Mount Walliston—out of which the town of Braintree was fabracated Tompson after Wheelright was one of the first ministers, but his name is here extinct—the Brackets are still numerous and wealthy; that either of those families Emigrated to Billerica I...
85434[Diary entry: 20 February 1799] (Washington Papers)
20. Morning very thick & Misting; Wind Easterly. Mer. at 30 Morng. & Evening with Rain at Intervals through the day. Doctr. Baynham dined here.
85435To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 20 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Letters of this kind would need apology, or rather would, in every view, be unwarrantable, if the writer had any reason for doubt concerning the character of the person recommended. But as I am sure no apology is needful on that score, I persuade my self your candour will induce you to think it unnecessary on any other. I have the honour of enclosing a Letter which I have lately received from...
85436To James Madison from William Wirt, 29 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have been deliberating for six months whether I should or should not write you on the subject of this letter. Were I a stranger to you, I should fear that it might subject me to the imputation of officiousness, and an idle & improper encroachment on your precious time—it might, too, with a mind differently constructed from yours, farther subject me to the unjust & degrading suspicion of...
85437To Thomas Jefferson from Sir John Sinclair, 28 May 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I have much pleasure in transmitting to You a Copy of my last address to the Board of Agriculture, in which I have pointed out the progress of that Institution. It would give me additional Satisfaction to propose you as a foreign Honorary Member, But I think it would be better, if that Honor was Conferred in Consequence of Your favouring us with Some important Communication, to which you are...
85438From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Quincy Packard, 11 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
with the only and beloved daughter of my late venerable and respected Friend I pour the tear of Sympathy, and with a full Heart participate in the Sorrowfull event which has deprived her of one of the most tender and affectionate of parents, one of the best of Mothers—one of the kindest Friends—one of the pleasentest companions and one of the most exeniplary of women. To me she “was a Friend...
85439From James Madison to Anthony Merry, 17 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose Copies of a Letter from Messrs. Johnston, Pringle and Sherlock of Baltimore, owners of the Schooner Hannah Maria and her Cargo, and of the Deposition of Mr. A. S. Thomas of Baltimore referred to therein, exhibiting the Circumstances of the Detention of that Vessel by the British Ship of War Diana. It must be evident that whatsoever might be the Cause or the Pretext,...
85440To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [14 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 8th. instant, was presented to me by the Secretary of War on the 11th., and I have consented to embark once more on a boundless field of responsibility & trouble, with two reservations—first, that the principal Officers in the line, and of the Staff, shall be such as I can place confidence in; and, that I shall not be called into the field until the Army is in a situation to...
85441To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 17th. of Jan. private. Whenever I begin a letter of that kind I find an almost irresistible impulsion to apologize for the repeated ennui that you must have recieved from my several letters written posterior to June last. I am prevented from it only by the consideration that it is now too late to prevent it and from a desire to avoid importunity.—Since my last the...
85442[Diary entry: 2 April 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 2d. Deposited the above Acts in the Secretary of States Office and informed the Houses of Congress thereof. But a thin company this Evening, on acct. of the badness of the weather & its being good friday.
85443To George Washington from Samuel Miles, 19 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
since writing the enclosed, I was Honored by the receipt of your’s of the 15th Instt with a duplicate of that of the 8th Ulto. The Printing press, with the remainder of the Crockery, was sent from hence on the 14th Instt directed to the Quarter Master Genls Storekeeper at Newburg—I hope before this reaches your Excellency, they will have arrived safe. I have to ask your Excellencies pardon,...
85444[Diary entry: 16 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th . Thermometer at 58 in the Morng. 66 at Noon and at Night. A large circle round the Moon last night—a red & angry looking sky at the Suns rising and a brisk Southerly Wind all day with rain in the Evening and Night. Finished the Arch over my Ice House to day. Went early in the Morning to take an acct. of My Stocks &ca. at Dogue run & Muddy hole Planns. N.B. The Tools not being...
85445[Diary entry: 10 January 1775] (Washington Papers)
10. At home all day, Mr. Stone dined here.
85446From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Diot & Cie., 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Octob. 26 . came safely to hand and should sooner have been acknowleged, but that I have wished at the same time to convey through your hands whatever indulgence the government would be pleased to grant to the American prisoners to whom you have been so kind as to extend your attention. Having as yet however been unable to procure any order in their favor I cannot longer delay...
85447From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Forrest, John Nicholson, and Others, Public Creditors, 27 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the sixth instant and have paid careful attention to the contents of it. But notwithstanding my earnest desire to meet the wishes of every class of the public Creditors, my judgment of the true construction of the law in the point in question remains as disclosed in my first letter. The fact is, that the Certificates issued by the Register of the Treasury do...
85448Thomas Jefferson to James Sloan, 15 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have deferred, Sir, my thanks for the compliment of your volume on Italy , until I could read it, and return them avec connoissance de cause . I have now read it with great pleasure, and not without edification: for altho, as the preface observes, that country has been the theme of so many pens that novelty on it’s subject is difficult, yet these wrote on Italy as it was before the Corsican...
85449To George Washington from Col. William Malcom, 25 Oct. 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Col. William Malcom, 25 Oct. 1780 . Malcom wrote GW on 29 Oct.: “In my letter of the 25th I had the Honor to give … every material Circumstance that hath taken place in this Department Since the 18 last” ( DLC:GW ).
85450VI. To the Senate, 6 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
During the late recess of the Senate, I have issued commissions for the following persons and offices, which commissions will expire at the end of this present session of the Senate. I therefore nominate the same persons to the same offices for re-appointment. to wit Albert Gallatin of Pensylvania, Secretary of the Treasury, vice Samuel Dexter resigned. Robert Smith of Maryland, Secretary of...