June 20, 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Barton

Henry Laurens writes as President of Continental Congress to Colonel Barton. He asks him about his wound and his general health. Encloses gazettes (not included). Mentions that the British have abandoned Philadelphia but that 3000 of their troops have gone down the river or camped near Haddonfield and Cooper's Ferry. Notes vertically in a post script on the left side of the page that General Benedict Arnold has been appointed to command in the city of Philadelphia by General George Washington.

GLC00302

circa 1763-1783

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Wayne, a general in the Continental Army who fought in many of the major battles with Washington and was later sent to the Southern Theatre when activity shifted to there. This document is undated and could be a retained draft or a copy of a letter. Says the situation of the enemy could not discovered. Says they appear to be planning for a bold strike because the last scouting parties were driven in from Gillalands Creek (this waterway could not be found in any reference guide) by a superior force. Says he laid the recipients letter of "20th Instant" before a general council of…

GLC00307.02

March 16, 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Smith

Benjamin Stoddert discusses a treaty between Britain and Haitian general Toussaint Louverture. He mentions a ship bound for India, letting General [George] Washington know that he will be returning to New York. Also talks about spices. Letter seems to have been written in a hurry. Address leaf has a cut hole where the seal used to be on the center left above the address. Directly opposite is a mark and bit of wax from the seal. Also on the right is a column of numbers where someone did some calculations. Above the address in the upper left hand corner is a round stamp with PHI MR around the…

GLC00308.05

February 5, 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Powel

Washington writes to Powel, Mayor of Philadelphia, one day after being elected as the first President of the United States. He states that he delivered enclosures previously sent from Powel to his nephew, Bushrod Washington. He predicts that the majority of newly elected government officials will be Federalists, stating that "although the issue of all the Elections are not yet known, they are sufficiently displayed to authorize a belief that opposers of the government have been defeated in almost every instance." He expresses sympathy regarding the insanity of British King George III. Refers…

GLC00310

June 30, 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Messrs. Duchesne, de Barth, Thiebaud & Assoc.

Washington responds to French settlers who had invested in the Scioto Company, which had obtained an option on 5 million acres in the Northwest Territory. The company sold the lands to French citizens fleeing the Revolution. Unfortunately the Scioto project began to collapse in 1790 and was defunct by 1792. When the fraud was uncovered, the settlers had already arrived at Alexandria, so they petitioned Washington for redress. Ultimately, land was found for the settlers in Gallipolis, Ohio. The sellers were addressed as Messrs. Duchesne, de Barth, Thiebaud & Assoc. indicating multiple…

GLC00311

June 3, 1812

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John W. Eppes

Eppes planned to sell his estate which Jefferson wanted to buy. Jefferson also mentions that indebtedness from his Washington residence has been nearly paid. Eppes rejected the proposal. At the end of the letter, Jefferson talks about the plans of Peter Carr (his nephew) for "enlarging the plan of his school" -- this is the Albemarle Academy which became the University of Virginia.

GLC00315

1860

Porter, William Dennison, 1810-1883

Pamphlet

Title: State sovereignty and the doctrine of coercion, by the Hon. Wm. D. Porter, of Charleston, S. C. together with a letter from Hon. J. K. Paulding, former Sec. of Navy.

Includes the instructions, "Read and send to your Neighbor" on title page. Also includes designation: "1860 Association. Tract No. 2." Porter opens with, "The recent speech of Mr. Douglas at Norfolk, in which he threatened the Southern States with military coercion in the event of secession, ought to startle and arouse the people of those States, like the blast of a hostile trumpet at midnight!" Paulding, in a letter dated 6 September 1851, discusses secession.

GLC00267.386

1913

Phillips, Ulrich B., 1877-1934

Book

Title: The Life of Robert Toombs

Signed in Los Angeles, California by Phillips to "Professor C.V. Gillilard" on 10 August 1922. Published by The Macmillan Company.

GLC00267.389

1905

Reynolds, John S. (John Schreiner)., b. 1848

Book

Title: Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877

Discusses the provisional government and conditions at the end of the Civil War under military occupation and control. Chapters cover the administration of each governor, including James Lawrence Orr, Robert Kingston Scott, Franklin J. Moses, and Daniel Henry Chamberlain, as well as topics such as the Ku Klux Klan, frauds, and dual government. Published by The State Co., Publishers, Columbia, South Carolina.

GLC00267.390

1837

eman, Frederick, 1799-1883

Book

Title: A plea for Africa, being familiar conversations on the subject of slavery and colonization, [originally published under the title "Yaradee."]

Published by J. Whetham. Discusses African history, slavery, and colonization. Contains reviews following the appendix. Also includes an advertisement for Psalmodia, another book by Freeman. On inner front cover, contains a Henry F. Porter, Circulating Library, Naugatuck, Connecticut sticker.

GLC00267.392

1777

Massachusetts. General Court

Pamphlet

Title: Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, ...

Full title, Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. John Gill printing based upon the Lancaster, Penn. printing, by order of the Massachusetts General Assembly. Folio, stab-stitched as issued. Including 4 page printed notice to Massachusetts residents concerning bills of credit. Evans 15623.

GLC00268

06 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Broadside

Title: Proclamation of a day of solemn fasting due to religious persecution

Proclaiming a day of solemn fasting for April 25th (with element of Thanksgiving)

GLC00270

April 10, 1865

Colby, Oren, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. and Mrs. Colby

Colby, 12th New Hampshire Volunteers, writes to his mother and father that the troops have heard of Robert E. Lee's surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. Informs that during their celebrations a fellow soldier was hurt as they were firing off guns and lighting canteens filled with gun powder. He remarks that those who said the Confederacy would not fall must be feeling foolish now. Discusses the destruction of Richmond and says that the people are starving. The starving individuals beg the soldiers for food and eat rations the soldiers have thrown away. he states he gave a young boy…

GLC00272.02

circa 1861

Crosby, Abner S., fl. 1861

Header Record

Title: Collection of Abner S. Crosby [decimalized]

Collection of Abner S. Crosby, who served in D company, 7th regiment, Pennsylvania infantry.

GLC00273

August 12, 1861

Crosby, Abner S., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his aunt

Abner S. Crosby describes life in the 7th Pennsylvania after the First Battle of Bull Run. He discusses the deaths of friends in battle. Written on attractive patriotic stationery. With P.S.: "my pen is very poor- [inserted: so you must] excuse poor writing" (on side near signature).

GLC00273.01

July 13, 1863

Ira, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Written from "Camp near Frederic Citty M.D." Includes war news, deaths, and rumors of strategy after the Battle of Gettysburg.

GLC00273.02

June 15, 1864

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Farrar Smith or Benjamin Franklin Butler

Grant, Commander in Chief of the United States Army, informs Major General Butler or Smith that the 2nd Corps (28,000 soldiers) was directed to march toward Petersburg. He has not heard news of the expedition, but can still hear firing in the direction of Petersburg, Virginia. He states that if Butler or Smith require the 2nd Corps, they should send notice to General Winfield Scott Hancock under cover to General John Gibbon. Written in pencil on Headquarters, Armies of the United States stationery.

GLC00274

June 16, 1864

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Farrar Smith

Written in pencil near Petersburg, Virginia. Grant, Commander in Chief of the United States Army instructs Smith to push the reconnaissance in the front to attempt to ascertain a point from which to advance against Petersburg in the evening. He writes "Make all preliminary preparations for such an advance if ordered and at some time hold all your forces not necessary for holding your present line ready to reinforce the left in case of an attack from that direction." He instructs that in the absence of himself or General George Gordon Meade, that General Winfield Scott Hancock will have…

GLC00275

17 October 1754

Lawrence, Robert, 1692-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [An Act for making Current seventy thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit for adjusting his Majesty and the Neighboring Colonies to dispossess the French from his Majesty's Land on or near the River Ohio, and for providing a fund for the Defense of the Frontiers...]

Fair copy of the act passed by the New Jersey House of Representatives near the beginning of the French and Indian War. Passed with some amendments, the act was meant to raise revenue for expenses during the French and Indian War. The bills authorized seemed to have been revised prior to their actual issue. There are many textual corrections in the document. Lawrence was the Speaker of the House of the New Jersey Assembly.

GLC00276

26 August 1777

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of Nathaniel Davis, printer, for counterfeiting money]

Signed by Paine as prosecutor for the state of Massachusetts. Countersigned by Daniel Parker as the jury foreman and five witnesses. Specifies the jury's charges against Davis in detail. Dated the "Last Tuesday of August." Names penned by Paine, including that of Benjamin Edes, the printer of the June 18, 1776 Massachusetts issue, the one probably forged.

GLC00277

November 20, 1765

Farrington, A., fl. 1765

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Seth Williamson

A British captain discusses military logistics and the advice given to him by General Thomas Gage regarding troop transport. He mentions being in "the Rebellious Town of New York," where there was popular discontent with the Stamp Act of 1765. He describes the destruction of the rented house of Major Thomas James "by the principal People of this Town," referring to the Sons of Liberty, who had committed this and similar acts during the previous month. He comments on plans to dismantle Fort George, noting that "the Grand Arsenal of America is liable to be insulted" if set on fire. He notes…

GLC00278

August 6, 1773

Cottrell, Stephen, 1738-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Granville Leveson-Gower

Written by Cottrell, secretary of the Board of Trade, to George Granville Leveson-Gower, the Duke of Sutherland, as the Lord President of the Privy Council. The Lord President's principle responsibility is to preside at meetings of the Privy Council, at which the British monarch formally assents to Orders-in-Council. Cottrell wants to know the recipient's opinion of the independent powers the colonies have accumulated and are using. He says he has been ordered by Lord Suffolk to transmit the enclosed comments from the Board of Trade (not included). Thomas Pownall, a Member of Parliament who…

GLC00279

13 August 1794

Kline, George, 1758-1820

Newspaper

Title: Kline's Carlisle weekly gazette. [Vol. 10, no. 471 (August 13, 1794)]

Contains state and federal proclamations concerning the excise tax and the Whiskey Rebellion. Also contains an article on the federal revenue system and another on raising troops.

GLC00282

1722

Book

Title: Conductor Generalis, or the office, duty and authority of Justices...

Modern blind calf; Evans 2327; First American book on procedural law. Full title: Conductor Generalis, or the office, duty and authority of Justices of the Peace, High-Sheriffs, Gaolers, Coroners, Constables, Jurymen, Over-seers of the Poor, and also the Office of the Clerks of the Assize and of the Peace, &c. Printed by Andrew Bradford. Signature on first blank: "James Mark's Book, 1729/30." First printing in America of a guide book for enforcers of the laws.

GLC00286

1776

New Jersey Colony Laws

Book

Title: Acts of the General Assembly of the Province of New Jersey

Compiled by Samuel Allinson; Folio ($1 signed). Rare, per WR

GLC00287