16 August 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Seton

A confidential letter instructing the Cashier of the Bank of New York, Seton to spend up to $150,000 on the open market to buy outstanding debt-securities, in hopes that it will shore up confidence in the credit of the United States. At the time of this letter Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury. Because of the limitations of Seton's funds, this action was only moderately successful.

GLC04785

16 December 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from Saratoga campaign to General Burgoyne as prisoner of war. Says that he received word from Congress on 1 December 1777 that Burgoyne's troops are not to leave through any port except Boston, the one stipulated in the Convention treaty. Wants Burgoyne to have the earliest notice of this news.

GLC04787

11 February 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Letter signed

Title: to William R. Lee

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign to Lee as commandant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where many of the troops were located. Complains to Lee that many British soldiers are disguising themselves as sailors and peasants and joining the Continental Army in order to receive a bounty, clothing, and arms and then returning to the British barracks. Orders Lee to go to Burgoyne immediately and to retrieve several persons who names are enclosed (not included here). If Burgoyne will not give them up, he is…

GLC04788

9 June 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Header Record

Title: [Collection of two letters to William Phillips] [Decimalized]

Two letters by Heath to General William Phillips. See 4789.01 and 4789.02. Collateral engraving also included.

GLC04789

4 June 1775

Hewes, Joseph, 1730-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Johnston

Mentions Captain Gilles, who transmitted previous correspondence between Hewes and Johnston. Discusses the Colonies' (specifically North Carolina's) ability to finance and sustain a military conflict. Writes "I fear we shall be obliged [text loss] Promise for our Colony much more than it [can?] perform, perhaps, more than it is able to bear, when a Country loses its [hade?], when its Ports are all shut up and all exportation ceases, say, will there be value enough found on that Country to bear heavy Taxes with patience suppose a Country under such Circumstances was to raise an Army, how is…

GLC04790

31 October 1777

Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Williams

Huntington as a General of Connecticut forces in the Continental Army to a Colonel Williams, whose larger identity could not be ascertained. Says that Williams might have money that was sent to help his father. Sends along information of General Gates's defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. Mocks the "haughty boasting Chief with all his Titles - Pride goeth before a Fall - it has pleased God to confound the wise & mighty by the weak & foolish." Praises militia of General John Stark who defeated a detachment of Burgoyne's troops at the Battle of Bennington. Says he is sure Congress…

GLC04791

1822/08/28

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Keith Call

Advises Call that on what he must do first if he wishes to succeed in politics, including making a good name for himself. Also counsel's him to mend a feud between Captain Easter and Judge Brekenridge. Then explains that he will never run for office, unless the majority of the people demand it, but explains what he would do if elected. "I never have been an applicant for office, I never will, I solicited retirement and to be candid with you I do not expect that, that retirement I have selected for myself, will be disturbed by the...call of a majority of the people. If in this I should be…

GLC04792

1781, reprint Philadelphia 1807

Map

Title: Plan of the investment and attack of York in Virginia [from Life of Washington]

Plate IX. Shows Yorktown. Published by C. P. Wayne; engraved by Francis Shallus.

GLC04760.02

27 November 1775

Sayer, Robert, 1725-1794

Map

Title: A Plan of the Battle on Bunkers Hill fought on the 17th of June 1775.

This document is a printed map of the Battle of Bunker Hill, designating the positions of American and British forces. Printed by R. Sayer and J. Bennet. Underneath the map is a written description of the Battle taken from a letter written by General Burgoyne to his nephew Lord Stanley.

GLC04760.01

11 September 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friedrich Riedesel [in French]

Written by British General Burgoyne as he is marching southward through New York to General Baron Riedesel commander of the German troops with Burgoyne. Letter is in French with partial translation in seller's description in collateral file. Updates Riedesel on various troops' movements and the arrival of transports to cross the Hudson River before the Battle of Saratoga. Advises there might be a strong detachment at Skeneborough. Also included in the file is a color print titled "Genl. Burgoyne Addressing the Indians." Dimensions are 15.7 x 24.1 cm. Depicts a red coated Burgoyne with arm…

GLC04761

22 March 1778

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Heath

Written by General Burgoyne as a prisoner of war after his defeat at Saratoga in October 1777 to Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war previously commanded by Burgoyne. Says he is obliged by Heath's handling of his last dispatch and regrets the loss of any of Heath's men because of it. Asks for duplicates of Captain Dalrymple's parole to secure the transports and money he is arranging, presumably for Burgoyne's return to Britain, which took place on 5 April 1778. Postscript says Mr. Clarke has not heard from Heath's commissary yet. Letter…

GLC04762

30 August 1778

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Kingston

Written by General Burgoyne in England as a parolee after Battle of Saratoga to Kingston as Burgoyne's Adjutant General. Mentions that he received information that the government might use intelligence from Boston as grounds to return him to America as a prisoner of war. Says if it comes to that, he will not obey the order. Asks Kingston to keep that information confidential. Says box that might contain a summons from the American Congress sent by the Manchester coach has not arrived and expresses his impatience since he is moving to Scarborough the next day. Tells Kingston to remain in…

GLC04763

1776/12-1779/03

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Header Record

Title: Burgoyne-Kingston collection: papers concerning Convention Army after Saratoga [word processed inventory available] [decimalized]

Bulk 11/1777-04/1778. Papers retained by Lieut. Gen. John Burgoyne's Adjutant General, mostly his (frequently strained) communications with Maj. Gen. William Heath concerning the conditions of the British officer prisoners (41 items). The collection includes a broadside "Burgoyne's Lament" printed at Boston, eight dispatches from various company commanders, three cypher templates, documents on daily business before and after surrender (25 items) and a packet of four miscellaneous items. The broadside is apparently rare. Materials of interest include the broadside, cypher templates, and an…

GLC04764

31 May 1803

Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Winchester

Discussing appropriate division of compensation among sailors who salvaged the French ship "Blaireau." Chase discusses the situation and offers his advice. On subject of a black sailor who helped during the salvage, says if he is free he deserves a share, though less than white sailors, and if a slave, still deserves some small payment for taking risks to assist in the salvage. Chase acknowledges the case may be appealed to him in the Supreme Court, and one year later it was, in the case of "Mason v. Ship Blaireau." Among the rulings of the court was that the compensation for the black…

GLC04765

1833/11/29

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Tuttle, John N. Millington, William Holliday, James K. McNeal, and George W. Sherwood

Declines invitation to the Baltimore Typographical Society's anniversary supper on account of his travel plans. Praises their toleration of divergent views, writing, in part: "all would be unworthy of liberty who, whilst they exercise free judgment themselves should be disposed to deny it in others."

GLC04766

1789/05/05

Clinton, George, 1739-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington

The governor of New York sends to the governor of Connecticut the New York legislature's proposed amendments to the Constitution (not included). Asks that this draft of the Bill of Rights be circulated in the Connecticut legislature.

GLC04767

9 October 1777

Clinton, Henry, Sir, 1730-1795

Manuscript

Title: [Clerical copy of report on battle of Fort Montgomery]

Report on General Clinton's feint northward up the Hudson in support of General John Burgoyne's southward thrust. But in the late summer and early fall of 1777 Clinton, who was given vague orders, decided not to move his forces against Albany, which was Burgoyne's destination, but to only create a diversion that extended little further than Kingston, about 40 miles south of Albany. In October, he moved up the east side of the Hudson and crossed to the west side at Stony Point. With a force of about 3,000, he moved north against the combined forces of about 600 Americans led by General George…

GLC04768

June 18, 1789

Clymer, George, 1739-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush re: coming glories of Constitution, future end of slavery & rum

Also concerns his hopes that slavery and alcohol would be abolished (prohibition), and the debate on the power to remove officials from office. He expects that the excise tax on rum will help defend people "against the poison." Concerning New Yorkers, "[t]he people here presumptuously call their town the Capital. I don't suppose this folly will be suffered to last very long...." Dating inferred per correspondence with Kenneth Bowling, Documentary History of the First Federal Congress.

GLC04769

1788 ca.

Manuscript document

Title: Proposed amendments to the Constitution

This document, in a contemporary hand, compiles and compares the proposals of several states. Many of the proposals are in the form substantially used in the Bill of Rights.

GLC04770

1776/03/23

Broadside

Title: Rejection of Olive Branch Petition by Congress; lets colonists arm vessels

The document sets regulations for arming vessels for defense and privateering. Printed by John Dunlap.

GLC04771

1794/04/02

Bradford, William, 1755-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox re: considering constitutionality of a Pennsylvania Act

GLC04772.01

1781/08/28

Carmichael, William, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris re: conditions in Europe, prospects for treaty, Jay in Spain

GLC04772.02

1788/03/15

Dane, Nathan, 1752-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S[amuel?] Holten re: ratification of the Constitution

GLC04772.03

19 March 1794

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Written by Chancellor Livingston to New York Governor Clinton. Encloses petition at the request of Dr. Robinson (not included). Mentions seeing Clinton's family. Mentions political controversy involving himself and William P. Van Ness. It involves the unpopular removal of someone from office (the name cannot be deciphered - Benthingsen?) Wants Clinton to clarify the situation for him. Says Egbert Benson is going to come forward with the story for the newspapers and wants to be able to meet it. Wants to know if Clinton recollects him ever recommending the person. If he or other members of the…

GLC04772.04

January 2, 1782

Pettit, Charles, 1736-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Written by Pettit as an importing merchant in Philadelphia to Major General Greene as commander of the Southern Department. Pettit was Greene's assistant adjutant general 1778-1781. Mentions he sold Greene's and his own shares in the Batsto Estate. Says they are going to have to wait for their money because of issues with the estate. Says he has little ready money as a result. Mentions political backbiting at the Pennsylvania Assembly. Talks about the reduction of salaries of certain officers in order to starve them out so the current Assembly can appoint new ones. Says they are considering…

GLC04772.05