1 March 1783

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lyman Hall

Asks Hall to resolve a debate over ownership of a slave. Mr. Melvin purchased a slave that had belonged to Middleton but had been captured by the British. When Middleton encountered the slave he claimed it as his own, since it had been wrongfully stolen from him. Melvin appears to want full value in exchange for the slave, while Middleton believes he owes only a fraction of this. Paper border around letter. Written at Cedar Grove Plantation.

GLC04821

12 September 1785

Peters, Richard, 1744-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Written by Peters, a former Pennsylvania Continental Congressman, to von Steuben in retirement. Peters is trying to put Von Steuben at ease after he was denied a large part of the inflated expense account he sumbitted to Congress and the rejection of his pension application by that same body. Marked No. 12. Mentions that he heard reports that von Steuben's mind was not at ease and that he was about to return to Europe. Even though he hasn't heard from in a while he thinks they are credible and says "loving you so much as I do I Cannot be uninterested in them." Says if he can have better…

GLC04833

4 August 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Letter signed

Title: [Treasury Department circular].

Discusses payment of public debt and Department of the Treasury matters, including a procedural change aimed at reducing fraud. Accompanied by engraving (GLC04842.08.02).

GLC04842.08.01

24 April 1795

Header Record

Title: [Land grant for Benjamin Rush in Mifflin Co., Pa. and Thomas Mifflin] [Decimalized .01- .02]

Land grant signed by Thomas Mifflin as Governor of Pennsylvania and portrait engraving of Thomas Mifflin.

GLC04842.31

23 August 1783

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Reports on an unsuccessful conference in Canada concerning assuming control of the western forts. Indicates that General Frederick Haldimand, the governor of the province of Quebec, refused to agree on any terms until there was a definitive treaty, although he did observe a cessation of fighting. Claims that Haldimand will limit communication and attempt "to hinder any overtures, being made from the United States to the Indians."

GLC04843

5 April 1783

Rivington, James, 1724-1802

Broadside

Title: The Royal Gazette Extraordinary

Published by James Rivington. Preliminary articles of the Treaty of Paris as found in reports from English newspapers arriving on the ship "Vigilant". Lists John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens as the Commissioners of the United States present at the negotiations, and Richard Oswald as the Commissioner for Great Britain. Text laid out in 4 columns.

GLC04853

29 September 1789

Otis, Samuel A., 1740-1814

Printed document signed

Title: An Act providing for Payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States

Signed by Otis as Secretary of the Senate and co-signed by John Beckley as Clerk of the House. Transfers the payments of military pensions from the state to the federal government.

GLC04855

23 May 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Burwell Bassett

Mentions that he would have enjoyed seeing him at Richmond if it had been possible. Remarks that an artist, Mr. Pine, was at Mount Vernon and had to wait for him to return to do his historical painting. Comments on the engagement of his nephew, George Augustine Washington to Fanny [Frances] Bassett, Burrell Bassett's daughter. Expresses his views on marriage, "I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of ones life. -- The foundation of happiness or misery." States that he does not believe in promoting or preventing a marriage unless it absolutely requires…

GLC04709

1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Book

Title: A Collection of speeches of the President... to both Houses of Congress

GLC04718

1789

Laing, Joseph, 1828-1905

Print

Title: Inauguration of Gen. George Washington

This document is a print lithograph of George Washington at his inauguration in 1789. Probably 1870s or 1880s print by Joeseph Laing and published by William Blackman.

GLC04723

1805

Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814

Book

Title: History of the rise, progress and termination of the American Revolution. Interspersed with biographical, political, and moral observations.

Printed by Manning and Loring for E. Larkin. Volumes two and three contain the bookplate of Joseph L. Fry, Charleston, Kanawha (present day West Virginia).

GLC04719

1789

Smith, Adam, 1723-1790

Book signed

Title: An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations Vol. I [damaged]

Signed on titlepage "Wm H. Harrison." Printed by Thomas Dobson. With bookplate of J. Cleves Short / Short-Hill / Nov. 17, 1817." and stamp of "Transylvania Library" on front pastedown. The "William Henry Harrison" written on p. 9 is not an autograph signature. The titlepage and "Advertisement" have both been torn; the first leaf of the table of contents (pp. v-vi) is damaged at the top and center with serious loss of text. (Sprinkled calf binding was severely damaged; board was loose and pages falling out: rebound in 1997). See also volume II, GLC05192.

GLC04740

1812

Object

Title: [War of 1812 lacquer snuffbox showing victory of United States over Macedonian]

Cylindrical, varnished snuff box from the War of 1812. Lid commemorates the 25 October 1812 capture of the British ship Macedonia by the USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur. Bottom depicts the bald eagle seal of the United States surrounded by patriotic sentiments such as "United We Stand. Divided We Fall." Probably made after December 1812, when knowledge of the fight became better known (per Henry Adams, Administration of James Monroe). Image on lid is damaged at center.

GLC04750

30 November 1783

Cruger, Henry, 1739-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter van Schaack

Reports American occupation of New York City. Decribes the conditions and mixed sentiments in the city after the British evacuation. Feels that the peaceable citizens are a result of the successful leadership of Governor George Clinton, who is second only to George Washington. Assures van Schaack that the government has a plan and it will lead New York and the United States to greatness.

GLC04776

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

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

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

1 November 1792

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy Ellery

Comments on Nancy's recovery from a smallpox inoculation (variolation). Congratulates her and suggests that she will make a better wife after having smallpox because it must have filled her with patience and resolution, and made her immune. Reports that Nancy's friends in Newport were surprised to learn she had undergone variolation. Ellery has also been inoculated. Comments on his old age. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Nancy was his daughter.

GLC04780

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

9 November 1797

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Written by King as American Ambassador to Britain to Secretary of State Pickering. Written in numeric cipher, probably concerning the implications of XYZ Affair. Letter was unable to be uncoded at this time. Cipher could possibly be in the Rufus King Papers at New-York Historical Society.

GLC04798

1786

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Armand-Charles-Augustin de La Croix de Castries [in French]

Memorandum written to de Castries. Manuscript concerning efforts to strengthen the alliance between the United States and France through trade and more substantial means. It was probably written after 15 June 1786, the date Jefferson wrote a letter to Lafayette about making Honfleur a free port. The contents fit in with Lafayette's other commercial initiatives during early summer 1786. Date inferred from Lafayette Papers, Robert Crout.

GLC04799

July 9, 1803

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles James Fox [in French]

Lafayette writes to English politician and friend, Charles Fox, regarding his own health. Lafayette had recently broken several bones and torn tendons in a fall, but reports that he is on that mend and will soon be back at La Grange, his country estate outside of Paris. He commends Fox on his attempts to forge peaceful relations with France. He also believes that all will soon agree that the acquisition of the Louisiana territory from the French by the United States is for the best. He notes that the letter will be brought to Fox by James Monroe, then American Ambassador to England. He asks…

GLC04800

1803

Brown, Charles B., fl. 1803

Pamphlet

Title: An Address... on the cession of Louisiana to the French...

Manifest destiny and the Louisiana territory. Printed by H. Maxwell. Howes B831, Thompson 974, S&S 33881. Stamps on titlepage. Signature of Elihu Chauncey.

GLC04959.01

24 December 1807

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dinsmore

Discusses instructions for a table at Monticello. Lists mahogany forwarded to Monticello by Oldham and copies out a note he received from Oldham about the wood planks and the delivery of them to the estate. Jefferson's note to Dinsmore instructs on the size of the table. He uses "I" as the notation for inches. Signed Th: J.

GLC04964

circa 1800

Savage, Edward, 1761-1817

Print

Title: Benjamin Franklin L.L.D. - F.R.S.

Mezzotint based on David Martin's late 18th-century portrait. At the bottom corners of the print, Martin is credited with the original painting and Edward Savage with the engraving of this mezzotint. Title is in cursive across the bottom of the sheet, whereas the original portrait has a printed title. Franklin is reading at a small table with his hand at his throat. To his right, perched atop a pile of books, is a bust of Isaac Newton.

GLC04952