23 March 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Broadside

Title: [Presidential proclamation for a national day of prayer]

Proclamation declaring national "day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer," with Timothy Pickering's free frank on verso. Adams wants Americans to pray for the protection of their country. Proclamation states that America is in a "hazardous and afflictive situation" and therefore asks all citizens to "offer their devout Addresses to the Father of Mercies." Prayer is needed because "the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God...the national acknowledgement of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which…

GLC02542.14

19 March 1826

Physick, Phillip Syng, 1768-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Vaux

Written by Physick, the famous Philadelphian surgeon, to Vaux. Thanks Vaux for the interest he has taken in his affairs and for the information he has given David Ellis concerning them. Relates that Ellis says he has been entirely thorough in handling the estate. Closes with another expression of gratitude.

GLC02542.15

28 April 1826

Physick, Phillip Syng, 1768-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Vaux

Written by Physick, the Philadelphian surgeon, to Vaux. Says he was looking over the account Vaux was kind enough to furnish and observed that he has not charged the usual commissions. Asks Vaux to set up a time they can meet so he can make the settlement Vaux has requested.

GLC02542.16

6 November 1828

Physick, Phillip Syng, 1768-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Vaux

Business letter written by Physick, the well-known Philadelphian surgeon, to Vaux. Mentions that he had an opportunity to discuss the difficulties of dividing the lots yesterday evening, but forgot to mention the marriage settlement. Physick claims she should not be a problem to facilitating the division.

GLC02542.17

21 October 1781

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Printed document signed

Title: [Privateer's license for William Van Duerson]

Partially printed document signed by McKean as President of Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary of the Continental Congress. Identifies Van Duerson as the commander of the brigantine Middletown owned by Chauncey Whittlesey. The verso has a signed statement by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull providing a physical descriptions of Duerson and his lieutenant, William Spencer, given at Hartford, Connecticut. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.18

27 March 1799

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Letter signed

Title: to William North

Written in a secretarial hand and signed by McHenry as Secretary of War to Brigadier General North as Adjutant General of the Provisional Army during the Quasi War. McHenry reminds North that the law organzing the Provisional Army states the Adjutant General shall be the ex-officio assistant Inspector General. Since Alexander Hamilton has been called to serve as Inspector General, North is to consider himself under Hamilton's orders.

GLC02542.19

20 July 1813

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Jackson

Written by North in retirement in Major Jackson. Marked at address that the letter is "to be published as a private letter." Sees in the newspaper that General Hull is to be tried on the charge of treason and cowardice during the surrender of Detroit in August 1812. Says he does not believe the charges to be true. In emotional language he attacks the rumors against Hull and defends his Revolutionary War record. Is especially outraged over the rumors of compensation money the British allegedly gave Hull. Says if fear was part of the surrender, then it wasn't a selfish fear, but one based on…

GLC02542.20

20 October1842

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Rivis

Written by Missouri Senator Benton. References Rivis's letter of 8 October. Benton tries to calm fears about state's debt. Says he immedately applied to the most reliable businessmen to find an answer for him. The businessmen say that the laws of nature would change before Missouri would repudiate her debt or falter in her payments. Says everyone in Missouri takes great pride in their state and does not want to lose it. Says he is going to Jefferson City to see the governor and other officers of the government and impress that upon them.

GLC02542.21

10 May 1843

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Rivis

Written by Missouri Senator Benton. References Rivis's letter of 15 April. Says he is in Kentucky to check out a "Sawing enterprise" he recently purchased. Says he purchased one of Page's circular saws and has set it up on 800 acres of land near Versailles, Kentucky, about halfway between Lexington and Frankfurt. Says 500 acres of the land has the finest timber. Claims that practical men have told him that each acre can get 50,000 to 100,000 feet of lumber. Describes his day working at the mill and says he has "dinner at twelve (with the white part of the work people)." Does not want this to…

GLC02542.22

January 12, 1785

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Major North as Inspector to the Troops under the command of General Henry Knox. At this time Knox was the Secretary of War. An extremely detailed letter describing the types of uniforms U.S. troops should wear in various situations. Says "The formation of America in General, & especially that part of it, where, probably our future scene of action will lay, requires that our military dress should be as compact, comfortable & easy as possible."

GLC02542.23

12 November 1751

Goodwin, Samuel, fl. 1751-1773

Autograph document signed

Title: [Document empowering John North to protect lands of Plymouth proprietors]

Goodwin empowers Captain John North to do what he feels is necessary to protect lands belonging to the Plymouth proprietors. Tells him if someone wants to lease it for a year they will need a bond of performance of 1000 pounds. Says that of any wood cut on the property, the proprietors will have one shilling a cord. Also says to give Mr. Daniel Night a lease of Damers Cove Island on the same conditions. Says the yearly rent is four pounds.

GLC02542.24

February 14, 1776

Massachusetts Bay Council

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Joseph North as Colonel in 2nd Regiment of Massachusetts militia from Lincoln County]

Partially printed document signed Perez Morton as deputy secretary of the council. Signers from the Massachusetts Bay Council include: W. Severs, W. Spooner, John Winthrop, Thomas Cushing, Moses Gill, John Whitcomb, James Prescott, Eliad Taylor, Michael Farley, Jabez Fisher, B. White, John Taylor, J. Palmero, B. Greenleaf, and Dr. Samuel Holten. A manuscript note on the verso indicates that North took the oath of service required by the appointment, witnessed by Wiliam Howard and [C. Dalteg]. Also signed on verso by Hannah E. North and William H. Bridge. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.25

9 May 1776

Massachusetts Bay Council

Document signed

Title: [Commission of William North as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Massachusetts artillery]

Partially printed document signed by John Avery as deputy secretary of the council. Also signed by members of the Massachusetts Bay Council, including: Jer. Powell, Artemas Ward, B. Greenleaf, Richard Derby, John Whitcomb, Moses Gill, John Taylor, B. White, Ben Austin, H. Gardner, E. Thayersir, D. Hopkins, Jabez Fisher, and Dr. Samuel Holten. North was appointed a lieutenant in the 6th company, 1st regiment under Captain John Gill in the Regiment Train of Artillery commanded by Colonel Thomas Crafts. Features paper seal of the state of Massachusetts.

GLC02542.26

23 April 1842

Theobald, Mathew, 1790-1856

Document signed

Title: [Abstinence pledge card]

Printed card, with various illustrations, stating that Catherine Cauty has taken the "the Total Abstinence Pledge." Cauty has card number 4281797. Signed by Theobald as president of the society. Pledge card states that Cauty will refrain from drinking all intoxicating liquors except those used medicinally. Graphic illustration of intemperance shows a husband beating his wife and an illustration of temperance shows a happy scene of the family reading by the hearth.

GLC02542.27

February 21, 1781

Painter, L., fl. 1781

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 23 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Several people signed their name, but were scratched off the list later. It appears that the document was created by Lieutenant Painter since his signature is below a note that states "those Inlisted the First of January together with myself Jany 1 1781." Related to GLC02542.30.

GLC02542.28

25 December 1792

Hurd, Jacob, ?-1811

Document signed

Title: [Insurance inventory and charges]

Insurance document for the cargo of the brigantine "Prudence" written by Hurd while at sea. Says it was delivered to Mr. P. Mayer at Belzone & Co. Starts on 6 December and ends 22 December. The items being shipped are mostly foodstuffs and farm animals. It seems that all totals are in French livres. The docket says the voyage originated in France.

GLC02542.29

1 June 1781

Hunt, John, fl. 1782

Document signed

Title: [Enlistment document for volunteers in company of William Van Dueser]

Signed by 8 men to show they have voluntarily enlisted in the company of artillery under the command of William Van Dueser to serve as a guard for the town of New Haven, Connecticut until the first day of 1782. Related to GLC02542.28.

GLC02542.30

31 October 1760

Bernard, Francis, 1712-1779

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of John North as a Justice of the Peace in Lincoln County, Massachusetts]

Partially printed document signed by Bernard as Massachusetts governor and Andrew Oliver as secretary. A manuscript note on the verso, dated 13 November 1760 and signed by Jacob Wendell and James Bowdoin as members of the governor's council, affirms that North took the oath of office. Features paper seal.

GLC02542.31

January 20, 1681

Penn, William, 1644-1718

Document signed

Title: [Receipt to William Wigan].

Witnessed by H. Spingett and T. Coxe. Wigan purchased 500 acres of land "in Pennsylvania." Signed two months before Penn actually received the land charter from Charles II.

GLC02543

4 April 1779

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Major General Schuyler to an unknown recipient, but seller's description says it is probably to Continental Congressman James Duane. References recipients letter of 20 March and another undated letter. Says the president, probably Continental Congress President John Jay, sent him the resolution rejecting his resignation. Schuyler had put in his resignation after an October 1778 court martial, which he requested, acquitted him of incompetence over the loss of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. Says he wants to resign because Congress deprived him of the command of his army when they selected…

GLC02545

1898

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Book signed

Title: George Washington

Inscription regarding Washington's greatness dated Princeton, New Jersey, 2 November 1905. Illustrated by Pyle, Fenn, et al. Deckle edges.

GLC02551.01

1 November 1854

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for James Buchanan to conclude a Consular Convention with Great Britian]

President Pierce directs Secretary of State William Learned Marcy to affix the United States seal. Confirms full power for Buchanan, Minister to Great Britain, to conclude a consular convention.

GLC02585

1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the honorable Daniel Webster, on the Compromise Bill

Speech defending his previous speech on 7 March 1850, during which he had supported the proposed Compromise of 1850. Following his March speech Webster was attacked by many abolitionists as having deserted the North. Here he defends his actions, saying he supports a compromise because it is what is best for the nation, even if it will lead to his personal detriment. Believes that an end to sectionalism is more important than any other issue at hand. Ends his speech: "I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me…

GLC02586

September 1790

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Magazine

Title: [American Museum or Universal magazine; volume VIII, no. 3].

Signed by Secretary of War Henry Knox. Includes Jefferson's report on currency and weight and measures, Washington's State of the Union address, and a letter by Franklin on death by lightning strike. Printed by Carey, Stewart, & Co.

GLC02593.02

1865

Kimmel, & Forster, fl. 1864-1865

Print

Title: Columbia's noblest sons

Print of Columbia crowning an image of George Washington and an image of Abraham Lincoln with laurel leaves. To the left of Washington are images from his presidency and the American Revolution, and on the right of Lincoln are images from his presidency and the Civil War. At Columbia's feet are broken shackles, an eagle, and cannons. She is stepping on a lion, which might represent the British Empire. Marked "Lithog. & print by Chr. Kimmel & Forster 254 & 256 Canal St., N.Y." Copyrighted by Henry & William Voight and published by "Manson Lang, 512 Broadway, New York."

GLC02597