3 January 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Shaw and Thomas Randall

Unsigned. Writes that he received Shaw's letters and enclosures, and was delighted and satisfied to hear of his health and the prospect of advancing his interests. Has no hope that Shaw will receive the letter, but addresses it to him on the "bare possibility" he will receive it, hoping that if he does not, "our dear friend Randall may for whom it is equally intended." Focuses primarily on business matters. Discusses the sale of merchandise Shaw arranged for Knox before he left for China, and describes a transfer of this merchandise from Samuel Ogden because Ogden went out of town. Also…

GLC02437.04073

7 March 1790

Sherburne, Henry, 1748-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for sending his application to President Washington and also informs him that the Rhode Island state convention adjourned without discussing the question of whether or not to adopt the Constitution. Writes that "[t]his Extraordinary Step was warmly opposed, but without effect; Reason, Duty, necessity, and every other Argument was made use of, to no purpose." Feels that the Anti-federalist party is postponing the decision only to serve their own selfish motivations and secure their own representatives in the senate. Writes that "[t]he Convention in Order to Cover their design and…

GLC02437.04533

17 June 1790

Sherburne, Henry, 1748-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses appointments made by the President to various positions. Asks Knox "reason of my being totally neglected; perhaps it might have been from Misrepresentation made to the President." Informs Knox that Rhode Island's senators will be arriving in New York soon and describes them: "Mr Stanton you'l [sic] find to be a man highly tinctured with anti principles, and filled with the most exalted [Ideas] of the Landholders - consequence, - but as he is a man of much Modesty & Condecension [sic], I flatter myself he will do (after spending some time with you) right. Mr Foster will do all…

GLC02437.04629

30 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Sherburne

Informs Colonel Sherburne, "I am unable to inform you of the motives which [induced] the President of the United States to nominate the persons he did to the service for officers in the customs at Newport." Assures Sherburne that although he was passed up for the position, he still retains high standing in the President's mind.

GLC02437.04639

3 July 1799

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William S. Shaw

Knox writes Shaw, secretary to President Adams, requesting that his son Henry, a lieutenant in the Navy, be assigned to the Frigate Constitution. Knox reminds Shaw that Knox already objected "verbally" to his son being assigned to the Boston. He has just spoken with Captain [Silas] Talbot (new captain of the Constitution), who has agreed to take Knox Jr. as an officer. See GLC02437.07279 and GLC02437.07282 for related items.

GLC02437.07278

10 September 1790

Stewart, Walter, 1756-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Stewart writes Knox to say he has been unsuccessful in finding accommodations for Knox in Philadelphia. He suggests one place he used to own that might do for the winter. Stewart says he is leaving his current accommodations to make room for George Washington and doesn't know where he will relocate. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.04725

14 December 1781

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for forwarding a letter from Robert Morris to David Rhea; he forwarded it on, but as Mr. Rhea was traveling, had not yet received a reply. Promises to send a reply to Knox when he gets one. Relates that his troops only have three days of rations left so he sent someone to Philadelphia to get more. Comments that the people in Burlington (most likely Burlington, New Jersey) are so dispirited that he cannot get supplies from them "without the warrant of a Magistrate & the bayonet to enforce it." Relates that the Artificers need timber and he was asked by Col. Nelson, the…

GLC02437.01305

6 October 1782

Alexander, William, 1726-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "By the bearer of this Capt Lotteridge I send a quantity of Plank, Boards and Tar, which he is to land at Wappens Creek - I must request you will please to forward the letter directed to his Excellency by express." Sends his compliments to Mrs. Knox. Reports in a post-script dated 7 October 1782 that this morning his daughter Cate [Catharine Alexander] "complimented Mr. [William] Duer with a very fine son" and asks Knox to tell the news to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.01647

11 June 1789

Stevens, Ebenezer, 1751-1823

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Author listed as Mr. Stevens; research suggests it might be Ebenezer Stevens (1751-1823) though his first name is not listed on the document. Requests pay for the President's barge.

GLC02437.04238

3 January 1799

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin M. Stoddert

Knox writes Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert "on behalf of Mr. Charles Russel late acting first Lieutenant and Mr. William Amory." Knox explains they left the ship Constitution because they did not get their commissions. They are of good character and they wish to solicit President John Adams "that they may be permitted to act on board of some other ship in their former ranks until it shall be proved by Capt. Nicholson himself whether they are or are not worthy of the Commissions." Docket says the letter also went to Charles Russel.

GLC02437.07221

5 August 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, has received Knox's letter of 4 July 1799 by "Captain Nicholson." Stoddert assures Knox that he has no intention of "depriving him of his commission" and that President Adams would never "consent to injure any person to gratify popular clamor." Stoddert says Knox's son, Lieutenant Henry [Jackson] Knox, will be assigned to the "Constellation" under Captain [James] Barron. He thinks it would be most "advantageous...that he serve on board of a southern ship."

GLC02437.07292

20 March 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin M. Stoddert

Knox has received Stoddert's letter of March 6. Knox has not heard from his son, Henry Jackson, since February 4, but he is sending copies of letters that Knox and his wife have written to Captain Barron to Stoddert.

GLC02437.07382

20 July 1813

Wilson, John, 1777-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Informs Aaron Hobart that he is enclosing "Custie's Oration 2 Robert Goodloe Harper's Address at our Russian Celebration." Mentions a confidential message from the President which its effect "may be known in a few days."

GLC06313.04.030

February 22, 1815

Wilson, John, 1777-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Informs Hobart of President Madison's approval of the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.. Shares his insight on the war by stating that "we have ... not obtained Peace by War,... but have lost much of that we possessed".

GLC06313.04.042

7 June 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum of conversation with Edmond-Charles Genêt]

Initialled by Knox. Reports on a conversation with French Minister Genet. Mentions news about Guadalupe and Martinique. Says Admiral Gardener made an appearance there and was told that the defenders were in need of muskets, cannon, and ammunition. Notes that if the U.S. would provide the items, the amount would be deducted from the debt with France. Adds that Genet said "the US could not but be sensible that france had the right to demand our guarantee of those islands," because of the connections those islands have with American commerce. Told Genet that their own arsenals were deficient and…

GLC02437.05897

October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to unknown

Relates the concerns of the President, George Washington, regarding the "present hostile state of Europe," and the consequences it may have for the United States. Writes, "It is acknowledged by all who reflect upon the course of human events that a just regard for its own preservation and security, is the primary duty of every independent nation." Believes that the United States is in a good position to defend itself should the need arise. States that though the President does not have legal authority to direct measures of defense, he feels that the respective states should do what they can…

GLC02437.09950

January 13, 1861

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Samuel Milligan

"I look upon secession as being the prolific mother of anarchy which is the next step to despotism. It is political heresy..." (Johnson wrote 1860 by mistake)

GLC07995

September 17, 1814

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Hynes

Battle at Fort Bowyer, Mobile Point [Ala.]: " A combined British and Spanish force, with 500 or 600 Indians made an attack by land and water on Fort Bowyer in Mobile Point, the battle was tremendous, and continued until about 12 OClock at night when a ... vast explosion took place [destruction of British warship Hermes]". Colonel Hynes was a Nashville merchant. Jackson spells his name Haynes on the envelope.

GLC07983.01

1 September 1755 - 15 April 1815

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Facsimile

Title: ["Facsimiles" of five John Adams signatures, being of an engraved plate removed from a book]

Four are associated with places and dates, the range of which appears as the date of this document.

GLC06313.04.046

29 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

This appears to be a preliminary draft of Knox's 29 August 1790 letter to George Washington (in the GW Papers at the Library of Congress) responding to Washington's secret communication of 27 August. In that communication, sent to the members of his Cabinet, Washington asked for opinions as to the proper response to take if the British asked for permission to travel across U.S. territory, from Detroit to the Mississippi, in order to attack Spanish posts. See GLC02437.08216, GLC02437.08217, and 2437.09449 for related drafts.

GLC02437.04709

October 5, 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memorandum on the visit of John Pope to Henry Knox]

This document describes the visit of "Mr. John Pope or Colonel Pope" who was from near Richmond, Virginia. Reports that Pope claimed to have gone down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers last spring in the employ of Patrick Henry and David Ross of the Virginia Yazoo Company. Pope claims to have met the governor of New Orleans (Miro Estevan) traveling up the Mississippi to the Walnut Bluffs to build a military base. He then went to Pensacola, and up the Alabama River, meeting Alexander McGillivray of the Creek Nation. He arrived at McGillivray's on 27 May, staying at his house 7 days, and staying…

GLC02437.05187

24 October 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Minutes for the President's speech

The minutes discuss issues at the War Department involving national security and the Indians (this information was requested by Alexander Hamilton at GLC02437.05199). Describes treaties and measures to establish peace on the western frontiers. Reports that "Accordingly offensive operations were directed, to be conducted however as consistently as possible with humanity." Hopes they can continue to talk with the Indians. Docket is marked "Private."

GLC02437.05210

6 September 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Minutes of a conversation]

Minutes of a conversation between Knox and two "Commissionaires of his Catholic Majesty" from Spain, José Ignacio de Viar and José de Jáudenes y Nebot. Discusses relations between Spain and the United States as well as those with the Indians. Mentions a gentleman named Bowles being jailed in Cadiz and what the likelihood of him being sentenced to death is. Also mentions a new Spanish character (who is a Frenchman by birth), and the Spanish's take on the recent Creek treaty signed at New York. Discusses a letter that [Thomas Jefferson] had written to the gentlemen. Notes some of the…

GLC02437.05601

circa 1868-1876

Autograph note signed

Title: Autograph card

Autograph card. Signed by "Hannah Grant Age 70" and "Jesse R. Grant Age 75"

GLC04360.023

circa 1868-1876

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

Signature

Title: Signature

Clipped signature on cloth: "U.S. Grant, General Retired"

GLC04360.024