3 January 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Swan

Thanks him for his last letters. Apologizes for not writing to him about private matters, but alludes to the fact that the custom in Europe (where Swan is) is for the post officers to open the mail, so he did not feel comfortable going into detail. Hopes very sincerely that Swan is able to extricate himself from financial difficulty and "avail yourself of the rising prosperity" of the United States. Mentions that he has been in Boston and Swan's wife and children are in perfect health. Discusses the new Constitution of the United States, explaining that the legislatures of New York and…

GLC02437.04068

15 October 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Swan

Informs Swan of recent Congressional proceedings. Describes the Senate and House of Representatives convening from April to September, and passed revenue and judiciary laws. Adds that Congress plans to reconvene at the end of January.

GLC02437.04389

January 23, 1791

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that "the Count Montmorin, Minister for foreign affairs here, has written Mr. Otto, chargé des affaires auprès le Congrès, to use his influence with the President that the proposals of Schweizer Jeanneret & Co. should be accepted." Discusses plans for America to borrow money from Frenchmen. Notes that plans can now go forward if the terms are as favorable as borrowing from Holland. Continues discussing financial matters related to the Committe of Finance and Schweizer Jeanneret & Co.

GLC02437.04836

27 May 1791

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan says he wrote Knox letters on 27 December 1790 and 23 and 27 January 1791. Mentions new ministers from France arriving in America. Their primary goal is to address the U.S. debt to France. Discusses how they could find 40 million dollars to pay the debt. Claims "The circumstances of the finances of france, render this matter nearer at heart, than when first proposed. The deficiency in the Revenue with the expence, was not then known: it is now severely felt." Says if there ever was a moment the U.S. could help France, this is it. Claims borrowing from Amsterdam is not cheap at the…

GLC02437.04960

December 21, 1793

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he wouldn't normally bother Knox, but needs to update him on the situation because of the "cruel war" in Europe. Sends the latest news on 13 sailors captured by the "Algereen pirates." Swan expresses anger that the pirates are allowed to harass American shipping with tacit English approval. Goes on to say that "England by that treaty [of peace with Portugal] will prevent france geting [sic] supplies from america, she punishes us for adhering to the Treaty [from 1778], and for reorganizing their Republic." Believes three things can punish England and get the pirates to back off American…

GLC02437.06002

10 August 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Shepard

Signature has been clipped. Informs Shepard that his endeavors to get payment for a note have been unsuccessful, as "Colonel Pickering informs that he has not any funds for the notes of the time and that it is uncertain when he shall have them." He therefore has the "mortifying necessity" of enclosing the note to Captain Twogood [perhaps Captain William Toogood] rather than the money, but he hopes he can serve Shepard more successfully sometime in the future.

GLC02437.03175

circa 1868-1876

Pamphlet

Title: Spirit of the Campaign Number Three

Series: "Spirit of the Campaign Number Three" Heading on the first page reads: "Compare the Doctrines of the Two Parties." Pro-republican campaign material which cites former Confederates' support for Seymour and Blair (R. Semmes, Wise, Vance, Wade Hampton) and the effects of Reconstruction in the South. Claims Seymour would repudiate the debt.

GLC04360.063

February 23, 1798

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Deed

Copy of mortgage of the Waldo patent between Knox, Henry Jackson, Benjamin Lincoln, and Israel Thorndike.

GLC02437.07253

2 December 1814

Wilson, John, 1777-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Shares Hobart's sentiment of missing home and friends. Explains that his folks have moved to another house and that trade has been opened for "people living on each side of Penobscot Bay." Mentions that "a Bill for Banks, a Bill for Classifying the Militia, and a Bill for raising additional revenue" are the objects which have had a lot of attention in the present negotiations at the Congress of Vienna.

GLC06313.04.039

11 March 1773

Hopkins, David, fl. 1773

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Places an order on Francis Dana, drawn by George Buckmaster. Also orders books.

GLC02437.00040

7 May 1846

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To the Liberty Party

Discusses the Liberty Party's objectives, including the foremost goal of overthrowing slavery. Analyzes modification and expansion of party objectives, regarding issues such as banks, tariffs, and association with slaveholders.

GLC04717.30

5 November 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: To the voters of the Counties of Oswego and Madison

Complains that he was nominated for a Congressional seat, a position he did not seek. Assures he will not resign, but will perform his duty, pursuing abolition from his position. Includes his political creed, asserting that slavery is not in the Federal Constitution, that free trade is the necessary outgrowth of human brotherhood, and that political rights encompass all persons, among other beliefs. Contains a pencil note at the top.

GLC04717.36

21 December 1857

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: From the New York Tribune. Mr. Gerrit Smith on the President's message. The currency and the hard times.

Smith writes, "There is nothing in the nature of civil government, and there is nothing in the Constitution, to justify the Federal Government in banking, or in undertaking to authorize it in others." Also criticizes economists' reference to slavery as an institution, or "an essential part of the basis of public and national credit."

GLC04717.70

5 August 1776

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Rebukes Knox for calling him a lazy scoundrel for not writing at every post. Discusses privateering news from a man named Captain White in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and provides an account of ships and cargo seized. Notes that the privateering has affected the price of sugar. Responds to Knox's suggestion of raising a regiment of artillery, but plans to write more on it in the future.

GLC02437.00412

19 August 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Explains how a friend's illness and the difficult times brought on by the Revolutionary War have delayed her writing. Notes how expensive the war has made living and suggests William expand beyond just selling books. Looks toward the future when they can all live in happiness and reaffirms her husbands affection for his brother. Comments on the impending battle in New York and notes that very wealthy men are among the ranks, describing the effort as "a glorious spirit." Indicates that their are 25,000 British forces. Provides information about various acquaintances. She received the…

GLC02437.00422

1 September 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Applauds the detection of a German traitor named Ledwitz, who had been appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Discusses various orders for payment Henry made. Discusses the last two letters he received from Lucy Knox. Has heard that Halifax was burned down by 500 Indians led by Frank Shaw. Discusses need for guns for privateers in Boston and for Continental frigates. Discusses the comparative advantages of large versus small ships, because Henry Jackson is going to arrange for a vessel that Henry "shall be concern'd in." Notes that new regiments have been raised but are…

GLC02437.00431

28 March 1836

Church, Samuel, 1785-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Year inferred from content. Discussing politics, states "You now begin to see the correctness of our distrusting legislature many years ago in so concentrating federalism that it may be all be hit at one blow... You [Hanny & McChanies?] Bank fellows will be put down & we shall have no more Jackson gold, on that side of the Street..." Written at "[Farnam?] Village."

GLC05636.38

January 28, 1782

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the Excise Act and the response of New England Towns and ports. Mentions problems with currency and payments, and argues, "Our Legislative & Executive Bodies seem to be by far too large for so young a State - they swallow up an immense Sum of money, which might be better approximated to pay the army." Comments on local merchant vessels and mentions he has received word about the vessel Knox's brother William is on. Congratulates Knox and his wife on the birth of their son, and adds that since his own last letter Mrs. Peirce has had a baby boy as well, and that both are…

GLC02437.01342

1 April 1782

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to discuss a new lime-burning agreement negotiated in Boston by Mr. Wheaton. Notes the risk incurred by Wheaton since he is so close to Penobscot, a Tory stronghold. Discusses a recent illness, and the quartering of Major Strauss's company at his house. Comments on the value of "depreciation notes" and "consolidating notes" in Knox's finances. See GLC02437.01404 and GLC02437.01406 for related information.

GLC02437.01380

20 April 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

A letter commenting on Knox's personal finances, especially the disposition of government notes. Peirce references Knox's letter of 3 April. Mentions consolidating old notes and registering new ones. Says his brother William did not consign any goods to him, nor to Colonel Sears. Says "I rejoice with you that Peace is again likely to visit our Country - The Contest has been severe, - but it has been short - It has been indeed Glorious - in eight years to effect so great a revolution is more than most sanguine at the commencement could have expected." Says Boston Harbor has appeared "dismal…

GLC02437.02106

20 September 1785

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contract with Henry Knox and Samuel Shaw for sale of goods]

Apparently written in the hand of Samuel Shaw. Contract outlines the terms of an agreement between "Samuel Ogden, of the city of New York, Merchant," and General Henry Knox. Ogden agrees to sell the merchandise, worth "two thousand, two hundred and ninety three pounds, fourteen shillings and six pence, lawful money of the State of Connecticut, at the rate of six shillings for a Spanish milled dollar." Promises to sell the merchandise as if it were his own, at the same rate, and to the best of his power, and to provide all proceeds to Knox. Accepts a "commission of five percent on the net…

GLC02437.03199

10 May 1788

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses money due on Mr. Webber's goods and the depreciation of currency (possibly referring to James Webber, a London merchant). Writes, "The political State of this Country I hope and trust is very much altering as to monied transactions, so that a depreciated Medium cannot much longer be made a payment for a just demand." Marked as a copy. Written at Delaware Works, located in what is now Morrisville, Pennsylvania, near Trenton, New Jersey.

GLC02437.03868

16 July 1783

Rivington, James, 1724-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Rivington, the New York printer and bookseller, signs in text. Mentions Knox's previous request for a copy of Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations." Forwards his only copy, which Knox can keep or return. The 2 volumes cost £2.5 sterling. Says no advance on them is requested.

GLC02437.02296

10 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Rivington

Thanks Rivington for the copy of Smith's "Wealth of Nations" that he sent. Knox signed in text. See GLC02437.02296 for Rivington's original note.

GLC02437.02379

18 June 1791

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Captain Randall to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 17 June (GLC02437.05005) and the two drafts for a total of $5,000. Says he was able to get them discounted as he wanted. Had to sign them himself but says he has no apprehension about William Duer paying them when they are due. Was glad they could do business together and hopes he can help him in the future. Thanks him for Samuel Shaw's letter and hopes Shaw is not disappointed "in finding shipping in Bombay." Asks Knox to purchase him a copy of "all the late acts of congress relative to trade & the…

GLC02437.05006