7 January 1830

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Biddle

Writes to Nicholas Biddle, the President of the Bank of the United States, and encloses President Andrew Jackson's commissions of four directors of the Bank. The new directors include George M. Dallas, Benjamin W. Richards, Benjamin Bailey, and John S. Donnell. Attached to a backing page that looks as if it was removed from a bound book of some sort. Verso of backer page is printed with "William Henry Harrison, 1841." Dimensions of actual letter are 25 x 20.5 cm.

GLC04619.01

December 21, 1848-3 January 1849

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph document signed

Title: [Copy of bank correspondence as Comptroller]

Retained copy of bank correspondence written to various correspondents from the Comptroller's office.

GLC04579

2 January 1794

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ross

Asks Ross for a loan of $450. Written the day after Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State. The loan may have been used to help pay off some of the debts Jefferson incurred while secretary or to help with a major building project he began at Monticello in the spring of 1794. Docketed by Ross, indicating that the money had been loaned in cash.

GLC04615

February 26, 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph note signed

Title: to David Hartley

Signed in text in the opening of the note and written in the third-person: "Dr. Franklin presents..." Sarcastically explains British methods for taxing the American colonies. Date from docket.

GLC04632

27 April 1821

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Benton

Written by Monroe as President to Benton as the overseer of his properties in Loudoun County, Virginia. Says he has written to Harrison in Alexandria, Virginia and will have 20 barrels of herring and five of shad sent. If instructions need to change, he tells Benton to send the letter to him first and he will forward it to Harrison. Because of the prospect of war with Naples in Europe, Monroe discusses speculating in flour. Says price will likely rise and says he wants to hold it back from the market. Asks Benton to handle this because if he became involved it might get into the newspapers…

GLC04926

January 15, 1953

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Document signed

Title: [Farewell Address]

Discusses the events of his presidency. A good part of the address speaks about using American resources and the United Nations to fight the menace of Communism and increase food production, amongst other things. In his conclusion, he looks beyond Communism and comments on prosperity in America, "that we in America have learned how to attain real prosperity for our people." Cites employment, bank strength, and better wealth distribution. States, "We have made progress in spreading the blessing of American life to all of our people. There has been a tremendous awakening of the American…

GLC04935.01

18 March 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Mercer

Written one month before taking his oath of office as the first United States President, Washington attempts to collect a debt owed by the estate of James' father John Mercer. States that he was formerly promised repayment by James' brother, Colonel John Francis Mercer, but John did not deliver the sum in full. Informs James "I am thus explicit, for the purpose of evincing to you, that necessity alone prompts me to make this plain and unequivocal declaration" regarding reimbursement. Reveals willingness to receive land titles as repayment. Expresses his wish to secure titles for two lots…

GLC04860

3 August 1791

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

In the summer of 1791 enemies of the Rodneys in Delaware were alleging that Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney's brother, had misappropriated funds authorized by Congress for an attack on Canada during the American Revolution. Caesar had died in 1784. McKean expresses his belief that Caesar's behavior with the funds was honorable, and Caesar's papers may reveal a contemporary letter from McKean to Caesar in which McKean spoke about the complex details of the transactions. If Thomas finds this letter, it will clear his brother: "With a view to afford some consolation to you in your present…

GLC04819

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

25 June 1780-11 July 1780

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Very detailed and highly critical discussion of the Continental Congress's new financial plans passed 18 March 1780. Comments on payments, currency, taxation, and banking. Also comments on military aid from the French. Docketed by Gerry.

GLC04826

19 November 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Discusses the "many just complaints" of Continental officers regarding pay and the depreciation of Continental bonds.

GLC04831

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

27 July 1779

Read, George, 1733-1798

Autograph letter

Title: to John Dunlap

Written by Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of the Delaware Assembly to Dunlap as editor and publisher of the "Pennsylvania Packet, or General Advertiser." Read was asking Dunlap to publish a letter. Read was responding to one of Dunlap's previous publications Saying it is "a matter of right after your publication of hte Proceedings in Committee of July ye 21st 1779 Signed William Henry Chairman." In the letter "To the Members of the Commitee of the City of Philadelphia," Read defends his character and conduct from the accusations previously published by Dunlap.…

GLC04836

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

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

12 March 1883

Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. E. F. Strickland

Written on Senate stationery. Logan, a United States Senator from Illinois, writes "Prior to the success of the Union armies, in the contest against secession, Freedom in this country was a sham and a mockery. Now it is a verity. There is however a danger to free institutions, arising in our midst, that should be watched with a zealous eye, that is the corrupting influence of the use of [money?]..." Written on U. S. Senate Chamber, Washington, D.C. stationery.

GLC04732

13 May 1874

Cartwright, Alexander Joy, 1820-1892

Autograph document signed

Title: [Document regarding the estate of Hawaii's Dowager Queen Emma]

Serving as the administrator for the estate of Dowager Queen Emma, Cartwright confirms a sum of money Frank Pratt owes the estate. Also records that H. A. Wactman owes Emma's estate $1000.

GLC04730

January 29, 1855

Schneck, B. S. (Benjamin Shroder), 1806-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Besore

Schneck asks for $300 to send a slave's wife and three children to Africa. The husband must also purchase his freedom for $1,500, but the Society is trying to raise money to assist in the transport itself. Written on behalf of the Colonization Society. Schneck describes "a family of Slaves in Jefferson Co. Virginia, whom the owner -- a widow Lady-- is willing to liberate for the purpose" of sending them to Africa. He writes that the lady "is much attached" to the man but "as he has expressed a wish to go to Liberia, she has generously offered him his freedom (without any remuneration) if…

GLC04743

December 1848

Gill, Richard W., ?-1852

Printed letter

Title: to unknown

Printed circular letter noting a court case decision, decreeing that an estate tax must still be paid on slaves who are manumitted as part of a last will and testament: "The bequests of freedom to the slaves, are legacies, and the executor liable for the tax or duty on their appraised value." The decision was made by the Maryland Court of Appeals, overturning the decision of a lower court. Also notes "Indeed the law has gone so far as to presume every negro a slave to some one, until the contrary appear." Letter is postmarked 25 December 1848. Docket is hand written with the name. Sent…

GLC04748

October 19, 1873

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John E. Williams re: solving banking crisis, Panic of 1873

Grant writes in part: "Cannot the bank presidents be brought together & resolve to aid each other?"

GLC04784

27 October 1777

Harrison, Robert H., 1745-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Clarke

Written by Harrison as secretary to George Washington to Clarke, whose larger identity is unknown. Says the five extra dollars will be charged. Claims there are no hand bills or he would have sent him one. Reports that the articles of capitulation got to Washington yesterday. Says Burgoyne and his army of 5,600 are prisoners and that Colonel James Wilkinson is on his way to Congress with General Horatio Gates's official report. Wilkinson caused a mini-scandal by not showing up in York, Pennsylvania, where Congress was meeting, until 31 October 1777 and did not present a written report until 3…

GLC04786

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

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

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

1 April 1778- 10 June 1779

Continental Congress, 1774-1789

Manuscript document

Title: [Military account book]

Includes detailed records for the payment of generals, aid-de-camps, other military posts, and military supplies. Cited as created by the Second Continental Congress, though possibly created by the Massachusetts Board of War.

GLC04773