6 April 1861

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: [General Bragg discusses military matters in the Pensacola area]

Bragg (Confederate) states "Our truce remains in force, 'They are not to reinforce, We are not to attack.' It is being carried out by both parties so far. All kinds of supplies ... were being furnished the enemy when I got here. I have stopped that process after much trouble, and now only allow officers stores." Reports that Andrew Barry Moore, the Governor of Alabama, and Colonel Hardee (possibly William Joseph Hardee) "have given permission for a continuance of this trade from Mobile, but my orders are to scuttle all vessels captured in it, and my volunteers will do it. There is no law…

GLC02409

4 July 1788

J. Dunlap and D.C. Claypoole, 1784-1790

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, and daily advertiser. [No. 2939 (July 4, 1788)]

Prints a description of the order and accoutrements of a procession in honor of the establishment of the Constitution. Articles on commerce and foreign intelligence. Contains news from Europe and around the country and many advertisements. Prints a notice from the Philadelphia Board of Commissioners reminding merchants of recently enacted regulations on street vending. Pages have separated and are no longer bound together.

GLC02432

9 March 1846

Anthony, Philip, 1800-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ford, Heath & Company

Anthony discusses the payment of interest on bonds and business ventures with Ford, Heath, & Company, a British firm. Explaining the economic situation in Arkansas, Anthony states "Liberal loans were made upon long times payable in installments with interest. Revulsions in the monetary world & other misshaps, brought about general distress in the community- debtors who had more regard for their pecuniary safety then their moral responsibility sold their lands, or if incumbered, abandoned them and ran off their slaves & other effects to Texas, thus leaving large sums due the…

GLC02210.01

15 December 1823

Colvin, Richard, fl. 1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Wharton

Requests that Wharton, the Mayor of Philadelphia, prevent the exportation of specie to the East Indies, which has a negative effect on the prices "of Property, of Labour and of Work, and of Produce." Also discusses DeWitt Clinton's suitability as a presidential candidate for the election of 1824.

GLC02221

22 August 1863

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Letter signed

Title: to Andrew Jamieson

Writes to Jamieson, the Collector at Alexandria, Virginia in reference to the transport of merchandise such as cotton and tobacco to the states in rebellion. Instructs that Jamieson will have to prepare a statement each month showing the number of permits granted to transport goods to the rebellious states, including any money received for these permits and the total value of the merchandise transported. Also orders that the same will apply to any money received from the sale of captured, seized, or abandoned property. Chase signs as Secretary of the Treasury. On Treasury Department…

GLC02091

27 June 1775

Clarke, James, fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Cooke

Also signed by James Clarke. Apologizes for their delay in providing Governor of Rhode Island Cooke with accurate records of recent imports and exports that they are compiling. Thinks a more extended accounting would be more useful, and if Cooke and the legislature agree, Ellery and Clarke "will readily undertake the business and hope we shall be able to exhibit an account to August sessions." A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Cooke was Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 until 1778.

GLC02105

16 September 1797

Bradford, William, 1729-1808

Document signed

Title: [Instrument of protest]

Signed by Bradford as notary public. James Bowers, Master of the Brigantine Flora from New York, had been seized and all his goods confiscated by a Royal Navy Schooner of War, the George and Ophelia. The protest notes that "perfect Peace and Amity existed between Great Britain and the... United States" at that time.

GLC02108

1786

Little, William, fl. 1780-1786

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Navigational journal]

Contains numerous charts and geometric diagrams in water color. Includes meticulous information on the navigational aspects of geometry. Contains a Mercator's chart created by Little in Newburyport under the tutelage of Bartholomew Horace Burgess dated 1 March 1786. Journal entries document the "Ship Juno ... William Little Commander On a Voyage from England Towards Madeira 1786."

GLC02119

1791

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: Report the subject of the Cod and Whale Fisheries...

Printed by Francis Childs and John Swain. Folio. A-G2 ($1 signed). Full title: "Report of The Secretary of State, on the Subject of the Cod and Whale Fisheries, Made Conformably to an Order of The House of Representatives...." The House issue of this landmark state paper, one of the most important reports made by Jefferson as the first Secretary of State, ranking in importance with his weights and measures report and commerce report. It is important on two levels: first, as the best statistical report on the history and state of the American fisheries and whaling industry; and second, as a…

GLC02123

September 7, 1750-December 2, 1750

Pell, William, fl. 1750

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Journal of an intended voyage on bord the ship Newport packet: with Gods [illegible] from London to Rhoad Island in New England.

Title continues: "Able Mitchener Commander. Kept by William Pell, 1750." Log book. The ship made land at Block Island on 29 November 1750. On the verso of the first leaf of the log is the draft of a letter from Pell to James Gray of London in which he reports a pleasant voyage of twenty days from Rhode Island to London; this letter is dated 17 January 1750, but whether it is misdated or it refers to a previous voyage is unclear. Sewn.

GLC02139

January 31, 1790

Talbot, Silas, 1751-1813

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

A copy of Talbot's letter to Washington, which Talbot is now forwarding to Henry Knox (see GLC02437.04490). Applies to Washington to his "being again employed in some public service in case any should offer, in which I might be thought adequate to the performance of," and hopes in particular to obtain the position of Harbor Master of New York City, as "new arrangements will probably take place in some or all of the principal Harbours in the United States ... " Notes he can forward letters from General's [John] Sullivan and [Horatio] Gates attesting to his abilities and character. Noted as a…

GLC02437.04491

14 September 1790

Bowles, Ralph H., 1757-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bowles asks Secretary of War Knox for assistance in obtaining the post of collection officer for the port of Machias. Bowles does not want to bother President George Washington about this. Bowles lists his credentials as a former soldier and good citizen of Washington County.

GLC02437.04728

3 April 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that his son, William Gray Cobb, "thou by a wrong name" has accepted a military commission offered to him by President George Washington. Says he hopes to build a canal and believes that it may interest Knox as well. Asks Knox to send an engineer to survey the county for the project. They are competing with other canal companies in New England. Says, "what makes it a matter of greater consequence at this time, is, that the Company at Hartford have now, on the Files of our Genl Assembly, an Act, to empower them to clear the Falls on Connecticut River within the Commonwealth, which…

GLC02437.04897

16 September 1789

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that their friend Mr. [Nathaniel] Barrett, the bearer of the letter, is applying to the President for the position in the Consulate of France. Relates that Mr. Barrett lived in France as a merchant and would be well-suited for the position. Hopes that if Knox agrees that Mr. Barrett is a good match for the position, he will second the nomination.

GLC02437.04359

15 March 1790

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Parker

Discusses in detail his financial business related to the Empress of China, the ship he took on his first trip to China. The owners refused to pay him and [Thomas] Randall. Says not only did the owners refuse to pay them upwards of $3000 but that they also instituted an account against them for $2300. The account was appropriated by Parker from the owners' funds committed to Shaw and Randall. Another $884 was also charged which he and Randall paid to Captain Green. The owners are now suing Shaw and Randall for the remaining balance that was not charged to their account. Discusses the…

GLC02437.04571

19 July 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Burnet

Relates that Catharine Greene, widow of Nathanael Greene, has a petition before Congress requesting an indemnification against debts incurred by Greene during the Revolutionary War. During the war, Nathanael Greene had made a contract with merchant John Banks to supply clothing and provisions for the Southern Army, and Knox seeks to prove Greene was not a business partner with Banks. Says that some have alleged Burnett had evidence of Greene's partnership with Banks, through the papers of his son Ichabod Burnet, who had been Greene's aide during the war. Asks whether he had such evidence, and…

GLC02437.04657

12 September 1790

Breck, Samuel, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Breck is pleased with people Secretary of War Knox introduced to him (perhaps the two men Knox introduced to Breck in GLC02437.04722). Informs Knox that they "express themselves much satisfied with our part of America." For Breck this is important "as it tends to cultivate a good understanding between the Citizens of each State and to cement that Union so necessary to the Happiness of our Country." Breck talks about the government paying for the manufacturing of cutters, and wishes the Secretary of the Treasury to know about the new sail cloth manufacturer in Boston. The purpose is the "…

GLC02437.04727

19 December 1790

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb tells Secretary of War Knox that he has brought up the idea of a canal between the Charles River and the Connecticut River to several people since Knox left Boston, and the idea is growing. There needs to be a more concrete plan in order to attract investors. The "gentlemen" with whom Cobb has discussed this "are much divided in their opinions where the Canal ought to meet [the] Connecticut River." Cobb goes on to detail various plans for the canal. Cobb is convinced that this canal would be good for "the Commonwealth." Cobb says "we are still in the clouds respecting a War," and that…

GLC02437.04800

10 July 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb, a member of the Massachusetts legislature, writes that Knox may have seen "that small son of mine, whom you have kindly honor'd with a Commission." Says he has "an affection" for the "Lad" and that "the Females of my Family will never forgive you or me, if he is unfortunate." Mentions he has frequently discussed the prospects of a canal from the Connecticut River to Boston. Explains that the general consensus seems to be that the canal should be cut from Miller's River instead of the Chickibee. Says that Miller's River is above some of the waterfalls "that at present prevent the…

GLC02437.05057

28 November 1791

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document

Title: [Bond from Shaw and Randall]

Docket identifies document as a copy. Date added later in pencil. Shaw, on behalf of himself and Thomas Randall, his business partner, declares that their firm is bound to George Bell's firm in Ostend, Flanders (he spells it "Ostende;" in present-day Belgium) for a particular sum of money. Outlines the terms of the financial transaction, which apparently involves the sale by Bell of Shaw's merchandise, including an assortment of teas. Signature witnessed by Joseph Bell and George Irving.

GLC02437.05247

28 November 1791

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document

Title: [Agreement between Shaw and Randall, and George Bell & Company]

Docket identifies document as a copy. Date, title and location added in a different hand. Agreement outlines a business transaction between the firm of [Samuel] Shaw and [Thomas] Randall, and George Bell & Company of Ostend, Flanders (he spells it "Ostende;" present-day Belgium). Bell's firm will apparently sell teas and other merchandise of Shaw and Randall's. Signatures of Shaw and Bell witnessed by Joseph Bell and George Irving. See GLC02437.05248 for further information.

GLC02437.05248

20 November 1791

Bell, George, fl. 1791-1795

Manuscript document

Title: [Memorandum of monies disbursed to Samuel Shaw by George Bell]

Ledger page outlines financial transactions between Samuel Shaw and George Bell (see GLC02437.05247 and GLC02437.05248 for related information).

GLC02437.05249

3 December 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimate for a canal built between Barnstable and Buzzard's Bay]

Includes measurements and expenses for the construction of a canal between Barnstable Bay and Buzzard's Bay constructed by surveyor John Hills.

GLC02437.05252

17 December 1791

Bell, George, fl. 1791-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Memorandum apparently addressed to S[amuel] Shaw. Discusses financial transactions, particularly sales and interest on merchandise (alludes to merchandise being sold by Bell on Shaw's behalf; see GLC02437.05247, GLC02437.05248 and GLC02437.05249 for more information.)

GLC02437.05260

January 14, 1791

Bell, George, fl. 1791-1795

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Marked "true copy." Writes that per their discussions and correspondence regarding Shaw's trip to China, he agrees to receive "what Consignments you may be pleased to put under my care." Provides the details of the arrangement, including the value of the items.

GLC02437.05291