September 22, 1779

Groves, William, fl. 1769-1779

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Groves reports the capture of the British schooner Revenge. The schooner, formerly commanded by Hugh Gorden, is expected to arrive at Beverly Port.

GLC01412.57

24 April 1758

Reading, John, fl. 1758

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Alexander Anderson as lieutenant of foot]

Countersigned by Secretary Charles [illegible]. Assigns Anderson to the New Jersey Regiment under Captain John [illegible]. Partially printed document. Signed as President of the Council (governor) and "Commander in Chief of the Province of Nova-Caesarea or New-Jersey, and Territories." Reading was twice President of the Council.

GLC01412.64.15

23 August 1711

Argyll, John Campbell, Duke of, 1680-1743

Document signed

Title: [Commission of James Des Pieres as lieutenant of foot for a regiment commanded by William Stanhope]

Countersigned by R. Arnold, authorized by the Secretary at War. Argyll's seal is completely worn off, and docket (on verso) is faded. Campbell signs as General and Commander in Chief of British forces in Spain.

GLC01412.66

13 August 1668

Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685

Document signed

Title: [Commission of George Lord Livingston]

Possibly created by Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale and Secretary of State for Scotland under King Charles II. Signed "Lauderdaill." Appoints Livingston to be "captaine of that Company In Our Regiment of foote whereof the Earle of LinLithgow is Colonell... You are therefore carefully & diligently to discharge the duety of a Captaine, By exercising the said Company, in Armes, both Officers & Soldiers, And to keepe them in good order and Discipline... Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 13 of August 1668 of his majties reign the 20th year..." Contains a damaged royal seal.

GLC01412.67

December 8, 1941

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, 1901-1989

Document

Title: Declaration of War against the United States and Britain [in Japanese]

Imperial rescript of the Declaration of War declared on the United States and Great Britain on the Japanese date 16th year of Showa, 12th month. " ... we, the emperor, have now declared war upon the United States of America and Great Britain. The officers and men of our army and navy will concentrate their strength in engaging in battles, the members of our government will endeavor to carry out their assigned duties, our subjects throughout the empire will employ full strength to perform their respective tasks. Thus uniting one hundred million hearts and discharging the fullest strength of…

GLC01415

May 11, 1776

Lee, Charles, 1732-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Edmund Pendleton

Letter discusses the differences in pay for Continental and state soldiers. Comments on the activities of "Mr. Agnew who was lately tryed by the Committee" and other Tories as they related to the British assault on Hog Island. Letter written to Pendleton as President of the Virginia Convention.

GLC01421

April 30, 1808

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Pinkney

Discusses congressional proceedings, foreign affairs, the Chesapeake affair, British and French aggression, and the Embargo Act of 1807. A portion of the letter has been written in code and is translated in another hand. Letter signed as Secretary of State. Pinkney was the U.S. Minister to Great Britain.

GLC01191

July 9, 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Barber

Letter addressed to Barber in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he was recovering from a wound received at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington instructs Barber to obtain intelligence on the British movements across the Hudson river in New York while in New Jersey. He informs that any expenses will be repaid. Washington expresses relief that Barber's wound is healing. He states that, "Tho I wish for your services, I would not have you to rejoin the Army before your condition will admit of it, with the most perfect safety." Text of the letter and the address are written in the hand of Washington'…

GLC01201

January 2, 1801

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Boylston Adams

Docketed on page 4. Written as President to his son about the Convention with France which averted war. Adams quotes from jurist Vattell and mentions Grotius and Pufendorf. Also, The Law of Nations (book by Emer de Vattell).

GLC01204

1835

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book signed

Title: Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier De Lafayette

Title page continues: "Delivered at the request of both Houses of the Congress of the United States, before them, in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 31st December, 1834." Published by Gales and Seaton. Signed by Adams and inscribed to Gayton P. Osgood. Cover is contemporary ribbed red morocco.

GLC01238

July 16, 1772

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Letter written by Adams, a future signer of the Declaration of Independence, as member of the Massachusetts legislature to Warren, also a member of the Massachusetts legislature. Says the session is over and the resolves, including one asking the King to rescind Governor Hutchinson's salary, have passed. Says he will send him a copy of the resolves if he promises not to publish them. Expresses his friendship with Warren, who he says was with him when the Tories cursed him at a commencement speech at Cambridge and at another occasion when "Confusion to me & my Adherents was given as a…

GLC01215

March 3, 1829

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Preble

Letter regarding Canadian border dispute.

GLC01217

February 12, 1783

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Armstrong writes to Searle, a fellow Pennsylvania politician, to relate personal news. He complains about political infighting and expresses his hopes for treaty negotiations in Europe and the possibility of peace. Address leaf separated.

GLC01221.01

1775

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies Of North America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms.

Secretly printed pamphlet co-authored with John Dickinson. 8vo. Signed in type by Hancock and Charles Thompson. Printed in Philidelphia. For the London printing see GLC00156.

GLC01240

June 15, 1841

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Aspinwall

Introduces George Bishop to Aspinwall, United States Consul to London. Recommends Bishop, claiming that he "has invented a mode of making cloth without spinning and weaving." Informs Aspinwall that while in London, Bishop will attempt to gain a patent for his invention. "Mr. George G. Bishop, a gentleman who has invented a mode of making cloth without spinning and weaving and recommended to me by several friends of highly respectable character, is going to London with a view to obtain a patent for his invention, and I beg leave to commend him to any kind of service which it may at your…

GLC01123

July 21, 1801

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to David Lenox

One letter addressed to David Lenox from James Madison (serving as Secretary of State at the time) dated July 21, 1801. Pertains to two seamen detained in British ships of war. The seamen are identified as Nathaniel Heard and David, a Black man enslaved by a merchant named Lowndes. Lowndes had written for special attention to be paid to the situation.

GLC01124

May 27, 1782

Hazen, Moses, 1733-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Hazen as commander of prisoners at Lancaster, Pennsylvania during the Huddy-Asgill Affair to Lincoln as Secretary of War. References letters of General Washington from May 4 and 18, 1782, which he received on May 25, 1782. Writes that lots were drawn and Captain Charles Asgill was chosen to be executed in retaliation for the hanging of Captain Joshua Huddy. Asgill was a seventeen-year old youth, "a most amiable character, an extensive fortune and great interest in the British Court and Army." Says the British officers are enraged at Sir Henry Clinton's conduct and that they want…

GLC01147

February 23, 1813

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Bigelow

Letter written aboard the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), Boston Harbor. Bainbridge expresses pleasure in hearing of a vote of appreciation for the Constitution's victory over the British frigate H.M.S. Java. "To merit and receive the appreciation of our Country is our highest ambition, and is the greatest stimulus we can receive in the exertion of our duty." Letter addressed to Bigelow as the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

GLC01125

circa 29 October 1843

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858

Document signed

Title: [General Order no. 8 regarding African Squadron vessels' procedure for obtaining supplies]

One letter written by Commodore Matthew Perry dated October 29, 1843. Contains orders that fresh provisions and medicaid aid must be approved by the commanding officers before given to members of the African Squadron. Signed on behalf of the Commanding U.S. Naval Officers on the West African Coast.

GLC01126

28 August 1789

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

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, and daily advertiser. [No. 3300 (August 28, 1789)]

Prints seventeen proposed amendments to the Constitution. Reports on activities in the House of Representatives and news from around the country and Europe. Contains many advertisements.

GLC01129

May 10, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter probably sent to John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State by President Monroe. Letter believed to be a precursor to the Monroe Doctrine. Said he had to withdraw the nomination of John B. Prevost, Aaron Burr's nephew, as Charge d'Affaires to Peru from the Senate. Monroe has heavily crossed out the words "Prevost" and "Peru" throughout the letter. Says he probably would have been rejected and that would have caused too much harm to Prevost's reputation. He wants Adams to write to Prevost and tell him everything that is being said about him. Recommends sending the letter by Caesar Augustus…

GLC01137

April 18, 1785

Gage, Thomas, 1718-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Simpson

Written by General Gage on the 10th anniversary of his orders which started the American Revolution to Simpson as a former Captain in the 44th Regiment of Foot. Gage is responding to a letter from Simpson. Says he remembers Peter Butler of the 44th Regiment well. Says he was sober and well behaved man and that the indiscretion that has brought distress to his old age must have come from ignorance. Says General Leslie is a friend to old soldiers and that he will offer to do something for Butler. Wishes to be remembered to Moneypenny. Says not many of their old friends are still alive. Mentions…

GLC01146

May 24, 1782

Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Letter signed in the text "A.Lee." The first page is an extract of proceedings. The second page is an autograph letter to Madison explaining the extract, which deals with the Virginia House of Burgesses' resolution rejecting a British peace offer. Docketed by Madison.

GLC01148

March 14, 1777

Sewall, Jonathan, 1728-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Foxcroft

Letter written by Sewall as a Loyalist refugee in London to his Revolutionary friend Foxcroft in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A very witty letter throughout. Predicts the downfall of the American experiment. Writes in a mocking tone about "your high & mighty committees, as I suppose will be the case in your free & independent State." In order to protect Foxcroft from charges that he is corresponding with a Tory he writes that he has not received a line from him since August 31, 1774, except one innocuous one having to do with gowns shortly thereafter. In an ironic tone he says he cannot…

GLC01149

October 14, 1776

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Robinson

Wayne writes just as the British are approaching Fort Ticonderoga for an attack. "I have just time to inform you that the Enemy are approaching - the shattered remains of our fleet arrived last night." Eleven of the sixteen ships were lost, as well as two hundred men. "The whole body of the Enemy are now within two hours march of us - and we expect to see them every moment." He promises that "the contest will be warn and bloody - they out number us - but if we are too die - we are enough - and if to conquer the few men the greater than of Honor." Says he is sending Robinson's brother away,…

GLC01154