18 May 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Winthrop Sargent

This is the letterpress original that was used to make the copy of GLC02437.05892. Refer to that record for a full catalog entry. Fragile with areas of text loss.

GLC02437.05894

January 22, 1799

Elliott, Simon, 1762-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Elliot says that he is compelled to "abandon all Idea of accepting my late appointment." Elliot cannot find anyone to take over his business, so it would be "highly imprudent." Elliot says that "nothing could warrant it but the actual Invasion of the Country, - or the certainty of a speedy and active War."

GLC02437.07226

1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Comte Jean Baptiste D'Estaing

Discusses the Society of the Cincinnati and asks about the French Royal Navy. Date previously inferred, written in pencil. Noted as a copy in the docket and is missing half of the docket sheet.

GLC02437.09972

November 20, 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his distress concerning the worsening situation of the Maine Eastern Lands. Feels pressure to meet the demands of everyone, especially Madame de Leval and Jean-Baptiste de la Roche. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05708

18 June 1780

Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses General Washington's need for reinforcements in case British general Henry Clinton returns to New York before the arrival of the French fleet. Under these circumstances, Reed believes that Washington would be pushed to the Delaware River or beyond. Mentions the creation of a subscription bank for the supply of the army and the need to recruit more troops.

GLC05547

1 June 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses their correspondence and friendship, affirming that he feels "the same sublime disinterested friendship for you that has existed in both our bosoms for so long." Also discusses the possible appointment of the French general Charles Tronson du Coudray as commander of artillery, and asserts "no other person shall Supersede me the instant the Congress Confirms his appointment I shall leave the Service." Notes that other officers were making the same threats.

GLC05543

9 December 1758

Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778

Letter signed

Title: to Stephen Hopkins

Addressed to Governor Hopkins "& Compy of Rhode Island." Relays requests and information on a planned invasion of Canada during the French and Indian War. Describes the rationale for the invasion to carry "War into the heart of the enemy's possessions" and orders that troops be raised. Specifies that the troops should rendezvous at Albany, New York, and be prepared to begin the invasion by 1 May 1759. Outlines the general plans for the invasion. Grants authority to issue commissions and indicates that the King will provide arms and supplies, but the Provinces must supply "…

GLC05562

1776

Book

Title: Journal of... Congress...1775 [with 4 other works on British view of Revolution]

London printing of the journals of Congress, bound with four more political works on the Revolution. Pagination: 200, 8, 256, 143, 71, 2 pp. (1) Journal of the proceedings of the Congress held at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775. Published by order of the Congress. Philadelphia, Printed; London: Re-printed for J. Almon..., 1776. [2], 200 pp. plus 8pp. ads. Lacks half-title. Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, leather label. Armorial bookplate. This journal records the transactions of Congress for the period from May 10 to August 1, 1775. Includes draft of the address of the Congress to…

GLC05704

1755

Le Rouge, George L., fl. 1755

Map

Title: Canada et Louisiane [double page engraving with handcoloring]

Drawn by George Le Rouge, Engineer to the King. With hand-colored outlines. Double-page engraving showing the east coast of North America from New Foundland to Florida, with insets of Niagara Falls (small), New Orleans (medium) and upper Louisiana (large). The border of the English colonies clearly runs along the Alleghenies. Forts are also indicated, including Washington's Fort Necessity.

GLC05714

17 August 1799

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Dayton

References Dayton's letter of 16 August 1799. Writes to tell Dayton, Senator from New Jersey, that he should tell his brother that the three regiments being raised in New Jersey for the Provisional Army during the Quasi War with France might not quarter there. Dayton's brother wanted a contract to provide rations for the three regiments in the year 1800, but McHenry fears he based his contract on the fact the three regiments would remain in New Jersey. Says the regiments might actually quarter in Carlisle, Pennsylvania if the barracks prove feasible. McHenry awaits final word from General…

GLC05229

29 May 1800

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Letter signed

Title: [Report on Department of War to the successor of James McHenry]

Written shortly after McHenry's resignation as Secretary of War on 13 May 1800. McHenry wrote this report to his successor. He offered his resignation to President John Adams after an angry Adams accused him of working behind the scenes with Alexander Hamilton. Adams eventually selected Massachusetts Senator Samuel Dexter to the post. Report details instructions for the Provisional Army, created in the face of French aggression in 1798. McHenry, attempting to facilitate a smooth transition, touches upon many subjects important to the War Department. These include: logistics of clothing and…

GLC05230

15 December 1855

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas H. Seymour

Ambassador to Great Britain Buchanan reports on the Crimean War. Comments on the Diana, Russian Admiral Putiatin's ship, which was wrecked "on the Japanese seas." Promises to relay any information concerning W. Kavalesky. Has not heard anything from Lord Wodehouse. Currently awaiting the Czar's answer to the peace terms offered by Austria and presumably accepted by France and England. Comments that the British "seem determined, if possible, to regain the prestige which they have lost in the last two campaigns," and were expanding their navy in anticipation of a third campaign.

GLC05461

21 April 1798

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Describes his journey from Paris to Bordeaux, where he waits to return to America. Writes with a vein of humor. Mentions that two wheels broke on the journey, but says such a fact does not need to be communicated to the Secretary of State, so the broken wheels can be saved a circuit around the United States. Will take the ship "Alexander Hamilton" home and says it "a very excellent vessel but for the sin of the name which makes my return in her almost as criminal as if I had taken England in my way." Hopes to make "an eternal adieu to Europe" as well as its crimes. Wishes for better health…

GLC05632

December 1, 1798

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

References Bourne's letter of 23 November 1798. Writes to Bourne, American Consul in Amsterdam. Says he does not have any recent information from America. Says stories on the yellow fever in the American newspapers are distressing, but otherwise the news is good. Says Congress adjourned on 1 December 1798, but he does not know what Elbridge Gerry told them after he returned from France after the XYZ affair in October 1798. Believes that no matter what Gerry said, it will not change American-French relations. Says "As long as they continue to treat neutrals much worse than their Enemies, it…

GLC05656

12 May 1798

Cabot, George, 1752-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Cabot, former United States Senator, informs Williams that he "must decline the Secretaryship of the Navy; to this determination I was ultimately brought by a full conviction that I cou'd not go through the labor of an office so difficult ... in estimating the forces that cou'd be employed to overcome the obstacles in a path hitherto untrod in this country I assure you that my mind constantly resorted to you as the principle, & if I cou'd have been induced to take upon myself so weighty an engagement I shou'd have relied greatly upon your assistance in every part of the performance of it…

GLC05588.01

8 July 1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Marshall

Marked private. President Washington offers the Ministry of France to Marshall. Says it was necessary to recall Monroe, the current minister. Hopes he will accept the offer as soon as possible. Post script says he wants Marshall to see him when he goes to Philadelphia for the session of the Supreme Court. Ultimately, Marshall declined the offer. Washington was angry at Monroe's inability to control French rage over the Jay Treaty of 1795.

GLC05288

16 December 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

States he is stuck on the Susquehanna River because of low tide and bad winds. Takes the opportunity to discuss administration of the Provisional Army. Says War Department should only communicate with a concentrated military leadership, or else it will get bogged down in details. Says he is not the best person to contact about day to day military affairs because he will not personally lead the army unless an actual military engagement seems likely. He wants McHenry to communicate with General Thomas Pinckney, the commander in the south and with General Alexander Hamilton in the north. General…

GLC05319

circa May 1, 1805

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [in French]

Letter possibly written to Armand Duplantier on May 1, 1805. No date indicated on document. Lafayette discusses lands he was granted in the Louisiana territory and the building of a brick factory. In reference to the factory, he mentions thirty enslaved individuals. The letter is a fragment.

GLC05315

14 August 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Daniel Brodhead

General Washington discusses Colonel Bowman's apprehension regarding British progress with General Brodhead, stationed at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. States "what men can be spared from the Garrison of the upper Country- St. Johns- Montreal and Quebec are now acting in conjunction with the Indians upon the Mowhawk River, where they have lately done considerable mischief." Discusses the strain on supplies, stating "you will be very happy if you can adopt any expedient to supply yourself without depending wholly upon the Commissary in a regular way." Mentions the praiseworthy conduct of…

GLC07702

April 1759

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Teamsters agreement for a military expedition up the St. River Lawrence]

Written by Hancock while working for his uncle's mercantile company during the French and Indian War. Makes an agreement for provisioning the troops for the Battle of Quebec. Records a contract between "teamster, on the one part, & Thomas Hancock of Boston Esq. who is Impowered to agree with them by His Excellency Major General Amherst Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America." The teamsters agreed to join Major General James Wolfe, who was planning to follow a route up the St. Lawrence river to attack Quebec, as drivers. Contains details on pay and provisions…

GLC07697

1808

Broadside

Title: 5000 American Seamen detained on board British vessels!

Alerts citizens to British impressment, American prisoners in France, "Algerine Piracy and Barbarity," and the relocation of American families to Canada, and blames it all on the Embargo Act of 1807. Urges "a hearty vote for the ANTI-EMBARGO and FEDERAL REPUBLICAN TICKET" in the election of 1808.

GLC07703

1789

Blois, A.J.E.R. de, fl. 1789

Autograph manuscript

Title: Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d'Amerique [in French]

French primer on American Democracy by member of Society of the Cincinnati, including discussion of U.S. and State Constitutions. Includes ALS (04/14/1808) addressed to Monsieur Le Prefet [in French], and an MDS (07/15/1825) detailing de Blois's military and civil service [4 p.].

GLC07688.01

12 May 1800

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

During the Quasi war with France, Major General Hamilton writes to the Superintendent of Military Stores Hodgdon, in anticipation of greater hostilities. Requests a supply of marquees and tents, as he plans to set out for camp at Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

GLC07539

1802-1822 ca.

Pinkney, William, 1764-1822

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Personal notebook re: various legal questions, case issues and diplomacy

Two items: notebook 252 p. oblong quarter in leather, discusses transaction of Louisiana and Florida, the Pinkney Family crest, and numerous legal cases; paperbound record book 20 p. Formerly the property of J.A. Soiecki, record book containing a biography of William Pinkney, ca. 1868.

GLC07602

1804

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson re: congratulations on Louisiana Purchase

GLC07560.02