November 14, 1802

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Institut National de France

Jefferson sends his thanks for becoming the first American member of the Institute. The letter is addressed to "Citizens, President and Secretaries."

GLC01533

November 22, 1801

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

A long letter, in which Lafayette discusses revolutionary France, his personal affairs and associations, and the light his personal correspondence with George Washington will cast on the memoirs of General Washington being written by Bushrod Washington. On revolutionary France and the war being waged by Napoleon, he writes: "I am among the few who persist to profess that the Liberal seeds which among so much weed have been sown upon European[,] and particularly upon French, ground cannot and shall not be ultimately lost." He discusses personal relationships with Lord Cornwallis and Napoleon.…

GLC01562

June 2, 1785

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Marked "Duplicate" by Adams, and possibly used for en-cyphering because of the marks and lines above letters, words and sentences. Describes in great detail Adams's reception by King George III as America's first ambassador to Great Britain. He quotes his speech to the king, and the king's response. He also describes an awkward moment when the king tactlessly remarked "There is an opinion, among some People, that you are not the most attracted of all your Countrymen, to the manners of France." Adams writes "I was a little embarassed, but determined not to deny the Truth on one hand, nor leave…

GLC01538

January 25, 1765

Winthrop, John, 1714-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Belcher

Winthrop congratulates Judge Belcher on recovering "from a dangerous illness." He notes having read that many French Acadians have been removed from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the West Indies, and observes that because of their religion, they "could hardly ever have been good Subjects to a Protestant government." Indicates that the Sugar Act and the Currency Act, referred to as "The late Acts of Trade," are widely discussed and cause much uneasiness among merchants and judges alike. He notes the death of Edward Wigglesworth, the first Hollis professor of Divinity at Harvard College. Discusses…

GLC01541.01

February 13, 1745

Pepperrell, William, 1696-1759

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Wendell

Pepperrell writes to Colonel Wendell first of his poor health, then discusses his hopes that the siege of Louisbourg will end by the spring.

GLC01541.02

September 4, 1829

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andre Paccard

Discusses being prevented by family and political obligations from visiting Chalons-sur-Saone, and mentions liberty. Paccard represented the citizens of Chalons-sur-Saone.

GLC01563

8 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Marie, comte de Aboville

Responds to Aboville's last letter (see GLC02437.01350). Discusses the loss of cannon: "Your surprize and astonishment must have been great indeed that Machines so important and essential to the defence of a country would be placed in so negligent a manner as to be destroyed or rendered unserviceable by a single malignant person. But you judged right my dear Sir when you informed [his Excellency] Genl Rochambeau that I had no knowledge of them." Comments on the acquisition of military stores by the state of Virginia, and declares that General Washington will begin to negotiate with Virginia…

GLC02437.01365

10 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to a letter he received from Colonel Francois Marie, comte de Aboville (see GLC02437.01365), who commands French artillery in Virginia. Aboville mentions 14 artillery cannon belonging to the State of Virginia which do not have carriages or ammunition and are in poor repair. Argues that these cannons would not be useful to Virginia, since they could not repair or equip them, but that the United States forces are in dire need of cannon for an artillery battery and could make them serviceable. Encourages General Washington to pursue a trade with the State of Virginia and give them…

GLC02437.01369

10 February 1782

Aboville, Francois Marie, comte de, 1730-1817

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Discusses abandoned cannon in Virginia. Writes at the urging of the Comte de Rochambeau, who is sure Knox was unaware of them. (See GLC02437.01365, Knox's response, written in English.)

GLC02437.01350

9 March 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francois Jean, marquis de Chastellux

Writes that it would ill suit "the gratitude of my heart were I to omit writing a line to you by so good an opportunity as his Excellency the Minister of France." Hopes that he is happy with how the campaigns are proceeding and hopes the next campaign will be the last one. Wishes they might see each other in the next campaign, and sends his regards to General Rochambeau.

GLC02437.01366

5 June 1782

Waters, Joseph, fl. 1782

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate given by the commitee in the case of Colonel Ezra Bedlam]

Certificate issued by the committee put together by Boston on the procurement of its quota for recruits for the Continental Army. Says that Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Bedlam, in the office of the muster master, discharged his duties faithfully. States he only tried to recruit men who would serve the public and complete the duties of their enlistment. Provides an example of him not allowing Frenchmen to join the army, except for a few who were examined closely to make sure they had no other obligations. The committee said they were most interested in the enlistments of Peter Godfrey and John…

GLC02437.01441

16 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Discusses the difficulty of a building project on Constitution Island, possibly an ordnance magazine and barracks. Encloses a "representation" from Major Chevalier de Villefranche, involved in the construction project. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.10045

7 December 1782

Billings, Andrew, 1743-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is honored to report that the two cannons entrusted to him will be ready for delivery by next Wednesday. Will soon be going away for some weeks and wishes he could be present to see them sent off, but hopes they will meet with Knox's approval. Explains that the quality of the engraving is not as high as he might be able to accomplish on copper because of the hardness of the cannon's metal. Describes how best to clean and maintain them: "if they are kept covered and once in a month washed with a clean brush and hot soap suds wrensed off with hot watter they will preserve the pollish."…

GLC02437.01733

16 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate for Andrew Billings Esq. for engravings for two pieces of cannon]

Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "This is to certify that, in consequence of orders from His Excellency the Commander in Chief, Andrew Billings Esq. has engraved certain devices upon two pieces of cannon ordered by Congress to be presented to the Count De Rochambeau, and that for the said service he charges forty guineas, or the value thereof, to the United States, which as far as I am competent to judge is just and reasonable - and that I have received the said cannon." See GLC02437.01733 for a related document.

GLC02437.01746

24 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Asks Billings to engrave inscriptions on certain cannon as directed by Congress to be presented to the Count de Rochambeau. "As this is a matter in which the Reputation for Arts in the United States is in some degree concerned," instructs Billings to make the engravings as perfect as possible. Suggests Billings engrave the emblems of Justice and Liberty on some cannons, and representations of naval combat on others. Also suggests engraving "a bald head eagle the lately adopted Arms of the United States."

GLC02437.10046

14 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Billings

Discusses cannon Major Billings recently engraved. Remarks that he has received news that Billings did a good job engraving the cannons. Gives Billings instructions regarding delivery and billing of the cannon.

GLC02437.10068

8 January 1783

Chastellux, François Jean, marquis de, 1734-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bids a warm adieu to Knox, as Count Rochambeau is ready to sail.

GLC02437.01813

1 November 1781

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General Kingsley

Communicates orders from General George Washington to expeditiously load all the stores that are being transported to Head Of Elk, Maryland onto vessels. Anything that cannot fit should be loaded onto French ships. The ordnance being transported had been used in the siege of Yorktown. Probably intended for Henry Knox. Docket written in Henry Knox's hand. Cobb was an aide-de-camp to Washington.

GLC02437.01279

September 1781

Manuscript document

Title: A list of the Vessels appropriated to the American Army, loaded with Ordnance & Stores.

Enumerates military stores for use in the siege of Yorktown embarked on sixty-four ships at Head of Elk, Maryland. The names of the ships and captains are recorded. - Pages 1-3 list 64 ships, enumerating type (sloop, schooner, etc.), name, captain and tonnage. (The captain of the schooner "Dolphin" is listed as "James. Negro.") Page 4 (entirely in Shaw's hand) lists quantities of ball and shell. (An annotation indicates a quantity of ball "unloaded to give the French the vessel and put on board the others...." Another indicates that a quantity of shell was on a vessel that was "cast…

GLC02437.01202

2 October 1781

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Assures Knox that he will not publish his correspondence and asks him to write often about the operation in Virginia. Reports that the British "suffered much more severely in the Action off Cape Henry than you seem to have expected," referring to the Second Battle of the Virginia Capes. Mentions the actions of several naval vessels. Reports that British troops have landed on Staten Island and impressed many wagons. There are rumors of the British coming to burn Philadelphia and the militia is preparing. The remainder of the Pennsylvania line is in Philadelphia and plans to march 600 men…

GLC02437.01205

15 October 1781

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph document signed

Title: Report of the Stores expended in the Grand Battery, Oct. 15. 1781 under the Command of Capt. Stevens.

Lists quantities of stores used and on hand at the Grand Battery and Redoubt under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Stevens, at the Left Battery under the command of Captain Lt. Thompson and by 10" mortars commanded by Capt. Gvion, during the siege of Yorktown. A note at the end by Carrington cites the taking of the British forces' left and right redoubts by Lafayette and French forces.

GLC02437.01228

October 1781

Manuscript document

Title: [Quotations from the Marquis de Chastellux about Henry Knox]

Later copy. Paraphrases quotations by the Marquis de Chastellux that praise the activities of Knox and the artillery in aiding the siege of Yorktown. Chastellux was one of three major French generals sent with General Rochambeau to assist in the Battle of Yorktown.

GLC02437.01275

22 March 1783

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Written in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Washington's Secretary. Marked as a copy of a letter from Secretary of Foreign Affairs Livingston to General Washington. Docket in Knox's hand. Sends "the agreeable Intelligence of Peace, upon which I most sincerely congratulate you and the Army - Harmony, a Regard for Justice, & Fidelity to our Engagements, are all that now remains to render us a happy people." Says the vessel with the news was sent by Comte d'Estaing, who was recalling French cruisers from America waters. Says this news should be immediately sent to British commander Sir…

GLC02437.02018

23 March 1783

Parker, Daniel, 1782-1846

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

In the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Washington's Secretary. Copy of a letter from Daniel Parker to George Washington. Informs General Washington that a general peace was signed on 20 January. Says a ship from Cadiz arrived with the news. Congratulates Washington on the event. Docket in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.02020

circa June 19, 1783

Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-?

Manuscript document

Title: [Constitution of the Society of Cincinnati]

Knox's copy of the Constitution of the Society of the Cincinnati. Knox has docketed on the first page saying "Cincinnati Constitution of &c." This document consists of the minutes of the 10 May 1783 meeting regarding proposals to establish the Society of the Cincinnati (p.1), minutes of the meeting of 13 May 1783, during which the constitution was accepted (p.1), the constitution (titled "The Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati) (pp. 2-9) which is clerically signed for Baron von Steuben, and the minutes of the 19 June 1783 meeting. Also includes a transcript of a 3 June 1783…

GLC02437.02122