12 October 1782

Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Head Quarters" by Colonel Tilghman to Major General Knox. Says Knox's "letters" came to hand last evening. Says Washington has gone down to the river and that he cannot answer him until tomorrow. Reports that "Vessels have arrived in short passages from Holland to Boston - letters down to the 20th of Augt. say that the French, Dutch and English Fleets had returned safe and sound into port." Says the British have not determined whether to relieve Gibraltar or not. Claims "it was in danger and must fall without Speedy relief." Reports that British affairs in the East Indies are…

GLC02437.01659

25 May 1783

Trumbull, Jonathan, Jr., 1740-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jonathan Trumbull Jr., Washington's secretary, requests Knox to have the [gun] carriages completed in order to be sent with Count Rochambeau to France.

GLC02437.02133

15 June 1798

Trumbull, John, 1756-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

John Trumbull, the noted painter and former secretary to Washington, writes in detail, to Knox about new developments in artillery that might prove helpful in the impending war against France. Noted as written at 72 Welbeck Street in London, England.

GLC02437.07148

25 June 1792

Tousard, Louis de, 1749-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tousard signs in text. Sends Knox a picture of the late Colonel Duplessis (not present) which had been commissioned by the Spanish ambassador to France, le Comte de Fernand Nuñez. Writes, "I hope that the picture of an unfortunate and brave gentleman will be favourably accepted by General Knox, as he professed for him the highest esteem and gratefulness."

GLC02437.05516

February 17, 1788

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan relates the details of his passage to France. He had planned to avoid conversing with people from Boston, but ran into people he knew aboard ship. Received introductions from French nobility during his passage. Asks for news related to the United States Constitution. Discusses his debt, stating his interest in obtaining a consular position to an unspecified location in Europe. Notes that the merchants' wives are the most extravagant in their spending, while the higher order are "very prudent & oeconomical, tho' showy." Discusses letters of introduction, mentioning two previous…

GLC02437.03801

27 December 1790

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan has enclosed a plan "advantageous" to both the U.S. and France and wishes Knox to exert his influence over President George Washington and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to agree to it. Swan also sends "the bankers' letter to me, the Commission or agency in which, I sacredly engage to pay to you." In a postscript dated 30 December Swan asks Knox, "pray sound Mr. Jefferson on this, or get some one to do it. I am affraid of him, merely because Mr. Short may have misled him."

GLC02437.04810

25 November 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Silas Talbot

Discusses the circumstances of Talbot's sons who are now in France. States they have been well received by the intendant of Normandy and that Count Montmorin, acting as Minister of Marine since the resignation of the Marquis de Castries, has placed them in the volunteers of the 3rd class in the royal navy. Also discusses their various expenses for room and board. Mentions a statement given by Monsieur La Forest and relays that he wants an answer concerning the reimbursement of funds. States, "It was also hinted by Mr. La Forest that it would be beneficial were you to obtain letters from Mr. […

GLC02437.03714

20 December 1787

Talbot, Silas, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for the information from Monsieur La Forest about his sons, who were in France for their education (see GLC02437.03714 for a related letter). Laments that he did not meet up with La Forest when he was in New York and discusses paying the bills for his sons board and education in France. Asks Knox to help him get the money to the Intendant of Normandy, who has advanced the sums needed to accommodate Talbot's sons.

GLC02437.03731

January 19, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Knox transmits a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette delivered to Knox by the Count de [Moustier], a French Minister. He informs Sullivan, Governor of New Hampshire, that Lafayette wrote the letter "on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress." Discusses ratification of the Constitution: "The fact however is that the present system called the confederation has run down... something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests..." Notes that if Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject the Constitution…

GLC02437.03765

January 28, 1788

Tillier, Rudoph, fl. 1788-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Henry Knox]

Tillier introduces Knox to Mr. Tardiveau, possibly Barthelemi Tardiveau, the author of a memorial Tillier had previously given to Knox. Identified as a copy in the docket.

GLC02437.03776

March 29, 1788

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan refers to his attempts to meet with merchants and manufacturers in France. He writes, "The reason why the French in this Quarter, have not been able to sell their manufrs. as low as the English, I saw in a moment,- there is not that invention & care used as in Great Britain, to save labour- People being plenty they continue to employ them, because they have done it for a long time." Discusses the replacement of human labor with machines in French manufacturing. Notes that the Marquis de Lafayette has offered to write Swan letters of introduction. He hopes his memorial on French and…

GLC02437.03830

January 23, 1791

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that "the Count Montmorin, Minister for foreign affairs here, has written Mr. Otto, chargé des affaires auprès le Congrès, to use his influence with the President that the proposals of Schweizer Jeanneret & Co. should be accepted." Discusses plans for America to borrow money from Frenchmen. Notes that plans can now go forward if the terms are as favorable as borrowing from Holland. Continues discussing financial matters related to the Committe of Finance and Schweizer Jeanneret & Co.

GLC02437.04836

27 May 1791

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan says he wrote Knox letters on 27 December 1790 and 23 and 27 January 1791. Mentions new ministers from France arriving in America. Their primary goal is to address the U.S. debt to France. Discusses how they could find 40 million dollars to pay the debt. Claims "The circumstances of the finances of france, render this matter nearer at heart, than when first proposed. The deficiency in the Revenue with the expence, was not then known: it is now severely felt." Says if there ever was a moment the U.S. could help France, this is it. Claims borrowing from Amsterdam is not cheap at the…

GLC02437.04960

4 June 1791

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Hoped to already have an answer to a letter he wrote back in December. Says the subject of that letter has taken another turn and he will write in a few days about it. Encloses letters that he hopes Knox will forward to Boston.

GLC02437.04974

December 21, 1793

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he wouldn't normally bother Knox, but needs to update him on the situation because of the "cruel war" in Europe. Sends the latest news on 13 sailors captured by the "Algereen pirates." Swan expresses anger that the pirates are allowed to harass American shipping with tacit English approval. Goes on to say that "England by that treaty [of peace with Portugal] will prevent france geting [sic] supplies from america, she punishes us for adhering to the Treaty [from 1778], and for reorganizing their Republic." Believes three things can punish England and get the pirates to back off American…

GLC02437.06002

10 September 1804

Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

No addressee is listed, but based on previous letters, may be written to Lucy Flucker Knox Thatcher, daughter of Henry and Lucy Knox. Writes a lengthy letter about her life in Paris. Talks about the luxuries of the city, as well as the wealth disparities between the rich and poor. Discusses her difficult voyage to Paris, and her stop in Holland. Compares Paris to Holland. Asks about her wedding, and whether it has happened yet (Lucy Knox married Ebenezer Thatcher in January, 1804).

GLC02437.07877

26 July 1782

Smith, Paschal Nelson, ?-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Smith, who seems to be a merchant in Boston, to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 10 July (which was an answer to Smith's letter at GLC02437.01468). Thanks him for the trouble he took in looking for his "Servant Boy" Prince. From late information, Smith believes he is not with the army, but "is lurking about at Salem, or some where in this neighbourhood, you will therefore please to take no further trouble about him, only if you hear anything of his being in the Army from the measures you have taken you will please to advise me of it, & I will take the necessary…

GLC02437.01505

January 10, 1782

Smith, Paschal Nelson, ?-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his last letter, and adds the congratulations of himself and Mrs. Smith, as well as of Mr. and Mrs. Sears, on the birth of Knox's son. Comments that they are "very happy to hear Mrs. Knox & the young Stranger were so well." Discusses the loss of Captain Magee's and Captain Grinnell's brigs: "I could have forgiven dame Fortune for my part, if she had stop'd there, but She has been illnatured enough to persue Mr. Sears & me for the last twelve months, almost without intermission, with Losses & disappointments, if she does not soon relent, we shall be left without…

GLC02437.01329

1 September 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Stevens

Instructs on facilitating movement on the Washington-Rochambeau route southward toward Yorktown. Stevens is to head toward Christiana Bridge with Colonel John Lamb's regiment, and then on to Head of Elk. Stevens was commanding officer of an artillery regiment in the Continental Army.

GLC02437.01164

7 June 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum of conversation with Edmond-Charles Genêt]

Initialled by Knox. Reports on a conversation with French Minister Genet. Mentions news about Guadalupe and Martinique. Says Admiral Gardener made an appearance there and was told that the defenders were in need of muskets, cannon, and ammunition. Notes that if the U.S. would provide the items, the amount would be deducted from the debt with France. Adds that Genet said "the US could not but be sensible that france had the right to demand our guarantee of those islands," because of the connections those islands have with American commerce. Told Genet that their own arsenals were deficient and…

GLC02437.05897

January 26, 1793

Genêt, Edmond Charles Édouard, 1763-1834

Manuscript note

Title: [Note]

Thanks Henry Knox for his attentions and informs him that "he will with the greatest pleasure stand Sponsor to [his] Son and attend the Ceremony to morrow [sic] Evening." Noted as written by the Minister of France, who at this time is most likely Edmond Charles Édouard Genêt, more commonly known as Citizen Genêt.

GLC02437.09953

06 March 1782

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Jean B. Gouvion

Lafayette informs Lt. Col. Gouvion that, despite his success, he will not be promoted within the French Army. [In French]

GLC08016.02

23 June 1797

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Subscription]

Discusses subscriptions regarding the de Grasse family, specifically the daughters.

GLC02437.06991

17 May 1795

Pillet, René, fl. 1795

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt]

Bill of attendance for René Pillet, a French teacher, and includes fees for his services.

GLC02437.08689

13 June 1787

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Jean B. Gouvion

An expedition to Egypt. [In French]

GLC08016.03