1759/04/25

Ruggles, Timothy, 1711-1795

Autograph document signed

Title: Ordering troops to Lunenburg and Halifax

Ordering Col. Thomas to take troops to relieve the garrison at Lunenburg (N.S.) and then for the relieved officer to go to Halifax.

GLC05588.02

1811/09/30

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Cutts

Urges the Massachusetts congressman to visit Washington, D.C., discusses foreign policy and affairs regarding Britain and France. The War of 1812 began the following year.

GLC05348

June 1781

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Lafayette reports on his activities and strategy fighting Cornwallis in Virginia. Notes that he has avoided general actions and adds laconically that "His Lordship [Cornwallis] seems to have given up the Conquest of Virginia." Explains that the American forces were smaller, a fact they had to keep secret. Discusses military movements. Docketed and dated by Jared Sparks, possibly included in his biography of George Washington.

GLC05467

1789/05/11

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "Madam" re: descriptions of Paris and the opening of States General

"I had the Honor to be present on the fifth of this Month at the opening of the States General. A Spectacle more solemn to the mind, than gaudy to the Eye."

GLC07662

1764/10/29

Murray, James, fl. 1764

Letter

Title: to Commissioners of Trade and Plantation re: French under English rule in Quebec

GLC07654.06

1755/05/03

George II, King of Great Britain, 1683-1760

Document

Title: Various legislative Acts of King George II

The document contains five different Acts that address the issues of French encroachment in the colonies, impressing laborers to build fortifications in the colonies, and the infiltration of infectious distempers into the colonies.

GLC03107.05297

1804/02/10

Saville, J.G., fl. 1804

Document signed

Title: Authorization for the release of a French woman taken captive

The document authorizes the release of Madame de Grosse, a French woman who was taken captive, and orders her unhindered return to France.

GLC03107.05337

January 8, 1784

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lafayette references receiving a letter from Knox. He writes of their warm friendship, and says "from the beginning of our Great Revolution which Has been the Beginning of our Acquaintance, We Have Been Activated By the Same principles, supported with the same ideas, Attached to the same friends, and We Have warmly loved and Confidentially Entrusted each other." Reports that Knox's brother William is in London and expresses his fondness for him. Says "By our last Account from America, We Hear that New York is Evacuated, and our peace Establishment finally settled. I Hope also to Hear it is…

GLC02437.02928

1777/03/24

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Warren indicates that he has recently written "a long letter to Mr. Adams" that communicated all consequential information, so this letter is written out of friendship rather than to provide intelligence. Comments on the arrival of a French officer, who did not receive a proper welcome because of he arrived on a Sunday. Notes "Impatience for the Arrival of the ships from France destined to" Boston. Discusses concern over matters in the House regarding the army and the embargo, lamenting the venal spirit that he views as destroying patriotism during the American Revolution.…

GLC03962

1808/04/22

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Letter signed

Title: Petition to Dey of Algiers re: protecting consuls & families (in French)

Signed as American agent and consul general. With other signers from the European powers, written after the Consul of Denmark was thrown into chains by the Dey. The document is a declaration of solidarity protesting Algerian aggression. Also signed by the consuls of Great Britain (H.S. Blanckley), France (Dubois as Chargee for Napoleon), Spain (Alonso Intur[?], Sweden (A. M. Fraissinitt [?]), Denmark (Georg Frederik Ulrich) and Holland ([illegible]).

GLC04659

1798/04/14

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Fulton Writes to Stanhope to tell him about how well received his own ideas about canals have been in France, and to convince Stanhope that the British need to adopt his plans as well. Claims that his "small system of canals" will make fortunes for countries that use them, prove vital to trade, and simplify taxation and systems of government. Says he has enclosed two long letters explaining his new system of canals (GLC04661.02 and GLC04661.03). Asks Stanhope to see that the letters are published, so that his ideas can become popular in England.

GLC04661.01

1798/04/10

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Explains to Stanhope the various reasons that his canal system will be so profitable. Argues that it will speed transportation and increase commerce. Says that it will earn an extra 84 million sterling per year for France if they replace their roads with his canals and that the country will need only to tax shipping to make money. Also argues for the freedom of trade, claiming that if each country produces only what it does best this will force them all to trade freely and fairly and even bring an end to all wars. He closes by saying "superior riches is only to be found in home…

GLC04661.02

1798/04/14

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Writes that all wars are a waste of money and labor. Improving a country's infrastructure is the best use of these funds and energy, through projects such as his canals. He estimates just how much the canals would save England. Fulton comments: "Manual labor is true riches...There is not true policy but that which tends to multiply the produce of labor and increase the conveniences of life."

GLC04661.03

1796/06/30

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Ellsworth re: asking advice in interpreting treaty on privateering

Discusses the sale of prizes taken from the British by the French which violates the 24th Article of Jay's Treaty (1794) with Britain.

GLC04875

1787, 1788, 1794/05/21

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Book signed

Title: A Defence of the Constitutions of the government of the United States...[1st ed]

First Edition. Vols. 1-2 issued 1787; vol. 3 issued 1788. Each volume inscribed by Adams to the famous French diplomat Charles M. Talleyrand, who in turn gave them to someone else. In this work, Adams forcibly states the principles on which he perceived the United States to be founded. The book was popular and went through numerous editions. Later, Adams' detractors sought to find in it a hidden desire for a monarchy. In 1788 Adams extended this work by publishing two additional volumes in London. Howes a60. Sabin 233. Evans 20176. DAB 1: 76. USE WITH CARE: volumes have chemical odor;…

GLC04878

1798/07/16

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To: John Rutherford.

Call to convene Senate to receive communication (Quasi-War)-Washington's acceptance of command in the event of war with France.

GLC04468

1811/04/15

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Paganel re: tragedy of the French Revolution, hopes for liberty

Paganel, author of Essai historique et critique sur la Révolution Française (Paris, 1810), sent a copy of his work to Jefferson, perhaps one of the few copies to survive burning at the hands of Napoleon's censors. Jefferson writes in part: "[t]he perusal of this work has given me new views of the causes of failure in a revolution of which I was a witness in it's early part, & then augured well of it. I had not means afterwards of observing it's progress but the public papers, & their information came thro channels too hostile to claim confidence. An acquaintance with many of the…

GLC04433

[1792]

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Pamphlet

Title: Observations on Paine's Rights of Man, in a series of lectures, by Publicola

Edinburgh edition. First separate printing, originally published in Boston newspaper June-July 1791. Disbound. Attributed to John Quincy Adams by himself (see GLC 958.07)

GLC04398

1779/11/04

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

A fond leave-taking signed "God bless you" at the end. The letter also discusses his firm belief in the need for separate powers, his acceptance of an appointment as commissioner to France and his wish that Gerry might send him intelligence from America.

GLC04425

1803/02/27

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William H. Harrison re: seeking more land for the U.S. by subjugating Indians

"To promote this disposition to exchange lands,which they have to spare and we want . . . we shall push our trading houses, and be glad to see the good & influential individuals among them run in debt, because we observe that when these debts get beyond what the individuals can pay, they become willing to lop them off by a cession of lands . . . this way our settlement will gradually circumscribe & approach the Indians, & they will in time either incorporate with us as citizens of the US or remove beyond the Mississippi. The former is certainly the termination of their history…

GLC07171

1805/03/10

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gilbert M. Lafayette re: Louisiana Purchase lands for Lafayette as a gift

Concerning Louisiana lands for Lafayette's sacrifices during Revolution: "There are adjacent to the town of N. Orleans on both sides of the Canal of Cavondelet a body of ungranted lands . . . considering the great value that this will very soon be of, as town lots, I have this day written to Governor Claiborne"

GLC07173.01

1808/07/21

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gilbert M. Lafayette re: difficulties in selling land in New Orleans

"In this country and especially under existing circumstances,

GLC07173.03

1801/01/28

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gilbert M. Lafayette re: assessment of Lafayette's interests on Mississippi

and in New Orleans; relations between US and France

GLC07173.04

1804/03/13

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: Certifying true copy of act for land south of Tenn.

Accompanied by an attached manuscript copy of the act.

GLC07173.05

1806/12/23

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

Manuscript document signed

Title: Appointing Madison as his attorney for lands granted to him in Louisiana

Appoints James Madison to act as, "My true lawful, and special attorney" with respect to business and legal issues. Written on blue paper with seal and blind stamp.

GLC07173.02