1886

Kimball, W.W., fl. 1886

Book

Title: Special intelligence report on... the Panama Canal during the year 1885

Printed by the GPO. Illustrated with 9 lithographs and a large fold-out map.

GLC05643

5 December 1792

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards Knox a journal pertaining to Cobb's survey for a possible canal from Boston to the Connecticut River. See GLC02437.05542 for the enclosed journal. Docket in Knox's hand states "Journal of the Journey in exploring the Country between Connecticut River & Boston." Also notes, "Our Elections this day are unanimous for the old King & his second, - partie influence has had no effect on the votes for the latter," referring to a meeting of the Electoral College, which elected George Washington as president and John Adams as vice president.

GLC02437.05726

4 September 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 27 July. Complied with Knox's request to converse with gentlemen in trade "on the subject of the probable quantity of produce that would be convey'd on the Canal from Connecticut River to this place in the course of the three first years after its completion." The results of his inquires are: 28-30,000 tons of "Pot & Pearl ashes, Flaxseed, Flax & Hemp, Beef & Pork salted, Grain of all sorts, Flour, Timber & Plank, Hoops & Staves." Smaller items were not taken into account, but he estimates 15,000 tons of those items could be carried. Rate of…

GLC02437.05143

11 March 1792

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that the General Court passed an act allowing them to build their canal, and that Harry [Henry Jackson] will be bringing him a copy of the act, which should meet with Knox's approbation. Declares that it is up to Knox to determine what measures to pursue next, but feels they should do something to convince others who believe that their canal project was begun purely for speculation purposes. Suggests that while [Benjamin] Hichborn is going to Europe, the rest of the members of the canal project (John Coffin Jones, Jackson, and himself) should visit Knox in Philadelphia to establish…

GLC02437.05347

13 August 1792

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Discusses travelling with Captain John Hills to survey the land and waterways for the building of the canal, specifically Millers river and other waterways going east. Informs Knox that they are continuing the survey and will probably be in the Concord area by the end of the week.

GLC02437.05578

February 3, 1796

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Agreement]

Agreement to employ men for the summer to work on canals or other buildings on his property.

GLC02437.06611

31 October 1800

Wilson, Life, fl. 1799-1800

Manuscript document signed

Title: Agreement

Agreement between Knox and Life Wilson. Wilson will take care of the saw mills, grist mills, locks, and canals in Warren County. Wilson is also in charge the employees of the these mills. They agree to split the shares of the grist mill. Knox agrees to pay Wilson $25 a month for his services.

GLC02437.07480

20 December 1801

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Wilson

Instructions given to Wilson regarding Wilson's year assignment working for Knox. Specifically, Wilson is instructed to superintend the St. Georges mills by checking on them daily . He is also expected to attend to the docks and canals. Written at Montpelier in St. Georges [present day Thomaston, Maine]. Date was taken from docket.

GLC02437.07699

12 November 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

References two of Lucy's letters. Expresses how much he misses her. Says he will meet her on the road "before you turn off from frankford road." Says the city appears to be safe and "It is filling with inhabitants." Reports that "A Vessell however has arrived and more are expected of the unfortune [sic] people of St. Domingo, expelled there by the English, or Aristocrats, who is apprehended are infected with some contagious disorder." Notes measures will be taken to prevent any danger. Mentions that President Washington went to Reading to see a canal that is being built. Washington was…

GLC02437.05971

January 7, 1865

William Lloyd and Co. (Richmond, Va.), fl. 1861-1865

Newspaper

Title: The daily examiner. [no volume or number information, (January 7, 1865)]

A Confederate newspaper previously published as "The Richmond Examiner." Published without a masthead 30 May 1864-9 December 1865. Pencil signature at top says "Rev. Everhart" (or Overhart). Includes coverage of the fall of Savannah to General Sherman. Police item about two slaves accused of forging passports for three other slaves in the name of Confederate Congressman and General William C. Wickham. Several other items on slaves or free negroes involved in theft. Update on the work of the Confederate Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Update on activities of…

GLC08780

December 14, 1861

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Eggleston Johnston

General Jackson, in command of Valley of the Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) discusses his attempts to damage the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He informs General Johnston, Commander of the Department of Northern Virginia, that he has not been successful in damaging the Canal, but has captured several prisoners from the 17th Indiana Regiment. Jackson hopes to reverse the flow of water through a dam, or to make a small break in the canal. He plans to march with Gannetts' brigade the following Monday and hopes to prevent Washington, D. C. from receiving coal from Cumberland, Virginia during the…

GLC00046

December 12, 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear

Washington expresses pleasure at the Virginia Assembly's passing a bill concerning internal navigation of the Potomac, and mentions the quantities of tobacco in his warehouses and price differentials. He also mentions navigation of the Potomac.

GLC01402

29 November 1871

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Letter signed

Title: to John Thompson Hoffman

President Grant transmits a copy of a treaty (not included) signed 8 May 1871 between the United States and Great Britain to Hoffman, Governor of New York. Informs Hoffman of shared American and British use of waterways, stating that "It is confidentally believed that the use of the artificial water communications which the Treaty contemplates will contribute to a rapid increase of trade ... " Desires to bring the provisions of the Treaty before the New York State Legislature, securing the use of several New York canals for Great Britain.

GLC01817

5 August 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsed receipt for 100 lbs of gunpowder for the Potomac Company].

Cosigned by John Fitzgerald and George Gilpin. Receipt for payment made out from Richardson Stuart to Henry Bedinger and Jacob Bedinger. The Potomac Company was Washington's first business venture after the American Revolution.

GLC01831

1808

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Book

Title: Report of the Secretary of Treasury on... public roads and canals

Latrobe's report on Mr Fulton's "Communication" appears on p. 108. Printed by R. C. Weightman.

GLC01871

4 August 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Endorsement signed

Title: [Certifying return of three runaway servant men from the Potomac Company]

Certificate signed by Samuel Love Jr. that John Dubell brought before him three "Runaway Servant men the property of the Potomack Company." Says they were brought from Anthony Baine's property, which he thinks is 28 or 30 miles away. Verso has note signed by James Smith that Dubell returned three of the company's servants that ran away on 24 July 1786. The names of the servants were Patrick Ready, James Bryan, and David Lyon. Says will pay the bearer the reward from the advertisement. Dubell also signed the certificate that he received 60 dollars or 18 pounds, plus six dollars for expenses…

GLC01976

9 March 1846

Anthony, Philip, 1800-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ford, Heath & Company

Anthony discusses the payment of interest on bonds and business ventures with Ford, Heath, & Company, a British firm. Explaining the economic situation in Arkansas, Anthony states "Liberal loans were made upon long times payable in installments with interest. Revulsions in the monetary world & other misshaps, brought about general distress in the community- debtors who had more regard for their pecuniary safety then their moral responsibility sold their lands, or if incumbered, abandoned them and ran off their slaves & other effects to Texas, thus leaving large sums due the…

GLC02210.01

3 April 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that his son, William Gray Cobb, "thou by a wrong name" has accepted a military commission offered to him by President George Washington. Says he hopes to build a canal and believes that it may interest Knox as well. Asks Knox to send an engineer to survey the county for the project. They are competing with other canal companies in New England. Says, "what makes it a matter of greater consequence at this time, is, that the Company at Hartford have now, on the Files of our Genl Assembly, an Act, to empower them to clear the Falls on Connecticut River within the Commonwealth, which…

GLC02437.04897

19 December 1790

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb tells Secretary of War Knox that he has brought up the idea of a canal between the Charles River and the Connecticut River to several people since Knox left Boston, and the idea is growing. There needs to be a more concrete plan in order to attract investors. The "gentlemen" with whom Cobb has discussed this "are much divided in their opinions where the Canal ought to meet [the] Connecticut River." Cobb goes on to detail various plans for the canal. Cobb is convinced that this canal would be good for "the Commonwealth." Cobb says "we are still in the clouds respecting a War," and that…

GLC02437.04800

10 July 1791

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Cobb, a member of the Massachusetts legislature, writes that Knox may have seen "that small son of mine, whom you have kindly honor'd with a Commission." Says he has "an affection" for the "Lad" and that "the Females of my Family will never forgive you or me, if he is unfortunate." Mentions he has frequently discussed the prospects of a canal from the Connecticut River to Boston. Explains that the general consensus seems to be that the canal should be cut from Miller's River instead of the Chickibee. Says that Miller's River is above some of the waterfalls "that at present prevent the…

GLC02437.05057

3 December 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimate for a canal built between Barnstable and Buzzard's Bay]

Includes measurements and expenses for the construction of a canal between Barnstable Bay and Buzzard's Bay constructed by surveyor John Hills.

GLC02437.05252

18 June 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Cobb, Henry Jackson, John Coffin Jones and Benjamin Hichborn

Discusses a proposed plan for a canal that connects the Connecticut River to Boston. Informs the other men that he has already engaged the services of a mutual acquaintance, Captain John Hills, to act as surveyor and supervisor for the business. Writes, "If the canal can be executed for a moderate capital from Worcester or Rutland to Boston the value of the object will be great indeed whether it be altered with reference to proffit to the proprietors..."

GLC02437.05510

circa 16 July 1792

Cobb, David, 1748-1830

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Journal entry on the survey for a canal]

Describes his journey to surrounding land to connect a canal with the upper part of the Connecticut River. Signed in text at top of first page. Originally enclosed with GLC02437.05726. See GLC02437.05578 for a shorter version of this manuscript sent to Knox.

GLC02437.05542

9 April 1796

Brown, John, 1736-1803

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions that the people of Worcester, Providence, and the towns in between would like a canal to be built to service those areas. They have set plans in motion, and he has enclosed a subscription form (not present), hoping Knox will become one of the proprietors of the canal project. Refers to Knox's earlier investment in a project to build a canal from Boston through Worcester on the Connecticut River, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Given that research suggests the present canal to be more promising, asks if Knox, being "of a liberal Mind," would support it. Emphasizes that the…

GLC02437.06698

22 April 1796

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

Apologizes for not responding to a previous letter. Discusses the canal project Brown wrote to him about, declaring that canals are extremely useful, and while they are expensive to install, they benefit the community dramatically and will return a profit. Mentions his previous experience with canal projects, and comments on other canals in the region. Provides suggestions. Adds that at present his resources are tied up with his land investments in Maine, so he will not be able to invest.

GLC02437.06714