8 October 1776

Caldwell, Andrew, 1722-1788

Document signed

Title: [Captain William Greenway's Orders on board the Sloop Congress]

Copy of original orders. States the privateer sloop Congress is ready for sea. Orders Greenway to make prizes of any British ships except those from the islands of Bermuda and Providence. Supplies information on where to cruise and advises Greenway to use his own judgment. Specifies that any captured vessels should be brought to port and gives details on where to bring them according to size and value of the captured ship. Advises to treat prisoners humanely and not to plunder goods aboard captured ships but rather take an inventory. Anyone convicted of plundering will forfeit their…

GLC01450.011.05

29 March 1782

Johnston, Samuel, 1733-1816

Manuscript signed

Title: [Aaron White Jr.'s accounts with Samuel Johnston]

Receipt related to the settlement and administration of the estate of Aaron White Jr. Lists costs for his funeral. This document was originally housed in Gideon Savage's wooden chest (GLC01450.013.02) with others decimalized in GLC01450.013. Accompanied by a note stating these are the papers of Gideon Savage relative to the settlement of the estate of Aaron White. White was Savage's father-in-law. Note states that White died in the West Indies 31 January 1782.

GLC01450.013.03

1861-1865

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Map

Title: [Map of southern tip of Florida and the Bahama Islands]

Hand drawn map of the southern tip of Florida and various islands in the Bahamas chain. Marks currents and their speed. Also notes where important lighthouses are located. The Great Bahama Bank and the Salt Bay Bank are demarcated. In both pencil and pen.

GLC03836.89

January 23, 1899

Kingman, W., fl. 1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written on letterhead of the Caribbean & Pacific Transit Co. Ltd. Written and signed by W. Kingman, who appears to be the General Manager of the company to Rear Admiral Walker as President of the Canal Commission. Provides dates when the ship "Victoria" can be placed at his disposal for the transport of the canal commissioners "to points on the Lake."

GLC03804.31

6 June 1860

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's and Mary's letters. Says he is finally in Shanghai "after one of the hardest passages I ever made, to, or from, the Indies." Says their sails froze to the mast in January and they could barely get them set. Goes on to describe the bad weather of the voyage in detail, including running into a hurricane after rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Says the voyage to China took 142 days and said "It is a relief to find other people worse off than yourself, so I was exceedingly pleased to learn that the, Magenta, a rival clipper, which sailed 8 days before us, was not yet arrived…

GLC03836.03

7 January 1783

Burnett, J., fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Recipient inferred from content. Encloses a letter, which he formerly intended to deliver, to congratulate Weedon following the British evacuation of Charleston. Major Edwards will deliver the letter. Notes that General Anthony Wayne took Charleston, and that "The enemy carried off most of the negroes in their possession but left the place in as good order as could be expected." Relates that the British have sailed for the West Indies, New York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Notes the location of American troops. Asks Weedon to ignore information he may hear regarding a mercantile exchange…

GLC06498.04

4 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

References his mother's letter of 26 November. Says the Confederates are trying to avoid the blockade by stopping in Nassau and transferring their cargo to smaller ships to slip past the Union Navy. Says the Union controls the sea islands off South Carolina and that "the niggers being lords of the land. They have availed themselves of the opportunity to sell to the invaders large quantities of beer, mutton and vegetables, the ownership of which nobody troubles themselves to inquire about." Says he gave some money to one of the former slaves and he remarked that he would probably give it to…

GLC03836.28

12 March 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Weir

References Weir's poor health. Says "The only difference between the blockade here now, and last year is, that if possible it is more inefficient than it was. It seems to me that the slowest ships and the thickest headed commanding officers are always specially selected for duty." Is pessimistic about the future because of the leadership of Hunter and Turner specifically. Says there have been recent changes in their blockading system due to intelligence of the many ships reaching Nassau from Charleston, but he doubts they will amount to much. Says his captain is energetic and vigilant. Says…

GLC03836.44

13 March 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 42, whole no. 562 (March 13, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Includes an article on the "The British West Indies in 1850" and "The Evil Congress," among miscellaneous other reports. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.40

27 March 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 44, whole no. 564 (March 27, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Contains a continuation of the article on the "The British West Indies in 1850." Includes coverage of abolitionist George Thompson's visits to Rochester and Auburn, New York, among miscellaneous other reports. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.41

17 April 1851

Quincy, Edmund, 1808-1877

Newspaper

Title: National Anti-Slavery Standard. [Vol. 11, no. 47, whole no. 567 (April 17, 1851)]

With previous owner's signature (John Russell) signed along right margin of first page. Contains a continuation in the series of articles entitled "The British West Indies in 1850." Includes an article on "Anti-Slavery in Canada," and miscellaneous other reports. Edited by Quincy and James Russell Lowell. Published weekly by the American Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08875.43

January 28, 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Tells his nephew about his various ports of call in Latin America. Says he went on official business in Caracas, gave his advice to the men working on the Panama railroad, and visited St. Thomas. Briefly describes some of his ports of call. Written on board the U.S.S. "Albany" at Greytown, Nicaragua, also known as San Juan del Norte.

GLC09099.09

February 24, 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Gerry

Superior officer's jealousy, recent ports of call, and status of his officers. Believes his Commodore is jealous of him, and has therefore selected him for the most difficult missions possible. Many of his officers are sick. Of his voyage to Jamaica says "Jamaica is a wreck of what it formally was." Says the plantations are no longer functioning, which he blames on the emancipation of the slaves. "How any man in his right mind can advocate such a system of things perplexes me, and then to witness the general amalgamation of classes is too revolting to think of." Written on board the U.S…

GLC09099.10

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams

A detailed account of the siege of Yorktown. Affirms the correctness of Adams' ideas about a need to conduct a major attack against the British in the southern states. Announces the recent surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown. Explains the "harmonious concurrence of circumstances" that made the victory possible, mentioning the fleet from the West Indies commanded by Admiral Comte de Grasse, the American and French troops marching down from the Hudson River, and a fleet from Rhode Island under the command of Compte de Barras. Provides a chronological explanation of the…

GLC02437.01252

January 16, 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles of agreement related to Brigadier Generals John Greaton, Henry Jackson, and several Massachusetts regiments]

Eleven articles discussing rations and what should be considered rations. Mentions that "[t]he Parties of the first part shall recive [sic] one Gill of West Indian Rum ... "

GLC02437.01839

9 October 1859

Lyon, Nathaniel, 1818-1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. George Work

Abolitionist and future Union Brigadier General writes of tension in "Bleeding Kansas." "I was stationed here about a year ago, after leaving California. I have marched about 450 miles in reaching here...we were ordered...to protect the emigrants...the old slavery issue, which did so much mischief, and embittered all the relations of society, seems to be dead, and the free state policy firmly established. The new Wyandotte constitution is doubtless adopted and most likely Kansas will be admitted under it. We have no apprehensions of war on account of [commanding Gen. William S.] Harney's…

GLC09138

11 July 1780

Walker, John, 1744-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Hears that new French ships have arrived in the West Indies, and hopes they can help defeat the British fleet. The fleet opposing the British now numbers almost "50 sail of the line with 30,000 troops." Thinks such a force capable of quickly taking all the British islands in the Caribbean. "This being done the Continental business will not be difficult. On the other hand, should they come immediately here we should be found so thoroughly unprepared to cooperate with them that I fear it will serve only to reflect disgrace on us." The British "remain quiet in and about N York. They have…

GLC06500.02

1784 circa

Godefroy, François, 1743-1819

Print

Title: Prise de l'isle de la Grenade [in French]

Engraving of the French forces at Grenada, with text below explaining the scene.

GLC07282.02

25 November 1865

Bogert, John A., fl. 1863-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob C. and Mrs. Bogert

Bogert replies to a 9 November 1865 letter from his parents. Relates the location of other regimental colonels, and states that he has $40,000 which he intends to pay for an unspecified purpose. Relates seeing Generals Stewart Lyndon Woodford, who served as Colonel of the 103rd United States Colored Troops, and General Littlefield (possibly Milton Littlefield) at Hilton Head, South Carolina. States that after a ship carrying clothing sprung a leak off the shore near Darien, Georgia, he was able to purchase a black military overcoat for $9. Relates that his duty in Thomasville primarily…

GLC06298.06

January 16, 1783

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses correspondence and family matters. Explains that their brother George is planning to go to the West Indies. Discusses their brother Ralph's difficulty getting naval work, especially because of the prospect of peace. Comments on a visit from Charles Dundas, whom he had not seen in nine years.

GLC02549.26

20 July 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses information about their brother George and letters he has been sending. Describes the fleets at Portsmouth and compares them to the locusts of Egypt. Asks James to obtain a "Seal Cutter two scales with our Arms Cut upon a good Cornelian, of a moderate seise, & handsomely set in Gold." Also comments on the loss of Tobago and the danger of losing Madras.

GLC02549.16

10 April 1872

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Edward W.] Kinsley

Marked private. Written from the Senate Chamber. Complains about the Boston press being hard on him, criticizes President Ulysses S. Grant's attempt to annex Santo Domingo, and rails against Grant's leadership in general: "I did not write to promote any personal interest. I have none. I am a candidate for nothing. I desire no office. But I am not insensible to misrepresentat[ion] & injustice. Never was the Boston press so hardened & her[2]metically sealed against even Fair Play where I am concerned. Even [Slack] cannot do justice to me.This madness for Grant upsets every thing. All…

GLC02095.16

10 March 1874

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Edward W.] Kinsley

Criticizes Buenaventura Baez, President of the Dominican Republic. Kinsley apparently informed Sumner of a dinner for Baez. He states in full, "A Dinner to Baez! Why not invite the murderer of the Virginius crew? At least please read an authentic account of him. Doubtless he is one of the worst men of our time." Marked Senate Chamber.

GLC02095.18

27 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that Mrs. Flucker arrived in New York from Antigua this afternoon with her 2 children, Thomas and Muriel. Says she is with him at Mrs. Lorings. Writes, "You will be charmed with and proud of her." She will set off from Elizabethtown either Friday or Saturday morning. They shall lodge with Colonel [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05089

28 April 1793

Kerby, Jane Byam, fl. 1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

This was written to Lucy Knox, the daughter of Lucy and Henry Knox. Expresses gratitude for previous hospitality. Reports on hearing about a fever in New York in a letter from 10 April. Comments on the terrible heat in Antigua. Reminiscences about home. Reports that a Mr. Burke said he dined with Henry Knox at Dr. Shippen's home. Would like an update on the family and on politics. Is including a few bottles of Indian Arrow Root, which is nutritious for the young children. Says her mother is sending a cask of yams. Says "Our Islands, are likely to be one of the Active Scenes, of our…

GLC02437.05882