06 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Broadside

Title: Proclamation of a day of solemn fasting due to religious persecution

Proclaiming a day of solemn fasting for April 25th (with element of Thanksgiving)

GLC00270

12 May 1756

Hopkins, Stephen, 1707-1785

Document signed

Title: [Proclamation creating a day of fasting and rest in the province of Rhode Island]

Countersigned by Thomas Ward as Secretary. Signed by Hopkins as colonial Governor of Rhode Island. Extols religious reform and repentence of sins. Notes the calamities of the French and Indian War. Proclaims that Thursday, 20 May 1756 will be a day of fasting and prayer throughout the colony. Directs that no labor will be done and the people should pray at places of public worship. This same document was probably later printed. "God Save the King" is written at the bottom of the page.

GLC01412.11

1776

Simmons, Peleg, fl. 1776

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Orderly book of Peleg Simmons]

Daily orders for troops at Middletown and Newport, Rhode Island. Reports on soldiers' and officers' duties, troop movements, court martials, provisions, uniforms, armaments, soldiers' appearance, and general announcements to the troops at camp. Includes orders on preparing arms and establishing regimental colors. Assigns captains for each day. On 17 April 1776, mentions Commander Henry Babcock's arrest and removal from office due to insanity. 20 July 1776 describes a celebration of the Declaration of Independence, noting parade and canon fire. Briefly mentions smallpox in an entry for…

GLC01450.003

30 May 1865

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Manuscript document

Title: Special field order no. 76

Brigade-level copy of Sherman's farewell message to his troops and orders for their triumphant march, the Grand Review, through Washington, D.C. "The General Commanding announces to the Army of Tennessee, and Georgia, that the time has come for us to part. Our work is done, and armed enemies no longer defy us." Reminisces about past events and battles of the war in which the armies participated, including the famous march from Atlanta to Savannah. Ends by stating, " ... in war you have been good soldiers, so in peace you will make good citizens, and if unfortunately new war should arise…

GLC01909

December 21, 1953

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed letter signed

Title: to Charles Kohen

Thanks him for sending him a "two shillings and six-pence note, signed by John Morton." Will give the penny to Mrs. Eisenhower, "and I know she will want to thank you personally." Wishes him a Merry Christmas. Written on White House stationery. Marked personal.

GLC01981

January 11, 1804

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Pintard

Informs that he has been confined four weeks with gout and was not able to write. Begins by writing about ordering trees from Mr. Livingston. Disagrees with a legal position maintained by Alexander Hamilton, who was an attorney in New York City at the time. Gives best wishes for the new year ahead. Recommends Pintard sell a newspaper that he owns. Discusses mutual acquaintances.

GLC02046

8 March 1865

Prentiss, Mary Y., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abba

Written by a young girl to an unidentified recipient (apparently her sister), intermingling observations with gossip and flirtation. Exclaims enthusiastically about all the fun she is having. States that she attended Lincoln's second inauguration in Washington, D.C., on 4 March 1865, and describes Vice President Andrew Johnson's drunkenness when taking the oath. Comments that, "All the senators are more anxious to have Mr. Lincon [sic] live than they ever were before." Also states that people wanted Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first term vice-president, but not Mrs. Lincoln and…

GLC02319

4 March 1806

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wanton Ellery

Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Discusses general subjects of study in mathematics, astronomy and geography. Also makes reference to the re-election of President Thomas Jefferson and related celebrations. He remarks: "Public days are not celebrated with such animation as they formerly were..." Asks George to ask Mr. Updike to look out for a servant for Ellery. He would like "a black boy about 14 years old, who is good tempered, active, and tractable, who knows how to take care of a horse or cow, and how to milk, and who is faithful and honest. I…

GLC02300.18

27 December 1863

Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894

Letter signed

Title: to M. S. Worth

General Banks informs Miss Worth of Albany, New York that "The Ladies of the North were gratefully and enthusiastically remembered by the soldiers in the Hospitals of this Department on Christmas Day ... The sweetest earthly solace that a stricken soldier can receive is to know that the women of his Country appreciate his sacrifices and are willing to give their hours of leisure and luxury to his care and comfort ... "

GLC02413

4 July 1788

J. Dunlap and D.C. Claypoole, 1784-1790

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, and daily advertiser. [No. 2939 (July 4, 1788)]

Prints a description of the order and accoutrements of a procession in honor of the establishment of the Constitution. Articles on commerce and foreign intelligence. Contains news from Europe and around the country and many advertisements. Prints a notice from the Philadelphia Board of Commissioners reminding merchants of recently enacted regulations on street vending. Pages have separated and are no longer bound together.

GLC02432

25 June 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Expects Craig to visit in July. Mentions his son Conway Hunt. Discusses his plans for the Fourth of July, and whether Craig should travel to Maine by steamer or train.

GLC02382.043

February 11, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Wishes Washington a happy birthday, "permit me my dear dear friend to felicitate you on the return of your birth day." "I do not wish you long life as the greatest blessing, believing strongly the immortality of the mind, and that the next grade of existence will present you with joys highly superior to any attendant on the best possible situation in this."

GLC02437.04508

5 October 1791

Brett, Piercy, fl. 1788-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Maunsell]

This appears to have been sent to British General John Maunsell, who mentioned to Knox that he would pass along letters from Brett (see GLC02437.05188). References receiving a letter "with the enclosed from your brother the Clergyman." Writes, "I have no news to send you this time; the times do not afford any. The troubles of Europe are nearly at an end, and every thing begins to assume a face of tranquillity. Louis the 16th has accepted of the new constitution, and all the people of France, [&] Paris in particular, rejoicing thereat, and nothing now heard in any quarter of that city but…

GLC02437.05186

December 28, 1870

Howard, Oliver Otis, 1830-1909

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.

Thanks him for an invitation to the celebration for the emancipation of Rome by Italian forces. In 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, Napoleon III withdrew his troops from Rome. Italian troops moved into the city, and Rome voted for union with Italy in October 1870. Howard was commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau from 1865 until 1872. Signed as Brigadier General and Commissioner of Freedmen.

GLC01464

December 12, 1840

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thurman Fessenden, John Underwood, and Samuel Tisdale

Fessenden, Maine Senator-Elect, thanks members of the New England Society of the City of New York for an invitation to attend the Society's anniversary on December 22, 1840. Declines the invitation, which commemorated the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Offers these sentiments on the anniversary: "The spirit of the Pilgrims- Trust in God, and unwavering constancy of purpose. With that spirit our Country's liberties were won. Without it they cannot be preserved."

GLC01465

February 14, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Reports on Massachusetts' adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Writes, "It may with great truth be asserted that no subject was ever more candidly debated- Many of the minority express their determination, of inculcating the principle of union among their constituents." Categorizes those who oppose the Constitution into three groups: the "insurgent interest," the "desperate debtors," and "honest men, without information whose minds are apprehensive of danger to their Liberties." Encloses a paper "containing a description of the demonstration of Joy by the Boston people on the…

GLC02437.03797

February 14, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Edward Carrington

Informs Carrington, a Continental Congressman, of Massachusetts' ratification of the Constitution. Reports that those at the convention who previously opposed the Constitution have "declared their intention of uniting their influence in support of the constitution." Notes that [Elbridge] Gerry, who sat in but did not participate in the Massachusetts ratifying convention, has also pledged himself to the Constitution. Discusses the interests of some of the Constitution's opponents. Encloses papers describing the celebration in Boston after its passage. Notes that the New Hampshire…

GLC02437.03798

4 July 1789

Manuscript document

Title: [Minutes for the Society of the Cincinnati meeting of 4 July 1789]

Docket suggests that this copy of the minutes was created by a Thomas Jainson on 25 January 1836. Minutes for an annual meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati held 4 July 1789 at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts. Topics discussed include financial relief for a Society member, David Mason, Jr. (see GLC02437.04255 and .04269), and reports from the Standing Committee. Also includes motions that passed at the meeting.

GLC02437.04270

10 September 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Knox, Commander at West Point, transmits a weekly return of troops to Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Discusses illness among soldiers in the West Point vicinity: "The troops having been uncommonly sickly for this place, and a malignant putrid fever being among their disorders, I have fixed upon the barrack at Constitution Island as an hospital..." Discharged and furloughed some patients from the hospital at New Windsor, under the care of surgeon William Eustis. Reports, "We have had cold unpleasant weather since commencement of the present month... [the troops]…

GLC02437.10136

23 October 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "The arrival of the Definitive Treaty and the evacuation of New York- have been so long delayed as to interfere very materially with our arrangements for the Celebration of Peace..." Has decided that the celebration will be deferred until the British leave New York. Was informed by Sir Guy Carleton that the British will completely evacuate New York in November 1783. Instructs Knox to confer with New York Governor George Clinton, and to take possession of New York City as soon as the British evacuate. Transmits a copy of a Proclamation of Congress of 18 October 1783 for the…

GLC02437.09394

24 March 1859

Moore, Clement Clarke, 1779-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis J. Cist

Sends an autograph and informs Cist, "The inclosed is all I can get for you. I have cut it from an old book."

GLC02453.23

23 April 1926

Lincoln, Robert T., 1843-1926

Typed letter signed

Title: to C.W. Goff

Declines an invitation to speak at a Memorial Day service in South Manchester, Connecticut because of ill health. Addressed to Goff as Chairman, Memorial Day Committee, South Manchester.

GLC02490.11

6 April 1821

Adair, John, 1757-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horace Holley

Kentucky Governor Adair regrets that commitments make it impossible for him to attend an exhibition at Transylvania University on 7 April 1821 to which Holley, the university's president, had invited him.

GLC02497.01

11 April 1882

Brooks, Phillips, 1835-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Holbrook

Brooks, an influential American Episcopal bishop, informs Holbrook "I have received your note of kind appreciation & acknowledgement of my small help at St. Paul's during Lent. I am sure you will believe that it was a great pleasure to come & that I enjoyed my visits very much." Written on stationery with "233 Clarendon Street. Boston" printed in top right corner. Brooks is author of the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

GLC02504.03

30 September 1839

Otis, Harrison G., 1765-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Ashmun

Otis, a former Massachusetts Congressman, declines an invitation from Massachusetts State Senator Ashmun, a member of the committee making arrangements for the Western Railroad Festival. Declares that the opening of the Western Railroad "is destined to have a more decisive and permanent bearing upon the prosperity of Massachusetts than all the measures of public improvement that have been adopted from its first settlement."

GLC02504.32