1760

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Book

Title: The interests of Great Britain considered...[with]Observations on the Increase..

[title continued] "... with regard to her colonies, and the Acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe, to which are added, observations concerning the increase of mankind, peopling of countries, etc." Printed by T. Beckett. 8vo. Franklin argues for the retention of Canada to safeguard the British colonies on the mainland, rather than more wealthy lands like Guadaloupe. Franklin's "Observations on the Increase of Mankind" first mentioned the doubling of America's population that Thomas Malthus used for his "Essay on Population." Sabin 35450, Lande 254, JCB 1:1253 and Ford 268.

GLC06065

1857

Steward, Austin, 1794-1860

Book

Title: Twenty-two years a slave, and forty years a free man; embracing a correspondence of several years, while president of Wilberforce Colony, London, Canada West.

First edition. Published by William Alling. Includes engraving of Steward. Contains a printed portrait of Steward opposite title page. Signed on inner front cover by Mrs. John Garrett.

GLC06149

30 November 1864

Newspaper

Title: Daily Virginia state journal. [Vol. 2, no. 829 (November 30, 1864)]

Peace proposal by Abraham Lincoln, Drinking and Battle of Piedmont, West Virginia, Confederate Blockade Runners, Halifax, Novia Scotia.

GLC05959.63

6 January 1776-4 September 1777

Howe, William, 1729-1814

Manuscript document

Title: [British adjutant's orderly book]

Orderly book of British Commander-in-Chief William Howe, oblong quarto, in the handwriting of six or seven soldier-clerks. Details daily orders, official memoranda, court martials, provisions, directives on the control of civilians, embarkations and landings of troops, and more. Among the historic events described are the siege and evacuation of Boston (from 5 March 1776 for 20 pages) and the execution of Nathan Hale (22 September 1776) who is unnamed. "A Spy from the Enemy by his own full confession, apprehended last Night was this day Executed at 11 oClock in front of the Artillery Park…

GLC05983

1892

National Continental Union League

Typed document signed

Title: [Petition of National Continental Union League for union with Canada]

Petition calling for lawful, peaceful and honorable union between the United States and Canada. Says "The time has come when it is desirable that Europe should cease to direct or control the political or domestic affairs or any portion of this continent." Petition was the first act of organization of the National Continental Union League, founded in 1892 in New York and Toronto. The group devoted itself to raising funds to promote a constitutional union through the publication of pamphlets and aid to Canadian organizations and politicians in favor of union. The petition is signed in…

GLC05900

8 December 1789

Hazen, Moses, 1733-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Hopes for a final settlement of his affairs, presumably his military accounts. Notes that when he entered the service, he was promised an indemnification of his losses in Canada, and a commission was appointed to hear related evidence. Congress has since failed to confirm the commission's findings, and Hazen does not know who is responsible for the long delay in settling his affairs.

GLC02437.04430

31 March 1796

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions that Knox has recently been appointed by the President to be Commissioner of a committee to map the eastern boundary of the United States. Asks, though it is early in the process, if he may be considered for a surveyor position under Knox.

GLC02437.06683

5 January 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Colonel Knox writes to General Gates, reflecting on "the successful campaigns of the past season." Hopes to be able to congratulate Gates in a few days on the possession of Quebec. Page three contains a struck draft of Knox's 5 January 1776 letter to George Washington. (See GLC02437.00238 for Knox's retained draft of the final letter.)

GLC02437.09490

1 May 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hancock

Written on two different sizes of paper: the first is 33.4 x 21.3 cm, the second is 13 x 21 cm. Writes to Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts, to ask that eighteen-year-old Isaac Winslow be allowed to return to land his family owns in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Knox implies that Isaac's father, also named Isaac, is a loyalist. Relates that Isaac "hopes no conduct of his father will prevent his residence in a country for which he has the greatest respect." Young Isaac was sent away to Canada at age 11 when the enemy arrived, and is now eighteen and has landed in New York. Knox emphasizes…

GLC02437.01408

6 January 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Grant

Knox writes to Grant, "I have received your favor of the 4th instant, and accordingly we shall rely entirely upon you that the garrison [at West Point] are not out of provisions." Notes that Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that provided the troops with supplies, is too far away to be relied upon. Relates that the issuing commissary at West Point will have to issue a large quantity of rations to the Canadian refugees.

GLC02437.02921

13 June 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hardy

Knox writes to Hardy, a Congressman and Chairman of the Committee of the States. Reports that he has discharged most of the troops remaining in service besides a small number at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, and West Point, New York. Discusses arrangements being made in light of the troops' dispersal. Reports that several officers will remain in service (John Doughty, Samuel Jefferds, and Captain Lieutenant Johnson). Discusses continued arrangements for invalids and refugees, hospital staff, and stores.

GLC02437.03018

9 August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hardy

Knox informs Hardy, Chairman of the Congressional Committee of the States, that William Hull's mission to Canada failed. Hull had attempted to ascertain when Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, intends to withdraw British troops from United States posts. Transmits the original letter from Haldimand (not included). Writes, "It is in indeed extraordinary that General Haldimand shall have received official information of the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace, and not at the same time have received orders respecting the delivery of the posts." Discusses…

GLC02437.03039

25 May 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Hull

Informs Hull, commandant of West Point, that Hull has been appointed to go to Canada to ascertain when the British will withdraw their troops from the western posts. Hull will attempt to acquire information from the Commander of British forces in North America (Frederick Haldimand; refer to GLC02437.03019). Signature has been clipped.

GLC02437.03006

29 May 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that he will leave for New York, then West Point, and will make arrangements to travel to Canada (Hull was assigned by Knox to attempt to acquire information from the Commander of British forces in North America).

GLC02437.03008

13 June 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Hull

Orders Colonel Hull to travel to Canada to ascertain precisely when Great Britain will "deliver up the posts within the teritories [sic] of the United States..." Asks Hull to learn where the British forts are located and how many men are stationed at each post. Also asks him to obtain information about British cannon and stores at each post for a possible exchange. Instructs Hull to obtain the desired information from Frederick Haldimand, who Knox calls "Commander in Chief of his Britannick Majestys forces in America."

GLC02437.03019

31 July 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports his lack of success in ascertaining information from Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec. Transmits papers related to his proceedings with Haldimand (possibly GLC02437.03028). Promises to transmit a copy of the papers to the Congressional Committee of the States.

GLC02437.03034

1 September 1789

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter has two portions, both dated 1 September 1789. The first, written by Henry Jackson, describes the bearer, John Sewall, who is the son of Jonathan Sewall, the former Attorney General of New York, and nephew of John Hancock. Declares that he is of good character and an able attorney on his way from Halifax to Quebec, where he plans to establish a law practice. Will be stopping in New York, and Jackson asks Knox to assist Sewall while he is there. The second page, written by John Hancock, is a letter of introduction for Sewall, asking that Knox welcome him into his acquaintance.

GLC02437.04348

9 January 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his joy on finally hearing from Knox: "a Lover never received a Letter from his Mistress with half the pleasure that I received yours of the 28th [of December]." Talks about Knox's wallpaper and the trial of Knox's "Coachman." Jackson's news includes "a confirmation that the dispute between England and Spain is made up.-this comes by a ship which arrived here yesterday from Halifax." Jackson is disappointed that there won't be a war. Jackson did not accept an appointment to the militia because he is waiting for the one that Governor Bowdoin granted him before he died. Jackson is…

GLC02437.04820

23 April 1786

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that Captain Hall is not back in town yet so he cannot do anything further about the lime business. Writes that Isaac Winslow has gone to Halifax, but they spoke about it and it is Winslow's opinion that it would take a large farm and many laborers to make the lime business profitable, but it might not be in the Winslow family's power to accomplish that. Further, the "government would not allow monopoly of this article to any one family." Lime is not selling well and the Winslows have a great store of it. Discusses other business, including sale of Knox's hardware, which is in…

GLC02437.03263

16 March 1778

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [in French]

Indicates that he will approve his correspondent's expenditures, but urges him not to spend too much. Notes that their will be a packet of letters for France in Boston for his correspondent to pick up before his journey, and another packet in eight days. Encourages his correspondent to return in July and see General Washington amidst all his achievements." Written while Lafayette was planning the ill-fated second invasion of Canada during the American Revolution.

GLC06676

6 April 1797

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus King

References many letters he has received from King and others. Pickering writes as Secretary of State to King as American Minister to Britain. Expresses anger at the French Directory over exclusion of American representatives in XYZ affair. Says French seizures of American ships has taken on a systematic quality. Says there is "one consolation, that they have weaned us from our undue attachment to France." Claims sentiments in America are turning against the French Revolution after recent events. Mentions the scandal with Ira Allen of Vermont, Ethan Allen's younger brother. Ira Allen…

GLC06652

February 1798

Clemens, Johan Frederik, 1748-1831

Print

Title: Death of General Montgomery

Engraved by Danish engraver J.F. Clemens, based on a painting by John Trumbull completed in 1786. Published by A.C. de Poggi at 91 New Bond Street, London. Depicts the death of General Richard Montgomery during the assault on Quebec on 31 December 1775. Montgomery showed real promise as an officer when he took command of General Philip Schuyler's army after Schuyler was evacuated because of illness. He led troops that captured St. John and Montreal and afterward he converged on Quebec with General Benedict Arnold and met his fate. Aaron Burr is depicted holding Montgomery. Burr tried to…

GLC06580

27 May 1794

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Vigo

Asks Major Vigo to use his connections to arrange for the British to be spied on. Wayne wants "either Frenchmen or Indians to go as far as Roche de Bout...to discover the number and designs of the enemy," the number of British troops and whether or not they have constructed a fort. Indicates he is willing to pay a large sum and would also like to arrange for regular dispatches of intelligence.

GLC06479.01

14 June 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter

Title: to John Langdon & Meshech Weare

Written by Whipple, who would later signed the Declaration of Independence, as a New Hampshire Congressman to Langdon and Weare as prominent politicians in New Hampshire (Landgon resigned from his seat in Congress on 25 June 1776 to become agent for Continental prizes in New Hampshire). This document is actually two drafts of letters on different sides of one sheet of paper. The letters are unsigned. Langdon draft: Says this accompanies the 10,000 dollars for the naval service mentioned in a former letter. Says he has put it in a box with other money sent to Colonel Weare. Mentions that…

GLC06517

1864

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Photograph album of British General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle

General U. S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor and City Point in 1864. Album of Large photographs all taken in the field by Mathew Brady's studio. The album was assembled by British General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle, who was sent by the British government on a "Confidential" visit to General Grant's headquarters. Doyle was Governor-General of Nova Scotia. With signatures of Grant and other pasted in.

GLC06740