26 October 1847

Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. Welman Nichols

Smith, General Winfield Scott's second in command, provides a first-hand account of the capture of Mexico City. Also criticizes Gideon Pillow and praises Van Doren.

GLC05128

circa 1861-1865

Pestich

Photograph

Title: As Russian colonel of artillery, seated 3/4 length portrait with hands in lap

Ink inscription on verso "Mr. Pestich. Colonel D'Arrtelerr Russie Imperiale." Photographers imprint on verso: "Charles D. Fredricks & Co., 'Specialite,' 587 Broadway, New York."

GLC05111.02.0844

25 August 1777

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Francis Mercer

Written by Monroe as a major in William Alexander's (aka Lord Stirling) brigade of George Washington's army to Colonel Mercer, captain in the 3rd Virginia Regiment. Recipient is inferred from the third page of the letter where Monroe asks for information on his old regiment. Says he waited to write until something material occurred. Conveys news of General John Stark's victory over a detachment of German troops from General John Burgoyne's army at the Battle of Bennington. Stark led his New Hampshire militia against a German detachment that was seeking supplies for Burgoyne's bogged down army…

GLC07111

20 August 1815

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Written by Madison as President to Rush as Attorney General. Asks advice on various problems the government needs to handle. Wants to know if it is proper to give naval protection against the "Carthaginian Corsairs" -- probably the Barbary powers. Madison thinks it is proper, but wants to make sure. Louisiana Governor William Charles Cole Claiborne wants to know if it is proper to use naval and military forces against Spanish provinces. Asks Rush for precedents and suggests talking to Secretary of State Monroe about his letter to the Spanish diplomat Louis de Onís. Also asks for suggestions…

GLC07110

1953

Oswald, Richard, fl. 1953

Book

Title: The Folly of invading Virginia

Collateral to Oswald manuscript, printing some of Oswald's other manuscripts concerning British policy in America. GLC 7121 is not in the limited edition printed by the University of Virginia Press.

GLC07121.02

5 March 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authority to affix seal to additional article to slave trade treaty with Britain]

Partially printed document. Lincoln signs an official State Department warrant ordering the Secretary of State to affix the Great Seal of the United States to "my ratification of the Additional Article to the slave trade treaty between the United States and Great Britain, of the 7th April 1862." Written in a secretarial hand.

GLC07083

February 2, 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles W. Dumas

Sends Dumas plans for the construction of Washington, D.C. "with a desire that they may be exhibited" in Europe. Accompanied by a 1792 Andrew Ellicott Map from "Columbian Magazine" (GLC 7104.02).

GLC07104.01

19 September 1708

Bemis, James, 1690-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ephraim Bemis

Writes to his parents to relay that he is in good health. Implores them to arrange for his release from his duty as a soldier, fearing that if he does not return home soon he will lose his trade. Also notes an Indian attack on Casco Fort. Written from Casco Fort during Queen Anne's War.

GLC07097

21 November 1840

Baldwin, Roger Sherman, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore Sedgwick

Discusses a two hundred page report (possibly of the Amistad case). Mentions Lewis Tappan, an abolitionist who supported the Amistad Africans' freedom. Discusses the authenticity of treaties admitted as evidence in the Amistad case at District Court. Refers to the Amistad Africans, whose recent importation to Cuba, reflected the violation of international and Spanish law. States that John Quincy Adams, who assisted with the Africans' defense, "Thinks the govt, when they see the record, may abandon their appeal without a hearing; as he is very confident they cannot hope to be successful.…

GLC07099

14 November 1793

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Adams as vice president to Lincoln after his unsuccessful mission to make peace with the Northwest Indians. Says he read with interest Lincoln's report on why peace was not achieved. Says the report fits with the facts he learned while in Europe and that he has not "the least difficulty in believing that you have develloped the true Causes of the Continuance of the Indian War." Praises America's policy of neutrality toward the European powers and says "while they are exhausted I hope we are safe." Says he is jealous of the English-Spanish alliance and would like to be able to work with France…

GLC07101

6 May 1781

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Sumter

Writes to General Sumter about Lord Cornwallis's movements, concluding that he is "rather inclined to think that he will leave everything here and move northward." Discusses the arrival of some supplies. Comments "I fully agree with you that vigorous measures are necessary to strike terror into our Enemies and give spirits to our own people." Written at "Camp 25 Miles Creek."

GLC07103

1 November 1859

Newspaper

Title: Charleston mercury. [Vol. 53, no. 10688 (November 1, 1859)]

Contains coverage of John Brown's Harper's Ferry raid: "The insurrection at Harper's Ferry was simply no insurrection at all. Not a slave joined the reckless fanatics in their nefarious policy of emancipation by blood and treason. It was a silly invasion of Virginia by some eighteen men." Includes other opinions, that the raid was of great significance. Includes a report on the insurgents' trial. Last page contains an article on the San Juan affair and other international news. Also contains reports on a recent local meeting on "Revival of the African Slave Trade." Signed in pencil at…

GLC07203

circa 1847

Broadside

Title: Friends of the Country, Irrespective of Party!

Mexican War recruitment poster from Massachusetts defending the war and attacking Governor Briggs. Variety of articles supporting the Massachusetts volunteers and denouncing the governor's anti-war sentiments. Lower left corner missing.

GLC07211

17 July 1816

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Baron Jean Guillaume Hyde de Neuville

Madison as President to Hyde de Neuville as French Ambassador to the United States. References Hyde de Neuville's letter of 12 July 1816. Madison is pleased with the positive sentiments of France relayed by Hyde de Neuville. Says he is glad King Louis XVIII "cherishes friendly dispositions and liberal views towards" us. Returns positive wishes for the future of France and hopes "the French people may enjoy all the just advantages external and internal, of a regular & free Constitution." Docket is in French.

GLC07159

1775

Almon, John, 1737-1805

Book

Title: The Remembrancer, or impartial repository of public events [2d edition]

GLC07163

15 August 1807

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. William J. MacNeven

Thanks MacNeven for a book on Irish history. Comparing the U.S. to Ireland, he writes: "In this the United States may see what would have been their history had they continued under the same masters. Heaven seems to have provided them as an asylum before the extinguishment of all political morality had prepared the scenes now acting in the world." Written in third person with signature in text. Address and free frank on a small, separated page.

GLC07147

May 1778

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

A long letter from member of the Continental Congress (1776-1781, 1783-1785) and signer of the Declaration of Independence William Ellery to New Hampshire member of the Continental Congress (1776-1779) William Whipple which reprises events from the fall of 1777 to the present time and discusses British mistreatment of prisoners of war, morale and current events in the progress of the American Revolution. Notes that Howe was moving from Philadelphia; "I am just this moment informed that our army will halt this winter in Valley Forge." Addressed to Whipple in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Free-…

GLC07154

19 November 1798

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Inspector General Alexander Hamilton writes to Governor of New York John Jay about the importance of engineers in planning the defense of Philadelphia against possible attack duing the threat of war between the United States and France in 1798. Accompanied by the address leaf, which has been trimmed to a single panel.

GLC07155

29 May 1781

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County

Virginia Governor Jefferson tells the "County Lieutenant of Berkeley" that men having been deserting from the French army and navy in America and instructs him to give orders to apprehend any possible foreign deserters at the ferry crossings in Berkeley. He is to send any suspects to the headquarters of the Marquis de Lafayette. Being addressed from Charlottesville is unusual.

GLC07335

17 April 1847

Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cosme Furlong [in Spanish]

Describes Battle of Cerro Gordo.

GLC07350

circa 1850

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Adams

Informs Adams, possibly an underground railroad train conductor in Fall River, Massachusetts, that British abolitionist George Thompson will be coming next Friday, the 13th. Tells Adams to meet him and states, "..He is a stranger and will need a conductor." Says they have no tickets and will need to get them printed. Undated. Integral address leaf.

GLC07356.02

1855-1861

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Autobiographical note related to Halleck's work at the New Almaden Quicksilver mines]

Written on a printed form "To be returned to S.F. Baird" in which Halleck gave his name, his occupation as engineer, his address as San Francisco, and his branches of interest as engineering and mining. In the notes section, Halleck gives a brief explanation of his work as director of the mines, a position he held from 1853-1861. Notes experiments and the use of furnaces superior to those in Spain and Austria.

GLC07321

21 October 1814

Evans, Jonathan, fl. 1814

Broadside

Title: To Our Fellow Citizens of the United States.

Quotes a Philadelphia newspaper article that characterizes opposition to War of 1812 discussed at a Quaker meeting as treason. The Quakers charge that the article is both false and a fabrication. They claim that political subjects are not discussed at their religious assemblies. They also reaffirm Quaker pacifism, but note that they are bound to live peaceably under the government, even if that means submitting to fines and imprisonment for refusing to bear arms. Issued from a Quaker meeting by the meeting clerk, Jonathan Evans. With Ex-lib stamp.

GLC07331

circa 1845

American Republican Party of Kingston

Broadside

Title: American Republican Town Nominations. "Beware of Foreign Influence"

Nativist Election broadside, with large eagle, by the American Republican Party of Kingston attacking Roman Catholic immigrants. "Beware of Foreign Influence" is attributed to Washington's Farewell Address. Prints the address of John Young as Chairman, with Resolutions, calling upon people to guard against "all the Roman Catholic countries on Earth which are sending their millions of offcasts and vagabonds...to take from us the Liberties we now enjoy."

GLC07450

1776

Low, Nathaniel, fl. 1776

Book

Title: Astronomical Diary or Almanack for... 1777 [with woodcut map]

Accompanied by first American printed map of Washington's forces in Revolutionary War: "A View of the present Seat of the War at Near-New York." (p. 3). Printed by J. Gill.

GLC07454