1813

Pamphlet

Title: Declaration. The earnest endeavors... [British declaration of war on US]

Title: "Declaration. The earnest endeavors of the Prince Regent to preserve the relations of peace and amity with the United States of America having unfortunately failed...[caption title]." The official British declaration of war upon the United States. Interestingly, expresses the reluctance of the British crown to declare war (especially since the British had already agreed to most of the important American points). Printed by R.G. Clarke. With ink note at end "Abbett's Register, Vol. 23. Page 80."

GLC05483

circa 1850-1855

English, John G., fl. 1827-1869

Diary

Title: [Mississippi cotton plantation diary and journal]

Signed in inner front cover in August 1850, where English notes that his father, James English, moved from Kingsport, Tennessee to Madison County, Alabama in 1818. Records that James took him, and left his sister in Salem, North Carolina, and his brother in college at Granville, Tennessee. In the first two pages, English recalls his youth: a trip to New Orleans in 1827, working for John W. Lane of Livingston, Alabama, and managing a large warehouse for Robert King of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1833. Records events, such as the purchase of slaves in 1835 and a business trip to New York in May…

GLC05496

7 January 1840

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Orders for transport of the Amistad captives]

Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State. President Van Buren writes to Norris Wilcox, Marshal of the District of Connecticut. States: "The Marshal of the United States for the District of Connecticut will deliver over to Lieutenant John S. Paine, of the United States Navy, and aid in conveying on board the schooner Grampus, under his command all the negroes late of the Spanish schooner Amistad, in his custody under process now pending before the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. For so doing this order will be his warrant."

GLC05636.01

30 October 1839

Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840

Letter

Title: to William S. Holabird

The body of the letter appears to be clerically written; the signature has been clipped and someone has written "Felix Grundy" in a different hand beneath. Grundy, Attorney General of the United States, informs Holabird, District Attorney of Connecticut: "It is necessary that I should know, what legal proceedings are now pending in your District, in relation to the negroes and vessel Amistad- You will be good enough to give the information at your earliest convenience- You named to the President, that you intended to visit Washington; will you do so, and when? Where was the Amistad, when…

GLC05636.03

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

7 May 1945

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

Document signed

Title: [Mimeographed victory message]

Mimeograph message to Combined and British Chiefs of Staff marked urgent, "The mission of the Allied forces was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945." On stationary from SHAEF Forward Staff Message Control.

GLC05622.01

May 8, 1945

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

Document

Title: Mimeograph re: details of German surrender ceremony to Montgomery

Mimeograph.

GLC05622.03

21 April 1798

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Describes his journey from Paris to Bordeaux, where he waits to return to America. Writes with a vein of humor. Mentions that two wheels broke on the journey, but says such a fact does not need to be communicated to the Secretary of State, so the broken wheels can be saved a circuit around the United States. Will take the ship "Alexander Hamilton" home and says it "a very excellent vessel but for the sin of the name which makes my return in her almost as criminal as if I had taken England in my way." Hopes to make "an eternal adieu to Europe" as well as its crimes. Wishes for better health…

GLC05632

1821

Header Record

Title: Northwest Boundary: with 4 letters, printed report and folding map

Fixing the Northwest boundary between the U.S. and Canada, as far as Oregon Territory. Including complete record of American and British exploration parties. Manuscript book accompanied by map (#8) and 7 other items,starting with early preliminaries.

GLC05634

1829-1853

Header Record

Title: Papers related to the Amistad mutiny [Decimalized .01-.59]

This collection contains the papers of William S. Holabird, who served as United States District Attorney for the state of Connecticut during the Amistad trial. These materials include a letter of Judge Andrew T. Judson which suggests executive interference in the proceedings (#5), depositions of the Spanish minister (#7-9), testimony of witnesses (#10-14), and important letters of Secretary of State John Forsyth instructing Holabird on the Amistad case (#17-23). Also includes Holabird's commission as United States District Attorney (#16). Contains political or legal letters for the period…

GLC05636

April-June 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Autograph document

Title: [Brief from the Circuit Court regarding the Amistad case]

Referring to Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney, includes information pertaining to the Amistad case: "Gidney & others v. The Amistad Negroes. Circuit court U.S." Considers four principle points: "shall the vessel, & the blacks, be restored to the Spanish Government from whence they came;" "whether these negroes shall be restored to the Spanish Govt or be sit at liberty here;" "The Spanish Govt claim that the Amistad being a Sp vessel, and not having violated the laws of nations, on the municipal laws of this country... that the Courts of no other nation can hold jurisdiction of them;" and…

GLC05636.02

1900

Wilson, Herbert Wrigley, 1866-1940

Book

Title: The downfall of Spain: Naval History of the Spanish-American War

With long note of James E. Carr, Jr., regarding his receiving this book on loan. Carr's bookplate affixed to front cover.

GLC05642

December 1, 1798

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

References Bourne's letter of 23 November 1798. Writes to Bourne, American Consul in Amsterdam. Says he does not have any recent information from America. Says stories on the yellow fever in the American newspapers are distressing, but otherwise the news is good. Says Congress adjourned on 1 December 1798, but he does not know what Elbridge Gerry told them after he returned from France after the XYZ affair in October 1798. Believes that no matter what Gerry said, it will not change American-French relations. Says "As long as they continue to treat neutrals much worse than their Enemies, it…

GLC05656

1854

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Book

Title: Africa and the American Flag. By Commander Andrew H. Foote. U.S. Navy, Lieutenant commanding U.S. Brig. Perry on the Coast of Africa, A.D. 1850-1851.

Signed by Rear Admiral Semmes on the inner front cover. 390 pages of text followed by 18 pages of advertisements. Includes lithographs as illustration. Published by D. Appleton & Co. Discusses Western European and American interests in the African coast.

GLC05675

22 March 1864

Pierrepont, Edwards, 1817-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Evarts

Recounts a private conversation with the Secretary of State William H. Seward. Discusses presidential politics. Reports that Salmon P. Chase has withdrawn from the election. Remarks, "Mr. Lincoln has the people; there is no doubt of this; but he has not the upper classes nor the Politicians ... The Copperheads are all for McClellan. The radicals and Germans for Fremont. The Common Man for Lincoln ... " Mentions the ongoing Civil War, "Grant [General Ulysses S.] comes here today and leads the Army of the Potomac. We have every confidence that Lee must be destroyed ... We expect bloody…

GLC05603.01.02

1 January 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maunsel White

Jackson writes from Hermitage, his estate. Thanks White for a recent present of "sugar, syrup & oranges," characterizing the oranges as "the finest I ever saw." Expresses relief that White's family escaped a dreadful disease that swept through New Orleans the previous summer (possibly yellow fever). Assures White he (Jackson) will be a good host to White's British friend Joseph Courey, should Courey decide to call. Discusses business pertaining to a cotton shipment. Writes, "Our situation with England at present is critical. But a firm & energetic course if adopted by our…

GLC05614

11 October 1867

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward George Washington Butler

Lee, President of Washington College, replies to a letter from General Butler. Acknowledges the receipt of a pamphlet entitled "Oaths, Amnesties, & Rebellions." Discusses the execution of Ferdinand Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, before a firing squad in Mexico, stating that "His death was not necessary & accomplished nothing, but the excitement of the horror of the civilized world. He went to Mexico at the formal invitation of her people, & laboured hard for their improvement." Requests that Butler offer his regards to several acquaintances. Discusses a recent bout with…

GLC05275

December 21, 1816 - February 3,1817

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph manuscript

Title: To the Senate & House of Reps of the U. S.

Fragments of two messages to the House of Representatives of the United States. The first concerns an "act to authorize payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy while in the military service of the U. S. & for other purposes ... " Date of 21 December 1816, written in pencil in an unknown hand at a later time. Second page is a message to the Senate and the House of Representatives about his decision to sign the Tariff Act of 1816 which protected American industries from British competition.

GLC05279

8 July 1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Marshall

Marked private. President Washington offers the Ministry of France to Marshall. Says it was necessary to recall Monroe, the current minister. Hopes he will accept the offer as soon as possible. Post script says he wants Marshall to see him when he goes to Philadelphia for the session of the Supreme Court. Ultimately, Marshall declined the offer. Washington was angry at Monroe's inability to control French rage over the Jay Treaty of 1795.

GLC05288

16 December 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

States he is stuck on the Susquehanna River because of low tide and bad winds. Takes the opportunity to discuss administration of the Provisional Army. Says War Department should only communicate with a concentrated military leadership, or else it will get bogged down in details. Says he is not the best person to contact about day to day military affairs because he will not personally lead the army unless an actual military engagement seems likely. He wants McHenry to communicate with General Thomas Pinckney, the commander in the south and with General Alexander Hamilton in the north. General…

GLC05319

17 July 1862

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

To an unknown recipient (name is illegible), apparently a journalist. Wants the recipient to reply to the enclosed letter (not included) and tell his friends that he has no manual to spare. Says to tell that "You can say that I will furnish you with materials for an article on the great revolution in naval warfare resulting from the Monitors and the inevitable downfall of England as a great naval power which means: as a great power at all!" due to his invention.

GLC05294

15 September 1846

Johnston, Albert Sidney, 1803-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Griffin Johnston

Writes to his wife about the movements of his division and the numbers of the present force. Expects to be reunited with his wife and boys once the campaign is over and his appointment is terminated.

GLC05295

circa 4 November 1918

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Autograph document signed

Title: [Speech concerning the end of World War I]

Delivered while Coolidge was a Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, the speech is written in pencil and signed at the top of the first page. Notes indicate that the speech was delivered on November 4 at Faneuil Hall, just before the election and Armistice. Emphasizes winning the war as quickly as possible, reiterating his support for Woodrow Wilson, the unnamed "Commander in Chief", and maintaining American institutions. He writes, "Our work is drawing to a close...We had in view but one object -- the saving of America. We shall accomplish that object first by winning the war. That…

GLC05314

4 June 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Washington informs General Knox of the British army's progress (possibly in the Hudson Highlands, New York). States "It would appear from a number of circumstances that they mean to press their operations against the posts on the highlands ... The militia are calling out for amunition, and the supply for the army, as you know, is, far from being sufficient. I would therefore wish you to send on careful and active conductors to hasten forward to the army, a competent supply, from the nearest Magazines."

GLC07674

2 January 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Informs Greene of the size of a British expeditionary force of 1600 men under the command of traitor Benedict Arnold. Also mentions conflicting reports of the battle at Blackstock Plantation in South Carolina between Continental General Thomas Sumter and British Colonel Banastre Tarleton, 20 November 1780. He states, "The printers on both sides make it a victory." Wishes him a happy New Year. Postscript in Washington's hand comments that he heard word that Mrs. Greene and the children were well.

GLC07675