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to Gov. John Letcher re: asking Virginia to join CSA and sending Stephens
1861/04/19
Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
Signed as President of the Confederacy. Also sending Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens to negotiate alliance.
GLC02285
to Elbridge Gerry re: neutrality, French alliance, and his anti-British feelings
1781/06/16
Adams, John, 1735-1826
Written as U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. The first part recommends the bearer, Mr. Le Roy, desirous of commercial connections in America. Adams deprecates the idea of armed neutrality and concludes: "you must not entertain the most distant Idea...
GLC02292
to Elbridge Gerry re: frustrations and doubts on British commercial treaty
1785/07/06
Written as U.S. Minister to Great Britain after formally presenting his credentials to George III. Enclosing letters (not included) "sent to Mr. Jay in Cypher." America had been flooded with British imports after the Revolution, but Congress was...
GLC02293
to William Stephens Smith
23 October 1815
Thanks him for his letter, which included a letter from William Cobbett to Niles. He loves clergymen "because they are often sociable and sensible men," but "the priesthood seems to have something militant and belligerent in its nature." Remarks...
GLC02295
[Abraham Clark's account to Congress]
6 October 1784
Clark, Abraham, 1726-1794
Submitted and signed by Clark, a Declaration of Independence signer, as a Continental Congressman from New Jersey. Formal account for service in Congress. Mentions that he attended Congress on: 15 November 1782-4 January 1783, 25 February 1783-25...
GLC02298
to unknown
August 1857
Written after relinquishing the post of Secretary of War, defending himself against charges made by General John Wool. Davis asks that his correspondent publish his letters on the matter, in hopes of clearing his name. Davis also writes about the...
GLC02299
to Silas Deane
7 April 1778
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
Franklin writes to Deane about an angry letter he received from Arthur Lee, who along with Franklin and Deane was on a diplomatic mission in France. Lee was mad at Deane for "going without acquainting him of it" and also angry with "the Court's...
GLC02301
to Henry Dearborn
1814/06/04
Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815
Lists the estimated costs of constructing the first steam-powered U.S. naval vessel. Fulton estimates that $25,000 will be required for three months, with the amount decreasing after that. Costs include materials, wages, and a monthly payment to the...
GLC02302
[Portion of an address on the containment of Communism]
1952/08/12
Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963
Incomplete draft of a speech Kennedy delivered 12 August 1952 to the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Federation of Labor. Reflects on Communist expansion and America's need to contain it. Working manuscript with many insertions and deletions...
GLC02313
to Col. A.C. Moore re: organizing defenses of Virginia
1861/07/15
Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870
Written as Major General to Moore, commander of the 29th Regt. Va. Vols., during the week before first Manassas. (Written before his assignment as commander in South Carolina and later as commander in chief of the Army of Northern Virginia.)
GLC02314
to Ulysses S. Grant
June 15, 1864
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Lincoln writes to Grant prophesying Grant's victory. Very brief telegram: "I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all." A very famous letter.
GLC01572
to Thomas Jefferson
April 19, 1821
Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Mentions funding appropriations for the University of Virginia, and states that he enclosed a report on the subject. Pledges continued support for the University. A discussion of foreign relations with Europe follows. Comments on an Austrian attack...
GLC01576
to Benjamin Franklin
July 1776
Washington, George, 1732-1799
A cryptic but important letter written in the same month as the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, as commander in chief, in response to Franklin's letters. Possibly a draft since Washington has left the day and a name blank, but soon or...
GLC01588
Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.57-58]
April 1789
Concerning trade and population growth, with allusion to the postal service, newspapers and manufactures. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks (whose unsigned autograph note...
GLC01589
to Rachel Jackson
January 25, 1819
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Andrew Jackson writes to his wife that he has arrived in Washington, a day after Henry Clay made an inflammatory speech against him. However, he is confident, because he believes that "a very large majority" of Congress sides with him. He has also...
GLC01609
[Sentence commutation for Charles Manfri, convicted of selling heroin in New Jersey 19 December 1918, and sentenced to four years imprisonment]
March 6, 1920
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Charles Manfri, alias Charles Mansfield, was convicted of violating the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Act in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and sentenced to four years in the State penitentiary in Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to...
GLC01622
April 25, 1864
Discharging a boy volunteer upon the refund of bounty money.
GLC01630
to John Adams
January 17, 1801
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Complete text: "Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the US and will have the honor of waiting on him to dinner on Thursday next. / Jan.17.1801"
GLC01632
to Clement Biddle
April 9, 1778
Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786
Greene mentions that he discussed his plan to amend Pennsylvania's wagon law with General George Washington, who suggested that the change might cause jealousy between the army and state. Closes the letter by mentioning the return of Lafayette, who...
GLC01637
to Mrs. Elizabeth Powel
September 8, 1787
Washington thanks her for a reflecting lamp that was apparently a new and unusual European import. Comments, "The benefits which will flow from the general use of such Lamps, are too apparent for the light of them to be long hid from the American...
GLC01646
to Joseph Holt
July 1, 1864
Lincoln writes to Judge Advocate General Holt concerning army contractor Daniel Wormer, who was paid but failed to deliver 1200 horses to the army. Lincoln asks Holt to get the record and report on it to him. Letter written on Executive Mansion...
GLC01677.01
to Edwin M. Stanton
January 1, 1863
Halleck, Henry Wager, 1815-1872
Halleck writes to the Secretary of War to request that he be "releieved from further duties" as General in Chief of the Union Army because of differences of opinion between himself, Stanton, and the President. In March 1864 he was appointed (demoted)...
GLC01688
to Elizabeth Halleck
July 13, 1862
Halleck writes his wife a lengthy description of events that led to his appointment as General in Chief of the Union Army. He explains how he avoided quarrels between Edwin Stanton and George McClellan by refusing to mediate when asked to go to...
GLC01689
to Richard G. Dunlap
July 18, 1831
Letter written by Jackson as President, upset by the events surrounding the resignation of Major John H. Eaton as the Secretary of War. Jackson praises Eaton, as well as Martin Van Buren and Major William Berkeley Lewis for their loyalty. He attacks...
GLC01690
to Caleb B. Smith and William P. Dole
December 27, 1862
Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery to "Sec. of Interior (Smith) and Comr. of Indian Affairs (Dole)." Says that Mr. DuPuy lost his job as an Indian Agent after being falsely accused. Acknowledges that he should be reinstated, but realizes...
GLC01695
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