June 1, 1780 - February 15, 1782

Header Record

Title: Documents relating to quarrel between French naval officers [in French] [Decimalized .01-.10]

Documents relating to the quarrel between Comte de Grasse and Marquis Adhemar de Monteil. De Grasse commanded part of the French fleet aiding the Colonists during the American Revolution. Monteil served under him and commanded the Languedoc. Monteil became upset when de Grasse ignored an attack plan he suggested, and he was also angered by what he saw as favoritism towards other officers. De Grasse became upset when Monteil began to complain vehemently and demoted him to command of a smaller boat. The day after being demoted Monteil failed to follow de Grasse's orders and permitted the…

GLC04322

1781

Castries, Charles Eugène Gabriel de la Croix, marquis de, 1727-1801

Printed document signed

Title: Signaux de Reconnoissance pour servir a tous les vaisseux du Roi, dans les rencontres a la mer, & en se presentant devant les ports appartenans a la France, en Europe & dans les Colonies, pendant l'annee [in French]

French signal book of the Yorktown campaign. Lists the signals used for recognition by French naval vessels. Ten different sets of signals. Different signals used for night and day, for European and Colonial waters, and for contacting land and other ships. Flags used during the day, lanterns at night. Also includes list of preparatory signals, made by firing canons, to proceed messages. Last paragraph orders that signal book be seen only by the captain, never copied, kept under lock and key in a lead box, be thrown overboard if the ship is in danger of being captured, and be turned in…

GLC04323.02

29 August 1905

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles M. Taylor

Thanks for news of signing of Russo-Japanese treaty.

GLC04325

January 10, 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Staats Morris

Written as Secretary of War, Knox directs Morris to help Captain John Smith recruit in New York City.

GLC04326

6 December 1781

Drinker, John, fl. 1781

Broadside

Title: [Quaker petition to Pennsylvania authorities seeking protection for pacifism].

Seeks to acquaint others with the Quakers' religious principles, particularly as they manifested in a lack of support for the American Revolution. Praises and appeals to Pennsylvania's reputation for religious tolerance. Insist that their peaceable ways are intended to promote the good of the country. Created in a meeting on November 11, 1781, and submitted by meeting clerk John Drinker. Originally given to the Executive Council and Speaker of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, along with the request that they present it to the bodies they presided over. Printed by Francis Bailey. First…

GLC04329

November 4, 1798

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Constable

Asking Constable to meet in London with James Watt to inquire about terms for purchasing one of Watt's 24-inch cylinder steam engines. Counsels Constable to use his "discretion" in making terms. Livingston encloses a letter [not present] to Watt, which he asks Constable to read and copy, "as it will put it in your power to negotiate with any other projector if Dr. Watt has not come up to what you may deem reasonable." Earlier that year, Livingston had been granted a monopoly on steamboat traffic in New York; he would eventually team up with Robert Fulton to start the Hudson River Steamboat…

GLC04330

13 December 1813

Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828

Document signed

Title: [Depositions of Andrew Bartholomew & Arthur H. Roorbach]

Clinton's written summary of the depositions of Andrew Bartholomew & Arthur Roorbach, both steamboat captains employed by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston. Also includes a statement by Clinton certifying that the depositions are true. The depositions relate to the length of service of these two men and the kind of work they have been doing. Both men state they have captained steamboats for Fulton for almost three years and claim they have towed many boats during this time. These depositions seem to be part of an attempt by Fulton to establish that he was the first to employ…

GLC04332

25 December 1814

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Fulton

Adams states that Levett Harris, then handling U.S. affairs in Russia, has learned from the Russian Minister of the Interior that Fulton is in danger of losing his "patent of exclusive privilege for his Steam-Boat invention" in Russia because he has failed to provide the required drawing and description. Adams reports that he has asked Harris to assure the Russian Minister of the Interior that Fulton was not guilty of neglect, but most likely never received Adams's letters on the subject due to "the extreme difficulty of the communications" in the war-torn winter of 1813-1814. He urges Fulton…

GLC04334

26 April 1785

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lord Sydney

Written by Cornwallis, the defeated general at Yorktown, as Constable of the Tower of London for military affairs to Lord Sydney as Home Secretary in the Pitt Government. Understands that Lord Sydney wants him to explain his sentiments of Colonel Hamilton. Proceeds to give a very favorable report of Hamilton's character and actions in the Revolutionary War. Says Hamilton is now reduced to extreme poverty and that the "vast sums" due to him from his claims in America are unheeded. Written from Mansfield Street in London, England.

GLC04336

28 March 1785

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal Document on confiscation of slaves]

Written by the Declaration of Independence signer George Walton. Was written while Walton was the Chief Justice of Georgia. Legal document in the case Hancock v. Jack. Document declares that three negroes had been delivered by the "Commissioners of Confiscated Estates to Henry Allison." Allison had received the slaves as compensation for military service and had sold them to the defendant. Goes on to say that the plaintiff recovered them "as not having ever been public property." Says that Allison must apply to the government to be reimbursed. Attached document signed by Thomas [Hancock]…

GLC04337

February 23, 1884

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Egoff

Answers Egoff's request for a war relic and photograph by stating that a Mr. Rice of Philadelphia has made an engraving of Sherman with facsimile signature that is available for sale. Gives the contact address.

GLC04338.01

1864

Matthews, James, Muscoe, 1822-?

Book

Title: The statutes at large of the provisional government of the Confederate States of America, from the institution of the government, February 8, 1861, to its termination, February 18, 1862, inclusive. Arranged in chronological order. Together with the Constitution for the provisional government, and the permanent Constitution of the Confederate States, and the treaties concluded by the Confederate States with Indian Tribes.

Published by R. M. Smith, printer to Congress. Muscoe is the editor. Includes acts, proclamations, treaties, and the Constitution of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. Pages 289-394 contain treaties between the Confederate States and Native American Tribes. Includes an inserted plate bearing the initials and name of William Wood Crump, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederate States in 1864.

GLC04340

May 13, 1882

Astor, John Jacob, 1822-1890

Document signed

Title: [Indenture between John Jacob Astor and two railroad companies]

Signed by Astor, his wife, Charlotte Augusta, and Cornelius Vanderbilt as the Vice President of both railroad companies. Edwin F. Carey signed as a witness. Land indenture between Astor and his wife and the Spuyten Duyvil and Port Morris Railroad Company and the New York Central and Hudson River Rail Road Company. Involves land in Westchester County, New York. With illustration of the location of the land on page 300. Stamped Book 232, Page 289-300.

GLC04341

1671

Ogilby, John, fl. 1671

Book

Title: America. [first edition with 56 maps. large paper copy]

With numerous fold-out maps of the New World, including: NY (opp. p. 187), Va. (opp. p.192), Va to Fla. (opp. p. 213).

GLC04342

14 August 1775

Laurens, John, 1754-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Laurens

Written by Laurens as a law student at Middle Temple in London to an unknown recipient. Says he can get this and maybe another letter through without it being intercepted by British government officials. Writes extensively on his opinions of the revolution in America. Says "there does not seem to me, to be Virtue enough in this Country to save it - the Ambition of a few, and their deep laid Schemes for establishing arbitrary power, will cut her off from her Strength and Support, and effect a total Separation of the Colonies from the Mother Country." Says he has read the recipient's's and his…

GLC04343.01

16 March 1775

Laurens, John, 1754-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Laurens

Written by John Laurens as a law student at Middle Temple in London to his father Henry Laurens as a member of the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina. Has time to write because Mr. Curling is detained. Says he is sending the fourth number of the Parliamentary Register and other papers. Says Mr. Simmons is returning to America with Curling, but that their friend Dean's health keeps him from making the voyage. Says a letter from him will work wonders. Says some friends have inquired about Henry's health. Mentions that his friend Mr. Taylor has said "that the present Dispute between…

GLC04343.02

1770

Pittman, Philip, fl. 1770-1772

Book

Title: The Present state of the European settlements on the Mississippi [1st ed.]

First book in English concerning the Illinois region. By Captain Philip Pittman.

GLC04344.01

April 1869

Russell, Andrew J., 1829-1902

Photograph album

Title: Union Pacific Railroad. Photographical. Illustrations.

One photograph album entitled, "Union Pacific Railroad. Photographical. Illustrations," taken by Andrew J. Russell dated April 1869. Consists of 50 albumen photographs of views along the route of the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacrament, California. Contains an annotated table of contents, giving a brief description of each view; its peculiarities, characteristics, and connection with the different points on the road." Published by Authority of the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

GLC04348

circa 1868

Russell, Andrew J., 1829-1902

Photograph album

Title: Views of the American West

One photograph album entitled, "Views of the American West," taken by Andrew J. Russell. Consists of 30 albumen prints, each with a typed caption below each photograph. Photographs capture scenes of the developing American West and emphasize the expansion of infrastructural technologies into the natural landscape. Views of railroads, bridges, factories, and towns predominate, many of which are framed by surrounding mountains, cliffs, rivers, canyons, and other natural elements. Many photos prominently feature Mormon settlements in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, with particular attention…

GLC04349

19 December 1782

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ferdinand Grand

Writes to Grand, a banker, about the repayment funds used for diplomatic purposes. Also noted additional funds may be needed. Adds the comment: "God grant us peace that we may no longer be plagued with so many demands for money."

GLC04350

1792-1948

Header Record

Title: Collection of autographs, including Clay, Mary Eddy Baker, Z. Pike (Sr) [Decimalized .01- .08]

GLC04352

19 October 1887

Eddy, Mary Baker, 1821-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary E. J. Chapin

"I find it impracticable to see you this week. Am utterly occupied." Assumes Chapin wants to meet with her to discuss a problem she is having with her teacher, Mrs. Woodbury. She empathizes with her and suggests that Chapin work out the problem with her teacher as a Christian.

GLC04352.02

10 September 1792

Cornwallis, William, 1744-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Ross

Written by Commodore Cornwallis to Colonel Ross in Calcutta, India. Written quickly and handwriting is sloppy. Cornwallis was a naval commander in India who gave support to his brother Lord Charles Cornwallis, the Governor General of India (who was also the loser at the Battle of Yorktown). Was pleased to received a letter from Ross informing him of his brother's good health. Describes a place (its name is in illegible handwriting) as not meeting his expectations. Says he only arrived here on Saturday evening. Says a certain ship (the name is illegible) left before he could visit it.…

GLC04352.03

16 November 1798

Pike, Zebulon, 1751-1834

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for one pound of musket powder]

Request made of the Conductor of Military Stores "for the use of the Officers of this Garrison" at Fort Pickering.

GLC04352.05

circa 1861-1910

Howe, Julia Ward, 1819-1910

Pamphlet signed

Title: [Battle Hymn of the Republic].

Four pages.

GLC04352.07