August 31, 1836

Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853

Letter signed

Title: to President of the Geological Society of New Haven

Indicates that preparations are being made for the Wilkes expedition, "an exploring & surveying Expedition for the Southern Ocean." Requests for advice on the "formation of a scientific Corps" and recommendations of suitable members. Needs men acquainted with many branches of science, which he lists; a philologist "to collect vocabularies of the different languages, and an artist to take the portraits of the natives." Also asks for suggestions about what "subjects of natural history" the corps should focus on in their research. The Wilkes expedition to Antarctica was the first attempt to…

GLC00507.01

30 November 1859

War Department, United States

Pamphlet

Title: General Orders, no. 23.

With manuscript notes of Paul Semmes on front page. Statement of costs for clothing, camp and garrison equipment for the Army of the United States for the year starting on 1 July 1859. From the Adjutant General's office, S. Cooper. With fold out table on last page.

GLC00508.01

January 2, 1823

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Edward Wyer

John Quincy Adams writes this letter as Secretary of State. The letter is prelude to the Monroe Doctrine (12/2/1823). Dispatches were for the ambassadors in Spain, Forsyth (Spain) and Shaler (Algiers). Spain was considering Latin America intervention. Partial transcript in seller's description.

GLC00510

18 March 1905

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles A. Doyen, found guilty of violating Article 22 of Navy Code on 20 July 1901 in a court martial]

Doyen, a Major in the U.S. marine Corps, had a court martial convened to try him by the Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic Station on board the U.S.S. Alabama. He was sentenced to have his grade reduced two numbers and be publicly reprimanded. Theodore Roosevelt pardoned him due to request by the Sec. of Navy. Partially handwritten. Countersigned by Attorney General William H. Moody.

GLC00511

December 30, 1880

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of States to affix the seal to the pardon of William Brown, and three others].

William Brown, William Moff, Frederick Atwater, John L. Franklin were pardoned by President Rutherford B. Hayes.

GLC00514

9 April 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter about an act to protect U.S. seamen]

Printed circular letter, labeled "Duplicate" at top, regarding an act to further protect American seamen. Mentions the slave trade. Addressed to Thomas Aborn, Commercial Agent of the U.S. at Cayenne. Signed in type by Thomas Jefferson as president and Aaron Burr as vice president.

GLC00515

October 5, 1865

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Willard

Gideon Welles informs Willard, the Warden of the State Prison at Wethersfield, Connecticut, that he is ordering him to imprison five sailors convicted of capital crimes: Wesley B. McLane, James Wilson, James Brown, James Stivers, and Francis Johnson. Details the causes of their convictions and the length of their sentences.

GLC00517

01 August 1963

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Fred Frank Paul (c/s Robert F. Kennedy [AG])

Convicted of violating Sect.202 T.18 USC; pardoned as he is now law-abiding

GLC00525

1856

Hawks, Francis L., fl. 1856

Book

Title: Narrative of the Expedition of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854...

Title continues: "Under the Command of Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy, by order of the Government of the Unites States. Compiled from the original notes and journals of Commodore Perry and his officers, at his request, and under his supervision, by Francis L. Hawks, D.D.L.L.D. With numerous illustrations." Published by order of the United States Congress. Three volumes, with rare suppressed bathing plate, v. 1 p. 408.

GLC00532

December 31, 1851

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to James Robb

Henry Clay comments on the current perilous state of the Republic, and praises Senator Solomon W. Downs for his help in passing the Compromise of 1850. He asks James Robb to help make sure that the Louisiana legislature re-elects Downs as a senator. Clay worries that the election of another man may lead to increasing sectionalism and instability in Congress. The letter is written six months before Clay's death.

GLC00539

December 27, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Tredegar Iron Works]

Semmes's autograph retained copy, marked as a copy. Contract with Joseph R. Anderson, owner of Tredegar Iron Works, in preparation for war. Semmes was acting as agent for the State of Georgia. Orders six 18 pounder cannons, 1500 rounds of solid shot, 200 spherical case shot, and 100 canister shot. Stresses the need to provide this order without delay. Details the price Georgia will pay. Tredegar provided the Confederacy with almost a thousand cannons during the war and was the Confederacy's most valuable manufacturer. "... This contract made and entered into... by and between General…

GLC00503

1 May 1865

Stewart, Alexander Peter, 1821-1908

Document signed

Title: [Confederate soldier's pass for Private G. R. LeMournier Jr.]

Partially printed pass allowing Private G.R. LeMournier Jr., Orleans, to return home after taking an oath to not take up arms against the United States. In accordance with the terms of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender of the Army of Tennessee to Union General William T. Sherman on 26 April 1865. Signed by Stewart as Lieutenant General, C.S.A., and Francis (?) Dow, Major, U.S.A. With notes and docket on verso.

GLC00504

October 24, 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

May have been source for Declaration of Independence's list. Cosigned by George Wythe and Silas Deane, with an autograph manuscript signed copy of the resolution signed by Charles Thomson. Also, discusses compiling British hostilities. The letter was with congressional resolve.

GLC00505.01

18 October 1775

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph document signed

Title: Congressional resolve to appoint committee to compile list of hostilities

Appointed John Adams, Silas Deane and George Wythe to the committee.

GLC00505.02

1837

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Pamphlet signed

Title: An oration delivered before the inhabitants of the town of Newburyport, at their request, on the sixty-first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1837.

Inscribed on front cover: "John Connell Esq. from John Quincy Adams" Discusses the history of the independence movement; finding support from the Declaration of Independence; attacking nullification and states rights; condemning slavery; supporting free speech, etc. Pale blue paper cover. Printed by Morss and Brewster.

GLC00506

1836

Header Record

Title: Letter and book concerning the Wilkes expedition [decimalized]

[decimalized 00507.01-507.02]

GLC00507

1836

Reynolds, Jeremiah N., 1799-1858

Book signed

Title: Address on the subject of a surveying and exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas. Delivered in the Hall of Representatives on the evening of April 3, 1836

Published by Harper and Brothers. Inscribed "With the compliments" and signed by Reynolds. Also signed by Edward Sanford, possibly the book's owner. Concerns the Wilkes expedition, the first attempt to organize the nation behind an expedition to explore outside the continental United States.

GLC00507.02

December 1860 - March 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Header Record

Title: Paul J. Semmes archive regarding buying arms and military equipment [decimalized .01-.14]

14 copies of documents and letters, most in the hand of Paul J. Semmes about his efforts as agent to buy arms for the state of Georgia before the war. Contracts with Parrot for guns and DuPont for gunpowder.

GLC00508

December 11, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with Charles Hugh of Pittsburgh for six eight inch Columbiads, 300 solid shot, and 1500 shells. Advises that the guns will be inspected by a member of the U.S. ordnance corps. Informs that the guns weight 900 pounds each, the shot 65 pounds, and the shells, 50 pounds. Discusses the costs. States that these guns will be cast using the "Rodman patent." Remarks, "Such guns cannot be obtained at any other foundry in the U.S." Marked copy on docket. Addressed from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.02

December 21, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract for 300 Colt New Model Army pistols to be delivered in two weeks. Mentions that the same factory, the Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut is now filling orders for the U.S. Government at the same price of $22.50. Comments on the pistol, "...this is a very superior arm - a little longer & larger than Colts Navy and lighter than Colt Dragoon pistol and better than either." Informs of other contracts made for "...cavalry & artillery sabres, cavalry & Infantry equipments, rifle cannon &…

GLC00508.03

December 22, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]

Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The…

GLC00508.04

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a copy of a letter to the Secretary of War and to Major Wayne (not present), the newly appointed Adjutant General of Georgia. The letters concern an attempt to purchase tents from the U.S. government. Advises that the tents be manufactured in Georgia under Wayne's direction as cheaply as possible and of good quality. Informs that he will report on the status of a proposed contract for 18 pounders to be made in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC00508.05

December 25, 1860

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Brown

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Governor of Georgia enclosing a contract made with James T. Ames of Chicopee, Massachusetts (Ames Manufacturing) for cavalry equipment, postal pouches, haversacks, knapsacks & straps, Infantry equipment, carbine equipment, cavalry sabers, artillery sabers, and artillery saber belts and plates. With a pencil note signed PS stating he has had a cold since leaving Georgia. Written from the 5th Avenue Hotel, New York.

GLC00508.06

January 14, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Augustus Viele

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to Viele in West Troy, New York. Insists that Governor Brown and the State of Georgia will only make payments for the cannons produced by Viele's foundry according to the terms of the contract. Advises that Mr. Kemble of New York will appoint an inspector for the cannons in case Lieutenant Balsh cannot find one. Viele might have been worried about getting his payment as the war drew nearer.

GLC00508.07

January 15, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Manuscript document

Title: [Estimates of camp & garrison equipage for 10,000 men]

List of estimated costs of equipment for 7,500 Infantry, 1,500 Cavalry, and 1000 Artillery according to United States standards. Not in Semmes's hand but with additions by him. Includes items such as knapsacks, bedsacks, hatchets, camp kettles, tents and other equipment. Total cost of $109,436.80. (See 00508.11 regarding Georgia's decision to raise 10,000 troops.)

GLC00508.08