9 November 1797

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

Written by King as American Ambassador to Britain to Secretary of State Pickering. Written in numeric cipher, probably concerning the implications of XYZ Affair. Letter was unable to be uncoded at this time. Cipher could possibly be in the Rufus King Papers at New-York Historical Society.

GLC04798

1786

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Armand-Charles-Augustin de La Croix de Castries [in French]

Memorandum written to de Castries. Manuscript concerning efforts to strengthen the alliance between the United States and France through trade and more substantial means. It was probably written after 15 June 1786, the date Jefferson wrote a letter to Lafayette about making Honfleur a free port. The contents fit in with Lafayette's other commercial initiatives during early summer 1786. Date inferred from Lafayette Papers, Robert Crout.

GLC04799

09 July 1803

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles J. Fox [in French]

Lafayette writes to English politician and friend, Charles Fox, regarding his own health. Lafayette had recently broken several bones and torn tendons in a fall, but reports that he is on that mend and will soon be back at La Grange, his country estate outside of Paris. He commends Fox on his attempts to forge peaceful relations with France. He also believes that all will soon agree that the acquisition of the Louisiana territory from the French by the United States is for the best. Notes that the letter will be brought to Fox by James Monroe, then American Ambassador to England. He asks Fox…

GLC04800

10 November 1828

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremy Bentham

Confirms that he has settled on his farm at La Grange and indicates that he is studying Bentham's philosophy. Discusses standing armies and the role of the militia in defending the United States. Also discusses "the impeachment of ministers" and labels himself "a disciple of the American School," and includes commentary on the French Revolution.

GLC04801

27 September 1830

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wiliam Wilberforce [in French]

Inquiries on the slave trade in France & America. Alludes to Wilberforce's attempts to have Lafayette freed from prison. Docket is in English, in Wilberforce's hand. Letter has been transcribed in English. Wilberforce as the recipient is confirmed by the content of the letter and the handwriting of the docket.

GLC04802

11 May 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Written by Laurens as President of the Continental Congress to Rodney as President of Delaware. Says he sent a packet on 9 May 1778 by General William Smallwood. Says it contains 20 copies of an address by Congress on the regulation of armed vessels. Hopes Rodney will distribute them as he sees fit.

GLC04804.01

1778/05/09

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation.

This document is a proclamation ordering American ships to act according to an honest code and not take up piratical acts while in American waters. It is a printed broadside approved by Henry Laurens and Charles Thomson as President and Secretary respectively.

GLC04804.02

16 October 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution denying the flag of truce to British Peace Commissioners]

Denies the use of flags of truce to "nefarious" British peace commissioners who abused the privilege to disseminate "under the sanction of a Flag certain seditious Papers under the name and title of Manifestoes...with a view to stir up dissentious animosities and Rebellions among the goode Popele of these States."

GLC04805

30 January 1776

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Autograph letter

Title: to John Page

Lee, a Virginia delegate to the first Continental Congress, reports on the reception and failure of the Olive Branch Petition (an attempt to broker peace with England after the outbreak of the American Revolution but prior to the Declaration of Independence). Also discusses raising an army, sending newspapers, and a potential military appointment. Page was a Virginia politician and military officer.

GLC04806

24 November 1777

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger Sherman

Discusses the surrender of John Burgoyne, Cornwallis' movements, and the loss of Red Bank, among other activities in the Revolutionary War. Also mentions international relations and naval activities. Supports the Articles of Confederation, comments on the need for the states to compromise with each other, and discusses other issues pertaining to the formation of the United States. With a long signed postscript that updates his comments on the war.

GLC04808

1775

Russell, Ezekiel, 1743-1796

Broadside

Title: Bloody Butchery by the British Troops [First printing]

Printed and sold by Ezekial Russell. Printed broadside in three columns with woodcut mourning borders and two rows of forty woodcut coffins (each captioned with the name of an American casualty). Detailed narrative of battles at Lexington and Concord. References: Evans 13898; Ford, Massachusetts Broadsides 1792; Streeter, American Beginnings 41; Winslow, American Broadside Verse 28.

GLC04810

29 November 1852

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Mortgage indenture taken on 160 acres in Menard County, Illinois by Thomas and Elizabeth Cantrall]

This document is a record of a mortgage indenture filled out and signed by Abraham Lincoln in the state of Illinois by Thomas and Elizabeth Cantrall. The mortgage indenture was taken out for 160 acres in Menard County, Illinois. Lincoln's AES dated 6/22/1858. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Work Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. II 1848-1858, p. 162

GLC04811

2 August 1858

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.W. Michael and William Proctor

Replies concerning Stephen Douglas, "Judge Douglas considers my presence at his appointments as an intrusion; and so I have concluded to not be present at them." States that if they can assure him an audience at Lewistown on the 17th, he will try to be there. Written during his campaign against Stephen A. Douglas for his Senate seat. Note on the verso by a previous owner stating the letter is the property of Mary Laura K. Wright of Canton, Illinois.

GLC04812

1864/03/04-18

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Header Record

Title: Petitions re: separation of church and state in Memphis, Tenn. [decimalized]

1) Second Presbyterian Church of Memphis. DS: [Memphis], [n.d.] Petition to Abraham Lincoln re: returning control of the church to Union clergy. 7 p. With AES of Abraham Lincoln (4 March 1864) re: necessity of separation between church and state; and AES of Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut (18 March 1864) re: "no military necessity" for taking church into Union hands. 2) Chaplain Association of Memphis. DS: Memphis, 11 March 1864. Petition to Army Surgeon P.J.D. Irwin re: attesting to church's Confederate leanings. 9 p. With endorsement of surgeons in charge of U.S. general military…

GLC04813

23 June 1782

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Livingston, then Secretary of Foreign Affairs, notes on the benefits of the British surrender at Fort St. Phillips. Comments on the "distrusts and jealousies between Spain and the People of the Country," discussing disruptions to the Havana trade and the surrender of the Bahamas to Spain. Suggests that it is strange that the Dutch United Provinces acknowledged American sovereignty before Spain. In regard to military activities, mentions the rejection of British General Alexander Leslie's proposal to General Nathanael Greene for a cessation of hostilities. Comments on the strengthening of…

GLC04814

22 August 1775

Lynch, Thomas, 1749-1779

Document signed

Title: Receipt for 50 pounds

Partially printed. Provided by South Carolina as legal compensation for an executed slave belonging to Lynch's father, Thomas Sr.

GLC04815

1814/08/30

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Graham re: commercial treaty with Britain; instructions on Florida

Madison gives instructions for forwarding the report on unsettled question of ownership of Florida; and mentions the disposition of pending appointments and commissions. Two black and white bust engravings of Madison included.

GLC04816

1776/02/22

Massachusetts

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation for a general fast [Massachusetts Bay Colony]

Printed by Benjamin Edes. References: Evans 14841, MHS Broadsides 1981.

GLC04817

25 August 1778

McIntosh, Lachlan, 1725-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Conveying instructions of Virginia Governor Patrick Henry to contribute militia for McIntosh's expedition into Indian Territory. Asks for three hundred fully armed men and requests that they be enlisted for the longest possible duration because the distance and obstacles are uncertain. Written from Fort Pitt.

GLC04818

3 August 1791

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

In the summer of 1791 enemies of the Rodneys in Delaware were alleging that Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney's brother, had misappropriated funds authorized by Congress for an attack on Canada during the American Revolution. Caesar had died in 1784. McKean expresses his belief that Caesar's behavior with the funds was honorable, and Caesar's papers may reveal a contemporary letter from McKean to Caesar in which McKean spoke about the complex details of the transactions. If Thomas finds this letter, it will clear his brother: "With a view to afford some consolation to you in your present…

GLC04819

15 September 1775

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter

Title: to William Henry Drayton

Discusses South Carolina's military preparations for the revolution. Informs that transports and frigates will be at Charleston soon and that Fort Johnson is reinforced and garrisoned. Reports on armed schooners ready for defense and batteries that are being formed. Letter is not signed but Middleton is noted as the author on the docket.

GLC04820

1 March 1783

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lyman Hall

Asks Hall to resolve a debate over ownership of a slave. Mr. Melvin purchased a slave that had belonged to Middleton but had been captured by the British. When Middleton encountered the slave he claimed it as his own, since it had been wrongfully stolen from him. Melvin appears to want full value in exchange for the slave, while Middleton believes he owes only a fraction of this. Paper border around letter. Written at Cedar Grove Plantation.

GLC04821

25 June 1780-11 July 1780

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Very detailed and highly critical discussion of the Continental Congress's new financial plans passed 18 March 1780. Comments on payments, currency, taxation, and banking. Also comments on military aid from the French. Docketed by Gerry.

GLC04826

15 June 1781

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Harrison

Accepts the appointment as governor of Virginia. States that first he must settle some matters relating to the army with Major General Marquis de La Fayette. Reports that they are in pursuit of the British army which is moving down the James River. Written from camp near Watson's Tavern, Fluvanna County, Virginia. Addressed to Harrison as speaker of the House of Delegates.

GLC04827

2 September 1781

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph note signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Note written on the bottom of a signed printed circular letter that discusses the importance of meeting Cornwallis, the arrival of French fleet, and the need for supplies. Virginia Governor Nelson's note mentions the receipt of "Intelligence from the northward that requires very large supplies of Provisions, Forage, Liquors & Waggons to be placed on the Route from Alexandria to Fredericksburg." Comments on the urgency of this matter, which was part of the Yorktown campaign.

GLC04828