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

10 January 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

1814/08/01

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Document signed

Title: [Certificate for one share of "Hudson River Steam-Boat Stock."]

Certificate, signed by Fulton, entitling Cadwallader D. Colden to one share of "Hudson River Steam Boat Stock" upon payment of $500. Certificate refers to May 13, 1814, articles of agreement and August 1, 1814 memorandum of agreement between Fulton and Colden and contains receipt, acknowledging payment of $250. Colden (1769-1834), Robert Fulton's friend, lawyer, and first biographer, later became mayor of New York and a U.S. congressman. He also headed the syndicate that purchased the Hudson River Steamboat Company after Fulton's death in 1815. Accompanied by unrelated manuscript receipt,…

GLC04333

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

23 February 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

1859/03/24

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert S. Hollins re: returning a free railroad pass because of ethics

With the railroad pass. Buchanan returns the pass because he opposes a system which grants such privileges to individuals not connected with railroads.

GLC04339

16 April 1806

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Jarvis

First page contains Jefferson's letter to Jarvis acknowledging the receipt of Iberian wines for Monticello. Also briefly discusses U.S. foreign relations with European nations. Pages three and four contain Jarvis drafted response to Jefferson, dated July 22, 1806. Jarvis expresses satisfaction that the wines were well received and comments on foreign relations, including the prospect of the United States acquiring Florida. A Bostonian, Jarvis served as the Charge d'affaires at Lisbon from 1802 to 1811. Docketed on the second page.

GLC03873.01

8 May 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Proclamation relative to liability to military service

Partially printed document authorizes the Secretary of State to affix the seal of the United States to Lincoln's proclamation permitting the conscription of foreigners. This was under the Enrollment Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, for foreigners who had declared their intention to become United States citizens, "in certain cases." Title from docket.

GLC03877

19 August 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin B. French

Reports the results of a meeting with Secretary of War Stanton, "who...will return to the Trustees their own building now in control of the Surgeon General." Lincoln is referring to a Washington, D.C. school house that the War Department took control of to convert into a Medical Museum. Written on Executive Mansion stationary.

GLC03878.01

3 March 1812

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Congress

Transmits the proceedings of a convention assembled in New Orleans pursuant to an act "for the admission of the said State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States." Louisiana became a state on 30 April 1812.

GLC03879

circa February 1817

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Draft of first inaugural address]

First draft of president-elect Monroe's inauguration address. Monroe gave the address, with substantial changes, on 4 March 1817, beginning the Era of Good Feelings. The speech was the first outdoor inauguration since Washington's in 1789. Monroe's draft has a generally positive tone, expressing happiness and confidence with America's present and future prospects. It was written to appeal to everyone and avoids confrontation. Begins by thanking his fellow citizens for their trust in him and says he hopes to be a useful public servant. Following in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson's ideas on…

GLC03880

5 February 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Tallmadge

Notes that although the Culper spy ring [which he addresses as "he"] does not propose giving anymore information until the middle of March, he hopes if anything important comes up, he will be notified. Asks Tallmadge to communicate this. Samuel Culper was the code name for the spy network Tallmadge organized in New York City for Washington and in this letter, it is indicated as "C-- N.Y." Addressed to Tallmadge in the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, Durham, North Carolina. Severely foxed and discolored.

GLC03884

22 March 1784

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Johnston

In response to a 23 February 1784 letter from the assistant treasurer of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, Washington returns certificates (not included), with his signature and seal, for three European members of the state society. As president of the organization, Washington advises Johnston that the certificates must be countersigned by the secretary general, Henry Knox.

GLC03885

03 October 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington re: transmitting acts to organize the new government

Washington's letter also lists the acts and resolutions being transmitted, which are of an organizational nature.

GLC03886

14 April 1813

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine Smith

Writes to her granddaughter that parting with the children was "a weight upon my heart." Mourns the death of a sister, who was not able to say goodbye to her husband and children. Thanks Catherine for her letter and says she is longing to see her new great granddaughter Caroline. She passes on the news that Catherine's spouse, Mr. Smith, will have the option of going to England as Secretary of Legation or returning to America. Forwards some letters from friends at Washington, and wishes her well.

GLC03889

29 March 1813

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Adams, in retirement, to Rush, who was to die three weeks later. Forwarding a packet of eight papers on the revolution, including a letter from Vice President Elbridge Gerry and a letter of Benjamin Austin's to Gerry. These letters are not included here. Says he may show them to Carey (probably Philadelphia publisher Matthew Carey) if they help him with his plan. Mentions the incident around the Island of St. John's (Prince Edward Island) during the Quebec campaign in 1775 when Captains Selman and Broughton overstepped their orders and captured private property as well as prominent…

GLC03890

1845/07/15

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Tappan

Written as congressman. A beautiful and deeply felt letter. Concerning the opposition of abolitionists to his bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Adams writes that with opposition from both abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates, he resorts to silence and inaction. He further writes that, consulting the "sortes biblicae" (randomly opening a bible to learn one's fortune or course of action), he found the passage where the Prophet [Nathan] advised King David that the Lord had not chosen him to build the Temple (2 Samuel 7: 2-13). He ends the letter here. (Adams died…

GLC03891

19 May 1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christopher C. Sniffen

Douglass writes to Sniffen, secretary for President Ulysses S. Grant. Informs Sniffen, "it will be convenient for me to call at the Executive Mansion on Monday Morning, and if I learn nothing from you meanwhile requesting otherwise I will call on Monday at eleven o. clock am."

GLC03893.01

1839/12/19

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon Haven re: news from the capital and NJ, Clay expected to resign

Also reporting the (false) rumor that Clay would resign his Senate seat.

GLC03894