17 October 1780

Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Begins by stating that he is thankful no one can publish his letters after his death since he does not write any. Discusses the treason of Benedict Arnold and the British spy John Andre. Comments on the capture of Andre and wonders why Andre was not able to escape as he was on horseback and the three Americans on foot. Remarks on Arnold's escape, "But why, if Providence had the management of the whole, did she let Arnold escape. Perhaps to be hung afterwards by the Enemy for some act of traitorship against them. In this case he will have no apology left and all Parties will call him what…

GLC04454

18 February 1778

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Autograph letter

Title: to Theodorick Bland

Written by Penn as North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress and Declaration of Independence signer to Bland as a Colonel of Virginia Calvary. Says nothing has happened other than General Sir William Howe's agreement to exchange prisoners of war. Since General Howe did not purchase clothing for American prisoners of war in Philadelphia he says Congress has resolved not to purchase "any necessaries for his prisoners with us." Says British prisoners will get same treatment as American prisoners. Claims that Howe praised General Washington, but castigated…

GLC04455

20 December 1916

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John J. Pershing to Major General]

Commission to begin on September 25, 1916. Countersigned by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker. Stamp indicating receipt by the Adjutant General's office dated 6 January 1917 and signed by H.P. Milam as Adjutant General. Dated when Pershing commanded the punitive expedition against Pancho Villa. Includes blue paper seal from the United States War Office.

GLC04460

February 23, 1861

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Manuscript document

Title: [Beauregard's copy of an official letter relative to his resignation from the Army]

A copy in Beauregard's own hand of the letter stating "Your resignation has been accepted by the President of the United States." Pencilled docket, also in Beauregard's hand, states "Mrs. Slidell left Wash, Feby 26. 1861 to return to N.C. Mr. Slidell had arrived in N.C. the Saturday preceding, but what date?" The original letter of resignation from the Army was sent by E. D. Townsend from Washington, D.C.

GLC04462

3 February 1909

Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915

Typed letter signed

Title: [To the editor of the Independent]

Washington, founder and principal of the Tuskegee Institute, expresses appreciation for any reference made within the Independent regarding an upcoming meeting of the Tuskegee Negro Conference, held at the Tuskegee Institute. Does not note the name of the editor. Written on Tuskegee Institute stationery.

GLC04466.01

1789/08/10

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington re: forwarding act of Congress (not present) on state debts

GLC04467

1798/07/16

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To: John Rutherford.

Call to convene Senate to receive communication (Quasi-War)-Washington's acceptance of command in the event of war with France.

GLC04468

26 July 1798

Russell, John, 1764-1831

Newspaper

Title: Russell's gazette commercial and political [Vol. IV, no. 41 (July 26, 1798)]

Prints a lot of news pertaining to the Quasi French War. Contains an excerpt from a speech by Theodore Dwight analyzing Thomas Jefferson's Spring 1797 "Mazzei" letter as "a perfect compendium of the French, and anti-federal policy, as exhibited in the United States." Includes excerpts from other orations on "the compact of nations" and aliens. Includes articles on French liberty and the sedition act. Also publishes an anti-French "Political Creed," a letter critical of Harvard College, port news, a 18 July 1798 letter from George Washington to President John Adams, military appointments,…

GLC04468.02

14 June 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Remitture of the forfeiture of the sloop Nun to master Winthop S. Baker, whose ship was siezed for importing slaves].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. The sloop Nun was seized in the territory of Florida. Jackson, in consideration of the premises, "divers other good and sufficient reasons," and on payment of costs, orders remission of the vessel and further orders that a "nolle proseque" be entered in all suits against her.

GLC04469

24 June 1848

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Paterson, John Smith & Peter Johnson, convicted of larceny on high seas.

Convicted of larceny on high seas; sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of $30 each. Pardoned after serving prison sentence, as "they are seafaring men, dependent upon their monthly wages for support, have no property, and are wholly unable to pay the fine...". (c/s James Buchanan)

GLC04470

18 February 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Morris as a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania. Reports to Morris that Congress will return to Philadelphia, and suggests that its return may relieve some of the burden of Morris's work. Says he has sent his secretary to secure a house for him. Hancock also asks for wagons to transport the papers of Congress from Baltimore. Asks for four of them. Concluding with a kind postscript: "A number of friends... dine with me tomorrow, when we shall not be unmindful of our Philada friends." Free frank is in Hancock's signature on…

GLC04431

19 June 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolution of Massachusetts Legislature]

Signed approved by Hancock. Also signed by Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House, and Samuel Phillips, President. Certified as a true copy by John Avery as Secretary. Concerns levying taxes on the polls and estates in Worcester County, Massachusetts in order to discharge debts. One seated engraving of John Hancock included.

GLC04432

1811/04/15

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Paganel re: tragedy of the French Revolution, hopes for liberty

Paganel, author of Essai historique et critique sur la Révolution Française (Paris, 1810), sent a copy of his work to Jefferson, perhaps one of the few copies to survive burning at the hands of Napoleon's censors. Jefferson writes in part: "[t]he perusal of this work has given me new views of the causes of failure in a revolution of which I was a witness in it's early part, & then augured well of it. I had not means afterwards of observing it's progress but the public papers, & their information came thro channels too hostile to claim confidence. An acquaintance with many of the…

GLC04433

8 August 1816

Lee, Henry, 1756-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Carter Lee

Counsels his son, Charles Carter Lee, who was attending Harvard. Tells him to acquire knowledge from its foundation and not on the surface: "this last turns man into a puppet & the first fits him for the highest activity & the most lasting pleasure." On writing he says: "never mind yr style -- ony write yr first impressions quickly & clear & honestly. Style will come in due time, as will the maturation of judgement." Tells him to love virtue. Enjoins him to correspond with his parents. Written from the West Indies, where Henry Lee was attempting to recover his health.

GLC04434

21 May 1860

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Letter signed

Title: to the New York State Republican Central Committee

Addressed to Charles C. Nott, William H. Ball, A. J. Williamsin, C.S. Spencer, and F. W. Shepherd. Thanks the members of the committee for their support. Expresses his disappointment at not receiving the Republican nomination for president but states that he is willing to support the Republican platform and Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. "I find in the resolutions of the Convention a platform as satisfactory to me as if it had been framed with my own hands, and in the candidates adopted by them, eminent and able Republicans with whom I have cordially cooperated in maintaining the…

GLC04435

1860/05/31

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Header Record

Title: Letter on publishing Cooper Institute address, with pamphlet [decimalized]

GLC04436

1860/05/31

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles C. Nott re: publishing Cooper Institute address (for 1860 election)

Lincoln's letter to Nott concerning the Nott-Brainerd edition of the Cooper Institute address. While gracious for the time they have spent in correcting and annotating his speech, Lincoln is quite adamant that the speech is not to be altered so as to misrepresent his position. "So far as it is intended merely to improve on grammar, and elegance of composition, I am quite agreed; but I do not wish the sense changed, or modified, to a hairs breadth. And you, not having studied the particular points so closely as I have, can not be quite sure that you do not change the sense when you do not…

GLC04436.01

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The Address of... delivered at Cooper Institute [ed. by C.C. Nott & C. Brainerd]

Printed by George F. Nesbitt & Co. Edited by Charles C. Nott and Cephas Brainerd and issued by the Young Men's Republican Union of New York. This pamphlet is collateral to Lincoln's letter to Nott, taking him to task for taking liberties in editing the Cooper Institute address. With printed cover printed on white-colored coated paper.

GLC04436.02

1784

Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, 1746-1807

Diary

Title: [Diary of a journey over the Alleghenies to the Ohio River]

Writes this journal while travelling from Pennsylvania to Ohio after obtaining appointment by the Assembly of Virginia to locate lands intended for Virginia officers who served in the Continental Army.

GLC04438

8 June 1798

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Jacob Wichelhausen

Letter forwarded to Wichelhausen, American Consul in Bremen, by Rufus King, American Ambassador to Britain. King's signature appears on the address. Secretary of State Pickering says he received Wichelhausen's letter of 16 January 1798 as well as several other letters and states he is providing diligent service. Comments on Wichelhausen's idea of issuing certificates to American merchant ships that state no British goods are being carried in order to counter a French decree of seizures. Says the French decrees are contrary to international law and will only be countered with force and…

GLC04439

23 January 1837

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. A. Weber

Discusses tariff reduction at length and the opposing views of the southern states on the matter. Also brings up sectionalism, the failed Whig campaign of 1836, and fear that " ... no union can be formed between us and the latitudinarians of the north." Written from "Gloucester Place."

GLC04440

18 June 1859

N.B., Onthank, fl. 1859

Photograph signed

Title: Original painted photograph of Abolitionist John Brown, inscribed by Brown to his children

This is a photograph which has been painted in watercolor by N.B. Onthank. Written on front bottom corner of mount is Brown's signature and salutation, which reads "June 18th 1859. Your Affectionate Father, John Brown." With the oval blind embossment of J.B. Heywood, 176 Wash. St., Boston.

GLC04447

23 September 1861

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of James M. Mason as Confederate Special Commissioner to England]

Credentials appointing James M. Mason Confederate Special Commissioner to England. Signed by Hunter as Secretary of State. Partly printed document, in calligraphic hand with blind stamp of the Confederate States of America, Department of State. The arrest of Mason and John Slidell on their diplomatic voyage to Europe began the Trent Affair.

GLC04448

8 June 1778

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Hartley

Written by Franklin as a diplomat in France to Hartley as a member of the British Parliament. The two were friends since the 1760s. References a letter he wrote to Hartley on 25 May 1778 concerning 200 British prisoners of war. Franklin says "We are oblig'd to keep the Prisoners on shipboard where I doubt they can be comfortably accommodated" and hopes they can be exchanged. Hartley and Franklin would later work together in Paris to sign the peace treaty ending the war. Docketing appears to be in Hartley's hand.

GLC04449

16 February 1862

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Buckner

Souvenir autograph copy of Grant's famous February 16, 1862, letter to Buckner demanding "unconditional surrender" of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, one of the best-known of Grant's wartime letters. This copy was written by Grant, probably in the late 1870's or early 1880's. Grant often signed copies of this letter for friends but this is only one of two copies known to be entirely in Grant's own hand. Misdated 1863. When the Confederates' breakout attempt failed, Buckner, an old friend of Grant's, asked what terms of surrender he would offer. Grant replied "No terms except unconditional and…

GLC04450