3 December 1838

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Last page of 1838 message to Congress]

"Whatever differences of opinion may exist as to the expediency of vesting such a power in the Judiciary in a system of Government constituted like that of the United States, all must agree that these disparaging discrepancies in the law and in the administration of justice ought not to be permitted to continue; and as Congress along can provide the remedy, the subject is unavoidable presented to your consideration." Note on verso dated 4 December 1838 states this was read and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.

GLC03994

3 July 1900

McKinley, William, 1843-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hay

Text reads: "Hay. Instructions to Ambassadors in China defining the attitude of the United States. Approved". Written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC03995

April 1799-February 1800

Gallup, Lodowick, fl. 1799-1800

Manuscript

Title: [Orderly Book, 13th Regt., kept by Lt. Gallup during Quasi-war with France]

An unsigned record of the 13th Regiment as it prepared for what was thought to be a war with France. Following the passage of a law providing for a provincial army, Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton Inspector General. After Washington's death in 1799, Hamilton became Commander in Chief of the Army. The orderly book includes orders from Hamilton, instructions from Hamilton regarding funeral services after Washington's death, and Hamilton's organization and planning for the regiment. Orders were written in Connecticut, at the regimental headquarters, and New York, at Hamilton's…

GLC03997

1817/06

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Hezekiah Niles.

Enclosure of papers for publication in Nile's Weekly Register. Adams mentions a letter of Washington's which may have been lost in the burning of Washington, D.C. and warning "Conclude not, from this that my papers are of any great value."

GLC03999

10 February 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Manuscript document signed

Title: to David Hunter

To Major General Hunter, Commander of the Department of the South, Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, military governor of the region including South Carolina, A. C. Smith, W. E. Wording, and William Henry Brisbane. President Lincoln authorizes these men to "select for Government use, for War, Military, Naval, revenue, Charitable, Educational or police purposes such tracts, parcels or lots of land, within the State of South Carolina, from the lands which may have been or which may hereafter be offered for sale by the Direct Tax Commissioners in said State." Authorizes the men's action based on…

GLC04001

1 November 1776

Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hoysted Hacker

Initialed by Jones on board the Alfred. Jones, commander of an expedition to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, informs Hacker (also on the expedition) that the Alfred will proceed to "the Spanish River near Cape North on the Island of Cape Briton." Informs Hacker, Captain of the Providence, of signals to use for identifying one another in heavy fog. Requests that the Alfred and Providence sail close together. Docket indicates that this letter is a copy.

GLC03928

12 April 1823

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adlum

Indicates that he received Adlum's memoir on cultivation of native wines, a bottle of Tokay wine, and a letter from Adlum. Discusses Adlum's memoir at length.

GLC03929

28 May 1782

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Lee

Reports on intelligence received from the arrival of USS Alliance and a French cutter ship, commenting on British attempts to weaken the American-French alliance. Discusses the diplomatic efforts of John Adams, Francis Dana, Robert Livingston, and John Jay in Europe. Mentions the capitulation of Yorktown and the good acquired. Comments on conflicting reports of activities in the West Indies. Ventures the opinion that "every triumph of enemy on the ocean is rather a new argument to all of Europe in favor of our independence." Closes with comments about the need for greater representation…

GLC03930

1801/02/20

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to an unknown recipient re: election of Jefferson as President

Offering his congratulations "on the election of Mr. Jefferson." The correct date is February (not July).

GLC03931

24 July 1790

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the change of capital city from New York to Philadelphia and having to move his family into a house that is unacceptable, but has no other choice. Asks the recipient how the changes will affect his intentions regarding Jack and lists the reasons why Pennsylvania will help Jack's career. Hopes that the capital will one day be upon the banks of the Potomac. No explanation as to who Jack is.

GLC03932

18 February 1969

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1926-2022

Document signed

Title: Pardon for Brian L. Butcher convicted of uninsured use of motor vehicle

GLC03934

1843/12/18

McKenney, Thomas Loraine, 1785-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles W. Brewster re: agreeing to speak on Indians at meeting in NH

Written as former Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for speaking at a meeting of the Portsmouth, N.H., Atheneum.

GLC03935

1 January 1808

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.D. Petit de Villers

Written by Butler in retirement. Reference de Villers letter of 29 December 1807. Expresses sympathy for the illness of Mrs. de Villers. Wishes them to live for many years more, but says they probably need a better climate than the one found in Savannah. Wants de Villers to dispose of the rice for the most it will bring and to transmit the net proceeds to his daughter Frances. Wants him to lose no time doing this. Hopes to see him and Judge Jones at Hampton. Postscript asks if he has heard from Mr. Seagrove?

GLC03936

1810/02/08

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.D. Petit de Villers

Laments the death of one of his sons.

GLC03938

August 1777

Hopkinson, Francis, 1737-1791

Autograph document signed

Title: to John Hancock and Robert Morris

Possibly written at Philadelphia. Hopkinson, John Nixon, and John Wharton submit a Continental Navy Board report to Congress. The Board designates a sum paid to "officers and Men on Board every Fire Ship in the River Delaware & Co the officers and Crew of any Chain of Fire Rafts which shall actually set on Fire & destroy any one of the Enemy's Ships of War ... " States that $2000 shall be divided in the following manner: $500 to the captain, $300 to the lieutenant, and the remainder equally divided among the crew.

GLC03939

1775/12/19

Johnson, William S., 1727-1819

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Directive to the Sheriff of New Haven County to summon Mark Leavenworth to the County Court]

Leavenworth was needed for a child support case, which is explained in detail.

GLC03940

18 November 1775

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Assessment of value of the Prosper, a British ship]

Laurens, Roger Smith, and Edward Blake obey orders of the South Carolina Provincial Congress in assessing the value the Prosper, which had been seized for service by the colonies. The men state that the ship is worth 2,000 pounds and recommend that government pay the sum and procure a ship register from Captain Smith, former commander of the Prosper.

GLC03942

May 4, 1757

Livingston, Philip, 1716-1778

Document signed

Title: [Witnessing 200 pound bond for manumission of slave]

Legal document for the posting of a bond for the manumission of the slave Ann. Signed as witnesses by the Aldermen and Justices of the Peace for the City and County of New York: John Cruger, Simon Johnson, Francis Gilpin, Philip Livingston (the Declaration of Independence signer), Leonard Lispenard, and William Coventry. Ann was previously owned by Eve Scurlock, a tavern keeper, who had recently died. Her will freed Ann. John Vanduersen, a cordswain, and Peter Burger, a cooper, paid the bond necessary to manumit her. Posting a bond was a condition of freedom for slaves after the revolt in…

GLC03943

1785/09/06

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Letter signed

Title: to President of N.H. re: sending journals, inadequate representation of NH

Writtn as Sec. of Congress

GLC03944

7 September 1865

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Davis Townsend

Major General Meade requests information regarding "the organization of the Division of Colored troops formerly belonging to the 28th Corps" from Townsend, the Assistant Adjutant General. Inquires regarding the status of the command of Brigadier General Payne (possibly Charles Jackson Paine). Instructs Townsend to send his reply to Major General [Thomas Howard] Ruger. Written in ink with several pencil notations.

GLC03946

1850/03/06

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Martindale re: special counsel to Indians

GLC03948

1865

Currier & Ives

Print

Title: Jeff's Last Shift

Cartoon depicting the capture of Jefferson Davis. Depicts his rumored attempt to escape in women's clothing. Davis had actually thrown his wife's overcoat over his shoulders prior to making an unsuccessful dash to elude the soldiers pursing him. Printed by Currier & Ives in the "Clerks Office of the District Court of the Unite States for the Southern District of NY." Originally folded down the center.

GLC03949

1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Photograph

Title: Tintype photograph taken by Cole in 1858, in later case; campaign image

Tintype, apparently based on Ostendorf 14 (the tintype reverses the image). Hamilton & Ostendorf, Lincoln in Photographs, p. 28 suggests that Roderick M. Cole of Peoria made the image about 1858. (See GLC 590.)

GLC03950

1863

Pamphlet

Title: The United States Conscription Act of 1863

Published by J. J. Dyer & Co. Printed by S. O. Thayer. Sold for five cents. Advertisements on inside front and both sides of the back cover. Gives full text of the Conscription Act, which was also known as the National Militia Bill, which was passed 2 March 1863. Divided into 38 sections. Has 2 page index. The Union draft law caused angst since exemption and commutation clauses allowed propertied men to avoid service, thus laying the burden on immigrants and men with few resources. Occupational, only-son, and medical exemptions created many loopholes in the laws. Original stab stich…

GLC03951

29 August 1780

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Indictment of William Samson for counterfeiting currency]

Signed by Paine as an attorney and also signed by John Bathes, Caleb Swan, and a Mr. Greenleaf as witnesses, and by Samuel Welles as foreman. Gives the details of the counterfeiting case against Samson. Paine is listed as an attorney.

GLC03952