6 December 1780

Dunlap, John, 1747-1812

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, or, the general advertiser [No. 686 (December 6, 1780)]

Prints the Continental Congress's proclamation of a day of "public Thanksgiving and prayer." There is also an article on national fiscal matters and "Doctor Shippen's Vindication" for charges of neglect to soldiers during the American Revolution. Contains other news from around the colonies and many advertisements.

GLC06665

1797/10/24

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rev. Dr. Walter re: Europe's political strife, system of checks and balances

Some edge losses at top right, affecting a few letters. A rare letter, written as president, commenting on his writings on government, and their influence on the Federal constitution and his depair over Europe's political and military strife. He thanks Dr. Walter for sending two volumes of essays from Count Rumford and then elaborates of his system (in his book Defense of the Constitutions of the United States) of checks and balances between an executive and legislative branch. He writes in part that the three volumes of the Defense "were written with a view of not only compassing the…

GLC06666

27 November 1780

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

A personal letter by Adams as a Continental Congressman to his friend and protege, Gerry, a former member of Congress who decided to take a seat in the Massachsetts House of Representatives. Writes concerning his plans to retire from Congress and his fears that human nature is "too debased to relish the republican principles" on which the new American government is being founded. He worries about "political idolatry" and the corruption of Americans. Docketed by Elbridge Gerry.

GLC06667

circa 1777-1778

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [The Lancaster pocket almanack, for the year 1778. Being the third year of American Independency. Inscribed by William Ellery].

Title continues: "and the neighbouring states; containing a variety of useful lists and tables." Signed on the cover with his title: "Lancaster Almanack for 1778." Includes 24 blank pages for notes, which Ellery has filled with diary, notes, and some accounts while serving as a Member of the Continental Congress. He purchased the book in late 1777, possibly after Congress fled to Lancaster to escape the British occupation of Philadelphia. The diary discusses Congress' July 4 celebration, the British evacuation of Philadelphia, the Battle of Monmouth, Franklin's arrival at the French court…

GLC06669

1743-1759

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Header Record

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [Nos. 735-1567] [Incomplete] [Decimalized]

Collection of unbound newspapers. Edited with frequent pseudonymous contributions by Benjamin Franklin. Subjects include colonial and Indian affairs, European and Parliamentary news, commercial notices, and acts of Assemblies. Small folios with deckle edges.

GLC06670

7 August 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon and authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Lawson Eastham, charged with treason].

Andrew Johnson granted Lawson a full parson and amnesty for all the offences he comitted. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC06408

26 May 1777

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Patrick Henry

Gives a detailed refutation of claims that he contributed to the depreciation of paper currency by converting money rents to tobacco. Attests to his love for America and details how he leased out his property to support his family. Discusses the value of paper money and his financial situation. Refutes accusations that he "favored new England to the injury of Virginia" and concealed embezzlement while a member of the Secret Committee. Comments on the importance of sectional accord. Discusses the strength of the Continental Army.

GLC06410

1 March 1848

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jesse W. Fell

Short letter announcing the war's end. Predicts that the peace treaty submitted to Congress will be passed. Notes: Basler 1:454-55.

GLC06413

7 October 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel P. Chase

Writes of his intentions to appoint Marvin J. Green, a clerk under Secretary of the Treasury Chase, to the Commissary of General John J. Peck. Requests that Chase appoint a Mr. Hawley to replace Green.

GLC06414

1 July 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Henry Hunt as Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Artillery Regiment]

Countersigned by Edwin McMasters Stanton, Secretary of War, and Edward Davis Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General. Official seal has been ripped and is partially missing. Partially printed on vellum. Contains an image of an eagle, a knight's helmet, and several United States flags.

GLC06415.01

20 November 1805

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas McKean

Marked private and confidential. Written by Madison as Secretary of State probably to McKean as Governor of Pennsylvania. Madison is trying to keep the Marquis de Casa Yrujo (Don Carlos Martinez de Yrujo), the Spanish Minister to the United States, from going to Washington. Yrujo angered the Jefferson administration by his public disapproval of the Louisiana Purchase and Madison says it "will make it necessary that he should not remain indefinitely in this Country in his public Character." Wants McKean to use his friendly relations to Yrujo's family to communicate this fact in a…

GLC06416

12 March 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Charles Richardson's improvement in blacksmith's cast iron hollow forge backs]

Signed by Jackson as President. Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Richardson's written description of his improvement is signed by Albert and Cyrus Richardson as witnesses. Docketed 24 November 1837 by Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents. Sealed and bound with yellow ribbon.

GLC06418.01

23 February 1808

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William Swann to Captain in the first regiment infantry].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Henry Dearborn.

GLC06418.02

27 September 1821

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Arkansas land grant]

Signed by Monroe as President and countersigned by Josiah Meigs as Commissioner of the General Land Office. Also signed by "J. Wheaton," apparently a clerk in the land office who recorded the grant and by a "Will. Blanchard" on verso at the docket. Blanchard describes the tract of land and might have worked in a local land office in Arkansas, where the tract is situated. This document gave Isaac Sanders, "a private in Talbotts Company of the 19th Regiment of Infantry," 165 acres of land in Arkansas. This document is part of the bounty land offers that promoted enlistment during the War of…

GLC06418.03

10 April 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Printed document signed

Title: [Indiana land grant to Samuel Cook]

Countersigned by George W. Graham, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Partially printed document granting Cook eighty acres in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

GLC06418.04

14 September 1779

Pulaski, Casimir, 1747-1779

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

One of General Pulaski's last letters to Major General Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Possibly endorsed by William Washington (1752-1810), a relative of George Washington who served with Lincoln. Discusses events at the end of the siege of Savannah. Tells Lincoln he has the pleasure of sending Count D'Estaing and that he will do his utmost to join the Count with his detachment of calvary. Says one of his detachments took 11 prisoners without the loss of a life. Washington's note says Lincoln will send 1000 troops to facilitate communicate with D'Estaing Written at Habersham'…

GLC06419

19 March 1781

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Thanksgiving proclamation]

Signed by Hanson as President of Continental Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary to Congress. Proclamation from Congress calls "upon the several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." There is a slight paper loss to the edge of the document. Although the document bears the year 1781, Hanson did not serve as president of Congress until November of that year. The circular letter that originally accompanied the proclamation (John Hanson to the States, 20 March 1782, Letters of Delegates to Congress, memory.…

GLC06420.01

17 July 1780

Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: [William Ellery's copy of Rochambeau's response to the address of the General Assembly of Rhode Island].

Expresses France's dedication to providing military aid to the American Revolution, and the deference of French troops to George Washington's command. Rochambeau arrived in Rhode Island on July 10. Written on a faded, pale greenish paper. The version published in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 30 August 1780 has a number of textual differences.

GLC06421

1871/08/11

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Ord re: his opinion of Ulysses S. Grant in war and politics

"His strongest & only safe card is his military career. At the game of politics I think he loses more than he gains, for he bends too much [to] importunity and listens to exparte statements." With two hole punches at left edge

GLC06423

1 February 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Anthony White

No free frank. Orders Colonel White to send two troops from the regiment to Baltimore to pick up cavalry supplies. Specifies that one should be Captain David Hopkins's. Marked no. 1 at top. Free frank in clerical hand.

GLC06425

1779/10/29

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to George Clinton re: British fortification, Cherokee Indians and French troops

Signed page 2, with long postscript extending over pages 3-4. Expresses concern over continental soldiers. Also news from Laurens regarding the British fortification of Savannah and Count D'Estaing landing with 5000 French troops. Hopeful postcript: "[There was] perfect unanimity between the allies. It was expected the whole of the enemy would be in our hands within a week. A part of the Cherokee nation had... broken faith with us... they had in consequence been severely chastised."

GLC06426

5 August 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Woodbridge

Negotiates for credit to purchase a cannon for the Continental Army. With a presentation note on page three dated 17 April 1844 from Sheldon Woodbridge to H. A. Sheldon (signed by Woodbridge).

GLC06427

3 September 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Woodbridge

Indicates that he has referred Woodbridge's letter about finalizing a cannon purchase to Robert Morris because he (Washington) has to march southward (for the Yorktown campaign). See also GLC06427 on the cannon purchase.

GLC06428

1782/03/22

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John A. Washington re: nephew's education, preparing to meet army

Faded with some losses supplied with pen facsimile. Written to his brother. Preparing materials for his departure to meet the army on the Hudson (North) River. Also discusses his precarious financial situation. "You are but little acquainted with the situation of my affairs if you suppose I have money at my command -- the contrary from bad years, bad crops or bad management is so true, that I find it difficult to support my family...." He is trying to raise money by loan, sale of negroes or any other way. In any case he will pay for his nephew's education.

GLC06429.01

20 March 1782

Wilson, James, 1742-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Formal letter of contract in which Wilson, a prominent Pennsylvania attorney, agrees to let Washington's nephew read law with him. For a fee of one hundred guineas, Wilson agrees to furnish him with reading matter at his lodgings, and says that he may come into the office for information. In a few months Wilson will take him into the office.

GLC06429.02