24 March 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Josiah Quincy

Written just one week after Continental forces captured Boston. Thanks Quincy and the nation for their praise, saying "To obtain the applause of deserving men, is a heart felt satisfaction - to merit them, is my highest wish. If my conduct therefore...hath merited the approbation of the great Country, I shall esteem it one of the most fortunate & happy events of my life." Despite the joy of his victory, Washington cautions that the Americans must remain on guard. Worries about the British fleet at "Nantasket Road." But is more afraid of spies, "There is one evil I dread, & that…

GLC04442

[1789/04]

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph manuscript

Title: Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.49-50]

Concerning taxation and the national debt. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks and leaves or clippings were given away as samples of GW's handwriting. Sparks regarded the document as unimportant since Washington had not actually used this draft. See other leaves: GLC 639.25 and 1589.

GLC04443.01

1844/05/11

Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gilbert Hawkes re: sending sample of Washington's handwriting

Transmitting GLC 4443.01.

GLC04443.02

8 June 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Hazard

Washington requests a report on the general state of the United States Post Office from Hazard, the Postmaster General.

GLC04444

27 February 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William A. Washington

Commisserates with his nephew, Colonel William A. Washington, on the death of his wife. Regrets he cannot find employment for Mr. Ashton, who had been recommended to him by his nephew, as he already has hired a clerk. Notes the grains he uses to make whiskey and the price he charges for it. Inquires about a source of staves for flour barrels, and tells him of queries on the Washington family genealogy from Sir Isaac Heard of the Heraldry Office in England. Asks about "Mrs. Washington of Bushfield".

GLC04445

March 10, 1884

Photograph signed

Title: Chester A. Arthur

Hand-tinted cabinet size photograph.

GLC04446

11 May 1865 - 13 May 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Header Record

Title: Letter and two telegrams requesting prosecution of Horace Greeley [Decimalized .01-.03]

Edwin M. Stanton writes one letter and two telegrams to Edwards Pierrepont asking him to prosecute Horace Greeley, who Stanton claims has tried to incite others to murder him.

GLC04452

23 April 1811

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Monroe shortly after he took office as Secretary of State to unknown recipient. Acknowledges recipient's letter of 15 April 1811. Was pleased with President Madison's offer of the job saying "it was addressed on such fair & liberal principles, proposing a cooperation of our labours & efforts to promote the publick welfare." His only concern about taking the job was leaving the office of Governor of Virginia after three months, but his friends supported his move to Washington. Says relations with Madison have picked up where they left off before. Expects more information…

GLC04453

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 Congress. Washington defended…

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