16 August 1800

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus King

Written by Marshall as Secretary of State to King as American Minister to Britain. Acknowledges that all letters inclusive to No. 74 have arrived. Says if it is proper, King should send friendly dispositions of the American government after an assassination attempt on King George III. President Adams wishes William Eaton's commission to be executed with the Bey of Tunis, even though it means purchasing the pact with jewels. Says he will keep King informed on situation with the Barbary powers, and has told other ministers to send information to him. Hopes to have instructions on how to deal…

GLC04535

May 1835

Knapp, Alfred, fl. 1835

Broadside

Title: An Act for the Government and regulation of seamen [for "Lady Washington"]

Printed official act by the United States Congress outlining restrictions and regulations which will apply to Seamen in the Merchants' Service. Authored by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg as Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Adams as Vice President of the U.S. and President of the Senate, George Washington as President, and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. Enacted January 4, 1790 and printed by Joseph H. Buckingham, sold by John G. Tilton in Newburyport. On verso, printed and handwritten agreement between Alfred Knapp, master of the brig "Lady Washington" of Newburyport, and…

GLC04543

30 April 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Secretary of War Knox writes from the War Department instructing Hodgdon, superintendent of military stores, to transport mortars, shells, and fuzes to Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

GLC04552

10 November 1793

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Howell Lewis

Writes to his nephew, who was temporarily serving as overseer at Mount Vernon, about the rain they have been experiencing and the effects on the wheat crop. Mentions that the fields should be plowed soon. Asks Lewis to send him any bills. Requests that Lewis keep him updated on the crops, specifically wheat, rye, and corn. Asserts the importance of keeping good reports. Mentions "The old Bull commonly called the Callico Bull," and his livestock of cows. Advises him to tell the overseer that he expects proper reports. Requests that Lewis write to Lawrence Washington and ask him to…

GLC04653

February 13, 1793

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Nicholson

Fitch, an inventor, suggests that Nicholson pay Mr. Stokes for use of Stokes' unspecified model. Instructs Nicholson, Comptroller-General of Pennsylvania, to take a receipt for this payment, which "may appear to a jury as a purchase" in case Stokes attempts to claim exclusive rights to the model. Includes a fragment possibly removed from this document with the notation "fragment text does not match document text."

GLC04647

26 October 1799

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Empowering an attorney to sell lands from the the estate of the late Thomas Flucker]

Two related legal statements on the same sheet, signed by Knox twice and witnessed and signed twice by Justice of the Peace Josiah Reed. In the first part of the document (pages 1-2), Knox, acting as executor of the estate of the late Thomas Flucker, grants Daniel Davis of Portland, Maine, power of attorney to sell lands from the estate. The second part (page 3) gives Davis power to sell an additional plot of land. The last page has an autograph note by Isaac Leslie indicating the document was recorded in the Cumberland County, Maine. Flucker was Knox's father-in-law.

GLC04656

13 October 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Secretary of War Knox instructs Hodgdon to supply Fort Cumberland with clothing and shoes. These supplies were intended for the army sent to supress the "Whiskey Rebellion."

GLC04657

1791-1948

Header Record

Title: Collection of presidential letters and documents [decimalized]

GLC04675

6 June 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Ohio land grant of 1200 acres made by Congress to Brigade Chaplain Alexander Balmain for three years military service].

This document is a record of lands given to Alexander Balmain for three years of military service. It is signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. A grant made in accordance with a 1790 act called "An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the River Ohio, between the little Miami and Sciota," and an unspecified amendment to that act passed June 9, 1794 are mentioned as precedent for the certificate's authenticity. The document contains a…

GLC04675.09

1799-1835

Header Record

Title: [Collection of 15 items related to the Mississippi territory, the Smith family, and the treason trial of Aaron Burr] Decimalized

GLC04601

2 January 1794

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ross

Asks Ross for a loan of $450. Written the day after Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State. The loan may have been used to help pay off some of the debts Jefferson incurred while secretary or to help with a major building project he began at Monticello in the spring of 1794. Docketed by Ross, indicating that the money had been loaned in cash.

GLC04615

21 April 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: An Act authorizing the grant and conveyance of certain Lands to the Ohio Company of Associates

Grant of land from the Second Congress of the United States to Rufus Putnam, Manasseh Cutler, Robert Oliver, and Griffin Green of the Ohio Company of Associates. Authorized by Jonathan Trumbull, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Richard Henry Lee, President pro tempore of the Senate. Approved by President George Washington on 25 April 1792.

GLC04939

9 May 1794

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert R. Livingston

Monroe, Senator from Virginia, urges Livingston, Chancellor of New York, to accept Washington's offer to succeed Gouverneur Morris as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Tells Livingston it will be good for the party if he accepts. Says "the effect of you're. declining cannot be perceived." Ultimately, Livingston declined the honor because he did not want the Chancery Court to go to someone of differing political beliefs and because he did not think he could work well with the Washington Administration. Monroe himself was eventually selected to go to France.

GLC04822

January 17, 1797

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: Land grant transferring land from Capt. Gallohill Minnis to Richard Means

Signed by George Washington as President and countersigned by Timothy Pickering as Secretary of State. Includes handwritten description of the boundaries of the property. Docket on verso signed by James McHenry as Secretary of War on January 16, 1797. Also docketed and signed by the Chief Clerk at the Department of State. Features paper and wax seal.

GLC04842.39

February 1, 1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Wolcott

Responds to a previous letter from Wolcott announcing the death of Samuel Huntington, Governor of Connecticut. Informs Wolcott that "At the same time that I regret the loss of so worthy a character, I cannot but feel consoled; that the Administration of the Government of that State has fallen into such good hands as yours." Refers to attacks made upon his Presidential Administration, declaring that "If the enlightened, and virtuous part of the Community will make allowances for my involuntary errors, I will promise they shall have no cause to accuse me of wilful ones." Confirms the…

GLC04861

3 August 1791

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

In the summer of 1791 enemies of the Rodneys in Delaware were alleging that Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney's brother, had misappropriated funds authorized by Congress for an attack on Canada during the American Revolution. Caesar had died in 1784. McKean expresses his belief that Caesar's behavior with the funds was honorable, and Caesar's papers may reveal a contemporary letter from McKean to Caesar in which McKean spoke about the complex details of the transactions. If Thomas finds this letter, it will clear his brother: "With a view to afford some consolation to you in your present…

GLC04819

4 August 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Letter signed

Title: [Treasury Department circular].

Discusses payment of public debt and Department of the Treasury matters, including a procedural change aimed at reducing fraud. Accompanied by engraving (GLC04842.08.02).

GLC04842.08.01

24 April 1795

Header Record

Title: [Land grant for Benjamin Rush in Mifflin Co., Pa. and Thomas Mifflin] [Decimalized .01- .02]

Land grant signed by Thomas Mifflin as Governor of Pennsylvania and portrait engraving of Thomas Mifflin.

GLC04842.31

29 September 1789

Otis, Samuel A., 1740-1814

Printed document signed

Title: An Act providing for Payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States

Signed by Otis as Secretary of the Senate and co-signed by John Beckley as Clerk of the House. Transfers the payments of military pensions from the state to the federal government.

GLC04855

1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Book

Title: A Collection of speeches of the President... to both Houses of Congress

GLC04718

1789

Laing, Joseph, 1828-1905

Print

Title: Inauguration of Gen. George Washington

This document is a print lithograph of George Washington at his inauguration in 1789. Probably 1870s or 1880s print by Joeseph Laing and published by William Blackman.

GLC04723

1789

Smith, Adam, 1723-1790

Book signed

Title: An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations Vol. I [damaged]

Signed on titlepage "Wm H. Harrison." Printed by Thomas Dobson. With bookplate of J. Cleves Short / Short-Hill / Nov. 17, 1817." and stamp of "Transylvania Library" on front pastedown. The "William Henry Harrison" written on p. 9 is not an autograph signature. The titlepage and "Advertisement" have both been torn; the first leaf of the table of contents (pp. v-vi) is damaged at the top and center with serious loss of text. (Sprinkled calf binding was severely damaged; board was loose and pages falling out: rebound in 1997). See also volume II, GLC05192.

GLC04740

June 18, 1789

Clymer, George, 1739-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush re: coming glories of Constitution, future end of slavery & rum

Also concerns his hopes that slavery and alcohol would be abolished (prohibition), and the debate on the power to remove officials from office. He expects that the excise tax on rum will help defend people "against the poison." Concerning New Yorkers, "[t]he people here presumptuously call their town the Capital. I don't suppose this folly will be suffered to last very long...." Dating inferred per correspondence with Kenneth Bowling, Documentary History of the First Federal Congress.

GLC04769

19 March 1794

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Written by Chancellor Livingston to New York Governor Clinton. Encloses petition at the request of Dr. Robinson (not included). Mentions seeing Clinton's family. Mentions political controversy involving himself and William P. Van Ness. It involves the unpopular removal of someone from office (the name cannot be deciphered - Benthingsen?) Wants Clinton to clarify the situation for him. Says Egbert Benson is going to come forward with the story for the newspapers and wants to be able to meet it. Wants to know if Clinton recollects him ever recommending the person. If he or other members of the…

GLC04772.04

1 November 1792

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy Ellery

Comments on Nancy's recovery from a smallpox inoculation (variolation). Congratulates her and suggests that she will make a better wife after having smallpox because it must have filled her with patience and resolution, and made her immune. Reports that Nancy's friends in Newport were surprised to learn she had undergone variolation. Ellery has also been inoculated. Comments on his old age. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Nancy was his daughter.

GLC04780