June 13, 1805

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

An official letter written in Boston from John Avery, the Secretary of State for Massachusetts. It informs Varnum of his election to Major General of the Third Division of the Militia of the Commonwealth by the two branches of the Legislature.

GLC03845.05

3 March 1806

Tuttle, John L., fl. 1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Bradley Varnum

Informs Massachusetts Representative Varnum of Charles Hammond's invention of a quadrant used frequently and successfully by Hammond's military company. States that upon the advice of General Henry Knox and others, Hammond applied for a patent. Reports that "Hammond's quadrant imbraces such a combination of mathematical principles, so applyed to practical use, as to merit the attention and patronage of Government." Requests that Varnum examine Hammond's design, and instructs Varnum to inform Secretary of State James Madison that Hammond will promptly send a complete model.

GLC03845.06

January 29, 1810

White, William, fl. 1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

White offers his services to the government "at a time of increasing outrages on its honour." He relies on his old acquaintanceship with Varnum to request a "friendly and influential aid" in finding him government employment. White highlights his steadfast political principles and "greater veneration and respect for the late and present administration of our Federal government."

GLC03845.08

13 August 1811

Warland, William, fl. 1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Inquires "what kinds of coins are a legal tender" for paying a debt to a neighbor, "an old tory," who refuses payment in Spanish dollars. At the time of this letter, Varnum was a United States Senator from Massachusetts.

GLC03845.10

12 March 1812

Hill, A.A., fl. 1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Informs Varnum that he will make a deposit (of an undisclosed amount) on his behalf to the State Bank regarding a business transaction. Responds to query regarding the outcome of General Austin: "...all officers return their commands in the Corps to which they originally belonged until they resign or are promoted ..." Date taken from docket.

GLC03845.11

29 December 1813

Dalton, Tristram, 1738-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Informs Varnum of Mr. Swett's rejection of the position in the Office of Deputy Collector in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Sevett "thought it incompatible with his present office to undertake the business." Dalton expresses regret for not being able "to have met your wishes, and to have rendered Mr. Sevett any service." Date of letter reads "29th Decem 1813" however, docket date reads Dec. 29, 1814.

GLC03845.12

6 January 1814

Fowler, Samuel, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Asks Varnum to name him to a collectorship of the neighboring counties while reminding him how he had been displaced from another position. Illegible words inhibit proper interpretation of letter.

GLC03845.13

6 January 1814

Shepherd, Thomas, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Shepherd, appointed by the President of the U.S., previously held the position of Collector of the Revenue for the 17th District of the counties of Hampshire, Hampton, and Franklin. He had retired from the position with the hope of having it assigned to Major John Taylor. Since the Senate recently rejected Taylor, Shepherd requests that he be reinstated to the collectorship "...if it is the pleasure of the President & Senate to reinstate me." Shepherd comments that he did not solicit the position, but rather was appointed by the President without his knowledge of having been chosen as…

GLC03845.14

3 March 1814

Hall, Farnham, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Announces the sudden death of the Honorable Silas Lee, Esq. and "[B]y this event the office of district attorney has become vacant. The eyes of the President will therefore be turned towards some suitable person to fill that vacancy ..." Advises the position be filled by someone "who can discharge the duties of that office, with fidelity, & give the greatest satisfaction to the public."

GLC03845.15

7 March 1814

Keyes, John, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Keyes acknowledges that a change in the Concord Post Office will soon take place. Requests that he be considered for Postmaster General and that he would oblige if appointed.

GLC03845.16

8 March 1814

Smith, J.H., fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Informs of the election of William Low as officer for state security in the town of Amherst. His election removed a British federalist who represented the town the previous year. Feels that Governor William Plumer will be elected Governor instead of Governor John T. Gilman. Adds a private note requesting Varnum not change the current Port Master, Aaron Whitney because Whitney plans to resign and will recommend Smith to the position. He seeks Varnum's support because "The Members of Congress from this State are my political opponents, which is the cause of my troubling you on the subject."

GLC03845.17

2 April 1814

Kettle, John, fl. 1814

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

Written as town clerk of Boston regarding appointments, public works, and the court of sessions.

GLC03845.18

March 5,1802

Williams, William, 1731-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

GLC00148.52

06 August 1810

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Recalling the Boston political clubs, where "the independence of America originated"

GLC08098

22 August 1806

Eaton, William, 1764-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dwight Foster

Re: Burr's western conspiracy. Eaton had told Jefferson, who answered, "'There is too much knowledge an integrity among the people to give room to any apprehension of the kind.'"

GLC08103

09 December 1806

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: 1806 State of the Union Address

1806 State of the Union Address, announcing the return of Lewis and Clark, who have "traced the Missouri nearly to its source." Burr's conspiracy discussing calling for prohibition of the slave trade in 1808, as son as allowed under the Constitution.

GLC08118

26 March 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Newspaper

Title: to William Marbury

Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court's landmark decision on "Mandamus": establishing judicial review. Printed in New-York Herald

GLC08125

30 November 1804

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Oldham

Re: avoidance of involvement in other's quarrels: "I generally presume them to flow from the indulgences of too much passion of both sides" (this dispute about contractor for Monticello Greenhouse).

GLC08131

01 July 1805

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: Circular to the Consuls and Commercial Agents of the United States.

Discusses an act passed by Congress on 27 March 1804 pertaining to the registering of sea vessels. Mentions that the treasury department has no judicial authority in regards to disputes over lost vessels except that expressly given by United States law. Informs that official bonds given by the Consuls and Commercial agents require periodic renewal. Instructs consuls to send all publications in their district on epidemic diseases and quarantine regulations to the Department of State.

GLC08151

October 1814 - March 1815

Manuscript document

Title: War of 1812 Journal

War of 1812 Journal of Privateer Little Wasp

GLC08149

1806

Pamphlet

Title: The Constitutional articles of the independent company of cadets, as revised and ratified, May, 1806.

Printed by Greenough & Stebbins.

GLC01450.448.07

12 November 1811

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Lengthy discussion of virtue and politics, reflecting on "slander" from his opponents. Tacitus' adage: "Posterity gives to every man his true honor," " has some Truth in it... but it is by no means an universal Aphorism; nor do I believe it to be generally true. You seem to think that Integrity is less envied than Talents... To be sure, honest Men have been satyrized, ridiculed, calumniated, belied. Sometimes the Lies have stuck, sometimes not... Who has destroyed these villainous effusions of alarmed Ambition? Not the Friends of Liberty surely; they never had the Power... That…

GLC09107

5 August 1813

Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819

Letter signed

Title: to Major General William Henry Harrison

Before the battle of Lake Erie, Perry has "succeeded in [getting one of] the Sloops of war over the bar...The enemy ...move seven over the bar...I am of opinion that in two days the Naval superiority will be decided on this Lake, and should we be successful, I shall sail for the head of the lake immediately to cooperate with you, and hope that our joint exertions will be productive of honor and advantage to our country." Damaged, with some text losses, with two additional autograph notes initialed by Perry.

GLC09108

5 July 1815

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Fox, Lord Holland

Condemns Britain's "new crusade" against Napoleonic France: "Our countries are now at peace and I am satisfied that you will unite with me, in a strong desire, that they may long remain so. I well know the interest which you take, in the preservation of free government in both countries, and indeed elsewhere, wherever it may be possible to maintain if a new storm seems to threaten Europe & perhaps this country. Why this second crusade against France? Has not that country a right to chuse its own sovereign, & indeed to establish its own government?"

GLC09109

July 22, 1806

Jarvis, William, fl. 1806-1807

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson's letter to Jarvis consists of one page with docket. Jarvis' draft response, dated 22 July 1806, occupies pages 3-4. Water damage has caused severe staining along the right margin, which obscures some text. wines for Monticello & relations with European powers

GLC03873.02