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1808/09/08
Adams, John (1735-1826)
to Benjamin Rush re: railing against narrow, selfish spirit of parties; Napoleon
Also mentions Spain, religion, and the Louisiana Claims.
GLC04756
8 June 1785
Adams, Samuel (1722-1803)
A proclamation for the encouragement of piety, virtue, education & manners for the suppression of vice.
The closing text is in a scribal hand: "Given at the Council Chamber in Boston...by His Excellency's Command, with advice & consent of the Council...."
GLC04009
December 1787 - May 1788
Loudon, Samuel (1727?-1813)
The American Magazine.
Contains six monthly issues. Billed as "Containing a Miscellaneous Collection of Original an other Valuable Essays, in Prose and Verse, and Calculated both for Instruction and Amusement." A quote underneath the title reads: "Science the guide, and...
GLC03462
1792/05
Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)
Indictment against Benjamin Wallace for rape (signed on verso only)
Signed endorsement as attorney on verso. (Clerical signature on the front.) Indictment against Benjamin Wallace who, "not having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil," committed rape.
GLC06000
16 March 1814
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)
to William Bentley
Thanks Reverend Bentley for his sermon given upon the death of General John Fiske, which Jefferson has just read. Praises Fiske as "a model of merit." Contains Dove watermark. Bentley's sermon, delivered in the East Meeting-House, Salem...
GLC06021
1806
The Koran, commonly called The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated from the original Arabick into French.
The first American edition of the Koran. Printed in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Henry Brewer for Isaiah Thomas, Junior. Rebound in cloth, boxed with original boards. Shaw & Shoemaker 10684.
GLC06127
11 May 1784
Hall, Lyman (1724-1790)
to Susa Street
Regrets he was not there for his mother's last illness and thanks Street for the care given to her. Is himself elderly and advises against his friends and relatives coming to Georgia, as "they may sicken soon & die." If he envies anyone, "it is him...
GLC05243
18 December 1790
Waln, Nicholas
[Explaining why Quakers refuse to pay a fee for their pacifism]
Quakers explaining why they refuse to pay a fee to the government for their pacifism.
GLC05326
9 March 1790
Rush, Benjamin
to Polly Stockton
On the second anniversary of his recovery from illness, Rush thanks his sister for nursing him. His illness left him with strong ideas of the vanity of wealth, the evil of Sin, etc. He continues by talking about his delight in reading John Wesley's...
GLC05508.011
26 December 1795
Bradford, William (1729-1808)
to Lydia Bradford
Bradford gives condolence to his daughter, Lydia, for young men who died at sea, and expresses the sentiment that while this may be unfortunate "to us as men, it must be right as relative to Deity." He also mentions visiting a Roman Catholic church...
GLC05508.047
3 May 1810
Furman, Richard (fl. 1810)
to Rev. Jedediah Morse
Reverend Furman hopes that bad weather will keep the Reverend Morse's ship from sailing until the next day so he will be able to preach that night. He encloses copies of the letters Morse lent to him and remarks that he is glad to know that serious...
GLC05508.105
1 September 1794
Green, Ashbel (fl. 1794)
Green introduces Rev. Dr. Keith, a minister from the congregational church in Charleston, SC. He believes Morse will receive much pleasure from both Keith's preaching and his conversations. Green apologizes for not writing often, citing that his...
GLC05508.117
2 September 1804
Huntington, Jedediah (1743-1818)
to Sally Richards
Huntington asks Richard's to commune and confess to Christ. He offers to help remove any doubts about religion she may have.
GLC05508.142
circa 1810
Jay, William (fl. ca. 1810)
[I cannot bear thine absence Lord...]
Jay writes: "I cannot bear thine absence Lord, / my life expires if thou depart; / Be thou my hear still near my God, / and Thou my God be near my heart."
GLC05508.148
circa 1800
Jolly, Alexander (fl. ca. 1800)
to Rev. William G. Cole
Bishop Jolly writes that he hopes Cole will recover from an illness that developed on a recent trip. He attempts to dissuade Cole from taking any more trips. He assure Cole that the Episcopacy in Fraserburgh is the same as the Church of England...
GLC05508.151
14 July 1789
Ward, Artemas (1727-1800)
To the sheriff of Worcester County
Accuses Elijah Newton of swearing, "Damn the Authority I swear by God I will kill any man that touchette me." Requests that the sheriff apprehends Newton and bring him before Ward so he may be dealt with.
GLC05549
1795 ca.
Indian letter.... [with:] An Address to Drunkards [temperance broadside]
Temperance broadside printed by N. Coverly. The broadside (possibly playing-off recent news relating to Indians?) quotes an excerpt from a letter of Capt. Hendricks of the Stockbridge Nation to Col. Pickering, 1794 in which he says that the enemy of...
GLC05667.01
13 November 1805
Hobart, Benjamin (1781-1877)
to Aaron Hobart
Shares Aaron's sentiments about the death of Capt. Shaw and his brother. Questions "the tenure of life" and claims that "to live and die is all we have to do- but to die prepared ought to be our chief concern." Mentions that "things go on in their...
GLC06313.04.004
1793/07/20
Pendleton, Edmund (1721-1803)
Contemporary copy of Pendleton's brief autobiography
Originally written July 1793. Contemporary copy. Docketed on verso: "Concise history of Judge Pendleton's life written by himself. Copied." Six years before his death Pendleton outlined his biography, focusing mostly on his political career. In part...
GLC06761
31 [August ]1786
Mifflin, Warner (1745-1798)
to William Smallwood
Dated as "the 31st of 8 mo." Written by Mifflin as a Quaker abolitionist to Smallwood as Governor of Maryland. Says he remembers Smallwood's treatment toward him during the Revolution with esteem. Extensively explains his Christian anti-war stance...
GLC06508.09
1814/01-02/23
To: Richard Rush.
Written to the son of his close friend Dr. Benjamin Rush in January 1814 and finished February 23. An early portion of the letter is in a Sternian style (stream of consciousness) concerning dreams while ill. Adams concludes, slightly tongue-in...
GLC02518
18 September 1788
Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin (1730-1794)
to William North
Whimsical letter written by Von Steuben in retirement and in debt in New York to his former aide North, who was also in retirement at Duanesburg, New York. Refers to North as "my dear Bill." Looks back on the last year. Mentions that "you did cut...
GLC02542.12
23 March 1798
[Presidential proclamation for a national day of prayer]
Proclamation declaring national "day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer," with Timothy Pickering's free frank on verso. Adams wants Americans to pray for the protection of their country. Proclamation states that America is in a "hazardous and...
GLC02542.14
February 1783
Dundas, Isabella (1747?-1823)
to James Dundas
Informs James of their father's (her father-in-law) health, which is not good: "he endures his Situation as Life well spent enable A true Christian!" Notes that she is writing because her husband David is too busy to keep up his correspondence....
GLC02549.25
1793
Paine, Thomas
Common sense [with seven other pamphlets from the 1790s]
Paine, Thomas. COMMON SENSE, bound with seven other tracts by Paine. Altogether eight works (in nine parts, one title consisting of two separately issued parts.) A fine collection bound in a single volume, contemp. sheep rubbed, crudely but neatly...
GLC08643
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