I am sorry to inform you, that by the Resignation of M r. Livingston, as minister for foreign affairs, it has become necessary, that you should receive the Resolutions of Congress relative to your Mission, through my Hands. The Disadvantage arising from this Necessity, untill a Successor to that worthy Gentleman is appointed, will be yours, as it is impossible for me to do more than barely to...
As Congress have not yet elected any Minister for Foreign Affairs, and knowing the importance of your Being fully informed of every public transaction relative to these States, I have concluded that you would not think it amiss to hear from me on the subject of the removal of Congress to this place, tho’ I cannot consider this communication as official but merely for your information in my...
3To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 5 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ previous led for a considerable Time, I did not take my Seat in Congress till July 1781 & Continued therein till November 1784—from a faint Remembrance of hearing the protection given to Capt. Cook talked of, either in Congress or among the Members in private Conversation, I have retained the Idea, that the magnanimity of the Measure was generally approved— MHi : Adams Papers.
4To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 5 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Director of the Mint, begs leave for the Information of Government, respectfully to export That during the past Year, there have been issued from the Mint, the several Species of Coin particularly mentioned in the enclosed Returns, amounting in Value to 194,605 Dollars in Gold Coins, 63,156, 45/100 Dollars in Silver Coins, and 9,990, 34/100 Dollars in copper Coins, making up the whole...
5To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Being on a Visit at this place, I am solicited by Mr John Pintard to introduce him to your knowledge. He means to apply for the office of your private Secretary in the room of Mr Malcolm, who he is informed has resigned— I am well acquainted with Mr Pintard and have been so from his Infancy, and can with pleasure recommend him in the strongest Terms— His liberal Education, knowledge of several...
6To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 28 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr George Washington Reed the youngest son of the late Governor Reed, who graduated in the college of New Jersey in September last, has discovered a great inclination to devote himself to a seafaring life in the service of his country—His friends have united in this determination, and have requested me to recommend him to the Executive of the United States, for the birth of a Midshipman in the...
7To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 20 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Being just returned from New Jersey, will you excuse the liberty I take in mentioning to you, that I found the Gentn. of the Law there, are exceedingly anxious, relative to a report that is prevailing, that the Office of Chief Justice of the united States may possibly be filled by our present Chief Magistrate after the month of march next—I am authorized to say, that it would give them the...
8To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 13 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
A convenient opportunity offering by your Son, permit me to ask your acceptance of a small tract, I have lately been prevailed on to suffer to be published, in answer to Paine’s Age of Reason. I am not so vain, as to suppose it can add any thing to your stock of knowledge: it is merely an attempt to throw together the substance of various proofs of our holy religion, that lay scattered in a...
9To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 17 July 1809 (Adams Papers)
Mrs: Bradford & myself arrived here on friday Evening last—among the principal Objects we had in View in this long Journey, the honor of waiting on Mrs. Adams & your self was one. As the distance is so considerable, and the disappointment would be great, should you be from home, will you be so kind as to drop one a line by the Post, to let us know if you will be at home, the begining of the...
10Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
We have the honor of your favor per flag; Having inform’d General Washington of the message delivered yesterday from Sir W. Howe, & of our intentions to return to camp immediately, in consequence of it; we do not think ourselves at liberty, to use so much delay, as would afford us the pleasure of the interview proposed. We are Gentlemen with due respect yr. Very hble servts. Df , or copy,...
11Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire, General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention, for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever, which may be properly contained therein” beg leave to report— That in pursuance of Your...
12Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
The Commissioners appointed by His Excellency General Washington to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention for the Exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever, that may be properly contained therein— Having examined the powers on the part of General Sir William Howe to his Commissioners and compared them with their own, observe a difference, which, in their...
13Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
The Commissioners, appointed by His Excellency General Washington, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention, for the exchange of prisoners of war, and for all matters whatsoever, that may be properly contained therein,” are inexpressibly concerned, to find, that the Commissioners on the part of General Sir William Howe should think it necessary to make the objections stated...
14Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire General and Commander in chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever which may be properly contained therein,” beg leave to report— That, agreeable to Your...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Elias Boudinot, 8 July 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
I had concluded your Laurels had produced a forgetfulness of your old friend, but am now rejoicing in my disappointment having your obliging & very entertaining favour of the 5th. Inst. just handed me. With the utmost sincerity I congratulate you & my Country on the kind Interposition of Heaven in our favour on the 28 Ultmo. It seems as if on every Occasion we are to be convinced that our...
16Elias Boudinot to the American Peace Commissioners, 27 October 1783[–3 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from J. J. Boudinot, ed., The Life, Public Services, Addresses and Letters of Elias Boudinot … (2 vols., Boston, 1896), I , 410–13. Previous to my leaving the Chair of Congress, I take the liberty again to address you, merely as an individual that you may not be left totally without Information until the Choice of a Minister for foreign Affairs shall take place. I have pressed...
17Elias Boudinot to the American Peace Commissioners, 1 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives I am honored by the commands of Congress to transmit you a set of instructions in consequence of your joint and seperate letters of the months of June and July last, by Captain Barney, which I do myself the honor to enclose. These were not finished till the 29th. ult. after having undergone the most mature deliberation and fullest discussion in Congress. Yesterday we...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Elias Boudinot, 1 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Princeton University Library My last letters to you, were on the 15th. of August and 9th. of September, on the same subject, enclosing the ratification of the Treaty with Sweden and duplicate, with an act of Congress for your altering a few words in it—striking out the word North before America in the title of the...
19To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received Intelligence this Evening from a person of undoubted Veracity (who has followed me for that purpose) that a Woman who has a Son in Goal in this State (Pennsylvania) has been sent in to the Enemy, with Letters of Advice from a Club in the County of Bucks, so secreted about her person, that it would be almost impossible she should be discovered. That she had, or was to get a pass...
20To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 26 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Boudinot thinks it his Duty to report to his Excellency General Washington, that Complaints of the cruel Treatment of a number of our Prisoners, taken by the Enemy & confined in the Goals of the City of New York, are daily increasing—That Mr Boudinot as Commissary General of Prisoners, has made the best Inquiry into the Truth of the Facts alledged, that his Circumstances will admit—That on...
21To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary General of Prisoners begs leave to report to his Excellency, that he has attended to the Letter deliver’d him from General Howe of the 6th Inst. With regard to the Complaint made therein against the Commissary of Prisoners, Mr Boudinot is greatly surprised at a Charge as unexpected as it is unjust: Mr Boudinot assures his Excellency that since his Appointment he has never...
22To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having been detained in New York on the business committed to me by your Excellency, much longer than could have been expected, think it my Duty to take the earliest opportunity of Communicating a Report of my Proceedings and the Reasons of my Conduct. On my Arrival in Jersey I wrote to Sir Henry Clinton for permission to pass to New York, for the purpose of visiting our Prisoners &ca as per...
23To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 22 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Being just returned from German Town, I beg leave to inform your Excellency that I was happy enough to perfect the Exchange of the following Officers, for those of equal Rank due to us from the Enemy, which I hope will meet with your Excellency’s Approbation. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Hble Servt ALS , DNA:PCC , item 152; copy, DNA:PCC , item 169. The accompanying...
24To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 13 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
On my Arrival at Morris Town, I found Lt Coll Campbell, who proposed my going with him to New York, as he thought he could aid me greatly in farthering some immediate relief to our suffering Prisoners: By Coll Allen I recd Genl Clinton’s permission to attend Coll Campbell and then proceeded to New York—I found Major Genl Daniel Jones in the Command & Genl Valentine Jones Commandant of the...
25To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Elias Boudinot, 18 June 1778. GW wrote to Boudinot on this date that “I have received your two letters of this date.” In the letter to GW, Boudinot refers to “your Excellency⟨’s⟩ Letter of this date,” which apparently is GW’s letter acknowledging receipt of Boudinot’s two earlier letters. If so, Boudinot wrote to GW three times on 18 June, and two of his letters have...
26To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment returned from the Point opposite to Gloucester—As soon as the City was a little reconnoitered, and prudent precautions taken, I went down with two or three chosen Persons to the Point from whence the Enemy had just gone over—We plainly discovered their rear & indeed the direction of the whole Party from the Dust—Two Deserters came over to us while we were there, one swam the...
27To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 20 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I omitted writing yesterday, supposing that your Excellency would have had constant Intelligence from the Gentlemen of the Army, and not being able to send any thing very material, knew it would be but troublesome. Finding this Morning that I was mistaken in the first, I push the Bearer forward with the enclosed Acct of facts which you may depend upon, as they come from a Person of Credit, who...
28To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 28 June–6 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to yr Excs. Orders in Company with Major Beatty, I met Mr Loring Commy of Prisrs for the Brit. Army at German Town on Saturday the 6th June Inst. when among many other things, he represented to me that the English army would soon evacuate, the City of Philadelphia, and that Sir Henry Clinton was exceedingly averse to the removing of our Prisoners from Philadelphia with his army, as...
29To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 16 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my recovery from my late Indisposition so far as to attend to any Business, I have been looking over the Papers relating to my late Office of Commy Genl of Prisoners, and among them I find the report of my transactions at German Town just before and at the time of the Enemies evacuating of Philadelphia, which was designed for your Excy but prevented from being sent by my sudden illness....
30To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 4 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Nothing but that indisposition with which I have been confined for upwards of four Months, could have excused me from waiting on your Excellency e’er now, and welcoming you once More to New Jersey, a State so much indebted to your former residence here, for its present safety & Happiness. Permit me Sir, while I am sensible of your aversion to any unnecessary parade or Ostentation, to enclose...