1To John Adams from John Trumbull, 20 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
In the county of Worcester, the people, at a general meeting, have resolved that no court shall be held there, according to the new regulation of juries, and that judge Oliver shall not take his seat. Upon a report that a regiment would be sent to protect the court, they declared that they were ready to meet it. It is to be hoped, however, that no violent measures will be taken, till the sense...
2To John Adams from John Trumbull, 14 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I had the satisfaction last evening of receiving your very friendly Letter, which was the more agreable for being unexpected. As I am setting out tomorrow on a short Tour to the eastward, I have taken the only leisure moment to answer it. You may easily guess how much I am flattered by your approbation of the little essay, you mention in yours. As to its being mysterious, as you term it, you...
3To John Adams from John Trumbull, 21 November 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of seeing You last, I have conversed with my Father on the plan you proposed to me of going into the Service; and tho’ we were both very sensible of the kindness of your Offer, and should have preferred the Office You engaged to procure me to any other Post, I could have expected to obtain, yet he seemed averse to my joining the Army on any Conditions at present. He...
4To George Washington from John Trumbull, 10 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having determin’d to Visit Europe, in a few Months —where Military Reputation is highly Esteem’d—and where, to have Serv’d in the American Army is a general Letter of Credit—I Beg leave to request from your Excellency a single Line expressive of my Services, and the Rank with which I was once honor’d. I should not have troubled your Excellency with this Application, had not the manner in which...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Trumbull, 8 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Yale University Library I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s letter of the 26th: of last month, yesterday, and have in consequence drawn upon Mr. Grand this day for the amount you mention. I beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the capture of Lord Cornwallis, & the very flattering situation of our Affairs in America. Majr....
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Trumbull, 25 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Vanderhurst of Bristol inform’d me yesterday that your Excellency had express’d great concern at the relation which He gave you of the State in which I left Doctr Cooper of Boston.— and that you was anxious to be inform’d with certainty. The enclos’d paragraph cut from a Boston paper of the 5th. of January, which I receiv’d this evening, gives the...
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Trumbull, 21 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I have presumed to desire my Friend, Col. Humphrys to present to your Excellency a copy of Mc.Fingal. Poets in all ages have aspired to the patronage and esteem of the most illustrious Characters of their times. But while I wish for the honour of being approved by a Gentleman, who joins to his public virtues, so great a share of literary merit, I must own that I depend more on the partiality...
8To Alexander Hamilton from John Trumbull, 4 September 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
Hartford, September 4, 1784. “On receiving your letter I was sorry to find, that you had not mentioned the names of those Merchants, who compose the firm of Turnbull, Marmie & Co.—without which, you are sensible, that any Writ I could draw must abate. I have not been able to discover them by my enquiries in this place; but fearing least the Property mentioned in Mr. Duer’s letter might be...
9To John Adams from John Trumbull, 8 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I must apologize for delaying to acknowlege the honour of your letter of the 28 th. of April which I received by the hand of your Son. I had the pleasure of an hour’s interview with him, & from the proofs he gave in that time of his native genius, his literary improvements, & his just observations on the various parts of Europe, thro’ which he has travelled, I could not but regret that I had...
10To Thomas Jefferson from John Trumbull, with a Note from Maria Cosway, 9 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The only proper apology, for not having written you since I left Paris, is this which I now offer, a long letter, and I trust your goodness to pardon my negligence. Mr. and Mrs. Cosway arriv’d this morning at 3 o Clock having rode all night in the rain, not much I fear to the benefit of his Health. I am very sorry to learn from them the unfortunate accident which has happen’d to you; much pain...