1To Benjamin Franklin from [Jean-Paul Marat], [before 13 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On December 13, 1778, Franklin noted in his journal that he had received, from an unknown philosopher, a manuscript on elementary fire written in English “with a little tincture of French idiom,” but he felt he could not pass judgment on it until he had seen the experiments. The unknown philosopher turned out to be Jean-Paul Marat, and a number of letters...
2Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
By the alliance (a fine frigate Built in Newbury port commanded by Capt. Laundry a Native of France ) I hope this will reach you and by her you will have a good opportunity of conveying any thing you please to me. I have wrote so often and met with so little encouragement by a return that if I really believed one half you wrote, reachd my Hands I should through my pen aside as an impertinent...
3Extract from Franklin’s Journal, 13 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress “A Man came to tell me he has invented a Machine, which would go of itself, without the help of a Spring, Weight, Air, Water, or any of the Elements, or the Labour of Man or Beast; and with force sufficient to work four Machines for cutting Tobacco; that he had experience’d it, would shew it me if I would come to his House, and would sell the Secret of it for Two...
4General Orders, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
5From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival here I found your favor of the 5th: Your own letter communicated the first hint that I ever recd of any representations or reports made by the Board of War to Congress respecting you or your command in Philada. The Board some little time ago applied to me for a Regiment or two to be stationed at Philada and Trenton to do the Town Duties and guard the Stores, alledging that the...
6To George Washington from Captain Lewis J. Costigin, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, nothing having turn’d up untill this day. A fleet of Jamacia Men about thirty sail are geting into the North river and are to sail in a few days under convoy of a frigate—the Emerald Tomorrow the Amazon of 32 Guns sails for England, a number of Passenge<rs> among whom, is Colo. Wm Bayard, Colo. Campbell of the 22nd Regt the Major of 16th Dragoon’s name unknown, and a Parson...
7From George Washington to George Emlen, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 20th November, respecting the damage done to your farm by the Army in the Fall 1777, and am not a little surpd that General Mifflin should refer you to me when he well knows that this is a business clearly within the line of the Quarter Masters department, & that every Acct of the kind is to be settled by him, up to the date of General Greene’s appointment to that...
8From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 2d upon the Road between the North River and this place. I also at the Same time recd a letter from the president of Congress upon the same subject—In answer to which I have informed him, that, in my opinion, the application to the French Minister plenipotentiary for a renewal of your Furlough would be made with more propriety by yourself than by Congress, and that...
9From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 7th I have been honored with your favors of the 5th 6th and 8th instants with their inclosures, to which the proper attention shall be paid. I have made the Report of the Committee on Canada Affairs the subject of a particular letter which I have the honor of transmitting by this conveyance. I am with the greatest Respect Yr Excellency’s most obt Servt P.S. Lieut. Colonels...
10From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a letter which I had the honor of receiving from Congress dated the 2d instant was inclosed the Copy of one from Lt Colo. Fleury, upon the subject of which the president desired me to express “my Sentiments, as also of the Merits of Mr Fleury during his services in the Army.” I do not conceive that Congress should request a renewal of Colo. Fleury’s Furlough from the French Minister...