1From John Adams to François Barbé-Marbois, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
Braintree, 17 October 1779. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:176–177 . John Adams, after thanking Barbé-Marbois for his letter of 29 Sept. (calendared above) congratulating him on his new appointment, said that John Quincy Adams probably would not be accompanying him on his new mission to...
2From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am infinitely obliged to you for your Favour of 29 of september and for the Journals. These are so much wanted in Europe, that if I should go there, there is nothing of so small Expence that I so much wish as 20 or 30 setts of them. They are an handsome Present. Cant Congress or some Committee order them to me. The Appointment of Mr. Dana is as unexpected as my own. No Man could be found...
3From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
As to the Boundaries of Mass. I have asked Mr. A. about them but he did not recollect them. The Council appointed a Committee, within a few days after my Arrival, to ascertain them and did me the Honour to put me upon it, altho not a Member of Either House, with Mr. Bowdoin and Mr. S. A. but we have never met, and now it would be improper. They will appoint a new one I suppose. As to the Claim...
4From John Adams to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:175–176 . John Adams, thanking La Luzerne for his letter of 29 Sept. (calendared above) congratulating him on his appointment as minister to negotiate the peace, confessed to some diffidence about his ability to undertake so difficult a task. He added,...
5From John Adams to James Lovell, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
And What, my dear sir, shall I say to your Favours of the 27. and 28 of september, which came by the last Post? The Unanimity of my Election surprises me, as much, as the Delicacy Importance, and Danger, of the Trust distresses me. The appointment of Mr. Dana to be the Secretary, pleases me more than my own to be Minister, Commissioner, Negotiator, call it what you will. I have communicated to...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Tristram Dalton, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received Lately your Letter of the 13th. of may, with the Papers relative to the Loss of the Brigantine fairplay. I had on the first Intelligence of that accident from the west Indies, made application to the Minister of the marine in favour of the sufferers, and received from him the answer of which I formerly Sent you a Copy; but as that may have miscarried, I now...
7From Benjamin Franklin to the Eastern Navy Board, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 30th of July and 18th. of August last, by the Mercury Packet Boat and by a french Cutter, the other Dispatches Capt. Samson was entrusted with, came all Safe to hand; and I Should have dipatch’d him sooner, if I had not found it necessary to detain him in order to Send by him to Congress some Advices of...
8From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives (two); AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives The foregoing is a Copy of my last. I have now before me your several Favours therein mentioned, viz of June 13. July 9 & 16. and Augt. 6. I received the Journals of Congress from Jany. 1st. to June 12. which you took care to send me: But the Vols 1. & 2d which you mention...
9From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts Delegates to Congress, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I have lately received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 7th of May last, relating to the Loss of the Brigantine, Fair Play . I had before made the Application desired, and obtained an Order to the Governor of Guadaloupe for making the Compensation. I hope therefore that the Business is effected; but if any...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Gerard having been detained thus long, affords me an opportunity of informing you that Sally has presented us with another fine Boy; she was safely Delivered on Thursday the 7th. Instant, and I have the pleasure to tell you, that she and the baby are as well as we could wish or expect— Miss Sally Duffield is now with us, she sends Compliments to you &...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Coder, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Recevez avec bonté mes remercimens et ceux de mon digne frere, pour l’interet que vous avez bien voulu prendre dans le tems à son affaire auprès de Mr. de Sartine. Ce ministre doit voir avec bien de l’etonnement, ainsi que tous les Courtisans qu’un officier aussi subalterne que mon frere vis a vis Mr. D’argout, soit sorti d’un conseil de guerre si...
12To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Kéralio, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Arrivé à vingt Lieues de Forbach, je me suis empressé de venir rendre mon hommage à La personne du monde qui a le plus de droits sur mon respect, mon dévouement et ma reconnoissance. Il y a huit jours, Monsieur, que j’ai Le bonheur de vivre près d’elle, de la voir, de l’entendre, de l’admirer. Combien de fois déja vous avés été le sujet de nos...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 28. du mois der [dernier]. Le Roi à qui j’ai rendu Compte de la demande que vous me faites de permettre au Batiment parlementaire destiné à l’Echange des Prisonniers Americains et Anglois, d’aborder dans le port de Morlaix, a bien voulu consentir à lui accorder cette permission; J’ai...
14General Orders, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief has now the pleasure to congratulate the Army on the complete and full success of Major General Sullivan and the troops under his command against the Senecas and other tribes of the six Nations: As a just and necessary punishment for their wanton depredations—their unparallel’d and innumerable Cruelties—their their deafness to all remonstrance and intreaty, and their...
15From George Washington to Moses Hatfield, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the 2d instant requesting to know what quantity of shoes you had upon hand and what you were likely to supply. Having recd no answer I am apprehensive that the letter never reached you—I have since recd a letter from the Board of War, desiring me to see you upon several matters relating to your department. You will therefore be pleased immediately upon the rect of this to...
16To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of this date encloseing one to Major General Howe which shall be forwarded immediately —I am just informed by the Officer of the Village Pickett that an Officer who was sent down early this morning to re[c]oinoitre Ver Planks Point reported that he saw a large Transport laying off against the Point very full of men—Perhaps it may be the relief for the Garrison at the...
17From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was favd last Evening with your two letters of yesterday. I cannot learn from the Deserters who have come out the two past days that any troops came up the River at the time you mention, but as movements might have taken place below of which they were ignorant, I very much approve of your making use of every precaution against a surprize—The enemy, upon the last settlement of accounts, fell...
18From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Upon an application similar to the inclosed, I did not look upon myself at liberty to grant the request, as the furlough was to extend beyond the limits of the United States. I therefore referred Capt. Stoddard, the former applicant, to Congress. They were pleased to grant his petition, and from the recommendation I have had of Capt. Lieut. Vandyke, I would beg leave to request a similar...
19From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 5th 8th and 9th instants. Neither of the former reached me till yesterday, and the latter this day. I am happy that my countermanding the march of the two North Carolina Battalions met the approbation of Congress. I am waiting with the utmost anxiety for further accounts from the Southward. By a letter from General Gates, of the 13th...
20To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will herewith receive enclosd a Memorial from two Officers Stediford & Bicker which Congress have referd to the Commander in Chief. I am Sir with the greatest Respect your Exys humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosed memorial has not been identified. For Congress’s referral of the memorials to GW, see JCC, Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the...
21From George Washington to John Mitchell, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
As I do not at this time know where my Winter Quarters will be, or when I shall get into them. As I have little prospect of seeing my own home this Winter & Mrs Washington desirous of coming to me before the Roads get bad & weather severe—I shall be obliged to you for enquiring & informing me if she can hire lodgings in some genteel (but not a common[)] boarding house in Phila. till I know...
22From George Washington to William Palfrey, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Brodhead writes me from Pittsburg the 16th Sepr last that “the troops here have at least nine months pay due to them and that there is neither money nor pay-master to discharge the arrearages.” I wish you as soon as possible to take such order in this case as it may require. There are of Continental troops under his command the 9 Virginia & th[e] 8 P. Regiments—Rollin’s corps and a few...
23From George Washington to Henry Remsen, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 10th inst. with its inclosure from Governor Livingston. It would give me a great deal of pleasure to comply with your application, could it be done without breaking in upon that line of conduct, which I have uniformly observed in like cases. For a variety of reasons I have refered all requests of this kind made to me to the Goverment of which the...
24Instructions to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
C——Junr to remain in the City, to collect all the useful information he can—to do this, he should mix as much as possible among the Officers and Refugees, visit the Coffee Houses and all public places. He is to pay particular attention to the movements by land and Water in and about the City—especially— How their transports are secured against an attempt to destroy them—whether by armed...
25From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
By intelligence I have just received from Elizabeth Town Colo. Webster left N. York on the 13th with three Regiments—and came up the River. The ostensible reason is to relieve the Troops at Stony & Verplanks points; but as they may have it possibly in view to attempt some thing—I have thought it necessary to communicate the intelligence to you by a Return Express. that you may be on your...