1From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Society; AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress After heavy winds and rain had marred the demonstration of his hotair balloon at the Réveillon manufactory on September 12, Etienne Montgolfier and his collaborators had just one week to prepare a new balloon to be launched before the royal family...
2From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS and transcript: Library of Congress; copy: William L. Clements Library I received your favour of the 24th past, and rejoice that you have a reasonable Prospect of the Recovery of your dear Sister in time. I join with you most cordially in “Wishes to forward, not only the Continuance of Peace between the two Countries, but the Improvement of Reconciliation”; and I “presume” as...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Frances V. Finletter, Philadelphia (1956) I cannot let this Opportunity of Mr. Jay’s going to London, pass without Dropping a Line to you, to say that I am tolerably well and love you as much as ever; and that I wish to hear from you oftner, tho’ I am so bad a Correspondent as not to deserve it. I find I have, left, four of my Vols. on Electricity, and none of your Collection. If Mr...
4From George Washington to Frederick Haldimand, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit to your Excellency, a Letter from Mr John Campbell, together with a Schedule of sundry papers which he alledges were taken from him when made Prisoner and deliverd to Major De Peyster at Detroit, and were never returned. I can have no doubt, but that your Excellency will on receipt of this Letter, cause every measure to be taken which may be most likely to...
5From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit to your Excellency the Copy of a Letter I have just received from Sir Guy Carleton, informing me of his having given orders for the evacuation of Penobscott. Congress having come to no determination with respect to a Peace Establishment, and the few Troops remaining in Service being on a precarious footing liable to be discharged at every moment, are reasons,...
6From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Captain Shaw has handed me your Letter of the 2d instant. I have been impatiently waiting the determination of Congress to ascertain what number of Troops are actually to be kept up in the Garrison of West-point during the Winter but I do not see any probability of their coming to a speedy decision; on the contrary, the Members with whom I have conversed seem unwilling to lessen the present...
7From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Count Wengiersky, a Polish Gentleman travelling the Continent for his amusement, will have the pleasure to deliver you this; he comes recommended to me by the Marquis de la Fayette and by the Minister of France and as he proposes to take West-point in his tour I take the liberty to Request your civilities to him during his stay there. Mr Vernon, an English Gentleman lately from Europe travels...
8To George Washington from Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your Excellencys favor of the 28th ult., requesting a return of clothing, which will be actually wanted supposing the troops necessary during the Winter. And of the 26th ultimo, containing the resolves of Congress, thanking general Howe, and the detachment under his orders, which, with your Excellencys sentiments, will be published this day. The return shall be forwarded...
9From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
When I last wrote you on the subject of providing for the Garrison of West Point I mentioned 500 Men as the number which Congress would probably think proper to keep in that Garrison during the Winter—I have been long waiting their determination on this subject but so far from coming to any such decision, the Members with whom I have conversed seem unwilling to lessen the force now existing...
10From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
The dayly expectation of one of the two events which I designed should put an end to my Public Services has nothing more to fix it to a period now, than there was several Months ago, and, as to carry my Papers home by Land (for I never could think of trusting them on the Ocean or Bay) was the only inducement for requiring Waggons to be retained for this service, I have, to avoid further...