1From George Washington to Colonel Thomas McKean, 6 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The French Gentleman whom you may recollect was at Philadelphia when I was there, in the character of the Baron de Calbiact, & who was waiting on Congress for some promotion in the Military line, is now here, and Complains of the hardship he labours under in being refused an appointment and also in having his papers & Credentials kept from him. he informs me they are in your hands, and as he...
2From George Washington to Colonel Thomas McKean, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In answer to that part of your Letter of the 10th Instt “whether, when a Brigade is drawn up, and the oldest Colonel takes the Right, his Battalion is to be on the right with him; that is, whether the Colonel gives rank to the Battalion” I shall inform you, that to the best of my Military knowledge a Regiment never looses its Rank, consequently can derive none from its Colonel, nor loose any...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas McKean, 24 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I heard your Letter read in Congress relating to the Disposition of the German Troops; and understanding from Col. Ross, that they are canton’d on the Island opposite to the Jersey Shore, I send you herewith some of the Resolutions of the Congress translated into their Language, as possibly you may find some Opportunity of conveying them over the Water,...
4From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 10 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 8th from Newark and most sincerely wish that your exertions to rouse the inhabitants of the Delaware State had been attended with better success. They certainly labour under very peculiar difficulties—the enemy in possession of their Capital—a vast number of disaffected—and the continental Army at present at too great a distance to support them. The latter is a...
5From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 1 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with your letter of the 13th March. I should be ready to afford every probable means of procuring honest testimony, to the two persons now under confinement for passing counterfeit Continental Money. But it cannot be supposed that General Howe would permit persons to come out of philadelphia to give evidence in a matter, which by being traced fairly back would fix the...
6From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 20 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is a long Time, Since I had the Pleasure to see you, but my Esteem is not at all diminished. None of Us have any Thing to boast of in these Times, in Respect to the Happiness of Life. You have been in disagreable Scaenes no doubt—mine have been much worse than I expected. I never heard of any Jealousy, Envy or Malevolence, among our Commissioners, at Paris, untill my Arrival at Bourdeaux....
7From John Adams to the President of Congress, 10 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 10 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 268–269. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:556–557. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of an article that...
8From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 10 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Honor done me in the Receipt of your Excellencys Favor of the 3d instant—covering the Resolutions of Congress of the 2d—The Corps of Rifle Men, requested from the State of Pensylvania, I am anxious to obtain, as I am more & more sensible of the important Benefit we may derive from their Services in our approach to New York. Your Excellency’s agreable Favor of the 6th...
9From John Adams to the President of Congress, 11 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have only time, by Major Jackson, to inform Congress, that upon Information from the Comte de Vergennes, that questions concerning Peace, under the Mediation of the two imperial Courts, were in agitation that required my Presence, I undertook the Journey and arrived here last Friday Night the 6th. of the month, and have twice waited on the Comte de Vergennes at Versailles, who this day...
10From John Adams to the President of Congress, 13 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 13 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 287–288. LbC Adams Papers . printed : JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot Correspondence of the Late President Adams. Originally Published in the Boston Patriot. In a Series of Letters , Boston, 1809[–1810]; 10 pts. , p. 544–546. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It provided an...