183201Hamilton Takes Command: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
As calls for military action against France grew louder during the summer of 1798, Jay tapped Alexander Hamilton to take charge of the various efforts then underway to put the City of New York on a wartime footing. Although Hamilton’s formal duties were those of chief superintendent of fortifications, he in fact served in a much broader capacity than this title suggests. Throughout the...
183202John Jay’s Moderate Response to the Whiskey Rebellion: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
The enforcement of Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton’s 1792 excise tax on distilled spirits met with widespread protest along the Appalachian backcountry. Western Pennsylvania constituted a flashpoint as harassment, ostracism, and violence greeted officials sent to implement the measure and residents who publicly supported it. Protesters in the region also sought to coordinate their efforts...
183203Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
“To morrow morning we set out upon our tour into Silesia, where you shall accompany us if you please,” John Quincy Adams wrote to his brother Thomas Boylston Adams on 16 July (above). So began a fourteen-week journey by John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams through what is now southern Poland and southern Germany. John Quincy promised to chronicle the trip in a series of letters, adding that...
183204Drafting Instructions for Meriwether Lewis: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
A brief, undated set of four comments jotted in pencil by James Madison is the earliest evidence of Jefferson’s drafting of official instructions to Meriwether Lewis for the expedition to the Pacific ( Document I ). Due to an alteration that Jefferson made in his endorsement on that document, the date of its receipt is not clear but could be as early as 12 or 13 Apr. Jefferson’s practice,...
183205Tensions between Allies over the Peace Negotiations Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Congress received long-awaited dispatches from its commissioners in Europe in December 1782. On 16 December Robert R. Livingston submitted to Congress Jay’s brief note of 28 September, which clarified a reference to Oswald’s second commission in Franklin’s dispatch of two days earlier. Livingston included in his letter of transmittal a quotation from Jay’s private correspondence of 4 September...
183206Constitutional Amendment on Louisiana: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
“I think it will be safer not to permit the enlargement of the Union but by amendment of the constitution,” Jefferson wrote to his secretary of the Treasury in January 1803. The president was responding to Gallatin’s rebuttal of arguments from the attorney general about the desired purchase of New Orleans and the Floridas. Jefferson, Levi Lincoln knew, thought that an amendment to the...
183207Anonymous Essay on Madison’s Character, December 1814 (Madison Papers)
Destined for the Bar, the youth of Madison was consecrated to the laborious studies of that vocation. At the age of twenty two years he commenced his carreer of public life, always occupying with superior talents, and fidelity, the most conspicuous places in the gift of his fellow citizens. When a member of Congress, the vigor of his mind, the wisdom of his views, and the force and facility of...
183208Introductory Note: From Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [3 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The events described in this letter precipitated the final phase of what has come to be known as the “Reynolds Affair.” In pamphlets appearing in June and July, 1797, James Thomson Callender stated that Hamilton, while Secretary of the Treasury, had joined with James Reynolds in a series of speculative ventures that were at best improper and at worst illegal. Two months later Hamilton...
183209The American Commissioners to John Lamb, [7 July 1786] (Adams Papers)
The Importance of Peace with the Algerines, and the other Inhabitants of the Coast of Barbary, to the United States, renders it necessary that every information which can be obtained, should be laid before Congress: And as the demands for the Redemption of Captives as well as the amount of Customary Presents, are so much more considerable than seem to have been expected in America, it appears...
183210From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Franklin, 26 August 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It has pleased God at length to take from us my only remaining Brother, and your affectionate Husband, with whom you have lived in uninterrupted Harmony and Love near half a Century. Considering the many Dangers and Hardships his Way of Life led him into, and the Weakness of his Constitution, it is wonderful that he lasted so long. It was God’s Goodness...
183211To George Washington from Edward Carrington, 30 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
I now have it in my power to give decisive information on the enquiries you did Genl Marshall and myself the Honor of confiding to us in regard to Colo. Innes, & regret, exceedingly, that they have issued in his declining the appointment contemplated, as he would certainly have filled it with all the advantages you are so solicitous to Secure. He has given the proposition a very thorough...
183212Suspension of the Rule Requiring Lawyers to Serve a Three-Year Clerkship in Favor of Alexander Hamilton, [26 April 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas by a former rule of this Court, a Clerkship of three years at least was among other things made a necessary prerequisite to the admission of an attorney to practice in this Court. And Whereas by a rule of this Court made on the eighteenth day of January last that part of the said rule which required a Clerkship of three years was suspended until the last day of April Term in favor of...
183213To James Madison from an Unidentified Correspondent, 2 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
Feeling an interest in your wellfare I think proper to inform you that there are numerous incendiaries in and about Washington employed by the British who are watching there opportunity to make way with you by the dagger or poison. I dowbt not that immediately on the receipt of this you will take effectual measures to prevent their insiduous purposes. Hoping that this may reach you in time I...
183214Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Itch Lotion, [after 29 May 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
60 grs = 1. drachm 8 drachms = 1. oz 480. grs = 1. oz 16 oz. = 1. pint 2880 480 7680 = 1 pint 3840 11520 = 1
183215To Benjamin Franklin from J[ohn] C[arroll], 18 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Will you allow your fellow traveller to and from Canada to take the opportunity of a vessel sailing from his neighbourhood to renew his assurances of esteem and respects, and to congratulate you on the recovery of your health, which I have the pleasure to hear is now in a good state, after all your labours and fatigues? It is a great pleasure to me to...
183216To George Washington from James Iredell and John Lowell, 15 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a copy of an application made to the Circuit Court of the United States, for this District by Oliver Hartshorn Deputy Sheriff and under keeper of the gaol in Boston in order that you may be pleased if you think proper to lay the same before the Congress of the United States. The matter is obviously of great public moment, and is of such a nature as to...
183217From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Waller, 6 June 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I hear with Pleasure from Philadelphia, that Billy Hunter behaves well and improves in his Learning; but I am concern’d to hear that Mr. Royle is dead, who manag’d the Printing house jointly for his Account, and that Mr. Holt, whom I wish’d to succeed there, as one from whom a greater Care might be expected of the Child’s Interest, does not incline to leave New...
183218To James Madison from an Unidentified Correspondent, 27 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
A friend to the United States of America, who, with many other’s, is compelled against his will to fight on board of the vessels of your enemy, has, fortunately, at this time, an opportunity of transmitting you an information as he hopes may be of use to your country. He subscribes not his name, and has good reason for it: of which, ere long, you will undoubtedly be informed, and will so...
183219Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Account with Wells & Lilly, 13 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Hon. T. Jefferson Bo t of Wells & Lilly Janry 13. 1818 Stewart ’s first Diss n $1 .50 Playfair ’s do do 1 .50 Clavis Ciceroniana 3 V s 5 Greek Primitives
183220Editorial Note: The Consular Convention of 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The Consular Convention of 1788 was the last of nine treaties to be signed by authority of the Continental Congress and the Confederation, and the first to be ratified under the new Constitution. None of the nation’s international agreements in the formative period was so long in preparation or had a history so filled with potentially disruptive sources of friction between the United States...
183221Enclosure: Statement of the Application of Monies Drawn from the Appropriation of Two Millions of Dollars, [26 December … (Hamilton Papers)
Monies Drawn. The following sums have been drawn from the said appropriation by warrants on the Treasurer, viz. Dollars. Cts. 1793, February 4, No. 2454, in favour of Jonathan Burrall, 50,000. 19, 2482, Samuel Meredith, 234,901.89 Septemb. 2, 3085, Ditto,
183222Editorial Note: Jefferson and the American Debt to France (Jefferson Papers)
The documents printed below have been grouped here in order to record more clearly, with the benefit of Jefferson’s connecting commentary, the process by which the Washington administration rejected Edmond Charles Genet’s request for a substantial advance payment of the American debt to France. On instructions from the Provisional Executive Council of France, Genet had pledged to use the...
183223Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
In August 1770, with Adams and Jonathan Sewall as his counsel, John Whiting had prevailed in an action of trespass which he had brought against his neighbor Ichabod Ware for a tract of land near Smoking Hill in Wrentham. Referees, under a rule of the Superior Court directing them to fix a boundary between the litigants, had reported that no line could be drawn, because Ware had no claim to any...
183224Delegate to the First Continental Congress Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
New York was one of several provinces to react to the Boston Port Act with a call for an intercolonial congress. Heartened by this response, the Massachusetts House of Representatives resolved on 17 June 1774 “that a meeting of Committees, from the several Colonies on this Continent is highly expedient and necessary” and proposed that the congress be held in Philadelphia on 1 September. The...
183225Poem by Daniel Waldo Lincoln, 31 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
—————“Homo sum. Nil humani a me alienum puto .” Benevolence Ere any social intercourse began, Ere arts subdued, or culture modelled man; Ere law had learnt his fierceness to restrain; Ere the rude savage stooped to wear a chain; He roamed the desart, trod the pathless wild, And nature catered for her simple child. With tigers fell he shared the rocky den, Or chummed with serpents in the...
183226[William Hall]: Account of Benjamin Franklin with the Estate of David Hall, [1 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society After the partnership of Franklin and Hall had come to an end and James Parker had completed his examination of the books, as reported in the document immediately above, David Hall opened an account of his financial relations with his former partner. From time to time he sent Franklin a statement of the transactions shown in his records, but neither man...
183227Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
In composing a letter to his boyhood friend James Maury , a longtime expatriate serving as United States consul at Liverpool, England , Jefferson included a request that Maury locate an agent who could purchase books for him in Great Britain. The retired statesman was seeking to rebuild his collection after the recent sale of his library to the United States Congress . He intended to supply a...
183228To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel] Potts, 19 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Potts presents his Compliments to Mr. Francklin and Dsires the favour of his Company to Dine on a Doe of the Postmaster Generals at the Kings Arms Tavern in Cornhill on Monday next at 3 OClock in Afternoon. Addressed: To / Benjamin Francklin Esqr / Craven Street / Strand For Samuel Potts, comptroller general of the General Post Office, see above, X , 149...
183229Address to the People of Great Britain Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
John Jay’s hopes for reconciliation did not prevent him from preparing the draft “Address to the People of Great Britain,” printed below. Adopted by Congress on 21 October 1774, it was notable both for the republican rhetoric that it voiced and for the constitutional theories that it espoused. The “Address,” despite Jay’s known moderation, propelled him into the front line of Whig...
183230Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
Soon after Thomas Jefferson declared in his 4 March 1801 inaugural address that “We are all republicans: we are all federalists,” Abigail Adams wrote an essay charging the president’s party with hypocrisy and calling on Federalists to treat Jefferson as Democratic-Republican critics had treated George Washington and John Adams during their administrations. Abigail quoted Jefferson’s request...