30941The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 10, 1778: We are not authorized by Congress to allow deductions from the seamen’s prize money or their advances. As for your stores and furniture, M. Simpson will undoubtedly deliver your private property upon request. We cannot advise you regarding your indemnification, but we...
30942Sartine to the American Commissioners, 10 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society <Versailles, August 10, 1778, in French: Since I wrote you on July 29 the commissaire des classes at Nantes informs me the American agent there has entrusted him with some British prisoners. M. de la Porte, intendant at Brest, has written me that the cargo of the Ranger’s prize is spoiling. I await your reply in order to...
30943To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Leveux, 10 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Deux americains se sont presentés chez moy il y a deux Jours et ont fait leur raport ainsy qu’au commandant de la ville qu’ils s’étoient sauvés des prisons d’angleterre ou ils avoient été conduits apres avoir été pris par les anglois. L’un est le Sieur Edward Leger lieutenant a bord du Navire le Hornit Cap. John Nicholson au service du Congrès et L’autre le...
30944To Benjamin Franklin from John Murfey [Murphy], 10 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You’l Exscuse the Liberty I take in Righting as Necesity oblidges me to Do it and ask your advice in my Present Situation. I Saild from the State of Rhode Island the 26 August 1777 In the Sloop Swallow Privateer Belonging to that State and had the misfortune to Be taking By one of King Georges frgates on the 12 of Septmr. following and sent to Jamica from...
30945General Orders, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Lieutenant Colonel Carlton is appointed to take command of the Post at Terrytown. Ensign Alexander Benstead of the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment is appointed Pay-Master to the same. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
30946From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 6th Instt which came to my hands yesterday, afforded a fresh proof of the noble principles on which you act, and has a just claim to my sincere & hearty thanks. The common cause, of which you have been a Zealous supporter would I know, be benefitted by Genl Greene’s presence at Rhode Island, as he is a native of that State—has an interest with the People—and a thorough...
30947From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I received your favor of the 26th Ulto, inclosing one from Colo. Spotswood, for which I thank you. The reputation which this Gentn had acquired, of being an attentive Officer and good disciplinarian, was justly founded; and I considered his leaving the Army a loss to the Service. The supposed death of his Brother, it is natural to believe, had a painful influence upon his...
30948To George Washington from Brigadier General John Stark, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Dear General —Your letter of the 5th instant has come to hand by express. I am very happy to hear that the disposition of the troops in this department will so well agree with your sentiments. The posts of Schoharie and Cherry Valley I look upon as exposed to equal danger. For that reason I have stationed Colonel Butler at one, and Colonel Alden at the other. By the inclosed letters, you will...
30949From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with yours of the 6th. I regret much the tardiness of the militia, as every moment is infinitely precious, and the delay, it produces, may not only frustrate the expedition, which is a matter of the greatest importance in itself; but may expose the French fleet to some fatal disaster. I have no doubt of your utmost exertions to forward the business with all dispatch....
30950To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 10 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Count De-Estaing and myself were by Agreement to land our Forc[e]s here this Morning but I having received Intelligence early Yesterday Morning that the Enemy had abandoned the north End of the Island entirely in Consequence of the French Fleets coming up the River thought it best to push over without Loss of Time the whole of my Troops which accordingly was done —immediately after our...
30951To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 10 August 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
I agree entirely with you concerning the importance of the confederation, and have never failed to press it. Ten States have ratified—Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland have not, and one of them, Maryland, has adjourned until November, so that the new Congress under the Confederation cannot meet this year at the time proposed by the Confederacy. The inclosed paper contains all the news we have,...
30952General Orders, 11–12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A sufficient number of Officers having not yet presented themselves as Candidates for Commissions in the Companies of Sappers and Miners—The General requests all those who may be disposed to enter into this service immediately to give in their names and wait upon General Du Portail as he is desirous of having the Companies established without delay—This being a species of service well worthy...
30953John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am desirous of conveying to you, in a manner that will not probably fail of success, and therefore have written the same Thing by many Vessells. I have ordered some Things to be shipped to you by two Opportunities. But least these should not arrive, or whether they do or not, I beg of you to draw upon me, for one hundred Pounds sterling which shall be paid at sight. Any Person who has...
30954John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
you will pardon me if I do not write to you very often for you know how I used to teaze you to write a copy of a letter for me but now I do not have you to write and my Pappa being always a doing publick affaires or a writing to you cannot do it for me, so that I am obliged to think myself, sometimes I think of a few words to write but you know I am no great hand at letter writing for if I was...
30955Peter Frederick Dobrée to the Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honble. Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained in the anonimous Letter, but beg you...
30956Peter Frederick Dobrée to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honorable Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant, which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained...
30957To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 11 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): M.D.A.F.H.H. Hartley Russell (1955) on deposit in the Berkshire County Record Office; transcript: Library of Congress I writ to you as long ago as the 14th of last month to tell you that the administration here had given their consent to the exchange of prisoners at Calais and that they would agree to give any ship on your part a free passport from Brest to Calais upon your sending...
30958From George Washington to Lieutenant Caleb Brewster, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I perceive by a letter of yours to Genl Parsons that Genl Silliman had granted liberty to Lieut. French to return to Long Island upon parole. Genl Parsons tells me that upon rect of your letter he directed Mr French to be detained untill he consulted me upon the propriety of the Measure. I desire that he may be immediately sent back to the place from whence he came, and inclosed is a letter...
30959From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting to Congress the Inclosed Letter, which I just now received from the pay Master General. They will perceive by it, that the Military Chest is entirely exhausted, and, that a third of the Army remains unpaid for the Months of April and May. The importance & necessity of an immediate and large supply will at once appear—and I am persuaded it will be ordered and...
30960From George Washington to William Livingston, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was favor’d with yours of the 7th in[stant] this morning. You will perceive by the enclosure from Colo. Biddle the Forage Master General to the Army the prices that have been given for hay in the different States and that the proper measures will be used to exempt Somerset County from her proportion of Forage. The last accounts from Rhode Island was of the 6th with the news of the Enemy’s...
30961From George Washington to Colonel William Malcom, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captain John Stevens who will deliver you this, I find was properly authorized to project a Machine in the river, at West Point, for the purpose of setting fire to any of the Enemy’s Shipping that might attempt a passage up it. He represents that, for the want of hands, he is unable to carry it on—being totally unacquainted with the circumstance, I have taken the opinion of some Gentlemen who...
30962To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Will you pardon a liberty I am about to take with you. I have been inform’d that you have had the misfortune to lose your favorite Horse & that you are not mounted at present as you ought to be. The Liberty I am about to take with you, is that of sending you a Horse that will suit you better than any one in Am[e]rica. But then I must insist that he be accepted as a present, for his value...
30963To George Washington from William Palfrey, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Palfrey, 11 Aug. 1778. On 17 Aug., Congress read GW’s letter of 11 Aug., “enclosing one, of the same date, to him from William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general” ( JCC , 11:802).
30964From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 11 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I received your favor of the 16th Ulto, which Colonel Lee was so obliging as to transmit. From the regard I had for you and the estimation in which I held you, as an Officer, I wished your continuance in the Army; and considered your departure from it a loss to the service. This you will readily believe, as you well know my persuasions had been used to prevent it’s taking place...
30965From Benjamin Franklin to R. Parsons, [on or after 12 August 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I did truly tell Capt. Hickey as you mention that I had never given Mr. Parsons the least Encouragement to go to America. Your good Opinion of your Husband, which is very natural and laudable, induces you to think there is some Mistake in this, and you express your Doubt in these Words, “ If IN REALITY he has never had any Countenance from you ,” &c....
30966To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12–13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 12–13 Aug. 1778. On 21 Aug., GW wrote Greene : “On Wednesday afternoon I re⟨ce⟩ived your favor of the 12th & 13th Inst.”
30967From John Adams to John Bradford, 12 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 17 June is before me. I thank you, sir for your kind Congratulations on my safe arrival at Paris. Before this arrives you will have learn’d that War is commenced in Earnest between France and England. Never was a Nation in higher Spirits than the French, or lower than the English. The Events of War, it is true are always uncertain, but there have been few Conjunctions in human...
30968From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 12 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of July 1st. is before me, and I feel myself much obliged to you for it, as well as for your generous Endeavours, to console my dear Mrs. Adams under her anxiety. Our Ennemies discover the Meanness of their Souls in nothing more than in the low Lyes they make and propagate merely to distress, private Families. A very great Number, have been fabricated, Simply to afflict that...
30969George Washington to Comte d’Estaing, 12 August 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
White Plains [ New York ] August 12, 1778 . States again that British fleet has left “the Hook.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
30970James Moylan to the American Commissioners, 12 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The forgoing is extract of a letter I this day received from Lisbon dated 21st July. It may happen, the information may be of some utility to you, which is the reason I forward it, being with due respect Honorable Gentlemen Your assur’d humble Servant Addressed: The Honorable / Plenepotentiary Ministers / of the United States of / America / at / Passy...