March 16, 1799

Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Smith

Benjamin Stoddert discusses a treaty between Britain and Haitian general Toussaint Louverture. He mentions a ship bound for India, letting General [George] Washington know that he will be returning to New York. Also talks about spices. Letter seems to have been written in a hurry. Address leaf has a cut hole where the seal used to be on the center left above the address. Directly opposite is a mark and bit of wax from the seal. Also on the right is a column of numbers where someone did some calculations. Above the address in the upper left hand corner is a round stamp with PHI MR around the…

GLC00308.05

February 5, 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Powel

Washington writes to Powel, Mayor of Philadelphia, one day after being elected as the first President of the United States. He states that he delivered enclosures previously sent from Powel to his nephew, Bushrod Washington. He predicts that the majority of newly elected government officials will be Federalists, stating that "although the issue of all the Elections are not yet known, they are sufficiently displayed to authorize a belief that opposers of the government have been defeated in almost every instance." He expresses sympathy regarding the insanity of British King George III. Refers…

GLC00310

17 October 1754

Lawrence, Robert, 1692-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [An Act for making Current seventy thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit for adjusting his Majesty and the Neighboring Colonies to dispossess the French from his Majesty's Land on or near the River Ohio, and for providing a fund for the Defense of the Frontiers...]

Fair copy of the act passed by the New Jersey House of Representatives near the beginning of the French and Indian War. Passed with some amendments, the act was meant to raise revenue for expenses during the French and Indian War. The bills authorized seemed to have been revised prior to their actual issue. There are many textual corrections in the document. Lawrence was the Speaker of the House of the New Jersey Assembly.

GLC00276

November 20, 1765

Farrington, A., fl. 1765

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Seth Williamson

A British captain discusses military logistics and the advice given to him by General Thomas Gage regarding troop transport. He mentions being in "the Rebellious Town of New York," where there was popular discontent with the Stamp Act of 1765. He describes the destruction of the rented house of Major Thomas James "by the principal People of this Town," referring to the Sons of Liberty, who had committed this and similar acts during the previous month. He comments on plans to dismantle Fort George, noting that "the Grand Arsenal of America is liable to be insulted" if set on fire. He notes…

GLC00278

August 6, 1773

Cottrell, Stephen, 1738-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Granville Leveson-Gower

Written by Cottrell, secretary of the Board of Trade, to George Granville Leveson-Gower, the Duke of Sutherland, as the Lord President of the Privy Council. The Lord President's principle responsibility is to preside at meetings of the Privy Council, at which the British monarch formally assents to Orders-in-Council. Cottrell wants to know the recipient's opinion of the independent powers the colonies have accumulated and are using. He says he has been ordered by Lord Suffolk to transmit the enclosed comments from the Board of Trade (not included). Thomas Pownall, a Member of Parliament who…

GLC00279

August 21, 1781

Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Hall

Reports no news from Europe or General Nathanael Greene. Hopes that the Comte de Grasse comes to Chesapeake Bay to support the Americans against Lord Cornwallis, which he did later that month. Also notes that "Vermont is to be admitted into the Union as a fourteenth State -- a fifteenth must soon follow as a balance."

GLC00297.01

April 10, 1793

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Gouverneur Morris was writing to Robert Morris introducing Pierre Huger who wished to establish himself in America. Written as U.S. minister to France.

GLC00297.03

February 8, 1797

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr Skipworth, Paris

Introducing King's brother. King's brother wanted to visit Paris before returning to America.

GLC00297.05

April 19, 1775

Merrill, Isaac, 1708-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Currier

Written by Merrill, a Colonel of militia, sending an account of the American militia's opposition to British troops at Lexington and Concord to Captain Currier. He mentions that Gage marched last evening out of Boston "Destroying our men and interest." Tells Currier to muster and mobilize as many of his officers and soldiers as possible. Tells him to spread the word and have other militia companies join them. Says he should appoint an officer to take charge in case he has to leave. Merrill still saw himself as a British citizen when he signed the date of the letter "in the Fifteenth Year of…

GLC00303

September 16, 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

James Monroe discusses his diplomatic mission to France during the winter of 1796-1797. He requests a copy of the proceedings of the Hartford Convention, which took place during the winter of 1814-1815.

GLC00306

March 2, 1797

Webster, Noah, 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Childs

Webster, book writer and editor of the New York Federalist newspaper "The Commercial Advertiser," writes to Childs, a New York publisher and friend, in London. He asks Childs to place an order for type with Caslon's foundry, perhaps for his newspaper. He requests Childs to get unsold copies of his books from a noted London bookseller, Charles Dilly. Webster is possibly referring to his works "Dissertations on the English Language," "Political Essays on the Nature and Operation of Money, Public Finances and Other Subjects," or a series of pamphlets on free trade and finance, all of which sold…

GLC00312

1754

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Header Record

Title: Journal of Major George Washington and map [decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00419

1754

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Book

Title: Journal of Major George Washington, sent by the Hon. Robert Dinwiddie

First English Edition, with rare folding map (housed separately as .02) of what became the Eastern United States to Mississippi River. Howes W134, Sabin 101710, Church 999, Streeter Sale 1713. Initially published in Williamsburg.

GLC00419.01

1754 circa

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Map

Title: Map of the western parts of the colony of Virginia, as far as the Mississip[p]i

Rare folding map of Eastern part of what is today the United States to the Mississippi River. With orange color supplied on the borders of Virginia. Shows Washington's route from Williamsburg to French Fort. Removed from book due to condition 1997.

GLC00419.02

December 26, 1795

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas B. Adams

Observations of riots by the poor of London, who were attempting to get more power from the government. Adams calls the rioters "Revolutionists" and notes their hunger, possibly indicating that they took inspiration from the French Revolution and referencing the poor harvest of 1795 as a direct cause for the unrest. Mentions Parliament's suppression of these outrages against "the royal virtues and crimes of the Jacobins" by passing the Treasonable Practices Act and the Seditious Meetings Act, which limited political discussion. Praises Thomas, who was John Quincy's brother, for becoming "a…

GLC00392

1744

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An act for the better encouragement of seamen in his Majesty's service

Passed on 1 December 1743. Printed by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett. Paginated 691-706 + unpaginated title page.

GLC00399

1748

Baskett, Thomas, ?-1761

Pamphlet

Title: [An Act for permitting Tea to be exported to Ireland, and His Majesty's Plantations in America, without paying the Inland Duties...]

Records this tea law passed by Parliament on 10 November 1747 in its entirety. Baskett was the printer.

GLC00400

1750

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An act to encourage the importation of pig and bar iron...

GLC00401

1774

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An act to discontinue... shipping... within the Harbour, of Boston [Port Bill]

The Boston Port Act. Paginated 515-522 + unpaginated title page. [one of the five "Intolerable Acts"]

GLC00402

1781

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An act to empower his majesty to detain persons....

Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan.

GLC00403

January 21, 1780

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Co-signed by North Carolina Congressmen Thomas Burke and Allen Jones. Written in what appears to be Penn's hand. Penn was also a North Carolina Continental Congressman and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Written to Caswell as Governor of North Carolina. Mentions an enclosed and authentic "Extract of Intelligence" (not included). Says as the presiding magistrate of North Carolina, Caswell has a duty to stay vigilant against the enemy. They express fears "from the ill-judging class of our citizens, and from our negroes and should [the British] attempt to invade or penetrate any…

GLC00414

29 May 1775

Livingston, Peter Van Brugh, 1710-1792

Document signed

Title: [New York Provisional Congress resolution to form county committees]

Written by Livingston, a wealthy merchant, as President of the New York Provisional Congress. Printed letter at the top of recto asks counties that have not formed committees to do so without delay. Also says no coercive steps should be made to force people to get involved. Bottom part of recto contains resolution of the Provisional Congress for townships, precincts, and districts to form county committees. Also recommends that those that have neglected to subscribe to "the general Association," to do it with convenient speed. Also asks that committees send names of those who refuse or…

GLC00418

1812

United States. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Address ... to their constituents on the subject of the war with Great Britain

Disbound. Signed "J Kent." Has states pencilled next to names of delegates in a different hand. Kent was an Assoc. Supreme Court Justice and Chancellor of Columbia Law School. A-D4 E2 ($1 signed)

GLC00422

May 11, 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Whipple as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire to Langdon as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire (he was to leave that body in June 1776). Whipple was also a colonel of militia and later signed the Declaration of Independence. References Langdon's letter from April 29, 1776. Says there was "a little Brush" with the men of war "Roebuch" and "Liverpool." Says the ships came up as far as Wilmington, Delaware and stole cattle from the Jersey shore. Reports that 18 gallies made two attacks on the ships. The first one was undertaken at too far a distance to be effective…

GLC00429

March 11, 1865

Leach, Z.A., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McGuire

Written in pencil. Informs McGuire that he encountered an enslaved person who declared that he was running away. Suggests where McGuire might look for the enslaved person, and asks that he "say nothing that I told you."

GLC00434.02