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10 August 1783
Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
to James Rivington
Thanks Rivington for the copy of Smith's "Wealth of Nations" that he sent. Knox signed in text. See GLC02437.02296 for Rivington's original note.
GLC02437.02379
17 September 1783
Paine, Thomas (1737-1809)
to Henry Knox
Sends his respects to Knox. through a Mr. Darby , a former pupil of his from England.
GLC02437.02526
14 January 1785
Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814)
Written by Warren, who was a neighbor of Knox when he lived in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Apologizes for not returning several books she borrowed from Knox (the "Life of Sobieski" and Adam Ferguson's "Roman Republic"). Expresses sentiments of...
GLC02437.03085
19 February 1785
Manteau, Captain (fl. 1785)
to Henry Knox [in French]
Recently arrived in London. Offers his regards to Mrs. Knox and other acquaintances. In a post script, notes that he has not forgotten the dictionary.
GLC02437.03098
5 May 1785
to James Webber
Expresses his gratitude for the care Webber has taken to assist his brother William, who suffered from mental illness. Mentions a box of books, sent from London by Sharp, that were damaged in transit. Writes, "I am not well acquainted with the...
GLC02437.03139
6 May 1785
to Mr. Wilson
Encloses Catharine Macaulay's proposals regarding a subscription for her history (possibly referring to her book, A History of England from the Accession of James I to the Elevation of the House of Hanover). Writes, "If you could induce any...
GLC02437.03140
26 June 1785
to James Manning
Knox transmits books donated from Granville Sharp in London to Rhode Island College (present-day Brown University). Informs Manning, President of Rhode Island College, that these books were previously in William Knox's care but William was...
GLC02437.03158
11 March 1786
to William Gordon
Writes to Reverend Doctor William Gordon, a prominent Massachusetts minister and historian. Discusses a brigade of General Nathanael Greene's division, commanded by Brigadier General Weedon, that engaged with the British "at the close of the action...
GLC02437.03247
26 March 1803
Ellery, William (1727-1820)
to George Wanton Ellery
Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Thanks George for admonishing him for forgetting to date his last letter. Corrects his spelling and grammar errors, and instructs him how to fold and seal letters properly....
GLC02300.04
20 September 1805
Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Is sending him Lindley Murray's abridged English grammar. Advises George to employ himself in useful activity by reading books. Reading provides comfort, instruction, and...
GLC02300.11
12 November 1805
Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Comments on George's experience seeing the invisible lady, an acoustical illusion of the Enlightenment that appeared to trick the senses by transforming mundane voices into...
GLC02300.14
10 January 1806
Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Is glad to hear that George's academy increases in numbers, and believes that it will rival the Greenwich Academy. Advises George to master one concept in arithmetic before...
GLC02300.16
15 April 1806
Written to his son at Captain Barney's School, Wickford, Rhode Island. Thanks him for his letter. Is pleased to hear from Mr. Updike that the two volumes of geography have arrived. Wishes that he would read English grammar in his leisure hours:...
GLC02300.21
7 September 1795
Washington, George (1732-1799)
to Thomas Paine
President Washington thanks "Thos Paine - of Boston" (not the famous author of "Common Sense," who was in Paris until 1802) for a poem inscribed to him.
GLC02858
15 July 1808
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)
to Persoon re: thanking Persoon for gift of botanical book
GLC03362
January 1791- June 1791
Carey, Mathew (1760-1839)
The American Museum or Universal Magazine. [Vol. 9 (1791)]
Contains six monthly issues, January to June 1791. Bound in contemporary leather. Published by Carey, Stewart & Co. Contains a lot of information on American history at the beginning of the U.S. Government, Indian "depradations (sic)," Washington...
GLC03461
circa 1809
Dignified retirement: parody on the house that Jack built, -- fitted to the times
A parody of the nursery rhyme styled upon eighteenth century children's chapbooks making fun of Jefferson's retirement at a time of national crisis. The figures are rough allegories of Jefferson (alternately a king then a priest, retiring to a...
GLC02209
12 November 1811
Adams, John (1735-1826)
to Benjamin Rush
Lengthy discussion of virtue and politics, reflecting on "slander" from his opponents. Tacitus' adage: "Posterity gives to every man his true honor," " has some Truth in it... but it is by no means an universal Aphorism; nor do I believe it to be...
GLC09107
24 August 1785
Jay, John (1745-1829)
to Richard Price
Written by Jay as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Confederation government to Price, a dissenting minister and moralistic pamphleteer in Britain who supported American independence. Apologizes to Price for being tardy in responding and...
GLC00013
12 August 1805
to Daniel Fisher re: acknowledging book on military tactics
Letter written in the third person, thanking Fisher for the book on military tactics, and noting "It would be great presumption in him [i.e., TJ] to hazard an opinion on a work the subject of which he has been less conversant in than any other."
GLC03739
1794
A Defence of the Constitutions of the government of the United States...
New Edition, with a preface extracted from Jedediah Morse's American Geography, describing Adams. Printed by John Stockdale. Bound in contemporary tree calf with gilt edges.
GLC03771.01
1799
Adams, Hannah (1755-1831)
A Summary History of New England... [with ALS 5/15/1796 tipped-in]
GLC04049
1801
Mackenzie, Alexander (1764-1820)
Voyages from Montreal on the River St. Laurence...to the Pacific Ocean [1789-93]
With three folding maps. Full title: "Voyages from Montreal, on the River St. Laurence, through the continent of North America, to the frozen and Pacific Oceans; in the years 1789 and 1793. With a preliminary account of the rise, progress, and...
GLC04137
9 March 1790
Rush, Benjamin
to Polly Stockton
On the second anniversary of his recovery from illness, Rush thanks his sister for nursing him. His illness left him with strong ideas of the vanity of wealth, the evil of Sin, etc. He continues by talking about his delight in reading John Wesley's...
GLC05508.011
1806
Pike, Zebulon M. (1779-1813)
An account of a voyage up the Mississippi River, from St. Louis to its source
Made under the orders of the War Department by Lieut. Pike, of the United states Army in the years 1805 and 1806. signed by H. Livingston GLC04139 is almost a duplicate copy of this book.
GLC03107.05323
1809
Unknown
The Interesting Life, Travels, Voyages, and Daring Engagements of the Celebrated Paul Jones
Paul Jones was Commodore in the American Navy during the late Revolutionary War. The book contains "numerous anecdotes of undaunted courage, in the production of his undertakings." The book was printed by N. Elliot, and published by William E...
GLC03107.05325
1785/09/26
to John Stockdale re: purchase of maps and books for inclusion into his atlas
David Franks, the bearer of this letter, was the highest-ranking Jewish officer in the Revolutionary War.
GLC03117
16 April 1791
Newspaper
Gazette of the United States. [Vol. 2, no. 101 (April 16, 1791)]
Contains "Discourse on Davila. No. 30."; article discussing the right of state legislatures to instruct their state's senators in Congress; extract of a report from the London Humane Society; opinions of Delaware representative John Vining on the...
GLC03128
[n.d.]
Livingston, Johnston
A story about Charles Matthews
The manuscript relates a story about Charles Matthews and his ability to disguise himself most extraordinarily.
GLC03107.04182
1805
History of the rise, progress and termination of the American Revolution. Interspersed with biographical, political, and moral observations.
Printed by Manning and Loring for E. Larkin. Volumes two and three contain the bookplate of Joseph L. Fry, Charleston, Kanawha (present day West Virginia).
GLC04719
[1783]
Barnard, Edward (fl. 1782-1783)
The new... history of England from the earliest period...
Printed for the Author and published by Alex. Hogg. Imprint date is "1782" but history ends at 1783.
GLC04204
1 May 1789
to unknown
Invites the unknown recipient to inspect a new iron bridge he designed. "We have erected our Experiment Rib and Struck the Center." With engraving.
GLC04218
20 November 1803
to Anthony Taylor
Says he just arrived in New Rochelle. Received Taylor's letter with the news of the death of Colonel Joseph Kirkbride. Claims he has lost "my best friend." Paine befriended Kirkbride, a well-known patriot and fellow Quaker, when he lived in...
GLC04281
1813/01/02
Field, Eugene (fl. 1813)
to Julia [Comstock] re: to fiancee with short love poem
GLC04353.14
1813/04/13
to Julia [Comstock] re: news of work on the "Journal," etc.
Tear along center fold at left edge, very small hole 2 inches further in along fold, not affecting text.
GLC04353.15
[1792]
Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848)
Observations on Paine's Rights of Man, in a series of lectures, by Publicola
Edinburgh edition. First separate printing, originally published in Boston newspaper June-July 1791. Disbound. Attributed to John Quincy Adams by himself (see GLC 958.07)
GLC04398
1811/04/15
to Pierre Paganel re: tragedy of the French Revolution, hopes for liberty
Paganel, author of Essai historique et critique sur la Révolution Française (Paris, 1810), sent a copy of his work to Jefferson, perhaps one of the few copies to survive burning at the hands of Napoleon's censors. Jefferson writes in part: "[t]he...
GLC04433
Butler, William Orlando (1791-1880)
Hudibras, in three parts, written in the time of the late wars
Zachary Grey, Ed.. With Hogarth's engravings. With index and errata. Bookplate of John Pollexfen Bastard on front pastedown.
GLC08411
23 June 1790
Fenno, John (1751-1798)
Gazette of the United States. [Vol. II, no. 21 (June 23, 1790)]
Includes an article "On the Means of Preserving the Union of the American States," opining that the "present constitution of the United States appears to be excellent in contemplation; and if the harmony of the States should not be disturbed by...
GLC08720.02
February 1791
The American Museum, or Universal magazine, for February, 1791.
Disbound. Consists of pages 62-116. Printed by Carey. Contains essays on happiness, Lord Chesterfield's letters, astronomy, the microscope, and English literature, among various other topics. One essay, appearing on pages 99-107, is titled "The...
GLC08741
17 February 1812 or 1813
Adams, Abigail (1744-1818)
to Hannah Cushing
Comforts Hannah Cushing on the death of her nephew, John Cushing Aylwin, who died aboard the U.S.S. Constitution after its battle with the HMS Java in December 1812. Adams quotes from Cato: "How beautiful is death when earned by virtue / Who would...
GLC09394
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