There are no restrictions.
See the
Tracy W. McGregor Autograph Collection, ca. 1599-1947, Accession #10547, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
This collection was acquired through gift and purchase, 1938-present.
This collection is comprised of many different accession numbers and additions to the original McGregor purchases. It is arranged alphabetically by the name of the principal correspondent or author but the accession number will also be noted in the summary of the item. Provenance information about each accession can be obtained from its control folder or Virgo record. Only small autograph collections belonging to the McGregor Library are included in this guide.
The collection is divided into three series:
1) Letters and Manuscripts:
Admiralty Office of Great Britain through Henry Clay
(Box 1)
Ernest Hartley Coleridge through Samuel G. Drake (Box 2)
Earl of Dunmore through Florida (Box 3)
Ebenezer Foote through Walter King (Box 4)
Harry Lauder through James Madison (Box 5)
James Madison through Hugh Mercer (Box 6)
James Monroe through Philip Slaugher (Box 7)
Theodore Spenser through the Wormeley Family (Box 8)
George Wythe and Robert Carter Nicholas Law Firm Papers
(Box 9)
2) Bound Volumes (Boxes 9- 11)
3) Numbered Slipcase Items #1-77 and N, O, P
Reports of intelligence information concerning the
vulnerability of the Spanish Territories in the
region of the Gulf of Mexico and plans for British
forces to exploit this situation and to protect the
British interests in Pensacola and the Province of
West Florida against the possible attacks of the
Spanish Governors of Cuba and New Orleans.
GB thanks JM for his hospitality at Montpelier and
sends a copy of the first volume of the Notices of
the War of 1812 by John Armstrong;
This letter concerns financial arrangements, his
reception by Queen Victoria, hearing a sermon by
Charles H. Spurgeon, and travel through the British
Isles and Europe;
Discusses the annual dinner for the Colonial
Society and requests Baxter nominate the Reverend
John Carroll Perkins to membership;
[Agrees to write an essay on Oscar Wilde whom he
knew personally for some years and sets his financial
terms for the work;
Refuses to advise about a dance and includes a
caricature by him;
Declines an invitation due to a prior engagement;
Sends a presentation copy of his recently
completed novel about Oxford, Zuleila Dobson, to
Walkley;
Thanks Walkley for defending him in his Times
article and hopes that his own review of Walkley's
book in The Times did not annoy him; mentions
purchasing a house in Italy, Walkley's account of
sitting between G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc on
a social occasion, and the impending arrival of
Theodore Byard in Italy; and invites the Walkleys to
visit him in Italy;
Regrets reading that Walkley has suffered a
relapse in his recent illness; urges a rapid
convalescence, "What a nuisance and curse one's
manner-for-print is when one is writing a letter!
Would that I could write in the simple
straightforward 'awfully-sorry' strain which would
express my feelings so much more accurately!"; and
shares an anecdote about bath-chairs;
Encloses another letter to be printed in the paper in response to criticism of himself by J.Q.X., a
Thanks her for the lovely flowers and agrees on a
date, October 9;
Disjointed Treatise by Joshua Belding, relying
heavily on visionary revelation and Scripture,
proposing programs for land distribution, fiscal
reform, and the formation of a national bank; urges
peace with England and the divestment of Freemason
wealth; and includes a discussion of the
Burr-Wilkinson Conspiracy;
Thanks Gleason for his "vivacious &
encouraging note";
Donates his copy of
Discusses, William Lewis Manly (1820-1903), his character and death; mentions that before
Mentions his discussion with William Pitt and Mr.
Dunlap concerning General John Graves Simcoe
(1752-1806) and the Queen's Rangers stationed in
Canada; urges Simcoe's promotion to brigadier
general; and inquires about David Fanning; in his
note to Nepean, King agrees that the Queen's Rangers
must be kept in Canada and used in occupying York or
some other port on Lake Eire and that Simcoe be given
the rank of brigadier general;
Discusses the Fishery in the Severn, encloses
copies of the King's Message to the House of Commons
respecting the declaration of the French Ambassador
which accompanied it; and expresses his reservations
about going to war with France;
Discusses his trial for treason;
Discusses his work, "None of my outdoor essays were published in book form previous to
Quotes from Emerson's Journal his remark about
Walt Whitman and his contributions to American
literature;
Asks when the magazine plans on using his paper
called "Nature Lore," as he wishes to use it in a
volume of essays to be published next year;
Discusses her "sermon" to him; his being full of sentiment and imagination; his sensitivity to people, nature, the weather, the seasons, and his household, but not enough on the spiritual side; his lack of belief in ghosts, spiritualism, telepathy, and immortality; Walt Whitman's comment on immortality; and describes his vineyards, his stone house, his daily routine, his reading material, and his walks (1891 Nov 27, incomplete); Dr. Clara Barnes writes to Cline thanking her for her help and discussing John Burroughs health and death (1923 Feb); thanks her for the painting and mentions his trip to the maple camp at Roxbury, New York (Mar 26); and writes he is in the midst of the grape harvest; mentions the novel of his friend Miss Sprague of Ohio,
Asks if he would like to see his paper "Current Misconceptions in Natural History" refused by
Asks is he is interested in publishing
Lists various portraits and photographs done of him over the years and mentions his large grape harvest (1893 Oct 25); has substituted a better photograph of himself with his autograph to be sent to Joaquin Miller (1894 Sep 11); has never heard of the editors of Walt Whitman to whom Miller has referred (1897 Sep 26); accepts his offer of a copy of
Thanks her for her approval of his sentiments
concerning women and money, although the reporter was
not very accurate in reporting his talk;
Describes in great detail the events preceding the
death of Thomas Jefferson and his wish to live until
the fourth of July;
Written on the reverse side of a letter from Mrs.
Welsh to him, about which Carlyle asks advice; and
describes moonshine walks and the fine weather;
Inviting him to tea with Ben Nelson and possibly
John Stuart Mill;
Writes to his sister about family news, his work
on his book concerning Frederick the Great, sends a
gift, and mentions the health of his wife, Jane;
Discusses his correspondent's pamphlet concerning
the modern life in England and offers literary advice
and encouragement;
Writes concerning an anecdote re Thomas Carlyle;
Has been printing visiting cards for Enid so she
can leave them along with those of her mother as they
leave, sends six calling cards with six kisses and
asks when she can visit him alone and accompany him
on a trip to Eastbourne;
Pleased to have a letter from an associate of her
youth, expresses her concern for his son, Henry
Leigh, and his financial difficulties, remarks upon
the lack of sincerity and truthfulness in the young,
and her own straitened financial condition due to the
death of her brother who left six children with no
financial resources;
Letters testifying as to the fair treatment of the
settlers in the Green River section of Kentucky and
to the good character of General Green Clay;
Secretary of State Henry Clay's letters to James
Brown, U.S. minister to France (1823-1829), generally
concern foreign affairs and politics, but
particularly discuss the Louisiana Treaty and its
effects on the collection of alien duties from France
and the affair at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1827 May
30); the re-election chances of President John Quincy
Adams (1828 May 17 & Oct 11); the generosity of
Brown to Mrs. Hart & Mrs. Price and the possible
candidacy of John C. Calhoun for the Presidency (1831
Apr 8 & Dec 18, 1832 Mar 28); public life and
Andrew Jackson (1831 Aug 24); Cholera epidemic &
politics (1832 Oct 23); the future abolition of
slavery in the United States (1833 Jul 7); concerns
over Brown's health (1833 Sep 8); Other topics
include: the appointment of a postmaster in
Lexington, Kentucky (1813 Dec 11); slavery and the
fall in the price of cotton (1837 Apr 26); discusses
the prospects of the Whig Party in the elections with
Nathan Sargent (1838 Aug 11, 1839 Oct 29, 1842 May 21
& Jul 31, 1843 Sep 2 & 19, 1846 Apr 28); the
retirement of Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story
(1845 Feb 9) and the Free Soil question facing the
new President (1849 Feb 16);
Discusses land claims of Mr. Blane in Kentucky and
disappointment in President Andrew Jackson;
Discusses the importance of systematic effort in
politics to insure success and New York politics
(1830 Dec 13); the importance of defeating Andrew
Jackson in the 1832 election for president (1831 Mar
7; Apr 13); the selection of the Whig party candidate
for vice president and Daniel Webster (1843 Oct 5);
his concerns pertaining to possible war with Great
Britain over Oregon and with Mexico over Texas (1845
Apr 30);and the differences between General Zachary
Taylor and General William Henry Harrison (1848 Jun
16);
Answers his request for information about Daniel
Boone, whom Clay did not know personally, by giving
him advice about who to read or contact;
Inquires whether arms belonging to the state of
Kentucky but used by the U.S. government can be
replaced without a special act of Congress (1840);
and discusses a legal case with Wilde (1847);
Informs Gardner that he can find his opinion on
the undisclosed subject of his letter in the Panama
instructions contained in [Niles?] Register, 1829,
and in the State papers of Congress;
Discusses his feelings about the operations of the
National Clay Club and the political support of the
citizens of Philadelphia for himself (1844 Mar 17;
1845 Dec 16; 1847 Aug 21); and his concern for the
election for governor of Pennsylvania (1844 Sep 19);
Discusses the prospect of success in the
Presidential election in November;
Acknowledges the receipt of a volume of
Coleridgeiana; comments on the information in it;
discusses engravings and miniatures of Samuel Taylor
Coleridge and his friends; and mentions Ward Thomas
Poole;
For item see: McGregor Broadside 1809 .C65;
Promises copies of
Has been suffering a long bout of very black depression and illness, including a much swollen wrist which has allowed him to spend but a little time in pruning the text of
Sends four chapters of
Sends 24 pages of a manuscript for him to see, "Is
the thing tolerable? Is the thing readable? Is the
damned thing altogether insupportable? Am I mindful
enough of your teaching - of your expounding of the
ways of the readers?" and admits he is ready to "cut,
slash, erase, destroy; spit, trample, jump, wipe my
feet on that ms at a word from you";
Pleased with what S.S. Pawling writes, thanks Garnett for arranging the publication of
Thanks Garnett for his letter about
Sends a short preface to
Incorporates the changes suggested by Garnett in the Preface to
Waits anxiously for the William Morris book; and discusses reviews of
Expresses discouragement at his literary impasse regarding
Expresses delight that Garnett's first book of criticism will soon appear but urges that dubious personalities (like himself) be excluded, even if deserving, as to give no opportunity for others to question his judgment about literature; will send a book by Robert Bridges; and says that his question about
Speaks warmly of Garnett's custom of sending Conrad criticisms of his books but asks him not to let them interfere with his own work, suffers an attack of gout, and discusses Richard Curle's review of
Trouble with his wrist has been disabling at times, has heeded all of Garnett's advice and recommendations concerning
Gives advice to Garnett about writing a novel,
"But before everything switch off the critical
current of your mind and work in darkness - the
creative darkness which no ghost of responsibility
will haunt";
Refers to his indebtedness to Garnett for all of
his help and assistance in the past in molding his
literary work from the very beginning of his career,
"Straight from the sea into your arms, as it were.
How much you have done to pull me together
intellectually only the Gods that brought us together
know. For I myself don't. All I had in my hand was
some little creative gift - but not even one single
piece of 'cultural' baggage.";
Conrad discusses his health (1909 Jun 24; 1910 May
6; [1913 Apr 22] & [1913 Aug 2]; 1915 Oct 28;
1921 Sep 12; and n.d. Saturday evening); sends thanks
for gifts sent to him (1910 Dec 24; 1914 Jan 7; 1916
Dec 9); urges Symons to rid himself of all his
uneasiness ([1911 May 11]); appreciates his praise
for his work (1912 Jan 25); experiences car trouble
([1913 Apr 22]); bemoans the bad behavior of
publishers (1915 Oct 28; 1921 Sep 12); praises Symons
prose and poetry (1918 Dec 9; n.d. Saturday evening);
mentions his son at home after being gassed during
the war (1918 Dec 9)] formerly in McGregor slipcase
46;
Thanks him for his letter and his skill in
negotiating for the "happy termination of that
Cosmopolitan episode," glad that [Ortman?] is a
sensible man, and tells him that his next short story
will be ready in ten days;
Concerning logistics and the movements of Lt.
Colonel Tarleton, written from Waynesborough, South
Carolina, prior to the invasion of North Carolina by
Cornwallis in his march to Virginia, fragment with
signature missing;
Begins with a recitation of the original grant
made by Charles I in 1630, to Sir Robert Heath and
his heirs, of all that Province of Carolina lying on
the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, listing
all those with title to the land up to Dr. Coxe .
After proving his title to the property, Coxe then
describes his efforts at settling the Province;
Thanks him for his gift of the Army of Northern
Virginia badge of the "Old Maryland Line," which he
sent to her father, Jefferson Davis, discusses her
father's illness, and expresses regret at missing his
visit;
Related to the
Believes his review of James Bridger is
satisfactory and asks Dellenbaugh to autograph all of
his books for Shepard's private library;
Thanks him for clippings concerning the "Naming of
Arizona and the Painted Desert" and asks for a copy
of "The Naming of the Grand Canyon," and tells him he
has a set of the Colorado River Hearings on his shelf
and a full set of Dellenbaugh's books;
Discusses his recollections of his old neighborhood at 40 Fitzroy Square and some of the houses there, including that of Abraham Ward, a copper engraving, and James Ward's house, which he "transcribed into
Writes concerning his illness, difficulties of
arranging for a man to come and pack his books, and
arrangements for his travel from London;
Regrets that he was to unwell to come to the
Athenaeum and vote for Stevens and assures him that
the loss will be only a "temporary vexation";
Encloses a check signed by his father Charles Dickens, and relates an incident at a Christmas party in 1869 where Dickens recalled the address "Warren's Blacking, 30 Strand," where he had worked as a child, while playing The Memory Game; the family did not learn that he had incorporated his childhood experiences into his novel
Comments that Delawares were the favorite grapes
of her mother and asks Mrs. Strong to set the bit of
cake in the garden so the robins can have a taste;
Writes concerning the printing of his
Offers to sell his manuscript of
Writes he cannot come due to his sprained ankle;
About the following topics: "The Story of the
Clubfooted Grocer" and "The Story of the Black
Doctor" ([1898]); his stories about Brigadier Gerard
([1902]; [several in 1903]; ); "The Leather Funnel"
([1903]);"Sir Nigel" (1905 Nov 14 & 27; [1905];
[ca. 1905 Dec]; [post 1905]); "The White Prophet"
(1909 Jun 4); "The Gibraltar Tunnel" (1914 Mar 23);
and "The Lord of the Dark Face" ([1929];
About the following topics: spiritualism and the supernatural; the legal case of George Edalji (occupying his interest in 1907); "The Machine Article" appearing in
Re
Re Sherlock Holmes, including "The Adventure of
Black Peter" ([1904]); and "The Adventure of the
Dancing Men" ([ca. 1904];
Concerning research and publications about Robert
Louis Stevenson;
Topics include Robert Louis Stevenson,
Correspondents include: John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, discussing Eliot's literary style; Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton; Benjamin Jowett, discussing the "antiquated philosophies of Germany"; Leslie Stephen, answers her question concerning scholarships at Cambridge University; David Masson, thanks her for her comments about his book on John Milton; John, Vicount Morley, asking her to write concerning William Shakespeare; Frederic William Henry Myers, concerning their travel plans and the drowning of the Furney sisters in the Nile; James Thomson discussing his poem,
Emerson writes to an unidentified correspondent to introduce two of his acquaintances who wish to meet an Oxford fellow while touring England and that he has seen Alfred Tennyson (1848); he writes to William Webb Follett Synge concerning John Hiram Lathrop (1852); and asks Henry Oscar Houghton to print a thousand copies of
Concerning property in Westmoreland County and
Northumberland County, including indentures, deeds,
bonds, patents, judgment in settling Gerard estate,
copy of John Gerard's will, powers of attorney, and
bill of sale for slaves (1738); signed by Anne
Allerton, Richard Bennett, William Berkeley, Landon
Carter, Richard Coles, George Conway, Jane Eskridge,
Robert Eskridge, John Gerard, Thomas Gerard, Mary
Hawkins, William Hockaday, Daniel Hornbye, Richard
Jackson, William R. Jackson, Elizabeth Johnson, W.
Jordan, George Lee, Richard Lee, John Llewellin,
Henry Miller, Willoughby Newton, Thomas Pope, Peter
Rust, William Tebbs, and Peter Temple;
Concerning the property of the Eskridge-Gerard
families of Westmoreland County and Northumberland
County;
Regarding a suit between George Ludlow and Thomas
Gerard concerning land in Westmoreland County;
Legal documents from the Eskridge-Gerard families
of Westmoreland County and Northumberland County,
including indentures, bonds, deeds, etc.;
Offers to visit Staunton on the 25th to give the
promised speech;
Passes on the request of
Includes bonds, agreements, complaints,
depositions, indentures, lease, power of attorney,
and promissory notes, pertaining to Denny Fairfax,
Ferdinando Fairfax, George William Fairfax, Louisa
Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, Catherine Lee, Charles Lee,
Flora Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Henry Lee, James
Lee, Lancelot Lee, Mary Lee, Mathilda Lee, Philip
Lee, Philip Ludwell Lee, Richard Bland Lee, Richard
Henry Lee, Thedorick Lee, and Thomas Ludwell Lee, as
well as other families;
Assures Bland that his contribution to the relief
of Boston will be published correctly, comments on
the affair of the Rev. Jacob Rowe at William and
Mary, and thanks Bland for a copy of his pamphlet
defending the state of Virginia's actions in the
matter of clerical salaries;
Mentions the work of Thomas Babington Macaulay which he likes although he does not have faith enough to read history; is reading Captain Burton's
Discusses his visit to the "great Scotchman" Thomas Carlyle, and Crabbe's opinion of Carlyle; and urges Crabbe to read his book
Re: Furman's Bibliography of Edward Fitzgerald, with a copy of the news clipping containing the bibliography in
Concerning the affairs of West Florida in the
months before President James Madison's proclamation
took control of this territory for the United States;
Letters to Ebenezer Foote, a Federalist of New
York State, from Loring Andrews, John Avery, Samuel
Augustus Barker; C.E. Edmunds, Charles A. Foote, John
Foote (to Frederick Foote), Justin Foote, Barent
Gardenier, Daniel Hale, Jacob Morris; John Radcliff,
Stephen van Rensselaer, William Root, Henry van
Schaack, William Thompson, Abraham van Vechten, and
A.D. Zeng, concerning national politics and the
villainy of the Jeffersonian party, especially:
Elbridge Gerry and the XYZ Affair (1798 Oct 11);
Jefferson and the Presidential election of 1800 (1800
May 30); the bitterness between the "Clintonians and
the Lewisites," contemporary political factions (1806
Apr 7); George Clinton, the Embargo, and Thomas
Jefferson (1808 Jan 8); James Madison and the Embargo
(1808 Jan 14); John Adams being suspect as a true
Federalist (1808 Jan 22); controversies surrounding
the presidential election of 1808 (most of the
letters of that year); George Clinton (1808 Aug 8);
the character of Thomas Jefferson (1808 Apr 7; Aug
10); the Embargo (Aug 10 & 25; Oct 28);
references to the opinion of Edmond Charles Genet
concerning Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and
Napoleon (Hale - 1808 Aug 10); James Madison (1808
Nov 8); Other topics include: business (1794 Nov;
1808 Mar 30); Napoleon Bonaparte and his activities
(1808 Jan 29; Mar 10; Aug 22); the National Bank
(1811 Sep 2); and slavery (1820 Apr 29);
Writes concerning Hand's land claims, that
according to the Proclamation of 1763, Lord Dunmore
does not grant lands to anyone not a military officer
and that the warrants of survey specify that they are
to locate only where no prior grants have been made
or any settlement actually appears;
Discusses John Bunyan, evangelicalism, the Oxford
Movement, and Arthur Hugh Clough;
Discusses
Galvez fought against the Apaches in 1763 on the
Eastern border of New Spain, and in 1776 he returned
to America as a Colonel and Deputy Governor of
Spanish Louisiana, distinguishing himself by his
handling of border incidents with Great Britain along
the Mississippi. In 1779, on the outbreak of war with
Great Britain, he was promoted to Brigadier-General
and Governor, capturing Fort Manchak, Baton Rouge,
and Mobile by 1780. In 1781, his conquest of
Pensacola earned him his second title of Viscount
Galvez;
Writes concerning taking up a collection for the
poor of London and asks Bateman to assist the Bishop
of London with the collection;
This document is a contemporary copy of the
British reply in which the King maintains all his
rights to Georgia and other territories claimed by
Spain;
Reports on Major [Rufus] Scott's return from a
scouting expedition to Thoroughfare Gap; both Scott
and Gibbs were in the 19th New York Cavalry;
Gissing mentions the return of his wife, Nell, his lack of leisure to spend in writing a second book, and the dangers of procrastination (1881); congratulates his brother on the completion of his examination, his wife determined to return to Soho Square to live, is busy writing his last will and testament, and reading about Italy (1882 May); Helen's arm to be operated upon, asks about an edition of Byron without
Congratulates recipient on his college appointment
and disputes historical accuracy in Sydenham Poyntz's
book on Spain;
Writes concerning affairs between the British and
the Indians, mentions troubles with Indians near
Detroit and Fort Michilimackinac, difficulties with
building fortifications in the area, and French
success with the Indians (1764); he also writes about
finishing his reports on the inland forts with a map
of their locations, the few numbers of British troops
in his area, the poor condition of the forts,
partially due to the nature of the materials used in
their construction and repair, the management of
troops, and the plan to survey the area around the
south shore of Lake Erie (1765);
Grayson, first Senator from Virginia, writes to
Kercheval concerning the management of his land, his
affairs, and the closing of the grist mill, while he
is away serving in the Congress in New York;
Writes concerning the papers of General Mad
Anthony Wayne;
Concerning land in Middlesex County,
Massachusetts, and involving the Glover and Winthrop
families;
The letters are about their attempt to get some letters and a package containing Sarah's
In which he gives advice on the conduct of the
current conflict with France over lands around the
Ohio, reprimands the Lt. Governor for not acting
sooner, assures him of British support and hopes he
will soon retake a fallen fort and two French ones
recently built on English territory. He urges
cooperation with South Carolina governor James Glen
and the bribing of the Cherokee Indians;
Hardy comments that he has nothing for magazine publication at the present (1882); speaks favorably on the
Discusses the form of
Writes that Fielding Lewis, who was elected a
councilor by the Assembly, has sent word by George
Thornton that he is utterly unable to serve in that
capacity due to illness;
Discusses Colonel George Hairston and his uncanny
ability to collect revenue for the public treasury
though taxes;
Writes concerning the purchase of some land Tabb
has advertised and proposes some terms;
Discusses his deeds he has not received, sends
Watts money collected from rents and comments on his
difficulties in obtaining silver currency; and says
that Increase and Cotton Mather and other Boston
representatives have petitioned the court concerning
Governor Richard Bellingham's will;
Discusses the financial and legal situation
concerning a bond he gave to Jones;
The treaty, concluded at French Broad [Knoxville,
Tenn.] sets the boundary line between the United
States and the Cherokee Nation, guarantees to the
Nation all land outside the boundary line and cedes
to the U.S. all land within the line. The U.S. pays
"certain valuable goods" and $1000 annually to the
Cherokees for their land and the Cherokees agree to
be under the protection of the U.S. and no other
nation. The U.S. reserves the right to regulate trade
and navigation of the Tennessee River. Crimes by
either party will be punished by U.S. law,
retaliation is to end, animosities cease and
prisoners restored. The U.S. will also supply
interpreters and free farming implements;
Mentions Wilson's political activities and
comments on an illness;
Writes Wilson regarding his plans to read A.E. Housman's poetry on the radio, to edit
Describes a goshawk, discusses extrasensory
perception, and his health, mentions his work and
sets a luncheon date;
Sends regrets that illness prevents Richards from
coming to see him and hopes to arrange another time;
Offers his opinion that she will be unable to
collect on the debt owed her by John Stockton
Littell, who has a good character but not much money;
and offers his assistance in publishing James
Madison's works;
Writes of his successful prosecution of the Indian
War against the Indians of northern Florida at St.
Marks and Pensacola and his plans to march to
Columbia, [South Carolina?];
Sends vaccine virus and explains the inoculation
procedure;
Says he is unable to visit because of the illness
of his brother;
Concerning land in Albemarle County, Virginia;
Comments that her song, although good, is not for
him;
Law came to America in 1794, when 35 years old and
had distinguished himself in India. He settled in
Washington City, prospered and married Elizabeth
Parke Custis, a grand daughter of Martha Washington.
He came in contact with most of the prominent men of
his time, including presidents. Thus the letters
contain much information about the growth of the
United States and the capitol, politics, the War of
1812, anti-Jackson sentiment, trips to springs in
Virginia, a visit to the University of Virginia, the
death of Judge Selden in a duel, affairs in India,
and much personal news. Many of these letters are
addressed to his sister, Joanna, who married Sir
Thomas Rumbold, a prominent East India Company
official;
Writing as T.E. Shaw, discusses Eccles' subscription to
Writing from Paris, Lee informs him that Mr.
Merckle has assured the arrival of goods from
Amsterdam worth about 10,000 pounds, which will be
awaiting the Captain at Bordeaux and wishes him a
prosperous voyage;
Writes to see if Dumas thought it possible for Lee
to obtain a loan from Holland for one million
sterling for the United States;
Requests that Hopkins send him newspapers from
time to time concerning the election of members to
the [Constitutional?] Convention placed within sealed
letters, so the post office will still deliver them;
Discusses the proceedings of Congress concerning
the preparation of a customhouse system,
compensations to be made to the President, Vice
President and members of the Legislature, an import
bill, the judiciary system, the fifth article of the
Constitution, and the health of President Washington
(1789) and also defends his character to his
constituents, mentions the peace concluded with the
Six Nations, diplomacy with Great Britain, and the
domestic agitations in France(1794);
Mentions bill in favor of the Potomac (1790); the
possible tour of James Madison through the Eastern
states, the excise tax, bank bill, and the selection
of the site for a federal city [Washington City]
(1791); the death of Mr. Lewis and his concern to
secure someone else to care for his plantation
affairs, and the death of his mother [Lucy Grymes
Lee] (1792); the conduct of Mr. Genet, and the
proceedings of the Indian commissioners (1793); lease
agreement (1795); request to Madison for a civil
government position (1812); request for an
appointment to the position of commissioner of claims
for property destroyed during the War of 1812 (1816
Apr-May); description of Kentucky (1820); offers
advice to his son attending the University of
Virginia (1826);
Writes concerning Hezekiah Ford, Arthur Lee's
secretary, and his safe arrival with all the
dispatches for himself and Congress, the arrival of
the new minister Chevalier de la Luzerne from France,
the recall of Silas Deane, and James Lovell, Chairman
of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence in the
Continental Congress;
Concerning land claims of former soldiers along
the Monongahela River, with a note on the verso in
George Washington's hand "Col. Andr[ew] Lewis 1st
Mar. 1770 Upon my obtaining an order of survey";
Concerning Rudyard Kipling bibliography;
Concerning collections for aid to the poor of
London;
About establishing trade relations between
provinces of Louisiana and Texas;
Lowell writes regarding a lecture spot for Charles
V. Kraitsir in the Lowell Lyceum, the North American
Review's treatment of the Hungarian movement, Bibles
in the King's Library (Spain), Ticknor Catalogue
proofs, "A new edition of the dictionary," an
incorrect London Daily News story on army troops in
Cincinnati, the treatment of criminals in the United
States, letters of Walter Savage Landor, and Hallam
Tennyson's "Jack the giant killer." A.H. Clough is
mentioned;
Declines an invitation to preside over an evening
event;
Dolley writes chiefly to her sister, Anna Payne
Cutts, and cousins, Mrs. Van Zandt and Mrs. L. Henry
Cutts, but also to Richard Smith and Mrs. Thornton,
primarily concerning family matters, but also: wigs
(n.y. Aug 2); difficulties in reaching Montpelier
because of bad roads and swollen rivers (n.y. May
13); a letter from Thomas Jefferson about the death
of Maria and the deep grief of the family (1804 Apr
26); and the delicate health of James Madison ([1805]
Jul 29).
Dolley also writes concerning problems with her
knee and her memory of the Society of Friends, "our
Society used to control me entirely and debar me from
so many advantages and pleasures, and tho so entirely
from their clutches, I really felt my ancient terror
of them revive to disagreeable degree." ([1805] Aug
19); Madison going to the office though ill with a
cold; Thomas Jefferson has a sick headache every day;
Colonel Aaron Burr on the way to Richmond for trial
([1807] Mar 27); marriage of sister Lucy Payne
Washington and Supreme Court Judge Thomas Todd of
Kentucky; Federalists refuse to enter the Madison's
doors ([1812] Mar 20); disappointed in her desire to
see Payne at Montpelier; and the affairs of her
brother-in-law John George Jackson (1830 Jan 25).
Other topics include: gift of a scarf; the
inflammation of her eyes (1838 Oct 8); intense
concern for her sister's health (n.y. May 18);
trouble with her knee keeping the family from
returning to Orange; regrets not being able to nurse
her through this childbirth; anxious to place Payne
at Baltimore in the fall (n.y. Jul 8); urges her
sister to visit and sends money for Payne to come
home (Friday); Madison confined to bed though in
constant receipt of visitors and mail; receipt of the
curls and silk from Mr. Ballard; Payne gone to the
gold mine (n.d.); suffering from inflammatory
rheumatism (n.y. Jun 3);
Discusses the proposed cession of Virginia's
western land claims to the national government; the
Revolutionary War; the French alliance; and the
Virginia-Maryland boundary dispute;
Mostly discusses the claims of American citizens
against foreign countries (1803 Nov; 1804 Nov 10;
& 1814 [post Jun 27]);
Requests Coxe to forward 75 copies of the laws of
the United States intended for Louisiana to Governor
Claiborne at New Orleans, and 25 to Governor Harrison
at Ft. Vincennes, for distribution to the Louisiana
territory;
Discusses keeping Mr. Bizet, [the gardener?] on at Montpelier as better suited than a stranger; asks him to check the post office at Washington and see if they have his missing issues of the
Plans to leave soon for Rockfish Gap and is looking forward to a visit from Mrs. Cutts (1818 Jul 27); comments about the package of Talavera wheat sent by Cutts' agency (1818 Nov 25); asks Delaplaine to send him the manuscript papers containing memoranda relating to himself because there might be inaccuracies and two pamphlets, one on the British doctrine of neutral trade and "Political Observations" and thanks him for the volume of poetry by Mr. Mead (1820 Oct); as rector of the University of Virginia, thanks C.D. Cleveland for the copy of
Discusses his lack of enthusiasm for the offer of a position as a member of the Board of Public Works; the opposition of William and Mary to the establishment of Central College, and their inability to obtain Dr. Thomas Cooper for Central College (1818 Feb 23); the loss of law professor John Tayloe Lomax from the University of Virginia, Madison's bouts of influenza, mismanagement of his rural affairs, and his loan of a pamphlet by Mr. Grimke to Cabell (1830 Apr 10); discusses possible candidates to replace Professor Lomax at the University of Virginia; "the nullifying doctrine" of South Carolina and the use made of the
Sends the cost of his subscription to the
scientific journal published by Professor Benjamin
Silliman;
Discusses Van Buren's observations on the
modifications of the federal court system to
accommodate a rapidly expanding America;
Informs Monroe that he has not heard from Judge
Brook and believes that "the task imposed on us by
the Convention is of so delicate a nature that with
their foreknowledge of our purpose, it ought to have
been forborne. Your idea of alluding to the advantage
of having the experienced counsel of ex-Presidents in
trying contingencies may be more suited to you than
to me, more of life being within your prospect than
within mine";
Discusses candidates for the chair vacated by
Charles Bonnycastle in Natural Philosophy at the
University of Virginia;
Asks him to aid Benjamin Randolph in the procuring
of subscriptions to the papers of his grand-father
Thomas Jefferson in Fauquier County;
Does not believe that James Sloan's pamphlet on
Priestcraft would encounter a favorable reception in
his area though Madison has great personal regard for
the Revolutionary patriotic zeal of Sloan;
Does not believe under the circumstances stated in
his letter, that James Monroe would disapprove of his
trip to [Russia?];
Concerning a proposed biography of James Madison;
Discusses his problems with influenza and
accompanying symptoms and sticking with his habit of
walking three miles by seven (1826); and continues
with his morning walk, dinner with President Andrew
Jackson and his niece, Mrs. Donelson, of whom
Marshall writes, "She is I believe quite popular, but
not so popular as Mrs. Madison was." (1830);
Writes in great detail complaining about the
representation of the Federalists in the
correspondence of Thomas Jefferson recently published
by Jefferson's grandson, and discusses his error
concerning the French Revolution, Jefferson's
aspersions about Marshall himself, Jefferson's
political ideas, and ends with, "In truth I have been
a skeptic on this subject from the time I became
acquainted with Mr. Jefferson as Secretary of State.
I have never believed firmly in his infallibility. I
have never thought him a particularly wise sound and
practical statesman";
Including surveys, reports, petitions, bill of
complaints, suits, deeds, bonds, agreements,
indentures, and letters concerning legal matters, and
involving the following correspondents or
participants: Mary Ashby, Edward Carrington, Charles
Chinn, Rawleigh Colston, John Conrad, Cornelius
Conway, Denny Fairfax, William Fleming, John Gordon,
John Halker, Garret Hammersley, Frederick Havely,
John Joliffe, Samuel Kercheval, Thomas Lawson,
Charles Lee, Daniel Lee, Henry Lee, Peter Lyons,
James McCallister, Angus McDonald, Edward McGuire,
William McGuire, James Mackie, John Macrae, Charles
Marshall, James Marshall, Louis Marshall, Thomas
Marshall, William Marshall, Philip Martin, John
Milton, John Moffett, John Newman, George Noble,
Elizabeth Opie, Thomas Parker, John Peyton, Burr
Powell, Edmund Randolph, Joshua Singleton, George
Stubblefield , John B. Taylor, Joseph Thompson, James
Ware, Lawrence A. Washington, and Elisha Williams;
Discussing the terms of an agreement with an agency to collect money due him [Cazenove, 1906 March 12]; thanks for
the kind comments and interest in his work [O'Connor, 1907 January 3 and Bornson, 1913 July 11); gives advice on how to
develop as a poet [Bornsonn, [1918]]; possible agencies open to Mr. Barker [Drinkwater, [1915] July 30)
Writes concerning his problems with gout, the
appointment of Thomas Jefferson as governor, the need
to restore the state's finances and defending the
country, various bills under consideration in the
House of Delegates, such as one for moving the seat
of government, a tax bill, a resolution ratifying the
French alliance, a bill for establishing Boards of
Trade and War, a bill for opening a land office,
among others, and mentions accounts of a battle with
the enemy at Charleston, South Carolina;
Discusses the mission of the delegates meeting in
Philadelphia at the U.S. Constitutional Convention,
whose most prevalent idea is a total change in the
federal system, instituting a great national council
upon the principles of equal proportionate
representation consisting of two branches of the
Legislature, and making the state legislatures
subordinate to the national, establishing a national
executive, and a judiciary system. He also appends a
list of Amendments to the Confederation under
consideration.
Writes about a friend who is finally able to
depart on a vessel after a storm, the malicious
designs against his father whose enemies ordered his
papers seized and searched wrongfully believing him
to be in possession of certain Plymouth papers, his
father's plan to journey to England to carry an
address of thanks to the king and to restore the
charter of Massachusetts, and news garnered from the
January gazettes about the pregnancy of the Queen
[Mary ?], Pope Innocent XI, Louis XIV, and the Grand
Signour;
Refers to the tribulations and changes brought
about in Scotland by the Glorious Revolution, and his
father's labor in England on behalf of Massachusetts;
Praises his cousin Roland, who accepted a call at Sandwich, discusses
Expresses gratitude for the degree of Doctor of
Theology bestowed upon him;
Letter of introduction which exhorts Foxcroft to
"seize" and convert the bearer of the letter if at
all possible;
Sends a sermon by himself containing a reference
to the character of Foxcroft's father-in-law and an
unusual metaphor for him to read;
Invites Foxcroft to hear him lecture on the coming
and Kingdom of God our Savior and the intention of
prophecy;
Mentions a recent earthquake and calls upon the
governor to proclaim a general fast and day of
humiliation and supplication;
Describes Boston under siege, the privations of the people, the wickedness of the British soldiers, favorable comments on the publication of the
Discusses his attempts to prevent the spread of
rumor and slander about his relationship and conduct
with a woman, perhaps the "gentlewoman" whose
mystical relation with Mather, terminated by his
second marriage, in 1703, caused the Puritan
considerable spiritual agitation, together with no
inconsiderable scandal in his flock described in his
Diary, for February to August 1703;
Invitation to preach and mention of "our
patriarch" Increase Mather;
Sends a copy of his book,
Discusses events related to the War of 1812, the
apprehension of the citizens of Annapolis, British
warships on the Chesapeake Bay, plans to move to the
safer Belvoir and the "patriotic song" by her nephew,
Francis Scott Key;
Concerning the Union army's withdrawal to
Rappahannock Station and Centreville during the
Bristoe Campaign;
Thanking Livermore for a copy of
Writes Morgan concerning a land scheme and readily
agrees to participate in corresponding with his
medical society; and refers to his correspondent's
advertisement to be published in the Pennsylvania and
Maryland gazettes and the Governor's decision to
decline to grant land warrants to officers out of
Virginia;
Writes as a U.S. Senator of a discussion in the
Senate of the meaning of "The President shall
nominate by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate appoint" concerning some appointments made by
the President for the courts of France, London, and
the Hague, especially the appointment of Gouverneur
Morris to France, listing his objections to his
appointment and his opposition to increasing the size
of the standing army to 5,000;
Cannot meet with him, being engaged with Mr.
Randolph, but does inform him that whatever changes
were considered for the Treasury Department have been
stricken out, especially concerning the position of
assistant secretary;
Writes that it was impossible to make any other
financial arrangements to pay Mason than to authorize
his agent, Major James Lewis, to sell some property
above Charlottesville and a large tract in Kentucky
and promises to write him as soon as he reaches
France;
Mentions the Plate River affair;
Discusses arrangements being made for the speedy
exchange of prisoners of war between Great Britain
and the United States and the complaints concerning
the conduct of the British government towards
American seamen;
Concerning the War of 1812, on the effects of two
acts just passed by Congress dealing with military
organization and pay increases, and an increase in
number of men in the military up to 20,000, upon the
next campaign;
Advises him to not allow Joseph to publish the
book he has in mind and to not consider resignation,
as both will render far more damage politically than
benefit;
Informs the Governor that the contractor for
Georgia is bound to supply rations to the militia as
well as the regulars when in service to the United
States government;
Writing from Albemarle County, he discusses the
behavior and debts of someone Monroe was responsible
for, his wool, his suffering from the heat, an injury
to his leg, and asks concerning the progress of the
buildings in the capital;
Refuses to officially sanction a dedication of a
book by Sir John Sinclair to himself;
Asks for a further communication to his
government;
Discusses Mrs. Monroe's health, Commodore Porter's
conduct in the West Indies, and the Creek Nation's
controversy with the state of Georgia;
Informs the doctor that he has followed his
instructions and that his health is improving;
Informs Agg that the publication in the
Informs her that he has received the box with the
cake and all his mother's communications, and feels
there is little of hope of being exchanged for Yankee
prisoners at present;
Discusses death of George Harris at Camp Vigilance
(1861 Jul 12); the first Battle of Manassas (1861 Jul
23); his weariness over the length of the war (1864
Dec 27);
Concerning business, a Confederate reunion, the
exchange of photographs and letters, impression of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Virginia Hotel, Staunton,
Virginia, and an attack on Thomas Rosser by Jubal A.
Early in the Richmond "State";
Discusses his gazetteer and other works on
geography and refers to critics of Jay's Treaty;
Writes concerning the embezzlement activities of
his predecessor, David H. Baily in the consular
service in Hong Kong;
Thanks him for the basket gift and mentions the
possible reconstruction of the Cabinet in Washington,
D.C., now that Arthur "the stone that was rejected"
has become president, and asks him to convey
Washington news;
Systematically answers the questions in Green's letter about Mosby's Rangers, his relationship with Ulysses S. Grant, Major John Scott's publication
Writes concerning his war sketches written for the Sunday Magazine and syndicated in
Asks to borrow his book The
Writes concerning his visit at Yale University;
Topics include: encourages grandsons to read Sir
Walter Scott's novels with monetary incentives (1903
May 11); has an operation for appendicitis which
reminds him of bullet extraction during the war (1908
Jun 1); his visit with the children to the White
House where they met Theodore Roosevelt, references
to the teddy bear and Edwin A. Alderman raising one
million for the University of Virginia (1919 Mar 3);
is sending portraits of their parents painted in
Paris for his grandsons, and refers to Theodore
Roosevelt as a madman following his speech at the
Republican Convention (1912 Jun 12); mentions Lady
Astor, the "Bull Mooser," and voting for William H.
Taft (1912 Oct 25).
Other topics include: the visit of a lot of
suffragettes to Stuart and a mention of Lady Astor
(1913 Apr 6); Jack Russell and politics in West
Virginia and the Confederate reunion at Gettysburg
(1913 May 15); going to the Springs for his health
and is writing a book (1913 May 22); his prejudice
against post cards (1913 Jun 5); remembers capturing
General Wells who will have a statue unveiled at
Gettysburg Reunion (1913 Jun 30); mentions the two
Battles of Manassas (1914 Jul 9); mentions World War
I (1914 Sep 9); Lady Astor (1914 Oct 8);
reminiscences about being thrown in the Albemarle
County jail when a student at the University of
Virginia and expelled from school, a visit from Miss
Bettie Page Cocke (1914 Oct 23; 1915 Feb 16).
He also writes about World War I and its effect
on business (1914 Oct 27); comments on Woodrow Wilson
(1914 Nov 4); 81st birthday (1914 Dec 6); illness of
son Johnnie (1914 Nov 29-Dec 5; 1915 Aug 20-21);
visit to the University of Virginia (1915 Feb 16, May
5 & 30); will lecture on Stuart's cavalry at
Gettysburg (1915 Mar 4); Cameron Forbes (1915 Mar 4,
Sep 12, Oct 23); German naval warfare (1915 Jun 16);
death of his son Johnnie (1915 Sep 1 & 8);
opposes Woodrow Wilson's "preparedness" (1916 Jan 23,
Feb 26);
Writes as an agent and itinerary Justice among the
Indians, appointed by the General Assembly of South
Carolina, concerning his investigation into the
strengths of the Indian tribes in the lands belonging
to the colony of South Carolina that could possibly
be united by the French settled at Mobile against the
colony and makes suggestions about future settlement
and trade;
Describes the Battle of Camden, South Carolina and
the defeat of General Sumter at Hanging Rock;
Discuss the possible sale of books and
mathematical instruments to Dartmouth College,
advertise their connections to New Jersey College,
and credit terms;
Call for a Town Meeting in Norwich, Connecticut,
signed by selectmen Thomas Gray, Benjamin Huntington,
Barnabas Huntington, and Elijah Brewster, to discuss
ways to show and promote loyalty to the king;
Grants permission to print whatever poems the
recipient likes but asks that he include "Thou that
once";
Parmalee, a South Carolina businessman, writes
concerning life in Charleston, travel through North
Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama on business
trips, with anecdotes about the Revolutionary War
from places visited; news of friends and Dartmouth
College, and comments about national politics, North
versus the South, and slavery;
Urging King Louis XIV to conquer and colonize New
Mexico rather than Canada;
Writes that he has not heard anything lately from
the Southern Army but General Green passed through
Virginia the last Wednesday in haste and reports on
the comments of a deserter from the enemy who lived
in Delaware who believed the enemy to be embarking
for either New York or Charleston;
Asks Valentine to lend him two hundred dollars to
enable him to establish a new magazine called The
Stylus and sends him a prospectus about the magazine;
Comments on quarrels between authors and editors,
and mentions Thomas Jefferson Hogg, Mark Twain,
Harriet Westbrook Shelley, and American airmen
learning to fly at a local R.A.F. base;
Seriously considering sailing on
Discusses the election of Abraham Lincoln, the loyalty of many Virginia leaders to the Union before the Civil War, and the deep fear of a slave insurrection caused by the raid of John Brown upon its citizens (1873 Apr 11); the separation of church and state essential to promotion of democracy, illustrated by a history lesson (1873 Apr 21); the progress of Reconstruction and its effects in Louisiana and the inflammatory intent of the book
Writes concerning his
Concerning Sir Walter Scott;
Implores Hart to care for the Virginia State
Library while he is at home celebrating his
thirty-third wedding anniversary;
Explains the delays in embarking because of the
dangers of attack at sea by the French and expresses
his love for her and their family;
Complains about the lack of advertisement for his books, especially the revised edition of
Suggests possible pictorial subjects for use in
Furnishes biographical information concerning John
Bracken;
Refers to his writing a memoir of his friend and
teacher, Fleeming Jenkin and a story in French for a
French magazine; and offers to buy some of his common
port if he throws in some old rum, "old rum is our
idol here.";
Writes to his publisher, Smith, Elder & Co.,
requesting that dedication copies of his works be
sent to designated friends; a letter to the Editor of
the Academy asking him to print an enclosed notice,
"I have found that I could make a better book by
selecting sonnets of one tone & issuing these
together, leaving the most miscellaneous collection
for a future occasion," and also writes concerning
his family genealogy;
The photograph, by Walter L. Colls, was used as a
frontispiece for Horatio Brown's 1895 biography of
Symonds;
Writes concerning the details surrounding the
seizure of his cotton at Mobile, Alabama for a
subscription for a Confederate loan and his attempts
to be reimbursed;
Expresses gratitude for her note and Robert Browning's Epilogue; and discusses his plans to arrange a meeting with Queen Victoria now that his health is restored; also includes a letter from Thomas J. Wise to Mr. Swann, 1934 February 24, stating that the manuscript of
In the earlier letter, May 31, 1815, E.L. [Lauton ?] on board
Concerning the American colonies; In the summer
and fall of 1765, Townshend was Paymaster General and
ex officio member of the Privy Council;
Writes that he had to cut out over 64 pages of his
first book and explains the financial reasons why her
publisher, Chapman and Hall might want her to cut the
length of her book;
Discusses the work of Trumball, especially his
general history of the United States and histories of
Massachusetts and Connecticut, and mentions Joseph
Emerson, Thomas Ruggles, Claudius Buchanan, and the
War of 1812;
Discusses the recent presidential election of
Thomas Jefferson, the Federalist Party will throw
many obstacles in his path, their appointment of
James A. Bayard as minister to France, and Tucker's
advocacy of abolishing the office of President in
favor of a federal Council of the States;
Discusses internal improvements in Virginia as
described in his message to the citizens just sent to
the printers, and his high opinion of Colonel Gamble
exceeded only by that of Claudius Crozet, "But you
undervalue Crozet - rely on it that I am not deceived
when I pronounce him inferior to no man in Virginia
for that quality which old George Mason esteemed so
highly, real sagacity - added to which he is a man of
the most extensive research, and profound science -
But above all I regard him as honest - His candor has
caused him to be sometimes unpopular in particular
sections";
Drawn in ink while on a wagon trip from the
Catawba River in western North Carolina to the
Potomac River in Virginia, showing intersecting and
branch roads, plantations, churches, fords, streams,
and inns, near the Road. Consists of 25 itinerary
maps in a complete, consecutive series, covering the
entire journey through these states on the way to New
Jersey, by a member of the Stockton or Eddy family of
New Jersey;
Recommends Captain M.J. Fletcher for the position
of Love's secretary;
Discusses news of family and friends, includes
handwritten transcripts of the letters, genealogical
notes on the Mather family and news clippings;
Ramsay replies to a letter from Ward concerning
the piping of water from the Wando River to
Charleston, S.C., to supply domestic needs and to
douse fires;
Offers his advice on how to improve Morse's
Discusses the terms of printing Morse's American
Gazetteer, including the type and page size;
Writes concerning financial affairs;
Discusses the pronunciation of the name of John
Donne and includes a copy of a letter from Wells to
Henry Seidel Canby on the same subject;
Writes to a publisher asking if Hall Caine
accepted the same conditions for his manuscript as
they have proposed to him, and mentions a serial,
"Wheels of Chance," appearing in Today which he
wishes to place in an American publication as well as
about a dozen stories; he asks for the support of
Bell in an upcoming controversy;
Furnishes the text of a telegram and requests
Dennis make more copies of the telegram and add
information to ridicule an editor who wrote an
uncomplimentary article about him;
Declining a visit due to health and mentioning
"spiritual handwriting"; to an unidentified
recipient, praising a book of poems received and
mentioning Sarah Smiley and Dean Stanley; and to
Charles H. Allen concerning affairs in Egypt, the
slave trade, and American freedmen;
Describes part of his canvassing tour from Maine to Georgia to get subscribers for his
Relates the death of George Duncan in Norfolk, Virginia, by yellow fever, and continues with his description of his canvassing tour to sell
Sends a book in appreciation for Edmunds' contribution to the
Writes concerning the Whiskey Rebellion;
Containing receipts, accounts, and bills of sales, and mentioning ships
Discusses the disposition of articles once
smuggled into New Spain by France;
Writes to Cunningham concerning busts of Sir Walter Scott, [Samuel] Coleridge, and Robert Southey, and discusses his own poetry; letters to Powell, discuss the Copyright Bill, many details about Wordsworth's revision of Chaucer, his poor eyesight, a play by Leigh Hunt, Sir Robert Peel, and
Correspondents include: John Wormeley to Hercules
Mulligan and Mr. & Mrs. Allen; Burr Powell to
[John Wormeley?]; Ralph Wormeley to Isaac Kent;
Forrest S. Stoddert to Ralph Wormeley; Ralph Wormeley
to Captain Presley N. O' Bannon; Mann Page to
Willoughby Morgan; and Ralph Wormeley to Willoughby
Morgan;
Containing daily reports of Champney detailing his
supervision of defenses at Fort Sumter during the
siege of Charleston, South Carolina, together with
six letters, 1861-1863, chiefly re his work as a
Confederate ordnance officer, and an undated clipping
on the evacuation of St. Simon's Island, Georgia.
Correspondents include Major William H. Echols,
recipient of most of the reports, Colonel David B.
Harris, Major Stephen Elliott, and General Benjamin
Hardin Helm. In addition to eighty-five morning
reports the letterbook also contains accounts of
payrolls and clothing replacements issued. A separate
detailed guide to this collection is available.
A separate detailed guide to this collection is
available.
Cotton's fame as a "master of precedents" spread "so far that in 1600 the queen's advisers referred to him a question of precedency which had arisen between Sir Henry Neville, an English ambassador, and an ambassador from Spain, who were together at Calais discussing the terms of an Anglo-Spanish treaty. Cotton in an elaborate paper decided in favour of his own countryman." (
Of interest are a letter from General Meade 1864
July 3 requesting Duane's opinion on whether an
attack is feasible; Meade's orders of July 9
concerning a siege of Petersburg; Duane's plan of
operation July 10; Duane's opinion that a mine
assault would fail due to flanking artillery fire,
July 24; Duane's deposition on the failure of the
attack, July 30; and Duane's opinion on the
feasibility of proposed night attacks on the
Petersburg defenses, 1865 March. Pontoon bridges are
also a frequent topic.
A small pocket letterbook contains carbon
copies of Duane's dispatches sent on the letter head
of the Army of the Potomac headquarters 1864 March
11-July 29. A small pocket in the back of the volume
contains loose dispatches received March and April
1865 together with carbon sheets, an ivory pencil,
and a mss map of Hatcher's Run, 1865 April 1.
Correspondents included J. G. Barnard, Richard
Delafield, Winfield Scott Hancock, A. A. Humphreys,
Rufus Ingalls, George G. Meade, Ira Spaulding,
Gouveneur Kemble Warren, Horatio G. Wright.
Describing camp life and troop movements, the
effects of marching on his health, constant rain,
skirmishes, capture of Confederates, the Battle of
Perryville, Don Carlos Buell, Thomas L. Crittenden,
William S. Rosecrans, capture of Morgan's men at
McMinnville, Tennessee, Battle of Stone's
River/Murfreesboro, pay, destruction of Confederate
flour mills, and many other references which can be
found in the Virgo record.
Writing about farm routine, servants, insect
devastation, the weather, family activities, and
trips to Washington and Baltimore.
Because of his acquaintance with many of the
leading American colonists, he was frequently
consulted during the war by the English ministry;
Discussing the re-election of Abraham Lincoln,
troop strengths on both sides, deserter problem,
demobilization of the Federal armies, the formation
of 5 military districts in the South, the sale of
"war surplus materials," the policy of President
Johnson, problems raised by the liberation of slaves,
the operation of the Freedmen's Bureau, transfer of
troops to the Mexican border and the possibility of
U.S. intervention in European affairs.
Kept while commanding the cavalry corps at South
Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. The
dispatches are addressed to Generals Randolph Barnes
Marcy and John Grubb Parke.
Kept chiefly by Joseph Jones and containing
records of court-martials and orders of General
Muhlenberg and Baron Von Steuben.
Describing a sailing voyage through central
Florida from Orlando to Punta Gorda.
Contains an account of the life of Cotton Mather
written for his son, in his own handwriting.
The Commonplace book was begun after his return to
England and there are no mentions of Virginia.
Strachey has numbered this volume throughout,
arranging his private thoughts and references to
books alphabetically. #
Containing an detailed account of his travels to
Newfoundland and the Colony of Virginia. Reade
(1657-1723) began his account of his first voyage in
1674, when he sailed as a physician and surgeon in
chief, on a merchant vessel commanded by Captain
Stoplen Pain. He furnishes much information about the
fishing trade, crops, planters, diseases, flora and
natural features of Newfoundland.
He undertook another voyage with Captain
Sampson Clark in the
Kept by Dick while on a mission to the United
States by the Commissioners under the British
Convention of 1806 to investigate various claims
which Parliament had undertaken to settle. He left
Edinburgh on August 1806, and sailed from Liverpool
in November.
The journal covers visits to New York, Trenton,
Princeton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Georgetown,
Alexandria, Washington, D.C., where he met both
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and other
prominent Americans, Hanover, Gettysburg, Frederic,
Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, where
he visited Monticello, Warm Springs, Warrenton,
Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charleston, Wilmington,
returning home from Halifax via Washington and
Philadelphia.
Scanland's journal gives his observations on
western Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and
Missouri. He comments on the scenery, towns, inns and
innkeepers, the state of agriculture and the
suitability of land for farming, and the people he
meets, particularly noting their health, social
condition, and general state of cleanliness. He also
reflects continually on his sweetheart back home,
comparing her to a new girl he meets on his travels.
Of interest is a brief description of a flood in
Shawneetown, Ill. #
Wood makes observations on customs, institutions,
intellectual life, weather and travel conditions,
agriculture, and cotton textile manufacturing, and
comments on the differences between northern and
southern society including the general prosperity in
the north and the high cost of free labor. Topics of
interest include descriptions of New York City; a
Fourth of July celebration; a fatal duel; a medical
procedure; the casting of gudgeons; sermons he hears;
national politics; sword, pistol, and woolen
factories; views on female education particularly
geography which enables women to "understand the
conversation of men" and astronomy which will "lead
the mind to its maker" and noting that "female
pedantry is at all times abominable"; a murder trial;
the purchase of cotton manufacturing machines; and
medicinal uses of the slippery elm. People he meet
include members of the Biddle family, a General
Doughty, and Benjamin Silliman of Yale with whom he
debates on "the difference of the mental qualities of
the Negro and the white man." #
Anderson was a native of New Kent County,
Virginia, presently Hanover County, who operated a
store and a plantation, and served as a factor for
several British merchants. Until 1700, Anderson was
jointly concerned with Cuthbert Jones and Samuel
Clarke, of England, in the operation of the store and
in the purchasing of tobacco in Virginia. After 1700,
Jones continued to consign European goods to Anderson
and to order annual purchases of tobacco.
Occasionally, John Page and Richard Lee also used
Anderson as their factor. Anderson consigned his own
tobacco harvests to Page, Lee, John Gibson, or John
Lane. In 1713, he was appointed an executor in the
estate of John Page, which brought him into
association with Micajah and Richard Perry.
All of these activities are reflected in his
letters, as well as revealing information about the
Virginia economy, annual tobacco prices, rates of
exchange, shipping rates, annual crop conditions,
store keeping, and his duties as a Virginia factor
for British firms. The letterbook also contains a
small group of letters, 1715-1717, pertaining to the
executors settlement of his estate. #
Containing her transcriptions of letters by Louis
Aime Adolphe Fourier de Becourt, with annotations by
de Bacourt, originally written while he was French
Minister in Washington. These letters narrate his
daily life in Washington, and travels through the
country. The second volume contains copies of printed
sources describing the economy and society of the
United States. #
The first orderly book is that of the artillery
corps, from Winchester, and the first eleven pages
were written by the commander Major James Faulkner
with the remainder in the handwriting of his
sergeants. It records the events of the march to
Norfolk, the organization of the artillery under
Colonel Read, and all the General, Brigade, and
Regimental orders to June 17, 1813, when Major
Faulkner was ordered to Craney Island. At the end is
a note by Charles J. Faulkner about the finding of
the book. The second orderly book was that of Elisha
Boyd, Lt. Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Virginia
Militia, and father-in-law of the first Charles James
Faulkner, covering May 3 to August 1, 1814, when
Washington was threatened by Cockburn and the
defenses of Norfolk were strengthened. On July 22 an
attack was repulsed and dead buried. It also records
courts-martial, punishments, and all the general,
brigade, and regimental orders.
Describing thousands of acres of woodland, iron
mines, slaves, cattle, his plant for making iron at a
settlement called Spotswoodville, his manufacturing
procedure, production rates, cost in labor and raw
materials, and transportation opportunities. #
Containing the report of the commission to examine
the state of the Plantations on the continent of
America, signed by J. Chetwood, P. Dominique, Edward
Ashe, and Martin Bladen, and including information on
forms of government, population, militia strength and
trade. Colonies surveyed in the report are Nova
Scotia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and
South Carolina. Other sections are entitled:
Consequence of the Plantation trade, French
Mississippi, Considerations for favoring improving
and enlarging the dominions in America, in relation
to the Indians, and in relation to the government of
the Plantations. #
He served in a regiment under Comte de
Rochambeau's command during the French operations
during the American Revolutionary War; a key to pages
describing various events can be found under the
accession number of the collection.
The first volume covers the period 1763-1779,
is not based on first hand observations and is
largely derivative. It includes a summary of events
leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in 1775;
Bunker Hill; Ticonderoga, Montreal, and the attack
against Quebec; operations in Virginia and the
Carolinas; evacuation of Boston; Declaration of
Independence; New York and New Jersey campaigns; the
Northern lakes; British occupation of Philadelphia;
Pennsylvania campaigns in 1777; Connecticut and New
York in 1777; Pennsylvania & New Jersey in
1777-1778; Burgoyne Campaign; British evacuation of
Philadelphia; and the arrival of D'Estaign.
The second volume covers the period 1780 June
to 1783 June and is based upon first hand observation
offering an authoritative account of French military
and naval operations during the Revolution. It
includes the voyage from France, arrival in Rhode
Island; Camp at Philipsburg and junction with
Americans under George Washington; crossing of the
Hudson and march to Philadelphia; march south to
Yorktown, Virginia; Yorktown Campaign and subsequent
British surrender; Winter quarters; account of
Rodney's victory over De Grasse on April 12, 1782;
march north to Boston; Embarkation and voyage home
via Porto Rico and Porto Bello; arrival at Brest;
description of the Dunkard settlement at the Ephrata
Cloisters; and remarks re the Quakers. #
Lloyd discusses his poetry, translations, and
publication problems, criticizes Barton's poetry and
comments on Robert Southey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge,
Lord Byron, John Keats, Charles Lamb, and P.M. James,
and mentions his family, home, and frequent bouts of
depression; includes two letters from his father,
Charles Lloyd, Sr. to Barton and a manuscript,
"Stanzas on the Death of Caroline Queen of Great
Britain. For listing of individual letters see the
guide.
Writes describing his new lodgings, a fire in Sachsenhauser, and mentioning Sir Walter Simpson (1872 Aug 4); acknowledges authorship of "Harold" and "Salt Water Financier" and will be home soon from [France?] [1878?]; though working hard, feels like he must produce until death, and has gotten two editions of Arabian Nights (1883 Jun 15); sends revisions for his father's paper read as President of Royal Society of Edinburgh and mentions his opinion of Thomas Carlyle (1885 Jan 14); discusses problems with David in
Fitzgerald writes about his travels in England and
Ireland, his family, art collecting, especially his
interest in John Constable, and his friends,
particularly Alfred Tennyson and Thomas Carlyle. He
also mentions Edward Moxon, Leigh Hunt, William
Wordsworth, John Henry Newman, Maria Edgeworth,
George Peacock, Samuel Lawrence, George Crabbe,
Thomas de Quincey, Charles Dickens, and William
Makepeace Thackery.
In addition to the 74 letters to Barton, are
Fitzgerald's copies of and commentaries on the
Biblical stories of Joseph, David, Saul, and
Jonathan, copies of two poems by Tennyson, a
registered letter receipt, and five letters from John
Gibson Lockhart & Charlotte Sophia (Scott)
Lockhart to Barton.
Concerning the exploration and title to East and
West Florida and Louisiana, the Spanish and French
Colonies in America, and the Louisiana Purchase; he
discusses whether the United States has a
well-founded claim to West Florida, whether the
people of West Florida were justified in declaring
themselves independent, and if the United States
would be justified in defending West Florida or in
adding it to the Union. #
Discusses the different types of stock in the
United States, available at various rates of interest
(1806 Dec 25); lands in New Jersey from the estate of
L. [Kortright?] (1794 Apr 1); the illness of
President James Madison (1813 Jun 28); belief that
his political documents and letters will vindicate
his conduct both before his mission to Europe and
since his return home (1816 Jan 24); illness of Mrs.
Monroe (1820 Jul 1; 1824 Sep 1); upcoming visit of
the Marquis de Lafayette (1824 Sep 1); invitation to
dine with Judge Nelson and James Monroe at Mr.
Michie's, (1828 Jul 26). #
Chiefly concerning matters pertaining to the
running of the Department of State in his absence,
and one letter to Samuel Pleasonton, as clerk in the
Department of State; and one letter to General John
Mason.
Discusses the purchase of horses from Isaac
McCuddy (1811 Sep 3); transport of prisoners (1814
Mar 29; Apr 16); written to Dr. Jones of
Northumberland County to authorize sending an agent
to the [West Indies?] to look after the slaves from
that quarter and the country between the Northern
Neck and Norfolk (1815 May 18); his financial affairs
suffered from his absence on duty to his country, his
health improving, and various business in the State
Department (1815 May through Sep); his claim to the
comptroller for additional compensation for his
former mission to France and other missions which
caused him to have to borrow money (1816 Nov 21; 1826
Jan 12, 23, 25, Feb 4; Apr 10); the death of his
grandchild, the daughter of Mrs. Gouverneur and a
request for all proper assistance to several office
seekers (1821 Sep 15); sends letters to Pleasonton to
forward to his friends in France (1827 Mar 28; 1828
Apr 7); the meeting of the Board of Visitors at the
University of Virginia (1829 Jul 26); the plan for an
executive government at the University of Virginia
and his financial difficulties (1830 May 2; 1831
Apr); including a typed letter, 1911 Nov 4, from
Roswell Randall Hoes concerning Monroe family
genealogy. #
Including accounts of George Weedon with Fontaine
Maury, James Monroe, William Mercer, Timothy Green,
John Minor, the Fredericksburg Academy, the estate of
Hugh Mercer, of which Weedon was executor, and
soldiers stationed at the Sentry Box. Account entries
are primarily for cash, but also include entries for
the delivery of wood, personal and household
expenses, slave hires, legal services, lottery
prizes, sundries and building supplies. #
Chiefly clippings, obituary notices and eulogies.
There are also clippings about incidents in Madison's
life and administration, particularly during the War
of 1812, as well as tipped in prospectuses for a
biography and his papers. There are copies of Madison
speeches and letters, and letters from Dolley Payne
Todd Madison and J.C. Payne. #
Discusses a naval appointment, a land settlement
scheme on the Ohio opposed by Lord Hillsborough, the
Gasp饠affair, Bunker Hill, naval operations
in Virginia and on the Delaware (Lord Dunmore's
retreat), the Staten Island Peace Conference,
Saratoga, General Burgoyne, the burning of New York,
Hessians, consequences of the American-French
alliance, British foreign and economic affairs, and
the guardianship of Felix Viret. #
Consists of two volumes with marbled paper
wrappers, labeled "First" and "Second," in A.S.
Hamond's autograph, with occasional comments added by
G.E. Hamond, and covering Hamond's career as an
active sea officer from 1769 until 1794, when he went
to the Navy Board after an illness; glued into the
front of book two is an unsigned, hand-drawn map, in
color, of the area from Philadelphia westward,
illustrating the Brandywine campaign. #
Beginning with his appointment to
#
In several distinct sections, including: Letters sent and received, December 28, 1771- December 29, 1777, while he was on the
Correspondents similar to those in slipcase 59,
apparently Hamond started two letter books
simultaneously, one for letters to superiors, and one
to subordinates, but his secretary used them
indiscriminately.
Concerning routine matters when Hamond was in
command at Halifax.
Concerning Hamond's voyages in Cawesand Bay,
Woolwich, Gravesend, Spithead, Portsmouth, Cartagena,
Lagos River, Cadiz, Tagus, Lisbon, Gibralter, Malta,
Valetta Harbor, Naples, and Messina.
Eden begins with his service in 1785 as a
Captain's servant and continues through the
Napoleonic Wars. It contains accounts of all ships on
which he sailed, admirals under whom he served,
including Hyde Parker and Horatio Nelson, actions in
which he was engaged and enemy ships captured. He
describes the battle of Copenhagen, sieges of Malta
and Flushing and action at Naples. There are personal
notes on health and travels, and observations on the
British custom of requiring other ships to salute her
colors. With the memoirs are a letter granting
permission to publish, 1823; a letter, 1793, as a
midshipman, relating an encounter with the French
fleet with a sketch of the ships' positions; and a
letter, 1778, from Charles Henri, Comte d'Estaing, to
Louis Antoine de Bougainville on naval matters.
Recording dates of sowing, germination, blossoming
and places of origin of plants in his garden, and
occasionally the agent from whom they were obtained.
He checked his own varieties against a list of rare
species, noted seeds that could be imported from the
North American colonies, especially Virginia, North
Carolina, and Maryland, and from Spain and Aleppo,
Syria.
He discusses corn, tobacco, wheat, rice, indigo,
and silk.
Probably for publication in their papers,
including an extract of an article by Dr. James
Mounsey, "An Account of a Woman Who Harbored a [the
bones of a] Foetus thirteen years in her body" at
Riga, Russia, presented by Henry Baker; a letter from
Henry Baker (1698-1774) to the President of the Royal
Society, Martin Folkes, concerning the previous
article about the Russian woman; "Several Essays
towards discovering the laws of electricity" by John
Ellicott (1706?-1772); partial letter from Abbe Jean
Antoine Nollet (1700-1770) concerning electricity;
manuscript by Sir William Watson (1715-1787)
concerning his electrical experiments and mentioning
experiments conducted by "an ingenious gentleman ...
in Pennsylvania" [Ben Franklin]; "Account of the
Giant's Causeway in Ireland, in a letter to the
President from the Rev. Richard Pococke, Archdeacon
of Dublin"; a letter and diagram of a metal
thermometer by Maurice Johnson; abstract of a letter
from the Jesuit missionary Father Bonaventure Suares
about astronomical observations, a printed page on
lunar eclipses observed in Paraguay, and notes on
solar eclipses, 1706-1730; a manuscript concerning
the motion of projectiles near the earth's surface by
Thomas Simpson (1710-1761); an abstract of a letter
from William Anderson to Henry Baker concerning the
hearing of fish; and a copy of an inscription at
Stanhope upon a Roman altar [by the Rev. Mr. Keene?].
Presumed to be part of the McGregor-Mather
Collection.
Vellum, 603 ff., 16 x 11 cm. Written in France, diapered text in a fine hand, in Latin, 47 lines per column. Numerous historiated and illuminated initials, text occasionally rubricated, red and blue pen decoration throughout. Bound in old brown velvet, two silver clasps, gilt demi-lion rampant with devise (
Written in France, vellum, 120 ff., 19 x 14 cm.
The calendar is written in French and Latin; the
remainder is in Latin. The final leaf carries a
prayer written in a contemporary cursive Latin hand.
19 large miniatures, richly decorated and liberally
gilt; numerous floriated borders and illuminated
initials. Bound in the 19th century in brown Levant
morocco, elaborately blind-tooled, gilt edges; brown
morocco slipcase. Provenance note (1683) on recto of
first leaf.
Vellum, 85 ff., 19 x 14 cm., written in northern France. The calendar is written in French; the remainder is in Latin with the exception of leaves 1-2, 50v, 51-53, 83-85, which are written in French by a different hand. Mounted ecclesiastical