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 Letters by yyashingtpn, Adams Jefferson, 
 
 3 1924 032 751 988 
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 LETTERS 
 
 WASHINGTON, ADAMS. JEFFERSON. 
 
 AND OTHERS. 
 
 WRITTEN DURING AND AFTER THE 
 REVOLUTION. 
 
 JOHN LANGDON, 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA; 
 
 PRESS OF HENRY B. ASHMEAD, 
 
 Nos. rioa & 1104 Sansom Street. 
 
 I 8 So. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tinis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032751988 
 
LETTERS 
 
 WASHINGTON. ADAMS. JEFFERSON. 
 
 AND OTHERS. 
 
 WRITTEN DURING AND AFTER THE 
 REVOLUTION, 
 
 JOHN LANGDON, 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 
 V 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRESS OF HENRY B. ASHMEAD, 
 
 Nos. 1 102 & 1 104 Sansom Street. 
 
 1880. 
 E.V. 
 
Head Qrs. Middle Brook, June 2gth, 1777. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your favor of the i6th inst. has been duly re- 
 ceived. The State of Massachusetts has been 
 fortunate indeed in her Import of arms, and it 
 would have given great pleasure to have heard ot 
 your obtaining a competent supply, or that it was 
 in my power to assist you in this instance. But 
 the State of the public magazines will not admit 
 any to be taken or retained from them. In re- 
 spect to clothing for the Continental Troops raised 
 in your State, you will apply to The Deputy 
 Clothing General or Agents in that department. 
 Messrs. Livingston and Trumbull were at Boston, 
 who I make no doubt, will take the earliest meas- 
 ures in their power to accommodate the Troops, as 
 the cloth imported has gone there. I have but 
 little to add on public matters. The Enemy on 
 Sunday last evacuated Brunswick, and retreated to 
 Amboy. Unhappily but a small part of our Troops 
 were able to come up with them. Col. Morgan's 
 Corps of Riflemen did, before they had wholly 
 effected their retreat, and annoyed 'em a good 
 deal, with only the loss of two killed and seven or 
 eight wounded on our part. It is generally con- 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 jectured that the Enemy are on the point of 
 some new Enterprise, having transported most of 
 their baggage trains across to Staten Island. Yet 
 on Thursday morning, their whole force made a 
 sadden and rapid march some few miles into the 
 country, with the intention more probably, to cut 
 off some of our light parties, and Lord Stirling's 
 division which were advanced to watch their mo- 
 tions, and to act as circumstances would justify, or 
 to gain the passes in the mountains on our left. 
 Another motive for this manoeuvre which seems a 
 probable one, was to give some eclat to their arms, 
 which were a little sullied just before by a retreat 
 that was conducted precipitately, and from their not 
 prosecuting their march through Jersey to Phila- 
 delphia, as many were induced to expect from 
 their great preparations and repeated declarations. 
 There was some pretty hard skirmishing between 
 them and our parties as they marched, with but 
 little loss on our side — nor can I ascertain who the 
 Enemy was. They returned to Amboy again, 
 without attempting to gain the passes, plundering 
 and despoiling the inhabitants contiguous to their 
 line of march, of their clothing and every thing they 
 could carry off, burning also, some houses. We 
 had a Brigade of light troops detached to annoy 
 their rear flank, but the distance to Amboy being 
 but short, and the enemy retreating by a Route 
 they were unable to come up with them, so as to 
 make an attack with a prospect of success or with- 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 out putting themselves in imminent danger, they 
 are now lying in the neighborhood of the enemy 
 to avail themselves of any favorable circumstances 
 that may turn up. 
 
 I am, Dr. Sir, with great esteem, 
 
 Yr. most obed. servt., 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Philadelphia, Aug. 4th, 1777. 
 Sir : — 
 
 Your two favors of the 12th and 17th ult. have 
 been duly received. I am happy in the arrival of 
 the Packet from Nantes after so good a passage. 
 I supposed the accounts transmitted by the Com- 
 missioners are of importance, but I am not yet 
 informed of the particulars. The Captain's intel- 
 ligence is agreeable, and I wish much to hear it 
 confirmed by a Declaration of War. We have 
 been for some time and still are much embarrassed 
 and distressed respecting the destination of the 
 Enemy's Fleet and their operations. On Thurs- 
 day and Friday last, two hundred and twenty- 
 eight sail of war were beating off the Capes of the 
 Delaware — they have disappeared again. The 
 advantages they receive from having the command 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 of the water are immense. At the same time 
 that they are transporting thousands from one 
 place to another with the utmost facihty and con- 
 venience, they keep our imaginations constantly 
 in the field of conjecture as to the point of attack, 
 and our troops marching and countermarching in 
 the disagreeable mood of suspense and uncertainty. 
 I wish we could but fix on their object. Their 
 conduct is really so mysterious that you cannot 
 reason upon it, so as to form any certain con- 
 clusion. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 With much esteem, 
 
 Your most obed. servt., 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Albany, Aug. 4th, 1783. 
 Sir : — 
 
 Permit me to introduce to your civilities the 
 Count de Verm^, an Italian nobleman on a tour 
 through America. 
 
 This gentleman comes recommended by our 
 Minister in France, and from the acquaintance I 
 have had the pleasure to make with him, does 
 honor to his high birth — these considerations will 
 
( 7 ] 
 
 be my excuse for the liberty of giving you this 
 trouble. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Yr. most ob. serv.. 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 
 John Langdon, Esqr. 
 
 Mount Vernon, loth March, 1787. 
 Sir : — 
 
 I pray you to attribute my long silence in not 
 acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 
 5th of May, by Mr. Lear, to any cause rather 
 than the want of esteem and respect. 
 
 Although I might perhaps, with as much truth 
 as many others, assign business as the cause ; yet 
 this was not my principal motive for the delay. 
 I wished for a little time and opportunity, to form 
 a judgment of Mr. Lear before I gave testimony 
 to his merits ; and it is now with pleasure I can 
 assure you, that I entertain the highest opinion of 
 his worth. His deportment since he became a 
 member of this family has been so perfectly 
 proper and pleasing, in every point of view, as to 
 render him the favorite of every one, and it is 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 much our wish that his own contentment in it 
 may be equal to our satisfaction. 
 I have the honor to be. 
 Sir, 
 
 Yr. most obed. hbl. sert., 
 
 Go. Washington, 
 The Honble. John Langdon. 
 
 Mount Vernon, Dec. 3d, 1787. 
 Sir : — ■ 
 
 I have received your letter of the 6th ulto., and 
 am much obliged to you for the information con- 
 tained in it. 
 
 I am happy to find that the dispositions in your 
 part of the Continent are so favorable to the pro- 
 posed plan of Government ; if the true interest of 
 the United States was consulted, I think there 
 could be but little opposition to it in any part of 
 the Country. 
 
 The publick papers have undoubtedly an- 
 nounced to you, before this, the proceedings of the 
 legislature of this State upon the business ; — they 
 have appointed the Convention to meet on the 
 first Monday in June ; whether putting it off to 
 so late a period will be favourable or otherwise 
 must be determined by circumstances, for if those 
 States, whose conventions are to meet sooner. 
 
1 9 ) 
 
 should adopt the plan, I think there is no doubt 
 but they will be followed by this ; and if some of 
 them should reject it, it is very probable that the 
 opposers of it here will exert themselves to add 
 this to the number. 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Yr. most obedt. hble. servt.. 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 
 The Honble. John Langdon. 
 
 Mount Vernon, April 2d, 1788. 
 Sir : — 
 
 Your favor of the 28th of Feb'y came regu- 
 larly to hand. The conduct of New Hampshire 
 respecting the proposed Government, was a matter 
 of surprise in this, and I believe in every other 
 part of the United States ; for her local situation, 
 unconnected with other circumstances, was sup- 
 posed to be a sufficient inducement to the people 
 of that State to adopt a General Government 
 which promises more energy and security than the 
 one under which we have hitherto lived ; and 
 especially as it holds out advantages to the smaller 
 States equal, at least, to their most sanguine ex- 
 pectations. 
 
lO 
 
 ) 
 
 Circumstanced as your Convention was, an ad- 
 journment was certainly prudent, but it happened 
 very mal-apropos for this State, because the con- 
 current information from that quarter would have 
 justified the expectation of an unanimity in the 
 Convention, whereas an account so opposite to 
 every former one having arrived at the very time 
 when the Elections were carrying on here, gave 
 an opportunity to the opponents of the proposed 
 Constitution to hold up to the people an idea of 
 its not having been so generally approved of in 
 other States as they had been taught to believe, 
 and of consequence prepared them to receive 
 active impressions, unfriendly to the Government, 
 and tending to influence their votes in favor of 
 anti-federal characters. 
 
 However, I do not yet despair of its adoption 
 here, notwithstanding the unjust and uncandid 
 representations which have been made by the op- 
 ponents to influence the minds of the people and 
 prejudice them against it. 
 
 With great esteem and regard, 
 I am. Sir, 
 Yr. most obed. hble. servt.. 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 The Honble. John Langdon. 
 
1 1 
 
 Mount Vernon, July 20th, 1788. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I had the satisfaction to receive regularly your 
 favor of the 21st ulto., announcing the adoption 
 of the Federal government by the Convention of 
 New Hampshire. You will already have been 
 informed, through the ordinary channels of com- 
 munication, that the same event took effect in this 
 State a few days afterwards. And I am happy to 
 say, that so far as I have been able to learn, a 
 spirit of harmony and acquiescence obtained 
 among the large and respectable minority in as 
 great a degree as could possibly have been ex- 
 pected. 
 
 If we may calculate upon rectitude in the views 
 and prudence in the conduct of the leading char- 
 acters throughout the State, accompanied by in- 
 dustry and honesty in the ways of the people, we 
 may assuredly anticipate a new era ; and, perhaps, 
 we shall not deceive ourselves by expecting a more 
 happy one than hath before appeared on this 
 checquered scene of existence. But we ought not 
 to be too sanguine, or to expect that we shall be 
 entirely exempted from the ills which fall to the 
 lot of humanity. 
 
 With congratulations to your Excellency on 
 your elevation to the Chief Magistracy of your 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 State, and with sentiments of consideration and 
 respect, I remain. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your Excellency's 
 
 Most obed. hbl. ser., 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 His Excellency John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Boston, January 27, 1772. 
 Sir : — 
 
 I have received the copies of your Case and 
 yours of Jany. i6th. I have applied to the 
 Judge, in behalf of you and Mr. Cutt, to have 
 the Vessels delivered as you desire. But the Judge 
 says, justly enough, that he can do nothing until 
 the suit is instituted in his Court by petition, and 
 the original Proponent or Informer notified to 
 appear. This is done in Mr. Cutt's Case, and 
 shall be done in yours, v^^henever you direct it by 
 a Line to me. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your hum. servant, 
 
 John Adams. 
 Mr. William Whipple. 
 
( '3 ) 
 
 Braintree, Septr. ii, 1779. 
 
 My Old Friend : — 
 
 How do ye ? Here am I, after escaping from 
 Storms, Thunder, Lightning, the Gulph Stream, 
 British Squadrons, Cannon Balls, and what is ten 
 thousand times worse than all of them, the Neglect 
 and Contempt of Congress. Don't you think me 
 a Philosopher, to pronounce these words Neglect 
 and Contempt with so much deliberation. Patience, 
 "and Tranquility? 
 
 When Dr. F.'s new Commission arrived, there 
 was much Pains taken to persuade me to stay. 
 Dr. F. advised me to take a Journey to Geneva, 
 others to Amsterdam. Mr. Chaumont offered me 
 his House in the Country during the War. Dr. 
 Bancroft, the confidential friend of F. and D., 
 told me he had a letter from Mr. Carmichael, in 
 which he was told that the Gentlemen on that side 
 of the House intended to send me to Spain in the 
 Room of Mr. Lee. The Marquis de la Fayette 
 told me that Mr. G. Morris told him they in- 
 tended to send me to Spain. By Letters from R. 
 H. Lee, Lovel, and Adams, I was told they in- 
 tended to send me to Holland. 
 
 Although it was flattering enough to me to find 
 that both sides professed to be willing to employ 
 me somewhere, yet I know very well it would be 
 so long before they would be able to agree and 
 determine the Place, that I thought it my Duty to 
 return home, that they might have time enough 
 
( H ) 
 
 to deliberate upon it, rather than stay there eating 
 public Bread without doing anything to earn it, 
 and in a situation both painful and ridiculous, like 
 that of Ariel wedged by the waist in the middle 
 of a rifted oak. 
 
 I have been conning over your Journals, but 
 cannot yet comprehend many things. You must 
 have had many things and much Information that 
 I am a Stranger to, I think. Query, whether I 
 am not nearly enough like a Member of Congress 
 to be trusted with some of your Secrets, not such 
 as you are enjoined to keep so, but others. When 
 you return, call and see me. 
 
 Yr. Friend and Sert., 
 
 John Adams. 
 
 Hon. William Whipple, Esq^ 
 
 QuiNCY, December 12, 1810. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I received yesterday at the Post Office your 
 obliging favour of the Sixth of this month ; and 
 I pray you to accept my Thanks for the cordial 
 Pleasure it gave me. 
 
 Men who were engaged in our American Revo- 
 lution from the Beginning of it are become so 
 rare, that they feel for each other, as the Soldiers 
 who had Served under the Duke of Marlborough, 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 some of whom you and I have known, felt when 
 they met. 
 
 What advantages our Country may derive from 
 any communications of mine I must submit to 
 Providence, and leave to Time to discover. All 
 Nature in America is quick and bursting into 
 Birth. A Theatre is preparing for Tragedies no 
 doubt as well as Comedies ; for we have no Patent 
 of Exemption from the common Lot of Humanity. 
 
 The present Moment as you very justly observe, 
 is indeed all important ; and the best means, if 
 not the only means of avoiding immediate Calam- 
 ities, are instead of Calumniating our Rulers, to 
 Support The Union and defend the Constitution. 
 
 Our Country is or at least ought to be happy ; 
 and if it were not for gloomy Forebodings into 
 Futurity, which is impenetrably hidden from our 
 Sight, we should be so. 
 
 If there ever existed upon this Globe a Nation 
 or People who had so many Causes and Motives 
 for Thanksgiving as our American Nation, it has 
 never fallen under my observation or within my 
 Reading. 
 
 Mrs. Adams requests me to unite her in Saluting 
 your Fireside and in wishing you all a chearful 
 Christmas and many happy new Years with your 
 Old Friend and very humble Servant, 
 
 John Adams. 
 His Excellency John Langdon, 
 
 Governor of New Hampshire. 
 
( ^6 ) 
 
 QuiNCY, Feb. 27th, 1 812. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Though I have read, with regret, the account 
 of your dechning a re-election as Governor of 
 New Hampshire ; I am not surprised at it, nor 
 can you be censured for it. Men who have run 
 so long a Career in public Life as yours ought to 
 be permitted to retire, when their deliberate Judg- 
 ments require it. Not that it is wise in a Nation 
 to discard or neglect Men on account of their age. 
 I have been long of this opinion, so much so, that 
 in 1797 and 1798, My own Judgment was, that 
 the most prudent Thing I could do would be to 
 call for the List of the old Officers in the Revolu- 
 tionary Army and nominate every one of them 
 in the Rank he held at the End of the Revolu- 
 tionary War. They might have declined if they 
 chose. 
 
 I have wished that it might have happened that 
 we should meet once more : but this can be of no 
 great consequence to either of us or to any others, 
 I wish and pray tranquil Repose and Euthanasia 
 both for myself and for you. 
 
 There is one expression in your Letter of Decem. 
 6, 1810, which I wish to review before we depart, 
 you Speak of " Small Shades of difference in our 
 Politicks." 
 
 Now I know of no difference, or Shades of 
 difference in our Politicks, from 1775 when you 
 came first into Congress to this year 1812: ex- 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 cepting sometimes respecting Men to be elected 
 or appointed to office. 
 
 I will now State candidly all I can recollect or 
 ever could recollect of the conversation that was 
 alluded to by yourself and Mr. John Taylor of 
 Virginia. 
 
 A President is imprisoned ; he is shackled ; he 
 is gagged ; he cannot say a word in Print, in his 
 own defence ; if he does the Cry instantly re- 
 sounds through the World, that he is ambitious, 
 that he is avaricious, that he is seeking Popularity ; 
 that his Principles are mean and selfish ; his mo- 
 tives are his own Glory, &c. Lust of Power, &c. 
 
 I was always at my Post at the hour of adjourn- 
 , ment of the Senate. You was the most punctual 
 of the Senators, and John Taylor met us oftener 
 at the hour than any other Member. Taylor was 
 an eternal Talker. The greatest Talker I ever 
 knew excepting I bring George the third : and 
 he had much more order, fire and fluency than his 
 Majesty. We were all frank and social enough. 
 Taylor's perpetual Topick was the French Revo- 
 lution. There was no end of his enthusiastic 
 Admiration of the French Revolution ; nor his 
 Panegyricks of the principal characters, then pre- 
 dominating. His Eulogiums upon Robespierre 
 were without Bounds, excepting when he recol- 
 lected Barrere. He wished to make these Char- 
 acters his Models. Upon the whole he scarcely 
 knew which to prefer : but he rather thought 
 
 3 
 
( ^8 ) 
 
 Barrere the most worthy of Imitation, as having 
 more Information, Talents and Taste. I pitied 
 Mr. Taylor, whom I saw to be a young Man of 
 considerable Intellect, a great deal of Spirit, and 
 warm enthusiasm but perfectly ignorant of the 
 men he admired and the Circumstances in which 
 they acted, and the Nation they were employed 
 in destroying, I disputed however but little with 
 Mr. Taylor about the Men. 
 
 But he admired almost to adoration the Con- 
 stitution under which Robespierre and Barrere 
 then acted. 
 
 Here I ventured to put in a word now and 
 then. I said, "That Constitution cannot last. It 
 cannot hold France together." "Why! what alter- 
 ation is necessary?" said Taylor. "A more perma- 
 nent Executive and Senate will be indispensable," 
 said I. "What, hereditary.?" "Hereditary, or at 
 least for life," said I. " I do not believe it," said 
 Taylor. " Nor I neither," said Langdon. I re- 
 plied, " Gentlemen, you and I too, shall live to see 
 you alter, and acknowledge the alteration of your 
 opinions." "What," said Taylor, with a quickness 
 and vivacity which convinced me that he was 
 upon the Catch, "and our own Constitution too.?" 
 I was piqued at this Insolence, this Sophistry, this 
 Jesuitism, and answered him, " Yes," and turned 
 upon my heel and went away. He and Tench 
 Cox laid their heads together to publish to the 
 world, that I had declared my opinion for an 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 Hereditary Executive and Senate in the United 
 States, than which nothing was farther from the 
 Truth. When I said "yes" I meant only that he 
 would alter his opinion of our Constitution, to 
 which he was then supposed to be hostile ; at least 
 it was believed that he was very uneasy under it, 
 and discontented with it. 
 
 Had I known when you were in Boston, I 
 should either have called upon you, or at least 
 sent a request to see you at Quincy. But that op- 
 portunity having been lost, it is not very probable 
 another will occur. With the best wishes for 
 every Felicity to you and yours, I remain, your 
 Friend and Servant, 
 
 John Adams. 
 His Excellency John Langdon 
 
 Of Portsmouth, N. H. 
 
 Quincy, January 24, 1813. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I feel an irresistible propensity to compare notes 
 with you, in order to ascertain, whether your 
 memory and mine coincide, in the recollection of 
 the circumstances of a particular Transaction in 
 the History of this Country. 
 
 As it lies in my mind. Captain John Manly ap- 
 plied to General Washington in Cambridge in 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 Annapolis, Apr. 27, 1784. 
 Sir : — 
 
 I am now to acjcnowledge the rect. of your 
 favor of the 15th ult. enclosing some hair of the 
 Moose and the answers to my queries — there is a 
 confusion among the writers of natural history as 
 to the Caribou, the Renne, the black Moose, the 
 grey Moose, and the Elk, it is the prevailing 
 opinion they are but two animals, should any fur- 
 ther intelligence come to you on the subject at 
 any time I shall be obliged to you for a commu- 
 nication of it wheresoever I may be, the horns 
 and bones you are so kind as to endeavor to pro- 
 cure for me would be most conveniently received 
 at Richmond the seat of government in Virginia, 
 otherwise Philadelphia will be the most convenient. 
 
 Congress have divided the territory ceded or to 
 be ceded to the Westward into States, to compre- 
 hend from North to South two degrees of latitude 
 each, beginning to count from 45°. Eastwardly and 
 Westwardly they are divided by meridians, one of 
 which passes thro' the mouth of the great Hanha- 
 way, the other thro' the rapids of Ohio. They 
 have determined to adjourn on the 3d of June to 
 meet in November at Trenton. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great esteem. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedt. humble servt., 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 To Genl. William Whipple. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 1775' informed him that British Transports and 
 Merchant Ships were frequently passing and re- 
 passing unarmed, and asked leave to put a few 
 Guns on board a Vessel to cruise for them. Wash- 
 ington, either shrinking from the boldness of the 
 enterprize, or doubting his Authority, prudently 
 transmitted the information to Congress in a 
 Letter. 
 
 When the Letter was read many Members 
 seemed much surprized ; but a motion was made 
 and seconded to commit it to a Special Committee. 
 Opposition was made to this motion and a debate 
 ensued ; but the motion prevailed by a small 
 majority. The committee appointed were John 
 Langdon, Silas Deane and John Adams. We met 
 and at once agreed to report a resolution author- 
 izing General Washington to fitt and arm one or 
 more Vessells for the purpose. A more animated 
 opposition and debate arose upon this report but the 
 Resolution was carried by a small majority. Under 
 the Authority of this Resolution Washington fit- 
 ted out Manley, who soon brought in several 
 Prizes, the most important of which was the 
 Transport loaded with Soldiers, Arms, Ammuni- 
 tion, and that immortal Mortar, which was called 
 the Congress and finally drove the British Army 
 out of Boston and their Fleet out of the harbour. 
 
 This splendid success inspired new Courage into 
 Congress. They appointed a new Committee 
 consisting of yourself, Governor Hopkins, Richard 
 
( 2i ) 
 
 Henry Lee, Mr. Gadsden and me to purchase Arm, 
 equip, Officer and Man Ships. We met every 
 night, and in a short Time had The Alfred, Co- 
 lumbus, Cabbots, Andrew Doria, Providence, &c. 
 at Sea under Commodore Hopkins. The Naval 
 Enterprize of Congress increased fast. They soon 
 appointed a Committee of One from each State 
 of whom you was one and ordered Twelve Frig- 
 ates to be built. 
 
 My Recollection has been excited by late In- 
 formation from Philadelphia that Paul Jones has 
 written in his Journal, " My hand first hoisted 
 The American Flagg and that Captain Barry used 
 to say that the first British Flagg struck to him." 
 Both these vain Boasts, I know to be false ; and as 
 you know them to be so ; I wish to have your 
 Testimony to corroborate mine. 
 
 It is not decent nor just, that those emigrant 
 Foreigners of the South should falsely arrogate to 
 themselves merit that belongs to New England 
 Sailors, Officers and Men. 
 
 Wishing you a healthy pleasant year, 
 I remain. 
 
 Your old Friend, 
 
 John Adams. 
 John Langdon, Esq^, 
 
 late Governor of Newhampshire, 
 Portsmouth. 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 Paris, Sep. ii, 1785. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your Capt. Yeaton being, here furnishes me 
 an opportunity of paying the tribute of my con- 
 gratulations on your appointment to the govern- 
 ment of your State, which I do very sincerely, he 
 gives me the grateful intelligence of your health 
 and that of Mrs. Langdon, anxious to promote 
 your service, and believing he could do it by get- 
 ting himself naturalizeti here and authorised to 
 command your vessel, he came from Havre to 
 Paris, but on making the best enquiries I could, it 
 seemed that the time requisite to go through with 
 this business would be much more than he could 
 spare, he therefore declined it. I wish it were in 
 my power to give you a hope that our commerce 
 either with this country or its islands was likely to 
 be put on a better footing, but if it be altered at 
 all, it will probably be for the worse, the regula- 
 tions respecting their commerce are by no means 
 sufficiently stable to be relied on. 
 
 Europe is in quiet and likely to remain so, the 
 affairs of the Emperor and Dutch are as good as 
 settled, and no other cloud portends any immediate 
 storm, you have heard much of American vessels 
 taken by the Barbary pyrates, the Emperor of 
 Morocco took one last winter (the brig Betsey 
 from Philadelphia) he did not however reduce the 
 crew to slavery nor confiscate the vessel or cargo, 
 he has lately delivered up the crew on the solicita- 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 tion of the Spanish court. No other has ever been 
 taken by them, there are indeed rumours of one 
 having been lately taken by the Algerines, the 
 fact is possible, as there is nothing to hinder their 
 taking them ; but it is not as yet confirmed. I 
 have but little doubt but that we shall be able to 
 place our commerce on a proper footing with the 
 Barbary. States this summer, and thus not only 
 render our navigation to Portugal and Spain safe 
 but open the Mediterranean as formerly, in spite 
 of treaties. England is still our enemy, her hatred 
 is deep-rooted and cordial, and nothing is wanting 
 with her but the power to wipe us and the land 
 we live on out of existence, her interest however 
 is her ruling passion : and the late American meas- 
 ures have struck at that so vitally, and with an 
 energy too of which she had thought us quite in- 
 capable, that a possibility seems to open of forming 
 some arrangement with her, when they shall see 
 decidedly that without it we shall suppress their 
 commerce with us, they will be agitated by their 
 avarice on one hand, and their hatred and their 
 fear of us on the qther, the result of this conflict 
 of dirty passix)ns is yet to be awaited, the body of 
 the people of this country love us cordially, but 
 ministers and merchants love no body, the mer- 
 chants here are endeavouring to exclude us from 
 their islands, the ministers will be governed in it 
 by political motives, and will do it, or not do it, as 
 these shall appear to dictate, without love or hatred 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 to any body, it were to be wished they were able 
 to combine better the various circumstances which 
 prove beyond a doubt that all the advantages of 
 their colonies result in the end to the mother 
 country. 
 
 I pray you to present me in the most friendly 
 terms to Mrs. Langdon and to be assured of the 
 esteem with which I am 
 
 Your excellency's 
 
 Most obedient, 
 
 and most humble servt., 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 
 His Excy. J. Langdon; 
 
 P. S. Since writing this letter, I receive one 
 from Mr. Carmichael at Madrid informing me 
 that by letters from Cadiz & Algiers he is advised 
 that five American vessels had been captured by 
 the Algerines. Portugal is arming powerfully 
 against them, it seems probable that Spain will buy 
 their peace. I am in hopes we shall be able to 
 stop their depredations on us. 
 
 I beg leave to renew my acquaintance with Miss 
 Langdon by sending her a Doll of the present 
 mode, dressed in muslin, a mode which prevailing 
 here to an almost total exclusion of silk, has liter- 
 ally and truly starved a great number of people. I 
 add to it a box in which she will find a small gen- 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 tleman who will teach her a short-handed and 
 graceful manner of going down stairs. 
 
 [This toy still is in the family, and has been a source of amusement 
 to four generations, and seems likely to continue as long as there is a 
 descendant of the child to whom it was sent.j 
 
 Paris, Sep. i8, 1787. 
 
 Dear Sir : — • 
 
 The Marquis de Vaudreuil, who I believe had 
 the honour of being known to you in America, 
 sent me the inclosed papers, whereby it appears 
 that a certain Anthony Monset, a native of Lan- 
 guedoc, and merchant of Portsmouth in New 
 Hampshire, died at Portsmouth in September or 
 October 1786, and that William Monset and 
 Mary Monset his brother & sister, inhabitants of 
 Revel in Languedoc are entitled to his inheritance. 
 I beg the favor of you to inform me what he has 
 left, and to take measures for recovering and de- 
 positing it where it may be subject to the order of 
 the claimants. The Marquis de Vaudreuil interests 
 himself much for these people ; of course besides 
 the charity to them, your assistance will confer an 
 obligation on him as well as on. Dear Sir, 
 Your most obedient 
 
 and most humble servant, 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon, Esq_^ 
 
( 27 j 
 
 MoNTicELLO, Jan. 22, 97. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your friendly letter of the 2d inst. never came 
 to hand till yesterday, and I feel myself indebted 
 for the sollicitude you therein express for my 
 undertaking the office to which you inform me I 
 am called. I know not from what source an idea 
 has spread itself, which I have found to be gener- 
 ally spread, that I would accept the office of 
 President of the U. S. but not of Vice President. 
 When I retired from the office I last held, no man 
 in the union less expected than I did, ever to have 
 come forward again ; and, whatever has been in- 
 sinuated to the contrary, to no man in the union 
 was the share which my name bore in the late 
 contest more unexpected than it was to me. If I 
 had contemplated the thing before hand and suf- 
 fered my will to enter into action at all on it, it 
 would have been in a direction exactly the reverse 
 of what has been imputed to me, but I had no 
 right to a will on the subject, much less to con- 
 troul that of the people of the U. S. in arranging 
 us according to our capacities, least of all could I 
 have any feelings which would revolt at a station 
 secondary to Mr. Adams. I have been secondary 
 to him in every situation in which we ever acted 
 together in public life for twenty years past, a 
 contrary position would have been the novelty, & 
 his the right of revolting at it, be assured then, 
 my dear Sir, that if I had had a fibre in my com- 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 position still looking after public office, it would 
 have been gratified precisely by the very call you 
 are pleased to announce to me, and no other, but 
 in truth I wish for neither honors nor offices. I 
 am happier at home than I can be elsewhere, 
 since however I am called out, an object of great 
 anxiety to me is that those with whom I am to 
 act, shutting their minds to the unfounded abuse 
 of which I have been the subject, will view me 
 with the same candor with which I shall certainly 
 act, an acquaintance of many long years ensures 
 to me your just support, as it does to you the sen- 
 timents of sincere respect and attachment, with 
 which I am. Dear Sir, 
 
 Your friend and servt, 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon. 
 
 Washington, May 23, 1801. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 After your refusal of the office of Secretary of 
 the Navy, it was proposed to Capt. Jones of Phila- 
 delphia who in like manner declined it. Genl. 
 Smith then agreed to perform the duties without 
 being appointed or receiving any reward, he has 
 nearly compleated the requisitions of the law on 
 a surmise that Capt. Jones might give a different 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 answer on a second application. I proposed it to 
 him again, and he again dechned it. I now learn 
 that it is thought possible that you might be in- 
 duced to relieve our distress by undertaking it. I 
 lose not a moment therefore in proposing it to 
 you, the labours of reformation and of ultimately 
 disposing of the vessels will all be over to your 
 hand, the residence here is very pleasant, indeed a 
 charming society, & not too much of it, all living 
 on affectionate and unceremonious terms. It is im- 
 possible to be associated with more agreeable col- 
 legues. I hope therefore that you will undertake 
 the office, and so say by return of post. The com- 
 mission shall be forwarded on receiving your an- 
 swer ; and we shall entertain the hope of seeing 
 Mrs. Langdon and yourself as soon after as your 
 convenience will admit. Accept assurances of my 
 constant esteem and high consideration. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon. 
 
 Washington, June 22, 1801. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your favor of the loth was received yesterday, 
 tho' I am in hopes that by this time you have not 
 only determined to accept but may be on your 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 way, still it is necessary for me to inform you that 
 General Smith left us eight days ago. No more to 
 return, consequently the office is in immediate 
 want of you. Besides this, we all propose to be 
 absent during the months of August and Septem- 
 ber, it would seem therefore very desirable that 
 you could be here immediately to get possessed of 
 the current of the business, as for instance if you 
 could be here by the loth of July, you would 
 have 3 weeks to get into the course of affairs, 
 could then return home, and in the course of 
 Aug. & Sep. settle your matters there so as to 
 meet us here with your family by the ist of Octo- 
 ber. Thus on the presumption that, like a good 
 citizen, you have determined to repair to the call 
 of your Country I have laid out your time for 
 you according to my wishes, as an encouragement 
 to Mrs. Langdon & yourself, I will say, you will 
 find this as agreeable a residence as you can possi- 
 bly wish. The tranquility of the country with the 
 society of a city, very happily united, we have a 
 very agreeable society indeed here, and enough of 
 it. Present my respectful salutations to Mrs. Lang- 
 don and accept yourself assurances of my constant 
 and affectionate esteem. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 
 John Langdon. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 Washington, May 5, 1802. 
 
 My Dear Friend : — 
 
 I am this moment setting out on a short trip to 
 Monticello, but must first congratulate you on the 
 progress of repubUcanism in your state, proved by 
 your coming so near to your competitor, and by 
 the increased strength in the legislature, 9a ira. 
 Let me at the same time ask you to recommend 
 to me 4 persons to be commissioners of bank- 
 ruptcy in Portsmouth, and if you have any other 
 town of considerable commerce where bankrupt- 
 cies will probably happen, recommend 4 others 
 for that. It would be best to have 2 lawyers and 
 2 merchants in each, but i lawyer & 3 merchants 
 may do. Let them all be republicans. The 
 sooner I hear from you the better. I have but a 
 few minutes left and a thousand things to do in 
 them, I must therefore conclude with assurances 
 of my best affections and great respect. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Washington, June 29, 1802. 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 
 Your's of the 19th was received last night, that 
 of May 14 had arrived while I was on a short 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 trip to Monticello, from whence I returned on 
 the 30th ult. Commissioners of bankruptcy, 
 made up from your's and some other recommend- 
 ations, were appointed on the 14th inst., and no 
 doubt were received a few days after the date of 
 your last. Nicholas Oilman, John Goddard, 
 Henry S. Langdon & John McClintock were 
 named, the three last were in your recommend- 
 ation. Although we have not yet got a majority 
 into the fold of republicanism in your state, yet 
 one long pull more will effect it. We can hardly 
 doubt that one twelvemonth more will give an 
 executive & legislature in that state whose opin- 
 ions may harmonise with their sister states, unless 
 it be true as is sometimes said that N. H. is but a 
 satellite of Massachusetts. In this last state the 
 public sentiment seems to be under some influence 
 additional to that of the clergy and lawyers. I 
 suspect there must be a leven of state pride, at 
 seeing itself deserted by the publick opinion, and 
 that their late popular song of " Rule New Eng- 
 land" betrays one principle of their present vari- 
 ance from the Union, but I am in hopes they will 
 in time discover that the shortest road to rule is 
 to join the majority. Adieu, and accept assur- 
 ances of my sincere affection and respect. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 Mr. Langdon. 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Washington, Jan. ii, 1803. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 We learn by the public papers that a great ca- 
 lamity by fire has happened to Portsmouth, and 
 that yourself and some others are appointed to 
 receive contributions for the distressed sufferers 
 and to distribute them. I take the liberty of in- 
 closing to yourself an hundred dollars for this pur- 
 pose. I observe the trustees say in the papers that 
 they will make a record of the donations. I pray 
 that in my case it may be of the sum only, with- 
 out the name, the former I suppose is necessary in 
 making up your accounts. Accept assurances of 
 my constant and affectionate esteem and respect. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Washington, Dec. 22, 03. 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 The inclosed commission was made out imme- 
 diately on the receipt of your recommendation as 
 its date will shew ; but as I wished to accompany 
 it with a line to you, it has laid by me ever since 
 waiting a moment of leisure to drop you one. In 
 the mean time the law is repealed : but this com- 
 mission will still do for existing cases. 
 5 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 I have the happiness to assure you that we shall 
 receive Louisiana without opposition, or rather 
 that we have received it, as we know that our 
 troops embarked for Natchez the ist & 2d inst., 
 and would arrive at N. Orleans on the 7th, where 
 possession would be instantly delivered according 
 to arrangements agreed to between Genl. Wilkin- 
 son and the French prefect. This matter quietly 
 finished, and peace made with the emperor of 
 Morocco dictated by ourselves, leaves nothing in 
 our horison but the little speck of Tripoli, where 
 the substitution of Preble for Morris will probably 
 soon enforce peace also. From both the contend- 
 ing powers of Europe we have equal proofs of 
 friendship; but most especially Gr. Britain, we 
 shall therefore I hope be able to maintain an im- 
 partial & honourable neutrality. At home we 
 learn from all quarters that these measures have 
 brought over to us nearly the whole of our candid 
 opponents, except in three of the New England 
 States, & in Delaware, these we trust will in time 
 be convinced also. This, my friend, is a rapid 
 view of our affairs, and is as much as incessant in- 
 terruption and business will permit me to put on 
 paper. Accept my affectionate salutations and 
 assurances of constant esteem. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon, Esq. 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 Washington, Jan. 9, 05. 
 
 I congratulate you, my dear and antient friend, 
 on the wonderful things which have come to pass 
 in our time. We entered young into the first 
 revolution & saw it terminate happily. We had 
 to engage when old in a second more perilous, 
 because our people were divided. But we have 
 weathered this too & seen all come round & to 
 rights. When we parted last, you had to go home 
 and work against wind & tide to bring up the 
 loiterers. I was to lead on those who had just 
 made a breach in the fortress of federalism. All 
 is now settled. To a republican legislature & re- 
 publican electors your state will soon add a repub- 
 lican governor. Connecticut will pout a little 
 longer and then make friends. You know what 
 Delaware was during the war. It is the same 
 now & is unchangeable. Her disease is not fed- 
 eralism but anglomany. I learn with great pleas- 
 ure from every one who comes from your quarter 
 that you continue to enjoy good health. May it 
 long continue. 
 
 Conversing the other day at table with Genl. 
 Bradley, about the good things of this world, he 
 told me that you of all persons would be best able 
 to procure me some good perry, of which he said 
 more was made for sale in your quarter than any 
 where else. I have no hesitation therefore in 
 employing your friendship in this small way, for 
 small things are sometimes more acceptable than 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 great. Send me two or three barrells by any ves- 
 sel bound to any port in the Chesapeake. But 
 friendship must be pure and above pecuniary mo- 
 tives, you must let me knov7 what they cost & 
 receive the remittance. By doing this you will 
 convince me you are willing I should trouble you 
 again, which would be impossible if you did not 
 clear my conscience of interested motives. God 
 bless you & your family & give you long health, 
 and happy life. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Washington, Mar. ii, 05. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your favor of the 25th is received, as is one 
 from your nephew at Boston inclosing a bill of 
 lading for the 3 casks of perry; which I doubt 
 not will arrive in due time. Permit me now to 
 inclose the cost 16 D. in such bills as I can get, 
 which I am in hopes can be passed with you. I 
 am just setting out for Monticello, where I pro- 
 pose to pass three or four weeks in order to recruit 
 after the fatigues of our winter campaign. Accept 
 my affectionate salutations and assurances of con- 
 stant friendship. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 J. Langdon, Esq^ 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 Washington, Dec. 22, 06. 
 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 
 Your letter of the 12th is this moment put into 
 my hands, and as it reminds me of my default in 
 not answering the former, I take up my pen to 
 answer instanter. Our prospects are great if we 
 can preserve external & internal peace. With 
 England I firmly expect a friendly arrangement. 
 With Spain we shall possibly have blows ; but they 
 will hasten, instead of preventing, a peaceable set- 
 tlement. The most instant pressure is now from 
 among ourselves, our Cataline is at the head of an 
 armed body (we know not its strength), and his 
 object is to sieze N. Orleans, from thence attack 
 Mexico, place himself on the throne of Monte- 
 zuma, add Louisiane to his empire, & the Western 
 States from the Alleghaney if he can. I do not 
 believe he will attain the crown ; but neither am I 
 certain the halter will get its due. A few days will 
 let us see whether the Western States suppress them- 
 selves this insurrectionary enterprize, or we shall 
 be obliged to make a great national armament for 
 it. In the end, I am satisfied it will exhibit to 
 the world another proof that the people of the 
 U. S. are qualified for self-government. Our 
 friends, the federaHsts, chuckle at all this ; but in 
 justice I must add we have found some faithful 
 among those in the West. Our session is proceed- 
 ing with harmony. They have great questions 
 before them ; such in my opinion as look more to 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 the tranquil happiness and prosperity of a nation, 
 than have ever before been presented to a dehber- 
 ating body. God bless you and have you always 
 in his holy keeping. 
 
 Governor Langdon. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 
 Washington, May 6, 08. 
 Sir:— 
 
 The evasions of the preceding Embargo laws 
 went so far towards defeating their objects, and 
 chiefly by vessels clearing out coastwise, that Con- 
 gress by their Act of April 25, authorised the ab- 
 solute detention of all vessels bound coastwise with 
 cargoes exciting suspicions of an intention to evade 
 those laws, there being few towns on our seacoast 
 which cannot be supplied with flour from their 
 interior country, shipments of flour become gen- 
 erally suspicious and proper subjects of detention. 
 Portsmouth is one of the few places on our sea- 
 board which needs supplies of flour by sea for its 
 own consumption. That it may not suffer by the 
 cautions we are obliged to use, I request your Ex- 
 cellency whenever you deem it necessary that 
 your present or any future stock should be en- 
 larged, to take the trouble of giving your certifi- 
 cate in favor of any merchant, in whom you have 
 confidence, directed to the Collector of any Port, 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 usually exporting flour, from which he may chuse 
 to bring it, for any quantity which you may deem 
 necessary for consumption beyond your interior 
 supplies, inclosing to the Secretary of the Treasury 
 at the same time a duplicate of the certificate, as 
 a check on the falsification of your signature. In 
 this way we may ensure a supply of the real wants 
 of your citizens, and at the same time prevent 
 those wants from being made a cover for the 
 crimes against their country which unprincipled 
 adventurers are in the habit of committing. I 
 trust, too, that your Excellency will find an 
 Apology for the trouble I propose to give you, in 
 that desire which you must feel in common with 
 all our worthy citizens, that inconveniences en- 
 countered cheerfully by them for the interests of 
 their country, shall not be turned merely to the 
 unlawful profits of the more worthless part of 
 society. I salute your Excellency with assurances 
 of my high respect and consideration. 
 
 [Private.] 
 
 MONTICELLO, Aug. 2, o8. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 The inclosed are formal, and for the public ; 
 but in sending them to you, I cannot omit the 
 occasion of indulging my friendship in a more 
 familiar way, & of recalling myself to your recol- 
 lection, how much have I wished to have had you 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 still with us through the years of my emploiment 
 at Washington. 
 
 I have seen with great pleasure the moderation 
 & circumspection with which you have been kind 
 enough to act under my letter of May 6, and I 
 have been highly gratified with the late general 
 expressions of public sentiment in favor of a meas- 
 ure which alone could have saved us from imme- 
 diate war, & give time to call home 80 millions 
 of property, 20 or 30,000 seamen, & 2000 vessels. 
 These are now nearly at home, & furnish a great 
 capital, much of which will go into manufactures 
 and seamen to man a fleet of privateers, whenever 
 our citizens shall prefer war to a longer continu- 
 ance of the embargo. Perhaps the whale of the 
 ocean may be tired of the solitude it has made on 
 that element, and return to honest principles ; and 
 his brother robber on the land may see that, as to 
 us, the grapes are sour. I think one war enough 
 for the life of one man ; and you & I have gone 
 through one which at least may lessen our impa- 
 tience to embark in another. Still, if it becomes 
 necessary we must meet it like men, old men in- 
 deed, but yet good for something. But whether 
 in peace or war, may you have as many years of 
 life Ss you desire, with health & prosperity to 
 make them happy years. I salute you with con- 
 stant affection, & great esteem & respect. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 H. E. GovR. Langdon. 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 MoNTiCELj.o, March 5, 10. 
 Your letter my dear friend, of the i8th ult., 
 comes like the refreshing dews of the evening on 
 a thirsty soil. It recalls antient as well as recent 
 recollections, very dear to my heart. For five and 
 thirty years we have walked together through a 
 land of tribulations, yet these have passed away, & 
 so, I trust, will those of the present day. The 
 toryism, with which we struggled in ''j'j, differed 
 but in name from the federalism of '99, with 
 which we struggled also ; and the Anglicism of 
 1808, against which we are now struggling, is but 
 the same thing still, in another form. It is a long- 
 ing for a King, an English king rather than any 
 other, this is the true source of their sorrows & 
 wailings, the fear that Bonaparte will come over 
 us & conquer us also, is too chimerical to be gen- 
 uine. Supposing him to have finished Spain & 
 Portugal, he has yet England & Russia to subdue, 
 the maxim of war was never sounder than in this 
 case, not to have an enemy in the rear ; & especi- 
 ally where an insurrectionary flame is known to 
 be under the embers, merely smothered, & ready 
 to burst at every point. These two subdued (and 
 surely the Anglomen will not think the conquest 
 of England alone a short work), antient Greece 
 & Macedonia the cradle of Alexander his proto- 
 type, and Constantinople, the seat of empire for 
 the world, would glitter more in his eye than our 
 bleak mountains & rugged forests. Egypt too, & 
 
 6 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 the golden apples of Mauritania have more than 
 half a century fixed the longing eyes of France ; 
 and with Syria, you know, he has an old affront to 
 wipe out. Then come " Pontua & Galatia, Cap- 
 padocia, Asia, & Bithynia," the fine countries on 
 the Euphrates & Tygris, the Oxus & Indus, & all 
 beyond the Hyphrasis, which bounded the glories 
 of his Macedonian rival; with the invitations of 
 his new British subjects on the banks of the Gan- 
 ges, which, after receiving under his protection 
 the Mother Country, he cannot refuse to visit. 
 When all this is done & settled, & nothing of the 
 old world remains unsubdued, he may turn to the 
 new one, but will he attack us first, from whom 
 he will get but hard knocks, & no money .? or will 
 he first lay hold of the gold & silver of Mexico 
 & Peru, and the diamonds of Brazil .? a republican 
 emperor from his afl^ection to republics, independ- 
 ant of motives of expediency, must grant to our's 
 the Cyclop's boon of being the last devoured. 
 While all this is doing, we are to suppose the 
 chapter of accidents read out, & that nothing can 
 happen to cut short, or to disturb his enterprises, 
 but the Anglomen, it seems, have found out a 
 much safer dependance, than all these chances of 
 death or disappointment, that is, that we should 
 first let England plunder us, as she has been doing 
 for years, for fear Bonaparte should do it ; and 
 then ally ourselves with her, & enter into war, a 
 conqueror whose career England could not arrest 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 when aided by Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, 
 Spain & Portugal, she is now to destroy, with all 
 these on his side, by the aid of the U. S. alone. 
 This indeed is making us a mighty people, and 
 what is to be our security that, when embarked 
 for her in the war, she will not make a separate 
 peace, and leave us in the lurch ? Her good 
 faith ! the faith of a nation of merchants ! the 
 Punica fides of modern Carthage ! of the friend 
 and protectress of Copenhagen ! of the nation 
 who never admitted a chapter of morality into 
 her political code ! and is now boldly avowing 
 that whatever power can make hers, is hers of 
 right. Money, and not morality is the principle 
 of commerce & commercial nations. But in ad- 
 dition to this, the nature of the English gov- 
 ernment forbids, of itself, reliance on her engage- 
 ments ; & it is well known she has been, the least 
 faithful to her alliances of any nation of Europe 
 since the period of her history wherein she has 
 been distinguished for her commerce and cor- 
 ruption, that is to say, under the houses of Stuart 
 & Brunswick. To Portugal alone she has steadily 
 adhered, because, by her Methuen treaty, she had 
 made it a colony, & one of the most valuable to 
 her. It may be asked what, in the nature of her 
 government unfits England for the observation of 
 moral duties ? In the first place, her King is a 
 cypher, his only function being to name the oli- 
 garchy which is to govern her. The parliament 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 is by corruption, the mere instrument of the will 
 of the administration. The real power & prop- 
 erty in the government is in the great aristocrat- 
 ical families of the nation. The nest of office 
 being too small for all of them to cuddle into at 
 once, the contest is eternal, which shall crowd the 
 other out. For this purpose they are divided into 
 two parties, the ins & the outs, so equal in weight 
 that a small matter turns the balance. To keep 
 themselves in, when they are in, every stratagem 
 must be practised, every artifice used which may 
 flatter the pride, the passions or power of the 
 nation, justice, honour, faith, must yield to the 
 necessity of keeping themselves in place. The 
 question whether a measure is moral is never asked ; 
 but whether it will nourish the avarice of their 
 merchants, or the pyratical spirit of their navy, or 
 produce any other effect which may strengthen 
 them in their places. As to engagements, how- 
 ever positive, entered into by the predecessors of 
 the ins, why they were their enemies, they did 
 every thing which was wrong ; & to reverse every 
 thing they did must therefore be right. This is 
 the true character of the English government in 
 practice, however different its theory ; and it pre- 
 sents the singular phaenomenon of a nation the 
 individuals of which are as faithful to their private 
 engagements & duties, as honorable, as worthy, as 
 those of any nation on earth, & whose government 
 is yet the most unprincipled at this day known. 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 In an absolute government there can be no such 
 equiponderant parties. The despot is the govern- 
 ment. His power suppresses all opposition, main- 
 tains his ministers firm in their places. What he 
 has contracted therefore through them, he has the 
 power to observe with good faith ; and he identi- 
 fies his own honor & faith with that of his nation. 
 When I observed, however, that the king of Eng- 
 land was a cypher, I did not mean to confine the 
 observation to the mere individual now on that 
 throne. The practice of kings marrying only into 
 the families of kings, has been that of Europe for 
 some centuries. Now, take any race of animals, 
 confine them in idleness & inaction, whether in a 
 stye, a stable, or a* stateroom, pamper them with 
 high diet, gratify all their sexual appetites, im- 
 merse them in sensualities, nourish their passions, 
 let every thing bend before them, & banish what- 
 ever might lead them to think, & in a few gene- 
 rations they become all body & no mind ; and 
 this too by a law of nature, by that very law by 
 which we are in the constant practice of changing 
 the characters & propensities of the animals we 
 raise for our own purposes. Such is the regimen 
 in raising kings, & in this way they had gone on 
 for centuries. While in Europe, I often amused 
 myself with contemplating the characters of the 
 then reigning sovereigns of Europe. Louis the 
 XVIth was a fool, of my own knowledge, & in 
 despite of the answers made for him at his trial. 
 
■ ( 46 ) 
 
 The King of Spain was a fool, & of Naples the 
 same. They passed their lives in hunting, and 
 dispatched two couriers a week looo miles, to let 
 each other know what game they had killed the 
 preceding days. The King of Sardinia was a fool. 
 All these were Bourbons. The Queen of Portu- 
 gal, a Braganza, was an idiot by nature. And so 
 was the King of Denmark. Their sons, as re- 
 gents, exercised the powers of government. The 
 King of Prussia, successor to the great Frederic, 
 was a mere hog in body as well as in mind. Gus- 
 tavus of Sweden, & Joseph of Austria were really 
 crazy, and George of England you know was in a 
 straight waistcoat. There remained then none 
 but old Catherine, who had been too lately picked 
 up to have lost her common sense. In this state 
 Bonaparte found Europe, & it was this state of its 
 rulers which lost it with scarce a struggle. These 
 animals had become without mind and powerless ; 
 and so will every hereditary monarch be after a 
 few generations. Alexander, the grandson of 
 Catherine, is as yet an exception. He is able to 
 hold his own, but he is only of the 3d generation, 
 his race is not yet worn out. And so endeth the 
 book of kings, from all of whom the Lord de- 
 liver us, and have you, my friend, & such good 
 men & true, in His holy keeping. 
 
 Tho. Jefferson. 
 Governor Langdon. 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 April 5th, 20. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 A near relation of my late friend Govr. L 
 
 needs no apology for addressing a letter to me, 
 that relationship giving sufficient title to all my 
 respect. We were fellow labourers from the be- 
 ginning of the ist to the accomplishment of the 
 2d revolution in our government, of the same zeal 
 & the same sentiments & I shall honor his memory 
 while memory remains to me. The letter you 
 mention is proof of my friendship & unreserved 
 confidence in him — it was written in warm times 
 & is therefore too warmly expressed for the more 
 reconciled temper of the present day. I must 
 pray you therefore not to let it get before the 
 publick, lest it rekindle a flame which burnt too 
 long & too fiercely against me. It was my lot 
 to be placed at the head of the columns which 
 made the first breach in the ramparts of federalism 
 & to be charged on that event with the duty of 
 changing the course of the government from what 
 we deemed a monarchical to its republican. 
 
 This made me the mark for every shaft which 
 calumny & falsehood could point against me. 
 I bore them with resignation as one of the duties 
 imposed on me by my post but I assure you, it 
 was among the most painful duties from which I 
 hoped to find relief in retirement. Tranquillity 
 is the summum bonum of old age & ill health & 
 nothing could so much disturb this with me as to 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 awaken angry feelings from the slumber in which 
 I wish them ever to remain. I beseech you then 
 good Sir, in the name of my departed friend, not 
 to bring me a contention which neither duty nor 
 publick good requires me to encounter. 
 
 I regret the circumstances which have deprived 
 us of the pleasure of your visit, but console myself 
 with the french proverb that " all is not lost which 
 is deferred " & the hope that more favourable cir- 
 cumstances will some day give us that gratifica- 
 tion. 
 
 I congratulate you on the sleep of the Missouri 
 question. I wish I could say, on its death — of 
 this, I despair. The idea of a geographical line 
 once suggested will brood in the minds of all 
 those who prefer the gratification of their own 
 ungovernable passions to the peace & union of 
 their country. If I do not contemplate this sub- 
 ject with pleasure, I do sincerely that of the inde- 
 pendence of Maine & the wise choice they have 
 made of Genl. F, E. in the agency of their affairs. 
 
 Th. Jefferson. 
 
 Philadelphia, May i, 1796. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 The question, the result of which you wished 
 me to drop you, though hovering towards a close 
 for some time past, was not actually decided till 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 yesterday. The day before, the Committee of the 
 Whole divided on it, on the form of a simple res- 
 olution for carrying the Treaty into effect. The 
 votes were equal — 49 & 49. The Chairman, 
 Mr. Muhlenberg, said he did not like the propo- 
 sition, at least unmodified; and would decide for 
 it, that it might pass into the House, when modi- 
 fications might be made. The equality of votes 
 was occasioned by the sickness of one member, 
 and a casual absence of another ; both of whom 
 were certainly against the proposition. In the 
 House, yesterday. General Dearborne moved as 
 a preamble, " that altho' the Treaty was objec- 
 tionable, yet, considering all circumstances, partic- 
 ularly that 1 8th art.; one to be in force for two 
 years, &c., & confiding in the efficiency of 
 measures that may be taken for producing a dis- 
 continuance of spoliation & impression," Resolved, 
 &c. This is the sum, tho' not the words of 
 the motion. According to every rational rule of 
 voting, all those who wished if the Treaty should 
 be executed the evil might be mitigated, ought to 
 have voted for the preamble. A number, how- 
 ever, of the most determined opponents of the 
 Treaty took it into their heads to be in the nega- 
 tive, whereby the motion was lost by one vote. 
 The main resolution was then carried by 50 
 against 48. The consideration which turned the 
 scale on that side seems to have been an unwilling- 
 ness to oppose a bare majority to a measure pre- 
 
( 5° ) 
 
 senting itself under all the circumstances of the 
 Treaty. Your own reflections will supply all the 
 comment I could make on the event of this busi- 
 ness. Mrs. M. takes the occasion of offering her 
 best regards to Mr. & Mrs. L., to which you will 
 please to add the tribute due from 
 
 Dr. Sir yrs. respectfully & sincerely, 
 
 J. Madison. 
 
 Washington, July 2, 1801. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Every thing in your favor of the 24 ult. gives 
 me pleasure, but the determination which it dis- 
 closes to decline the share to which you were in- 
 vited in the present administration we had all 
 flattered ourselves with the hope that we should 
 have had you among us. The apology you make 
 for disappointing us is by no means satisfactory, 
 you should have allowed your friends to decide 
 the point which you have decided against your- 
 self. If the interregnum in the Navy Department 
 had not been already so long protracted, and your 
 refusal of it were less peremptory, I should still 
 recommend an appeal from your sentence which 
 would assuredly be received. The President, will 
 I fear find it difficult to replace you, from among 
 the few who are fit for the station, and are not 
 precluded by their commercial engagements. Be 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 so good as to present to Mrs. Langdon & to accept 
 yourself the joint & best wishes of Mrs. Madison, 
 and your sincere friend & servant 
 
 James Madison. 
 
 Washington, July i, 1805. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 According to your request the letter to you 
 from Mr. Griswold is now returned. It was duly 
 communicated with your letter to me, to the Pres- 
 ident. I had previously received your favor on 
 the subject of a successor to Mr. Erving. But the 
 appointment had before it came to hand, been 
 conferred on Mr. Wm. Lyman ; so that the door 
 was not open for taking into consideration the 
 merits of the gentlemen recommended by you. 
 
 With sentiments of great esteem and regard I 
 remain Dear Sir very sincerely 
 
 Yr. mo. obed. servt. 
 
 James Madison. 
 
 Washington, May 15, 181 1. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Mr. Edward Coles, of my family, with an 
 Elder brother proposing to visit Portsmouth, in 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 a Northern ramble, I take the liberty of asking 
 in their behalf, the kind reception which you are 
 always ready to give to those who are as worthy 
 of it, as I know these young gentlemen to be. 
 
 I cannot lose this occasion of expressing the 
 pleasure I have felt in learning that your country 
 continues to be mindful of your long and distin- 
 guished services, and that your health enables your 
 patriotism, to add new titles to their gratitude. 
 
 Be assured always of my highest esteem & most 
 friendly wishes. 
 
 James Madison. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I cannot take my departure without dropping 
 you a line to request that you will occasionally 
 write & give me such information as you know 
 I ought to possess, where I am going. I sail in 
 a few hours upon a Mission which was little 
 thought of when you left Phila. Present our 
 best respects to Mrs. Langdon & your daughter 
 & be assured of the esteem & regard with which 
 I am sincerely yours, 
 
 Jas. Monroe. 
 
 Baltimore, June 19, 1794. 
 
 HoNBLE. Mr. Langdon. 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 Paris, January 28, 1795. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I do not know where this will find you, but as 
 the present is a period of great importance as well 
 to ours, as to this region, I shall conclude you are 
 still in Phila. & address to you there. Of the 
 state of the war you will have an adequate idea 
 when I tell you that Amsterdam & all the U. 
 Provinces are in the hands of the republick. This 
 was announcd yesterday in a letter from the 
 Representative with the army in that city — the 
 acquisition must be immense in every possible 
 view in which it is to be contemplated. Taken 
 by conquest neither patriots nor Royalists have 
 any claim upon the republick. The details are 
 not known but will be in a few days. The Prince 
 of Orange with his family had made their escape, 
 an agent from the States general was here offering 
 300,000,000 of florins, the fleet &c. in case they 
 would not enter the city & grant them terms ; but 
 it was thought best to take the city & then talk 
 of terms, especially as it was so completely in 
 their power. They well knew what its effect would 
 be upon other nations and that in respect to Hol- 
 land they would at least get afterwards the terms 
 that were before offered, tis said that great part 
 of the British force has escaped but this has not 
 been confirmed. Tis known however that they 
 are men of great activity, well practiced in the 
 maneuvre of retreat and of course inferred that if 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 the atcheivment was practicable, it has been ac- 
 comphshed. His Royal highness had moved off 
 sometime before. 
 
 What will be done with these provinces is un- 
 certain. That they will be kept quiet thro the war 
 by means of about 100,000 troops to be stationed 
 in different quarters. I think certain, that they 
 will be forced to aid in the future operations of 
 the war against England is more than probable, and 
 that their fortune will finally depend upon the 
 issue of the war & the merits of the patriotic 
 party in the interim, to be presumed. I think 
 however the present disposition is not to add them 
 to this republick, nor even influence the form of 
 their future government : but as they will be 
 under its controul, and no confidence given to any 
 but the patriots, the whole force, not immediately 
 in the hands of the French, will be in those of 
 the patriots, and thus a^change will most probably 
 be brought about. 
 
 It has for sometime since been the determination 
 of this government to press the war against England 
 untill the strength of that power should be broken. 
 England is considered as having been at the bottom 
 of the present war against France, and therefore 
 entitled to this particular mark of respect. I am 
 satisfied that at present any proposition for peace 
 from her, short of the most abject state of humili- 
 ation, would be rejected with disdain. Indeed it 
 would ruin any party to patronize it. Within six 
 
( S5 ) 
 
 weeks past, the Brest Fleet has been twice out 
 inviting hers to the combat & which has been 
 declined. What then will be the probable state 
 of things when the fleet of Holland is united with 
 that of France ? To what quarter will England 
 look for friends? In Europe she has none but 
 such as are already discomfited & broken ; indeed 
 she had none but such as were created by circum- 
 stances or bought by her money, & were of course 
 not true friends. Her commerce has declined 
 greatly in the course of the last year, by means of 
 the system of France which struck at it in every 
 quarter. But this late event will give it a more 
 deadly blow. That nation therefore must be con- 
 sidered as verging fast to ruin, and she will have 
 in her last extremities, the mortification to find 
 that her misfortunes excite the joy & not the 
 sympathy of the surrounding powers. 
 
 Prussia & Spain wish for peace as indeed the 
 others do — but these will probably soon obtain it, 
 the former by filing off & pleading poverty, & 
 the latter by some sacrifice, in her American pos- 
 sessions. Tis known to the councils of this re- 
 publick they have all the powers at war at their 
 feet, & they feel a disposition to trample on none 
 but England : Austria they will be contented with 
 kicking only. 
 
 Everything in the interior is in the most flour- 
 ishing condition, the war of the Vendee appears to 
 be at an end & by which about i 20,000 troops will 
 
( S6 ) 
 
 be put at liberty to operate elsewhere. The divi- 
 sions in the Councils are diminished almost to 
 nothing, the pursuit of a few seems to be rather 
 the act of the publick demanding justice from the 
 convention upon certain offenders, than the gratifi- 
 cation of party rivalry under the preponderance of 
 that which was heretofore the weaker. The as- 
 signats were depreciated to between 4 & 5, for 
 one before the fall of Amsterdam, but have already 
 risen about 10 per cent. & are still rising. Indeed I 
 think their affairs in every respect in a prosperous 
 way considering the stage in which their revolu- 
 tion is. 
 
 My publick correspondence has stated that after 
 some delay & which proceeded from a doubt of 
 the object of our late mission to England, that I 
 had finally changed the commercial system of gov- 
 ernment towards us & had prevailed on it to carry 
 into strict effect the commercial treaty with the 
 U. States, whereby our flag will give protection to 
 the goods of its enemy : that at this moment the 
 accounts of that treaty arrived & which gave un- 
 easiness, but did not change the system. In that 
 state things now are ; if nothing is stipulated in- 
 jurious to this republick we are and shall in future 
 be on the happiest footing with it. There is no 
 service which it can render that it will not for us. 
 From the moment that the system of real amity 
 commenced, did they begin to inquire in what 
 line they could prove us, shewing a disposition to 
 
( S7 ) 
 
 extend the full tyde of their fortunes to us, & the 
 moment that they were satisfied that our Envoy 
 was restricted from trusting them did that system 
 commence. I confide therefore that nothing has 
 been done in that treaty which ought not to have 
 been done. I beg of you to let me hear from you 
 when at leasure & to be assured of the sincerity 
 with which I am yrs 
 
 Jas. Monroe. 
 
 P. S. It was only the province of Holland 
 which was announc'd to be in the hands of the 
 repub yesterday, but to day it appears they are 
 progressing to take others. The British are said 
 to be at Rotterdam & which will no doubt fall. 
 
 Mr. Langdon. 
 
 Feby. 20, 1795. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I was extremely happy to receive your favor of 
 the 5 of December three days past, and the more 
 so because it assured that my proceedings here upon 
 my arrival had yours and the approbation of my 
 fellow citizens generally : that they would have 
 the approbation of all was what I did not expect : 
 in not obtaining it therefore I was not disap- 
 pointed. 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 You will have heard before this of the con- 
 tinued success of the French arms, and which 
 have lately completed the entire conquest of the 
 7. U. province. You will be able fully to appre- 
 ciate the importance of the acquisition which ex- 
 tends the dominion of France so far to the north 
 & along the sea coast ; & which of course impedes 
 in a great measure the communication between 
 England & the powers of the continent. In other 
 respects also it will be great as it will give this 
 republick the command of the fleet & land force 
 of Holland, as well as a claim for considerable 
 aid in the article of money. 
 
 Since the conquest of the country a revolution, 
 which was immediately commenced there, has 
 made considerable progress, and there is reason 
 to believe that in the course of a few months the 
 antient forms of government will be completely 
 abrogated, & a new constitution erected in their 
 stead founded on the equal rights & sovereignty of 
 the people alone. A change of this kind will gain 
 to the Batavians, the confidence of this republick & 
 secure to them likewise their independence as a 
 separate people. In consequence therefore it is to 
 be expected that the war will be prosecuted here- 
 after against England & that country in concert 
 with France. 
 
 I have the pleasure to assure you that every 
 thing here is in a state of the most perfect tran- 
 quility. The wisest arrangements are forming 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 for the prosecution of the war with vigor, & 
 greater harmony has not prevailed in the conven- 
 tion at any time since the commencement of the 
 revolution. An inquiry is progressing in respect 
 to some members of the antient committee who 
 are charged with having been the accomplices of 
 Robespierre, but yet it is conducted slowly & 
 with great moderation : and I think they will 
 have justice done them & not be condemned 
 unless their guilt be demonstrated. 
 
 I wait with great anxiety to hear the contents 
 of Mr. Jay's treaty : before the report of those 
 contents & which are represented as being hurt- 
 ful & in contravention to our treaties with 
 France, every thing was progressing here in the 
 happiest manner possible. That report checked 
 the temper of the nation generally, as likewise of 
 the republick councils which were becoming 
 most cordial & affectionate. If there is nothing 
 in it, every thing will still be right ; & I therefore 
 most earnestly hope there is nothing of that kind 
 in it. Make our best respects to Mrs, Langdon 
 & daughter & believe me yr. friend & servant, 
 
 Jas. Monroe. 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 The Delegates of the Thirteen United Colonies. 
 To John Langdon, Esquire, 
 Greeting : 
 
 You being Appointed by the Congress, Agent 
 for Continental Prizes in the Colony of New 
 Hampshire, I do hereby Authorize and empower 
 you to Act in said Office, and to Appoint One or 
 more Deputies under you as you may Judge 
 necessary, and do Require you to be carefull in 
 the Execution of said Trust, & strictly to conform 
 to the Orders & Directions herewith Transmitted 
 you, & to such further Directions as you shall 
 from time to time Receive from the Congress, or 
 the Marine Board, touching your said Office. 
 
 Given under my Hand at Philadelphia this 
 Twenty-fifth Day of June 1776. 
 
 By order of Congress. 
 
 John Hancock, Presidt. 
 
 Boston, Decern. 29th, 1780. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I am induced to Trouble you with this Letter 
 in consequence of the Application of Mr. Robert 
 Hewes who has lately Removed from this Town 
 into the State of New Hampshire, and means to 
 Establish the Manufacture of Glass, in his pro- 
 ceeding upon this Business he has had the Mis- 
 fortune to lose his works by Fire, & is desirous of 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 being made known to you, in hopes by your in- 
 fluence to obtain the Countenance of your Assem- 
 bly so far as to have some pubhck aid for the full 
 Establishment of his plan. 
 
 I beg leave therefore to Recommend him to 
 you, requesting your Advice & Assistance to him 
 so far as his plan shall appear to you worthy of 
 notice. 
 
 I am with much esteem 
 
 Your most obedt. servt, 
 
 John Hancock. 
 Hon. John Langdon. 
 
 Boston, August 14th, 1783. 
 
 Dear Sir : — • 
 
 I Take the Liberty to Introduce to your Notice 
 the Comp del Verme, a Nobleman of Milan in 
 Italy, and a near Relation of Prince Carminico, 
 an Ambassador at the Court of London. He is 
 very highly Recommended by Dr. Franklin, 
 Messrs. Adams and Laurens. I beg your polite 
 Attention to this Illustrious Traveller, who wishes 
 much to See & know whatever is worthy of No- 
 tice in each State. I am confident he will Ex- 
 perience your wonted Civilities, and will be happy 
 in being Introduc'd to the Circle of your Connec- 
 tions. 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 I Beg my best Regards to your good Lady, and 
 
 believe me with every Sentiment of Esteem, 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Your very humbl. servt. 
 
 John Hancock. 
 HoNL. John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Stoughtonham, May 20th, 1767. 
 
 Sir:— 
 
 I received your favours of 4th Inst, a few days 
 since, informing me of your paying your addresses 
 to my Daughter, to which you have my hearty 
 consent, especially as you observe my Brother & 
 Sister Rindge approve of it. I wish I could be 
 so Happy as to tell you that please God you 
 should Come together I would make you a 
 Gentle Present but this is not in my Power as 
 yet, whenever it is, you may depend on doing it, 
 it will give me the utmost Satisfaction to hear 
 of your welfare and to see you here, together, 
 after a little while. I wish you both all the 
 Happiness you can ask for your Selves, and that 
 my Daughter may so behave herself in every 
 Station of Life as to have the favour & Esteem 
 of every one, but more especially of yours, accept- 
 ing my sincere regards I am Sir 
 
 Your most Hble. Servt. 
 
 Edm. Quincy, Jr. 
 
 I should be glad to hear from you as opportunity 
 may offer. 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 Boston, June 20, 1777. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 As the determination of Congress is not alto- 
 gether certain respecting the time or manner of 
 my departure for France I have not hitherto ex- 
 erted myself in Enlisting Seamen especially as my 
 Operations would have Impeded the manning of 
 the tw^o Frigates in Providence River. A person 
 whom I sent to Providence previous to my ap- 
 pearance at Portsmouth entered 22 Seamen with- 
 out opening a rendevouze or having the least dif- 
 ficulty but Captn. Hopkins got a press gang ashore 
 in the night and forced them off on Board the 
 Warren. I have however, entered several, and 
 am fully persuaded that I shall succeed, when the 
 effort becomes necessary, in Manning either the 
 Amphitrite or the other ship. Should any packet 
 appear from Congress you will much oblige me 
 by forwarding the purport, or any letters for me 
 by Express, if necessary. My respects await 
 Captn. Thompson's Family. I will write f. 
 Captn. Roach meantime I am with Respect Sir 
 Your most obt. very 
 
 Humble Servt. 
 
 Jno. p. Jones. 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 Boston, June 26th, 1777. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I had the pleasure of writing to you last week 
 but could not be very particular as I had but a 
 few minutes warning of the opportunity. I de- 
 pended with a degree of certainty on receiving 
 the return of our Letters to the Honble. the 
 Secret Committee '^ last post : no return however 
 hath appeared, which makes me very uneasy in- 
 deed. A whole month hath elapsed since our 
 first Copies were forwarded. Should this plan 
 misgive it will be the fifth disappointment of the 
 kind which hath befaln me since my arrival at 
 Christmas. It distresses me beyond measure to 
 think that I should lay thus Idle and inactive for 
 no violence can be greater to my nature than this 
 preclusion from Duty. 
 
 Under my present uncertainty, I think it im- 
 prudent to Enlist men, for I find it very difficult 
 to hold the few who have entered. I understand 
 that sundry letter have passed thro' here lately for 
 Monsr. Fantret I should be glad if you will please 
 to inform me in what readiness the Amphitrite is 
 and how he purposes to proceed, also what you 
 think of your proposal respecting the other ship. 
 I must say that I wish it to take place. I have 
 settled Captain Thompson's ansr. here and shall 
 write him soon. I am with due respect 
 Sir, Your very obedient. 
 
 Most humble Servant, 
 
 Jno. p. Jones, 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 Boston, July 3d, 1777. 
 Honored Sir : — 
 
 I wished to have seen you yesterday morning 
 before your departure, but was disappointed by 
 the misinformation of the waiter who said you 
 were gone — whereas you did not take horse for 
 an hour afterwards. I should have overtaken you 
 on the Road, had I not waited to give enlisting 
 orders. I have ordered some Marine Officers who 
 are unemployed at Providence to begin Enlisting 
 with all possible Diligence. I shall give Orders 
 to the same effect here, and perhaps at Marble 
 Head and Salem. 
 
 As I am certain that it would very much retard 
 the Enlistment were it promulgated that the 
 Ranger is not absolutely ordered to the Coast of 
 France, I must beg of you not to mention that 
 circumstance to any person, as every one believes 
 that I am to proceed agreeable to my former 
 orders. I shall find no difficulty, after taking a 
 Prize, to reconcile every one to his situation. 
 
 Unless I meet with some unforseen detention 
 you may expect me in Portsmouth soon after this. 
 I have the honor to be with much Esteem and 
 Respect 
 
 Sir Your much obliged 
 Most obedient 
 
 Very humble Servant, 
 
 Jno. p. Jones. 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Received Portsmouth August 25 1777 of John 
 Langdon Esqre Six hundred Pounds lawful money 
 on account. 
 
 £600.% Jno. p. Jones. 
 
 Received Portsmo Sept 6 1777 of John Lang- 
 don Esqr Six hundred & thirty eight pounds & 
 fourteen shillings on account of the Continental 
 Ship of War Ranger under my Command. 
 
 £638.14. Jno. p. Jones. 
 
 Ranger, nth September, 1777. 
 
 Sir : — • 
 
 Congress have been pleased to authorize me to 
 " Equip Officer, and Man, the Ranger as well and 
 as soon as possible" — Of course no Person hath a 
 right to contradict any necessary order which I 
 have given or may give for that salutary purpose. 
 My orders will always speak for themselves, and I 
 am accountable to Congress alone for their Pro- 
 priety. 
 
 As I have previous to my concern with the 
 Ranger paid off two Continental Ships, without 
 having any settlement, I should have no objection 
 to carrying any Public charge to the debit of of my 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 private account, did not the propostion look con- 
 tracted and ill natured. In short, I expect my 
 order to be duly honored, meantime I am 
 Sir 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 Jno. p. Jones. 
 To 
 
 John Langdon, Esqr., 
 
 Continenal Agent, 
 in his absence to 
 
 William Gardner, Esqr., 
 Deputy Agent. 
 
 Ranger, 31st Octo., 1777. 
 Sir : — 
 
 It gives me much Concern and I have been 
 Particularly unhappy in thinking that you have 
 assumed to yourself, a command and authority, 
 over me. I have shewed my Instructions from 
 Congress, under whose authority I act, to Major 
 Gardner, who can inform you, that they are Ver- 
 batim, with the Extract in my letter addressed to 
 you. In the line of my Conduct I am sure I 
 have not exceeded, but on the Contrary kept far 
 within the letter as well as Spirit of my orders. 
 
 I thank you. Sir, for all civilities shewn or in- 
 tended. You have my particular thanks, for your 
 
68 
 
 good Wishes, however far they may have ex- 
 tended. I lament that there should be the least 
 misunderstanding between us, your refusing to 
 pay my Order is perhaps the first instance of the 
 kind that hath happened, in our Navy, it is the 
 first draft of mine that ever was dishonored. 
 
 I am now going to Sea with 30 Gallons of Rum 
 only for Sea Stores, yet that Article can be Purchased, 
 many other Articles — a Boatswain's Call among 
 others would have been Purchased — but are want- 
 ing. 
 
 I should have taken no notice of this, had I not 
 been inform'd that you have reflected, on the de- 
 tention of the Ship— the Concerned know how 
 indefatigable I have been, how indefatigable every 
 officer of mine hath been in the Outfit, notwith- 
 standing the many obstacles that Sett in the Way, 
 that it hath been our constant Employment on 
 Shore, as well as on board, as Boston * * * 
 the Insinuation of any Man out of Congress in 
 America. And tho' you once told me that you 
 knew as well as myself how to Equip, Govern, or 
 Fight a Ship of War, that is a Point which it is 
 not your Province nor mine to determine. 
 
 In short Sir, this letter is really and truly Ex- 
 torted from me, two months ago I would not 
 have wrote it for a Thousand Pounds, and having 
 thus unburthened my mind, I can declare upon 
 the Honor of a Gentleman, that I bear you no 
 malice or Resentment, but would on the contrary 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 be happy that Animosity and Misunderstanding 
 might on your part also be given to ObHvion. 
 
 Should I have the Pleasure of hearing from you 
 in France, you may expect regular Answ^ers, in 
 the meantime, my Respects aw^ait Genl Whipple, 
 and the Sons of Freedom who w^ent with him. 
 And am with due Respect, 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most Obedient 
 
 Very humble Servant, 
 
 Jno. p. Jones. 
 
 Philada., Augt. 7, 1777. 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 Major Bass will be kind enough to deliver this 
 letter. He brought me a very friendly Message 
 from you, for which I return you my hearty 
 Thanks. If I had Inclination or Leisure to write 
 you a Letter of Compliment, I am sure you would 
 not be pleased with it. The Times are very seri- 
 ous ; Our Affairs are in a critical Situation. The 
 Enemy, after long promising a visit to this City, 
 made an Appearance last week near the Capes of 
 Delaware ; but they have not been seen there for 
 days past. The Hounds are in Fault & have lost 
 Scent of them. We shall hear where they are 
 gone, I daresay, before long. It belongs to the 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 military gentlemen to penetrate their design. I 
 think they could not have come here at a better 
 time, because we were well prepared for them. 
 General Washington had drawn his Forces into 
 the Neighborhood of this Place, and I verily be- 
 lieve, the People have, divided and distracted as 
 they are about this internal government, would 
 have joyned in sufficient Numbers to have given 
 a good Account of them. 
 
 The shameful Defeat of our Forces at the 
 Northwest, is not more distressing to us, than it is 
 vexatious. A thorough scrutiny into the Causes 
 of it, must and will be made. For this Purpose, 
 Schuyler & St. Clair are ordered to Head Quar- 
 ters. I confess, I cannot at present account for it, 
 even on the Principle of Cowardice. There 
 seems to me to be the evident Marks of Design. 
 Bad as our officers are in that Quarter, they are 
 not desperate. Gates is gone to take the com- 
 mand. He is an honest and able officer; & is 
 always beloved by his soldiers, because he always 
 shares with them in Fatigue and Danger. This 
 has not been said of his immediate Predecessor. 
 I hope that the N. England States will once more 
 make a generous Exertion ; and if they do, I am 
 deceived if Burgoyne's Prosperity does not soon 
 prove his Ruin. 
 
 Our Intelligence from Europe is very flattering 
 to us. The virtuous and sensible there, universally 
 wish well to our Cause. They say, we are fight- 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 ing for the Liberty and Happiness of Mankind. 
 We are, at least, contending for the Rights of our 
 own Country and Posterity. It is a glorious Con- 
 test. We shall succeed if we are virtuous. I am 
 infinitely more apprehensive of the Contagion of 
 Vice, than the Power of all other Enemies. It is the 
 Disgrace of human Nature, that in most Countries 
 the People are so debauched, as to be utterly un- 
 able to defend or enjoy their Liberty. 
 
 Say my Respects to my Friend Col. Whipple. 
 He promised to write to me. I hope he will 
 soon have Leisure to fulfill his Promise. A Letter 
 from you would oblige me much. Adieu my 
 Dear Sir and believe me to be aflfectionately 
 yours 
 
 Saml. Adams. 
 
 Boston, Sept. 13, 1783. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 The bearer of this Letter is a Mr. Syms who 
 tells me he lately arriv'd at Portsmouth from Eng- 
 land. He is a perfect Stranger in America, & de- 
 pends upon papers & testimonials from the Revd. 
 Mr. Wren to recommend him. He is immedi- 
 ately returning to Portsmouth, & proposes to 
 settle with his Family either there or in this 
 Town. The Gratitude I feel as an American to 
 
( 72 ) 
 
 Mr. Wren leads me to regard any Man who pro- 
 fesses to be among his Friends, and I now write 
 to you without his Request or Knowledge. If 
 you find his Papers under the Name of Mr. Wren 
 to be genuine, I doubt not you will shew that 
 Countenance to Mr. Syms which you think due 
 to the Recommendation of one who has so emi- 
 nently befriended our distressed Countrymen when 
 Prisoners in England. I met with Mr. Syms by 
 mere accident, & have had only ten Minutes Con- 
 versation with him. 
 
 Adieu my dear Sir 
 
 S. Adams. 
 Hon. John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Boston, Oct. 9th, 1799. 
 My Dear Sir: — 
 
 The Barer of this letter has been recommended 
 to me by the late Governor of New York and 
 Colonel Wylett the former of which Gentlemen 
 you undoubtedly know and esteem highly, a char- 
 acter of the other I well know and to be good. 
 They mention the yong Gentleman as being of 
 very respectable connections and much esteemed 
 for his talents and virtue. He is going to Ports- 
 mouth ; your perticular notice of him must cer- 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 tainly be well pleasing to the above named Gen- 
 tlemen and will lay under fresh obligations 
 Your old friend, 
 
 Saml. Adams. 
 HoNL. John Langdon. 
 
 The Gentlm. Recommended is K. Kiker Esq. 
 of New York. 
 
 I take occasion to pay you my most sincere Re- 
 spects, through the favor of the Count de Viomenil, 
 who will be so obliging as to deliver you this let- 
 ter. The Count is Brother to the Baron de Vio- 
 menil, and is second in the Command of his most 
 Christian Majesties Army, now in this Town. 
 Your Attachment to the Great Cause of our Coun- 
 try and its happy Alliance with France, as well as 
 your usual Hospitality, 1 am sure will induce you 
 to show particular Civility to a Person of the 
 Counts Rank and Nation ; and in doing it, you 
 cannot more oblige 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 & very humble Servant 
 
 Saml. Adams. 
 
 Philadelphia October 5th 1790. Memorandum 
 of an Agreement between William Hunter and 
 Robert Morris made this day. 
 
 Mr. Morris on behalf of The honble. John 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Langdon Esqr agrees to rent of Mr. Hunter the 
 following Rooms in his house to be occupied by 
 Mr. Langdon and his Family from the time of 
 his arrival in this City until his departure after ■ 
 the next Session of Congress is finished : 
 
 The Front Parlour on the first Floor. 
 
 The drawing Room & Chamber up one pair of 
 Stairs 
 
 One Chamber up two pair of Stairs. 
 
 Garretts for Servants Lodgings. 
 
 The use of the Kitchen for Cooking &c. 
 
 Stables for his horses, and a place under cover 
 for his Carriage. 
 
 The whole to be decently furnished. For 
 
 which the said Jno. Langdon is to pay at the rate 
 
 of Twelve Dollars per week. 
 
 o- J f William Hunter. 
 Signed 
 
 Robert Morris. 
 
 Philada., October 6th, 1790. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 
 6th ulto. in due course and immediately set on 
 foot an enquiry after such Lodgings as you describe 
 but not meeting with any place so suitable as the 
 House of Mr. Hunter, I have agreed with him 
 on the terms expressed in the enclosed Memo- 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 randum. The price is dearer than I could have 
 wished, but I think you will like the House & 
 its situation and Mr. Hunter insists that He can- 
 not afford to take less. You will have to provide 
 your own Table and I think that mode will be 
 found cheapest & most agreeable. Mrs. Morris 
 joins me in compliments to Mrs. & Miss Langdon 
 and yourself, wishing you all a pleasant Journey 
 and safe arrival, and when that happens pray drive 
 to our House, & we will shew you the way to 
 your Domicile. With great regard & Esteem I 
 
 remain Dr. Sir 
 
 Your Obedient & 
 
 faithful humble servant 
 
 Robert Morris. 
 The Honble 
 
 John Langdon, Esqr. 
 Portsmouth, 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 Philada., August 22d, 1793. 
 
 My Dear Sir: — 
 
 I think it almost needless to give a line of in- 
 troduction to Mr. Saml. Dickinson the Son of our 
 Friend Genl. Dickinson because I think you know 
 him personally & at all events will receive him 
 with that cheerful & open Hospitality for which 
 you are so justly famed. He & some other young 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 Gentn. are about making a Tour through the 
 Eastern States & will visit Portsmouth in the 
 course of it. I pray my Compts. to Mrs. & Miss 
 Langdon and I hope you enjoy all happiness this 
 hot summer. My Family are at the Delaware 
 Works where I am sometimes a visitor. 
 I am Dear Sir 
 
 Your obed. hble. Servt. 
 
 Robert Morris. 
 HoNBLE Jno. Langdon, Esqr. 
 
 Philadelphia, 17th Decemr., 1805. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I am a lover of dumb'd lish with which our 
 much lamented friend Mr. Russell used formerly 
 to keep me supplied but latterly I have not been 
 able to get the right sort, it has now occurred to 
 me that you are supplied therewith and that you 
 will be disposed to oblige an old friend, if there- 
 fore you will order a quintal to be sent me at the 
 proper season, the favour will not be lost you will 
 entitle yourself to my acknowledgments and still 
 more so if at any time you will command my ser- 
 vices here — let the fish be tied in a bundle corded 
 & sewed in a wrapper of some sort (to prevent 
 pilferrage or exchange) and directed for me, I 
 will pay the freight to the Master of the Vessel 
 that brings it, let a note of the cost be sent to me 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 by the Vessel or by Mail and I will most thank- 
 fully remit you the Amount directly. You must, 
 on the score of my regard for you, excuse the 
 liberty I take in making this request and the 
 trouble it may occasion you and be assured that 
 I am Dr. Sir 
 
 Your sincere friend & Servant, 
 
 Robert Morris. 
 His Excellency 
 
 John Langdon, Esqr. 
 Portsmouth. 
 
 [Private.] 
 Philadelphia, October 26, 1790. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I received a day or two before my departure 
 from New York your letter recommending Mr. 
 Keith Spence, as a proper person for the loan offi- 
 cer of your State and intimating that your brother 
 would not probably incline to accept that appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 On receiving information of the resolution of 
 Mr. Gilman to decline the office, I took occasion 
 to remind the President, by a line, of your brother; 
 adding that the information I had received con- 
 cerning him induced me to consider him as an 
 eligible character. 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 Yesterday came to hand a letter from the Presi- 
 dent to your Brother inclosed in one to me an- 
 nouncing his nomination to the office. I have 
 concluded to send it forward, notwithstanding your 
 intimation to me ; in the hope, that upon the whole 
 he will determine not to refuse. 
 
 The convenience of the States is concerned that 
 the business to be executed by the loan officer 
 should not be longer delayed ; and if the office does 
 not at this moment exhibit a lucrative aspect, it 
 ought to be considered that it is of a nature to be 
 likely to be permanent ; and that it must neces- 
 sarily stand or be put on a footing to command the 
 services of the best men ; & that its importance 
 and emolument will in all probability be progressive. 
 
 With regard to Mr. Spence as well from other 
 information as from what you say of him, I am 
 satisfied that he is a man of merit and competent 
 to the trust ; but I am informed, that he has lately 
 experienced all the embarrassment of Insolvency. 
 Unless this matter can be explained so as to shew 
 that these embarrassments are effectually done 
 away, I cannot help thinking, that the situation 
 will appear to the president a weighty objection 
 to the person. 
 
 As he is to have the actual disposition of con- 
 siderable sums of money, it is a strong reason for 
 looking for a man unembarrassed in his circum- 
 stances. Should one in a different situation be ap- 
 pointed from a confidence in his personal character 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 the prudence of it might be questioned in the first 
 instance & if an accident of any kind should hap- 
 pen it would not fail to be severely censured. I 
 have the honor to be with great esteem & regard 
 Sir 
 
 Your most Obed. Servt. 
 
 Alex. Hamilton. 
 
 Philadelphia, June i8th, 1792. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In turning over my private letters a day or two 
 since, I found that from Mr. Church, which re- 
 lates to your demand upon him. The ground on 
 which he places his refusal to pay is that he was 
 not an owner at the time. As your letter to me of 
 the 5th of March contains no explanation on this 
 point, nothing tending to shew that the above sup- 
 position is an error, Mr. Church's answer to it 
 must of course be the same as to the former. 
 
 I am therefore to request that you will state such 
 particulars of the transaction to me as will serve to 
 shew either that Mr. Church was an owner at the 
 time the expense in question was incurred, or that 
 he was under some collateral or incidental engage- 
 ment, which made him responsible to you. If 
 you remove the doubt on this point, either by a 
 letter to me, or to Mr. Church I presume you will 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 remove all obstacle to the admission of your claim. 
 With respectful & very cordial regard, I have the 
 honor to remain Sir 
 
 Your Obed. Serv. 
 
 A. Hamilton. 
 The Honorable 
 
 J. Langdon, Esq. 
 
 New York, June i6, 1795. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Will you allow me the liberty of introducing to 
 your civilities Mr. De Liancourt and the Gentle- 
 man who accompanies him, Mr. Guillemand, a 
 young Englishman who is mentioned to me as a 
 man of sense information & worth. I take it for 
 granted you made Mr. De Liancourt's acquaintance 
 at Philadelphia & that you know his character. 
 
 Your politeness and hospitality are destined to 
 be taxed. I will make no apology for doing it in 
 this instance ; but knowing how much you are 
 exposed I shall be as discreet as possible in my in- 
 trusions. 
 
 With great consideration esteem & regard 
 I have the honor to be Dr. Sir 
 
 Your Obed. Serv. 
 
 A. Hamilton. 
 John Langdon, Esquire. 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 Philadelphia, September 6th, 1796. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Permit me to recommend to your civilities 
 General WalterslofF Governor of the Island of St. 
 Croix ; a Gentleman of real merit, possessing all 
 the requisites to render an acquaintance with him 
 valuable. He is accompanied by my particular 
 friend Doctor Stevens. They are upon an excur- 
 sion through the Northern States. 
 
 With esteem & regard I have the honor to be 
 D. Sir 
 
 Your Obed. Servt. 
 
 A. Hamilton. 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 Portsmouth. 
 
 Paris, Feb. 17, 1778. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I was much oblig'd by your News of Gen. Bur- 
 goyne. Accept in Return my Congratulations on 
 the Conclusion of two Treaties with France, one 
 of Amity & Commerce the other of Alliance : 
 which are on the most equal Terms, leaving our 
 Trade open, acknowledging our Independence, 
 and guaranteeing it with all our Possessions. This 
 will probably bring on a War, for which both 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 Nations have been long preparing, and it is now 
 daily expected. I have the honor to be 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 humble Servant 
 
 B. Franklin. 
 Honorable J. Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Philadelphia, April 4th, 1788. 
 Sir:— 
 
 The Pennsylvania Society for promoting the 
 abolition of slavery and the relief of free negroes 
 unlawfully held in bondage have taken the liberty 
 to request your Excellency acceptance of a few 
 copies of their Constitution and the laws of Penn- 
 sylvania which relate to one of the objects of their 
 Institution, also a copy of Thomas Clarksons ex- 
 cellent essay upon the Commerce and slavery of 
 the Africans. 
 
 The Society have heard with regret that a con- 
 siderable part of the slaves who have been sold in 
 the Southern States since the establishment of the 
 Peace have been imported in vessels fitted out in 
 the State over which your Excellency presides. 
 From your Excellency's station they hope your in- 
 fluence will be exerted hereafter to prevent a prac- 
 tice which is so evidently repugnant to the political 
 principles and form of government lately adopted 
 by the Citizens of the United States and which 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 cannot fail of delaying the enjoyment of the bless- 
 ings of Peace and Liberty by drawing down the 
 displeasure of the great and impartial Ruler of the 
 universe upon our Country. 
 In behalf of the Society Sir 
 
 Your most obedient servant 
 
 B. Franklin. 
 His Excellency J. Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 New York, August 4, 1786. 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 Give me leave to introduce to your acquaintance 
 Mr. Izard a Gentleman of fortune and family from 
 So. Carolina now travelling for his health, you 
 will find in him many good qualities worthy your 
 attention and services, the rendering of which will 
 not only reward his merit, but will lay under an 
 obligation 
 
 Your Obd. Servant 
 
 John R. Livingston. 
 
 New York, January 18, 1789. 
 Sir:— 
 
 Having served three years as private Secretary 
 to the late Presidents of Congress with a view of 
 obtaining at a future period a more permanent as 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 well as a more honorable situation. I am induced 
 by the present happy prospect of a good Govern- 
 ment to hold myself as a Candidate for the Secre- 
 taryship to the P'ederal Senate, — to ask or wish a 
 promise of interest from any of the honorable 
 members would be an indelicacy of which I hope 
 I never shall be guilty, but to give such as are un- 
 acquainted with me an opportunity to make pro- 
 per enquiries is a duty I owe to them as well as 
 to myself. 
 
 I have therefore Sir, thought proper to address 
 you upon this subject, and am flattered with a hope 
 that should those enquiries prove satisfactory I may 
 meet with your favorable consideration. 
 
 Being an American born subject with no pros- 
 pects independent of those my Country affords — 
 being descended from a family of unblemished at- 
 tachment to the interests of the Union — and being 
 closely connected with men of influence and abili- 
 ties — I am led to believe I shall have a prefFerence 
 if placed in competition with any other wanting 
 such advantages particularly as I am fully con- 
 vinced too many circumstances cannot combine 
 (in so confidential an appointment) to strengthen 
 the ties of attachment due to the interests of our 
 Country. 
 
 I am Sir 
 
 With great respect 
 Your Obd. Servant 
 .; John R. Livingston. 
 
( 85 ) 
 
 Wednesday Evening, March 4th, 1789. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 The Gentleman who I immagined would place 
 me in nomination as Secretary to the Senate is not 
 arrived — should he delay untill the bussiness comes 
 forward I shall be under great obligations to you 
 to mention me as a Candidate — I hope you will 
 draw from this request no inference to my disad- 
 vantage as I assure you I do not mean to influence 
 either your vote or interest being fully convinced 
 you will act in such manner as you think most for 
 the interest of the United States. Be pleased to 
 let me have an answer by the bearer and beleive 
 me to remain 
 
 With great Respect & Esteem 
 Your Obd. Servant 
 
 John R. Livingston. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 Mr. Corbin, a member of the Virginia Conven- 
 tion, in a letter dated the 13th, which appears to 
 have been written on the evening of that day, says, 
 generally, that, supposing the Deputies from Ken- 
 tucky to be in opposition (though he thinks other- 
 wise himself) there will, nevertheless, be a clear 
 majority of nine or ten in favor of the system. 
 
 Two other letters say that a question of adjourn- 
 
86 
 
 ment was to be moved on the 17th — this Madison 
 writes, on the nth, was a measure which he ex- 
 pected, therefore the Federahsts would not be sur- 
 prised. 
 
 These are the latest and, indeed, the only ac- 
 counts from the South — The Virginia Assembly 
 meet on the 25 therefore the vote of their Conven- 
 tion must be taken before that day. 
 
 The moment we receive it I will transmit it to 
 you. 
 
 I wrote to you two days ago, which letter I 
 hope you will have received before this gets to 
 hand. 
 
 With the most respectful attachment : 
 I am, my dear Sir 
 
 Your Obedient Servant 
 
 W. Jackson. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 20, 1788. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I had the honor of receiving your Excellency's 
 letter of the 28th ultimo this morning — and most 
 sincerely reciprocate your gratulations on the estab- 
 lishment of the federal constitution. 
 
 It has been the peculiar happiness of New 
 Hampshire to crown the staff of government with 
 the true Cap of Liberty and Social happiness — an 
 
( 87 ) 
 
 act that would have effaced the remembrance of 
 all the measures of Rhode Island — and which re- 
 vives the lustre of your happier days. 
 
 The enclosed paper may serve to convey a faint 
 idea of the joy which pervades Pennsylvania — it is 
 not the language to do it justice — The reign of 
 anarchy is over, and Justice resumes her balance. 
 
 I cannot avoid telling you that you have really 
 imposed a task upon me, though a most agreeable 
 one — To remember you to all who are your friends 
 in Philadelphia will require time — but I will de- 
 vote it cheerfully — among those numerous and re- 
 spectful friends there is no one who can with more 
 truth declare himself 
 
 Your Excellency's 
 Obliged and affectionate Servant, than 
 
 W. Jackson. 
 Philadelphia, July 8, 1788. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 I will not wrong my belief of your Excellency's 
 goodness by offering an apology for the freedom I 
 am now about to use, nor will I presume to bespeak 
 your regard by making any pretension to public 
 favor — the one, and the other will be more prop- 
 erly referred to the graciousness of your disposition 
 towards me, and the knowledge which observation 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 may have afforded you of my character and con- 
 duct. 
 
 A predilection for public life has determined me 
 to wish for such a situation under the federal govern- 
 ment as may lead to the acquirement of political 
 knowledge in an honorable walk — and the advice 
 of my particular friends has pointed to the Secre- 
 taryship of the Senate as the most eligible station 
 on which I may presume to place a hope of success. 
 
 Persuaded of the weight which your Excel- 
 lency's recommendation will carry with it to those 
 Gentlemen of your acquaintance who may be ap- 
 pointed Senators, I beg leave to commit my wishes 
 to your patronage, should you regard my request 
 as consistent with your governing principle the 
 public good. 
 
 I am aware of the competition that will arise 
 in the pursuit of this object: but my hopes are 
 greatly strengthened when I flatter myself that a 
 friend, influential and generously inclined as 
 Governor Langdon, may find himself at liberty to 
 countenance my wish. 
 
 I am, with the most respectful attachment 
 Your Excellency's 
 
 Obliged and obedient Servant 
 
 W. Jackson. 
 
 Philadelphia, December i, 1788. 
 
 Since closing my letter I have the happiness to 
 learn that you are appointed to the Senate from 
 
{ 89 ) 
 
 the State of New Hampshire — an event on which 
 every Federalist of our City feUcitates himself 
 
 Not having the honor of your Colleague's ac- 
 quaintance, may I presume, in addition to your 
 personal friendship, to request your good offices 
 with him ? — They will be gratefully acknowledged. 
 
 W. J. 
 
 New York, Feby 26th, 1789. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Agreeably to promise I have delivered the Let- 
 ter to Willm Robinson, it was from Mr. Whipple 
 & directed right. 
 
 Oliver Ellsworth Esqr. I am a stranger to, I 
 
 understand he has taken lodgings at the same house 
 
 with your Honor. If you are pleased to approve my 
 
 views, a word in season will benefit as well as oblige 
 
 Your Honors 
 
 Most obedient Humble Servant 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 The Honorable 
 
 Mr. Langdqi*., 
 
 New York, March 5th, 1789. 
 
 Sir : — - 
 
 Fijudiing nay c©mpetitors are numerous, & altho' 
 they sever; held any very important post or em- 
 J^lioyment. unjdex Congress,, hold their pretensions 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 ver.y high, in duty to myself, however painful the 
 task, I am obliged to call my own into view. 
 
 Soon after I escaped from imprisonment under 
 Genl. Gage, I was elected a representative in the 
 legislature. In 1776-7 I was appointed by Con- 
 gress to procure the necessary clothing for the 
 Army, & was honoured with thanks under the 
 hand of General Washington for my exertions. I 
 was also at this time a member of the Board of 
 War whose purchases & importations were chiefly 
 for the use of the United States. In 1778 I was 
 re-appointed to clothe the army & supply the 
 Quarter M. Generals department, with powers to 
 impress, as well as purchase without Limitation; 
 and for my efforts here again I was honoured with 
 the thanks of Congress, in the warmest & most 
 approving terms. 
 
 Without the imputation of vanity I think I may 
 say I was intitled to them. For the public records 
 will shew that I negotiated millions with economy 
 & effect, and instead of glittering in wealth & un- 
 necessary expense, in the plain habits of frugality 
 & industry, and necessarily blending my own credit 
 & property with that of the United States, &; in- 
 volved of course in immense debts, for I never could 
 purchase without personally engaging, with the 
 loss of public credit my own has been injured, & 
 alter years of hurry, incessant labour, solicitude & 
 continual embarrassment for want of funds, my 
 property is swallowed up in the abyss of depreciation. 
 
 In difficulties peculiarly distressing I have how- 
 
( -91 ) 
 
 ever never forfeited the public esteem, & when 
 fortune in other respects frowned most severely, 
 my fellow Citizens elected me into the legislature, 
 & repeatedly to Congress, of which I have had 
 the honor of being Chairman. A reflection upon 
 these considerations gives me confidence in my 
 hopes, backed by a consciousness that from long 
 experience, I have acquired a facility in the forms 
 of public business, decidedly greater than my Com- 
 petitors can have acquired — Men in youth, uncon- 
 nected with families, or with very small ones, 
 surely will not be suffered to prevail against a man, 
 who having served thro' all the grades of public 
 employment, has thereby impoverished a large 
 family — Would collateral claims avail, I could 
 point you to my elder brother, an active member 
 of the first American Congress, and whose zeal for 
 his Country induced a cruel assassination, & made 
 him one of the first sacrifices in her cause. To 
 my father, peculiarly the object of resentment with 
 the public enemy, who after sustaining the most 
 honourable posts in Government, together with 
 his fortune, sunk under a weight of public cares 
 & calamities — To every branch of my family, es- 
 sentially injured by their exertions in the American 
 revolution — But I may not farther trespass upon 
 your goodness but subscribe 
 Sir 
 
 Your most Humble 
 
 & obedient Servant 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 New York, April 9th, 1789. 
 Sir : — 
 
 I did myself the honour to call upon you the 
 last evening, but finding you from home, I can no 
 longer repress the effusions of a grateful heart — 
 I thank you Sir upon a personal account. But when 
 I reflect upon the happiness you have contributed 
 to bestow upon a worthy family, unspeakably dearer 
 to me than Self, I wish to set no limits to my 
 gratitude. 
 
 Long may you enjoy the favour of your Country 
 & share its highest honors ! And when at some 
 far distant period you may wish to retire from the 
 fatigues & anxieties of exalted Station ; In domestic 
 felicity, may you participate the sublimer pleasures 
 of reflection, upon acts of patriotism & benevolence ! 
 
 In addition to my good wishes suffer me to as- 
 sure you nothing would give me greater pleasure 
 than to render you a gratification, & that I am 
 With esteem & respect 
 
 Your Honours 
 Most obedt. Humble Servant 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 The Honourable 
 
 Mr. Langdon. 
 
 New York, Sept , 1789. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Altho' Mr. Wingate and the other Gentlemen 
 will detail to you all the news, I canijot omit so 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 good an opportunity to pay my respects to you & 
 Mrs. Langdon, & to hope you got home well & 
 found all friends so. There were many knotty 
 points to discuss when you was here, & there were 
 some agitated with great celerity since. The 
 Compensation bill was so tossed & tumbled from 
 House to House, that I thought the poor thing 
 would have died with convulsions ; and had you 
 heard the zealous attack upon your Secretarys two 
 dollars per diem allowance, you would have supposed 
 I was going to lay my sacrilegious hand upon the 
 whole Treasury of the United States — After all its 
 squeesings I dont know but it will be strangled by 
 the President, for it has been with him several 
 days, & never a word has been heard of the poor 
 thing — All I can say is, if it dies, I hope its Ghost 
 will haunt some people who shall be nameless. 
 
 Vice Precis to, cannot get a farthing above 
 £1500, altho' the Committee reported £1800, this 
 I think is confounded hard as they wont give him 
 a "Title, they should have comforted him with 
 tother thousand. 
 
 I hear Fishbourn is come to tight himself into 
 character — Now I do not think a Senator obliged 
 to fight in doors & out too. At least not, unless 
 he has double pay, as the Speaker has, or at least 
 more than six Dollars. 
 
 If however our Gun should go off, it appears to 
 me it will be a two & forty- — So Mr. F. may as 
 well take care of his head at the same time he is 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 defending his reputation. There is a most out- 
 rageous attack on the Georgia Senators in their 
 papers. 
 
 Enclosed is a list of the Laws & Resolves which 
 are perfected — Also of some appointments since 
 your departure. 
 
 The Journals & Laws are printed but not Know- 
 ing how to convey them to you, those you may 
 still want, must be reserved until your return. 
 
 By the way had you not better bring a few spare 
 dollars to purchase a farm on the East Bank of the 
 Susquehanah ? 
 
 I can only add that 
 
 I am Sir 
 Your obliged & most humble Servant, 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 
 The Keeper of the Tower is waiting to see which 
 Salary is best, that of Lord Chief Justice or Secre- 
 tary of State. 
 
 His Excellency Jno. Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Boston, Sept. 15th, 1790. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I presume on the friendship you have honored 
 me with to forward the Journals of Senate for the 
 Governor, President of Senate & Speaker, which 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 I beg you to be so obliging as to forward — I send 
 
 you for your own use, 
 
 A Journal of Senate, 
 
 Same of the House of Reps. 
 
 " and a sett of the Laws ; also a 
 
 package for Mr. Wingate to your care. 
 
 I came home very sick, but by good nursing, 
 
 air and exercise I am restored, and shall in a few 
 
 days return to new York ; where, & at all times 
 
 you may command 
 
 Your most humble Servant 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 Governor Langdon. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 1791. 
 Sir : — 
 
 My son S. A. O. junior is establishing himself 
 at Cape Francois, where, he served a regular ap- 
 prenticeship, is master of the French language and 
 acquainted with the people — He has found it neces- 
 sary to connect himself with Mr. Mackay, who is 
 also regularly bred to business and well supported 
 — Enclosing you a firm of the House and solicit- 
 ing your correspondence countenance and recom- 
 mendation 
 
 I am with great esteem and regard 
 
 Your most humble Servt. 
 
 Sam. a. Otis. 
 The Honourabl Mr. Langdon. 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 Hillsborough, 20th Oct., 1806. 
 Honourable Sir : — 
 
 In the Fore part of this Instant I Reviewed the 
 Militia in the County of Hillsborough, Composing 
 six of your Regiments, & Sir the improvements 
 thay have made since the last fall Reviews in Arms 
 Equipments Uniform & Tactics is beyond all Ex- 
 pectation, the promptness to Duty displayed by 
 both officers & privates is truly flattering, thay 
 seem to have a just sense of the stations which thay 
 severally hold in the Defense of there Countrys 
 Rights, — and the Citizens who are out of the 
 Traning band by the attention thay give on Mus- 
 ter days and at other times gives great spirit to the 
 Militia and thay also shew that thay consider the 
 Militia the only proper source of defence, & the 
 Citizens in General seem to be using their en- 
 deavours to inculcate those principles among them 
 which is of vast importance. 
 
 I am Dear Sir with sentiments of 
 
 Respect & Esteem your very 
 humble Servant 
 
 Benjamin Pierce. 
 Governor Langdon. 
 
 Concord, 7th June, 1809. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Permit me in taking my reluctant Leave of your 
 Excellency to Return you my most hearty thanks 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 for your politeness and favours ; and be assured Sir 
 the Conscientious Regard that I have for you, in 
 consequence of the great and important Services 
 you have done your Country & the corectness and 
 Decorum in which you have Discharged the duty 
 of Chief Magistrate of this State, while I have 
 been an Eye Witness, has long since inspired my 
 Breast with the warmest wishes bouth for your true 
 dignity and real happeness, as I am fully satisfied 
 that in the various and important stations which 
 have been assigned,you by the suffrage of a numerous 
 enlightend and Free people, that you have with 
 great sagacity promptitude integrity and ability 
 Discharged the several Duties devolved upon you, 
 and in my opinion it gives an additional Brightness 
 to the natural lustre of a Rulers Character who 
 has a Cordial and a Reverential Esteem for the 
 Divine word it serves to establish the people in a 
 course of sobriety and guard them against the allure- 
 ments of vise and animates them with the princi- 
 ples of piety I Sir am Confident to Calculate for 
 the good of your Country has been your study, and 
 to carry these calculations into Execution your 
 favourite employ — for which I shall always feel 
 greatfull and may you for a long season yet to come 
 be continued in health and the enjoyment of Life 
 for your own Comfort & the benefit of Mankind 
 and that your paths may be unclouded and when 
 the Silver lamp has burnt to its socket gently fall 
 a sleep in the Mansions of everlasting bliss — and 
 13 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 Sir may every one who beholds your portrait be 
 Charmed with the beautiful image and copy the 
 amable original. 
 
 Sir please to Excuse the homage 
 of my Friendship 
 
 Benjamin Pierce. 
 
 please to make my Respectfull Compliments to 
 your worthy Lady and Mrs. Barrel. 
 
 Hillsborough, loth Deer., 1811. 
 
 May it please your Excelency, Sir, I have with 
 much sattisfaction Reed, the Report of the Com- 
 mittee on Foreign Relations, I think, sir it is ener- 
 getic & spirited no man who Loves his Country 
 but wishes her peace on honorable terms, but if 
 that Cannot be the case War in my opinion is the 
 only proper alternative and I hope that the Citizens 
 of the United States will be prepared to Repel eny 
 Foreign or Domestic Aggrandizer. — I think the 
 people, in this section of the Country are fully de- 
 termined to suport the Goverment, all tho' I have 
 Considerably advanced in Life yet my Property & 
 if needed my Swourd shall be volunteered For the 
 support, honour, & Dignity of my Country, still I 
 think that young men are more efficient in the 
 Field than those that are past the Meridian of Life. 
 I have two Sons who have been instructed to sup- 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 port the Constitution of our Country and to be 
 allways Ready to take the Field for the defence 
 of that Liberty which was purchased by the Toil 
 & Blood of the heroes of our Country one of whom 
 is now twenty one years of age & has Finished his 
 classic studies and is just commencing Reading Law, 
 he has been anxious since he was Fifteen years of 
 age to go to a military School or in some way gain 
 the army, but I have allways objected to this till 
 this time. On Reading the Report of the Com- 
 mittee of Congress and hearing of the slaughter of 
 our men by the Savages he seems more zealous than 
 ever, I think he would raise a Company in this 
 vicinity of fine young men who would be ready to 
 march to any part of the United States at the 
 earliest notice, or if the Government should think 
 proper to assign him a Command he would Repair 
 to any part of the United States at the First notice. 
 I think him a natural Military genius and he has 
 attended with me on my Reviews when about home 
 from his youth up, and I have given him all the 
 instruction Respecting the nature of Military Tac- 
 tics that I could ; but no man can be a finished 
 Disciplinarian without actual service — He, Sir, 
 would feel truly grateful to you for your assistance 
 on this subject if you should think him qualified. 
 He will present you this Letter and will feel highly 
 honored to Converse with your Excelency on this 
 subject — Sir, I hope you enjoy the blessings of 
 health & happiness — 
 
lOO 
 
 I am Dear Sir with sentiments of the highest 
 Respect & Esteem 
 
 Your Real Friend & very humble Servant 
 
 B. Pierce. 
 
 Sir be pleased to make my Respects to your Lady 
 & Mrs. Barrel. 
 
 N. B. My long agreeable, & intimate acquaint- 
 ance with you must be my excuse for this Freedom. 
 
 N. York, August ye 22d, 1790. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I hope this letter will find you well at Home, 
 recruited from the fatigues of the Campaign, that 
 is the long Session, and from the Journey & that 
 you found Mrs. and Miss Langdon well. 
 
 Allow me to introduce to your kind notice three 
 Young Gentlemen of So. Carolina, who will have 
 the honor of presenting you with this letter, Messrs. 
 Fickins, Taylor and Chesnutt — they are on a short 
 Tour through the Eastern States, where they are 
 totaly unacquainted — they are Sedate, good Young 
 Men that I very much regard ; permit me then 
 my good Sir, to recommend them to your friendly 
 attention during their short stay in Portsmouth ; 
 and to request you to point out to them the best 
 route to see the Country. 
 
 We have had some warm weather since you left 
 
lOI 
 
 this place. We closed the Session with a Treaty 
 of peace with the Creek Indians, the disposition of 
 One Million of Unappropriated Dollars you have 
 been informed of, what think you of it ? The 
 President returned last night from Rhode Island. 
 
 Mrs. Butler and my Daughters Unite in best 
 respects to Mrs. Langdon and yourself with 
 Dear Sir, 
 Yr. friend and Most Obedt. Servt. 
 
 P. Butler. 
 
 Boston, ye 23d of September. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I took my place in the Stage to set out on this 
 morning for Portsmouth, for the exoress purpose 
 of paying my respects to yourself and Mrs. Lang- 
 don. A circumstance obliges me to alter my route 
 for Philada. I am truly mortified at the disap- 
 pointment. 
 
 I am also desirous of a Conversation with you, 
 on a subject that I do not wish to trust to the 
 honor of the Post Office, knowing from my own 
 experience, how little trustworthy some of the 
 Post Officers are. 
 
 A very serious change has taken place since we 
 parted — Measures are urging that may be term'd, 
 bold, extraordinary and adventurous — the Closest 
 Union is forming between ttie P. — and the twenty- 
 
102 
 
 two of them, that you would hardly dream of, 
 are frequently closeted. Believe me my friend, 
 that the time is arrived when the boldness of in- 
 trigue renders it indispensably necessary to throw 
 off the Political Scabbard. We must prove openly, 
 not only the pureness of our intentions, but the 
 soundness of our Political Principles — Both sides 
 cannot be right. We must either place others in 
 the back ground, or go there ourselves. The senti- 
 ments of your State Legislature, when they meet, 
 publicly declared, either by instructions to their 
 Members in Congress, or otherways would have a 
 good effect. 
 
 By this day you will probably have heard of 
 part of the Cause of Randolph's resignation. I 
 hope for the peace of his Family, He is innocent 
 of the Charge — this affair will disclose some im- 
 proprieties of the some of the Advocates for British 
 Connections, that will be attended with good Con- 
 sequences — the Story, as it comes to me is too 
 prolix to commit to paper but it will disclose a 
 curious intrigue. 
 
 From the friendship I sincerely bear you, I feel 
 it incumbent on me to mention to you a report 
 that is propogated, with some industry, here ; and 
 which I have warmly resisted. 
 
 That when the late little Commotion took place 
 at Portsmouth some Gentlemen there called on 
 you, and in a haughty tone told you that you should 
 be personally answerable to them if they sustained 
 
{ 103 ) 
 
 any injury ; insinuating that you promoted the 
 Commotion ; and that in Consequence of this, as 
 they term it, Spirited Conduct, quiet was re-estab- 
 Ushed. I said I was sure that it was false ; that I 
 knew Mr. Langdon too well to believe that He 
 would allow any man to threaten him, or speak 
 improperly to him. 
 
 It is right you should know the report that you 
 may be on your guard. 
 
 Presenting best respects to Mrs. & Miss Langdon 
 and believe me to be, as in truth 
 I am Dear Sir 
 
 Yr. Very Sincere Friend, 
 
 P. Butler. 
 
 Let me know if this letter gets to hand unopend, 
 direct to Philada. 
 
 HoNBLE. J. Langdon. 
 
 Salem, August 15, 1803. 
 
 Sir : — 
 
 The attention you were pleased to give an inci- 
 dental proposition for my removal to Portsmouth 
 will (I trust) apologize for my troubling you again 
 on this head, — I was last week at Portsmouth, but 
 unfortunately for me, you were absent from home 
 at the time of my calling at your residence. My 
 object in fact in going to Portsmouth was to de- 
 
( 1 04 ) 
 
 cide ultimately on a residence there, — But the 
 nearer such a prospect appeared, the more vehe- 
 mently have my political friends opposed it; & 
 since my late return, I find new reasons suggested 
 to embarrass my determination. Indeed I may 
 say with truth, that in Salem my success in business 
 has been uncommon ; & the present prospect very 
 flattering in point of interest — I believe I may 
 safely calculate on an income of two thousand dol- 
 lars per ann. in a very short time — You will per- 
 ceive that quitting such a situation would be em- 
 barrassing to minds more accustomed to calculate 
 chances than my own. 
 
 My object in now writing you is to speak, on 
 a point, which I confess, is a point of delicacy ; 
 but which as it would materially vary my situation, 
 I deem necessary to mention. I allude to the situa- 
 tion of your District Court. It was suggested to 
 me by several gentlemen, at Portsmouth on my 
 late visit, that as Mr. Pickering would be removed 
 at the next Session of Congress, & Mr. Sherburne 
 would be promoted to the office of Judge, that in 
 case of such vacancy, as there is no particular y>gv- 
 son, who has peculiar pretensions to it, that it might 
 probably devolve on me. On this subject I did 
 not feel easy to converse with Mr. Sherburne ; & 
 had no opportunity to know, how far any of these 
 suggestions might be correct. 
 
 It may appear an assumption in me to look for- 
 ward to any post, & more especially to preoccupy 
 
( I05 ) 
 
 the mind of any gentleman. But I trust my 
 motives will not be misconceived ; & I equally 
 feel, that after having rejected a post in this place 
 of great value, I shall not be deemed a mere office- 
 seeker. 
 
 If there be in Portsmouth any republican Lawyer, 
 whose age, respectability, or talents claim the situa- 
 tion, I certainly could never urge any thing in my 
 own favor — But if (as I understood) there be none 
 who 'wish it, then I could desire to know, if my pro- 
 fessional skill were equal, whether the place were 
 beyond my expectations. Indeed I am far from 
 meaning to suggest, that I deem myself adequate 
 to the duties — But I only inquire, whether if ample 
 proof could be given, that it were within my judi- 
 cial knowledge, no other obstacles might intervene 
 — On this siibject I could refer to Judge Sullivan, 
 Mr. Blake & thro' them to Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 If in being thus explicit on this head, I appear 
 to presume too much, I hope the frankness, with 
 which the declaration is made, will not be con- 
 sidered improper — In professional business merely, 
 probably Salem will be a favorite site for me ; & 
 though my personal happiness would be probably 
 increased by a residence at Portsmouth, yet the 
 reluctance of my friends furnishes no trifling in- 
 ducement against a change. 
 
 If I could honorably be recommended to possess 
 the office of District Attorney, / could have no hesi- 
 tance in an immediate change of abode. But if 
 
 H 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 others have claims, I confess in a pecuniary view 
 my residence in Salem appears most advantageous 
 — However I shall by no means decide against it 
 until I have better opportunity of knowledge. 
 
 If you would do me the favor to write me a line 
 at an early date expressive of your opinion on this 
 subject, you will add much to the obligations, for 
 which I have the honor to be 
 
 With the highest respect 
 Your most obedient & humble Servt. 
 
 Joseph Story. 
 Hon. John Langdon. 
 
 Salem, April lo, 1807. 
 Sir : — 
 
 It is my intention in a short time to journey to 
 the Southern States & pass thro' New York, Phila- 
 delphia, & Baltimore. As I have never travelled 
 thither, it would be grateful to me to learn some- 
 thing of the Inhabitants as well as of the Country. 
 May I ask the indulgence that you would give me 
 letters of introduction to any of your friends in 
 either of those cities, & thereby add to the obliga- 
 tions with which I am 
 
 With great respect 
 
 Your very obedt. Servt. 
 
 Joseph Story. 
 His Excellency 
 
 John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
( I07 ) 
 
 I think no doubt can be entertained that Mr. 
 SulHvan is elected Governor by a very handsome 
 majority. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 Tho' we are at the Distance of one Thousand 
 miles apart, yet if I may judge of you from what 
 I see in the public prints, we are next door Neigh- 
 bors in sentiments, & so we have ever been, since 
 I had the Honor of knowing you. It is this, 
 which gives me the Liberty of introducing to 
 your attentions, the Gentleman who will take 
 charge of this Letter. He is a man of worth, and 
 my Friend. As such I recommend Him to your 
 Civilities. I am happy to learn that your Coun- 
 trymen will adopt the Federal Constitution. I 
 assure you we gave them in this State all our Aid. 
 The best informed men of this State ; who had 
 done & suffered most in the Contest with Great 
 Britain were the determined advocates of the new 
 Government ; & by yielding some little points, to 
 the prejudices of others, have accomplished the 
 Business with great unanimity. I wish sincerely 
 you may harmonize in your State. 
 I am my dear Sir 
 with much Esteem Sincerely yours 
 
 Ed. Rutledge. 
 
 June 20, 1788. 
 
( ^o8 ) 
 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 
 As my only Son, is on the Point of setting out, 
 on a Tour thro' the United States, & will of course 
 make a visit to New Hampshire, I have desired 
 him, by no means to pass by the House of one of 
 my old Friends, & fellow Labourers, in the Cause 
 of our Country, without paying his Respects. He 
 assures me that in this, and in every wish, I may 
 depend upon a ready complyance. That he will 
 take a pleasure, in being known to such, as he has 
 often heard me describe you to be ; & that all he 
 desired was a Line to introduce him. I yield to 
 his Request, & wherever he sees you, he will place 
 this Letter in your Hands. Permit me to recom- 
 mend him to your Civilities; which I shall con- 
 sider as confer'd on myself, & which I shall take 
 a pleasure in acknowledging, & of returning to any 
 of your Friends. 
 
 I am my dear Sir with much Esteem & regard 
 your Humble Servant, 
 
 Ed. Rutledge. 
 
 Charleston, June 5, 1795. 
 
 Charleston (So. Carolina), Novr. 6th, 1795. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 In a conversation which took rize a few days 
 ago on the Subject of the American Shipping, in 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 which the Capacity of our own Merchants was 
 maintained to be fully equal to the furnishing of 
 Vessels sufficient to carry off the Produce of the 
 United States, Mr. Izard, your old Friend gave us 
 his support by assuring us, that such was your 
 Opinion, & that you had repeatedly declared to 
 him, that it could, & would be done by the Eastern 
 States, without taking Advantage of those fortuitous 
 circumstances, to which the present State of Europe 
 has exposed us. The Result was to write imme- 
 diately to you, & to request you to order directly 
 to this port, & as soon as was well possible, one 
 Vessel, of two Hundred Tons, and in three weeks 
 after her departure, another Vessel, of the same 
 Tonnage, upon the best Terms you can obtain, & 
 with a reasonable Number of Log days, to be ad- 
 dressed, to Messrs. Gadsdens & Hall, & Charter'd 
 from hence to London. The Shippers are to be, 
 Mr. Izard, General Washington, General Pinckney, 
 & your humble Servant. We are all Planters, & 
 no Merchants, & my Friend Pinckney, & I, who 
 are united in the planting line, sometimes take it 
 into our Heads to make Experiments, for what we 
 consider. Interest of our Country ; & as we gen- 
 erally draw together in Politics, it may naturally 
 be imagined that, our great object is to see the 
 American Shipping, in the exclusive possession of 
 the American carrying Trade. 
 
 I took the Liberty to put into the Hands of my 
 Son, a Letter of Introduction to you, which I find 
 
( iio ) 
 
 he has deHvered, & that he has received all those 
 Friendly Attentions, which afford the highest 
 pleasure. Be pleased to accept of my best Thanks 
 for your kindness, & be assured that I am ever 
 your very affectionate & obliged Friend 
 
 Ed. Rutledge. 
 
 Boston, January ist, 1777. 
 Sir : — 
 
 I am just arrived off my Journey from Con- 
 necticut. My business there was for Guns for the 
 Ship Hancock which I have obtained, there is a 
 number of Guns, nine Pounders lying at New Lon- 
 don which you might procure for your Ship by 
 applying to Governor Trumbull. Barnabas Dean 
 Esqr. Agent for the Continental Friggate Trum- 
 bull informed me that you might get them by ap- 
 plying for. 
 
 I am with great Respect 
 
 Your humble Servt. 
 
 John Manley. 
 To John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
 Boston, June 14th, 1790. 
 Honoured Sir : — 
 
 I have assum'd the liberty to Inform you that 
 after a long scene of misfortunes and violent rhu- 
 
( I^I ) 
 
 matic pains which renders me incapable of getting 
 my bread by Sea, it obliges me to be under the 
 necessity to present a petition before Congress in 
 hopes of obtaining some Compensation for my early 
 Services which I flatter myself that they are so 
 well known to you that it will give you pleasure 
 to lend me your friendly assistance in obtaining 
 this end, if it please God to spare my health I am 
 determined to see the Honble. President myself 
 and state real facts to his Honour a letter of Re- 
 commendation to his Honor will be most grate- 
 fully acknowledged by your most obedient Hbble. 
 Servt. 
 
 John Manley. 
 
 Boston, 21st July, 1780. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — ■ 
 
 I arrived here on Fryday Morning, & by 
 Letters from General Heath at Newport to ye 
 Council of the State, as well as by ye Information 
 of Gentlemen who have been there & conferred 
 with him, I find that ye armament lately arrived 
 from France, consists of Seven ships of ye size, 
 (one of which mounts 80, three 74, & thr-e 64 
 guns,) a 40 gun ship pierced for & to be imme- 
 diately mounted with 64 guns, & two Frigates 
 which are joined by ye Hermione : & also of 
 five thousand Infantry & one thousand Marines. 
 Their store ship, which was ye only Transport 
 
( 112 ) 
 
 missing, arrived here last week & landed her 
 troops, which have since marched to Rhode 
 Island. This squadron fell in with five sail of 
 British 74 Gun Ships, supposed to be Admiral 
 Walsingham's Squadron bound to ye West In- 
 dies ; an Engagement ensued without any material 
 Damage on either side. Ye French Troops are 
 composed of excellent Corps & are enthusiastic 
 in ye Cause of America, expressing their attach- 
 ment in every way that their fertile Imaginations 
 can invent. They have a large supply of Pro- 
 visions, about 70 pieces of field & heavy artil- 
 lery, & considerable Sums of Money for their Pay 
 & subsistance. A Gentleman who left Newport 
 on Fryday Morning informs me that two British 
 fifty Gun Ships had been several Days in sight ; 
 that taking ye advantage of ye wind on Thursday 
 they looked into ye harbour, & ye wind changing 
 were afterwards pursued by two 74's & 3 Frigates 
 of ye French Squadron, & that when he left 
 Rhode Island, ye latter sailing remarkably well 
 were within two Leagues of ye British. General 
 Heath writes to ye Council " that there is another 
 Fleet expected from France." This by ye best 
 Information that can be obtained consists of 5 
 Ships of ye Line & five or six thousand troops, & 
 I am credibly informed that ye ships & troops of 
 both Detachments are to be stationed here durin«: 
 ye War. Mons. Tournais commands the naval 
 & Mons. Rochambeau ye land forces. 
 
( 113 ) 
 
 Yesterday an Express from General Heath to ye 
 Council bro't advices of ye arrival of a British 
 fleet off Newport. Their numbers I cannot as- 
 certain, some say 8 sail of ye Line & as many 
 Frigates under ye Command of Admiral Greaves. 
 I hope ye two 74's & 3 frigates have returned, 
 & am informed of an order to send out Cruisers 
 from hence to give Information of this arrival to 
 ye other French Squadron expected from Ro- 
 chelle. 
 
 Col. Calfry writes to his Friends in this Place 
 from Philadelphia, that Capt. McCluster who 
 lately arrived there, left St. Eustatia ye 27th June, 
 & says that three French Ships were in ye bay 
 for stores for ye combined Fleets in ye West In- 
 dies ; that they had blocked up St. Lucia, where 
 there were a considerable Number of British Ships 
 of ye Line ; that some British Ships were likewise 
 at St. Eustatia for stores, but that ye Dutch were 
 very churlish to these, whilst every Mark of 
 Kindness & Respect was shewn to ye French 
 officers and People. 
 
 A boat belonging to The Stark privateer arrived 
 here yesterday & landed a Number of prisoners 
 taken out of three English Vessels lately captured 
 by ye former on their passage to Quebec. Ye 
 Cargoes of two of ye prizes consist of 700 hhds. 
 of Rum & some English Goods, & ye other was 
 altogether loaded with bale Goods. Ye prizes 
 mounted 32 six pounders besides fours, & were 
 15 
 
( iH ) 
 
 taken in sight of each other by ye Privateer, 
 which had only 8 six, & as many four Pound- 
 ers. She is owned by a Mr. Pearson of Gloces- 
 ter, excepting i which belongs to a Company in 
 Ipswich. My best Respects to your Lady & ye 
 other Ladies & Gentlemen of our acquaintance 
 at Portsmouth, & give to my little Betsey a kiss 
 for her Uncle Gerry, being assured that I remain. 
 Sir, with ye highest Esteem, yours sincerely, 
 
 E. Gerry. 
 Hon. Mr. Langdon. 
 
 P. S. I have authentic Information since writ- 
 ing ye within that Admiral Tournais has received 
 a Letter from ye Marquis La Fayette mentioning 
 ye arrival of five British Ships of ye Line at ye 
 Hook, & that they were joined by three 64's, one 
 fifty, three forty-fours & two Frigates from ye 
 Harbour of New York, & that ye Virginia & 
 Galatea were on a Cruize ; from whence it is 
 probable that ye Squadron supposed to be Wal- 
 singham's was commanded by Greaves, & is 
 joined by ye two frigates last mentioned since he 
 left ye Hook. 
 
 Boston, June 2d, 1782. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 This letter will be delivered to you by the 
 Right Honble. the Count de Noailles, Brother to 
 
( 115 ) 
 
 General Marquis de La Fayette. This nobleman 
 recommends himself to every person that knows 
 him by his natural affability, merit and most en- 
 gaging address, which qualities will always gain 
 him the respect, esteem and affection of every 
 gentleman, specially those who are friends to the 
 cause of American Independence, as these were 
 the only motives that induced his Lordship to 
 leave his country, his dearest relatives and his 
 interests at Court, to come over and fight for the 
 support of a free people. As his Lordship intends 
 to take a view of your harbour, give me leave to 
 desire you afford him the assistance he may want, 
 as far as it will lay in your power. Your Known 
 Civility and usual Kindness to every gentleman, 
 are a sufficient inducement to me to ask you that 
 particular favour. 
 
 I have the honour to be with a 
 true and sincere regard 
 
 your most Sincere and 
 most obedient Servant, 
 
 De Valmais. 
 HoNBLE. John Langdon. 
 
 Boston, Septr. 6th, 1785. 
 
 Sir : — 
 
 As my Friend Mr. Vaughan of Phila. with his 
 Lady & Daughters visjt the Capital of New- 
 
ii6 
 
 Hampshire my Regard to them & Respect to you 
 have induced me to introduce them to your Ex- 
 cellency, who, I am sure will render their Visit 
 agreeable, any attention paid them I shall think 
 myself honoured by. I am with Respect & 
 Esteem your Excellency's 
 
 Most obedt. humble Servt. 
 
 J. Lowell. 
 
 New York, 4th April, 1787. 
 Sir : — 
 
 The bearer Mr. John Churchman has been in- 
 troduced to me by a letter from Mr. Webster of 
 Philadelphia, as the noted author of a scheme for 
 finding longitude at sea or land by the magnet. 
 He has communicated some of the principles of 
 his scheme to me, but I have not examined it 
 sufficiently to form an opinion whether it will be 
 practicable or not. He wishes for some public en- 
 couragement to make further discoveries and ex- 
 periments. At his request I have taken the liberty 
 of introducing him to your notice, who I doubt 
 not will be disposed to give proper encouragement 
 to useful discoveries in science that may be made 
 by any of the citizens of these States. 
 
 I am Sir with great respect 
 
 Your humble Servant, 
 
 Roger Sherman. 
 HoNBLE. John Langdon, Esq^ 
 
( 117 ) 
 
 PouRTSMOUTH, Feb'y 23, 1788. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I am sorry to inform you that our Convention 
 adjourned yesterday (to meet again in June next) 
 without compleating the important business of 
 adopting the Constitution. Contrary to the ex- 
 pectation of almost every man of reflection at our 
 first meeting a majority appeared against the plan, 
 a great part of whom had positive Instructions to 
 vote against it. However after spending ten days 
 on the arguments a number of opponents came to 
 me and said they were convinced and should be 
 very unhappy to vote against the Constitution, 
 which they (however absurd) must do in case the 
 question was called for. I therefore moved for 
 the adjournment which was carried though much 
 opposed by the other side. This question deter- 
 mined a majority in favor of the Constitution, had 
 it not been for their instructions. This shows the 
 fatality of the times. 
 
 Believe me sincerely 
 
 Yr. mo. obdt. sr. 
 
 John Langdon. 
 
 P. S. I pray make my kind respects to your 
 Lady. 
 RuFus King, Esquire. 
 
( ii8 ) 
 
 PouRTSMOUTH, May 6, 1788. 
 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 
 I am honour'd with your kind fav'r of the i6th 
 ult inclosing the address to the people of New- 
 York, which is greatly Admired here. I shall 
 take great care to circulate this and all other 
 pieces that will give light to the Subject. You 
 may depend every exertion shall be made that is 
 capable to promote the Adoption of the Constitu- 
 tion — and I have no doubt notwithstanding our 
 late Disappointments and Mortification we shall 
 finally prevail and thereby make the people happy 
 in spight of their teeth, as the say'g is. I think 
 aff^airs to the South look well. Maryland will 
 certainly Adopt the plan, and I have but little 
 doubt of South Carolina. We must watch and 
 pray for Virginia and North Carolina. I cannot 
 help think'g but they'll both Agree to it. New 
 York and New Hampshire must Agree to the 
 plan which will Compleat our Business. 
 
 The State of Georgia Ceeding that Teritory to 
 the United States under certain Restrictions will 
 have very good Effect. Pray make my Kind Re- 
 spects to your Lady not forgetting the little Bant- 
 ling, also my Respects to Mr. Alsop. 
 
 Believe me with the highest sentiment of 
 Esteem 
 
 Dr. Sr. your most obed. serv. 
 
 John Langdon. 
 
 HoNBLE. RUFUS KiNG, EsQUIRE. 
 
( 119 ) 
 
 Concord, June 21, 1788. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 The State of New Hampshire have this mo- 
 ment adopted the Federal Constitution, 75 yeas 
 46 nays. I have sent on the Express to Spring- 
 field to Mr. Smith to forward Col. Hamilton's 
 Letter to Poukeepsie which I enclosed him. Ex- 
 cuse haste 
 
 Believe me yours &c. 
 
 John Langdon. 
 
 HONBLE. RUFUS KiNG. 
 
 New York, 13 July, 1788. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I have the honor of introducing to your ac- 
 quaintance Mr. Brown Member of Congress from 
 Virginia. His desire of knowing more intimately 
 the inhabitants and productions of our Country 
 induces him to make a journey as far east as ports- 
 mouth. I have ventured to assure him that he 
 will find a welcome reception at Portsmouth. 
 I am Dear Sir 
 
 with great Respect 
 Your Excellencys 
 Most obedient humble Servant 
 
 J. Knox. 
 His Excellency 
 
 President Langdon. 
 
( I20 ) 
 
 Charleston, April 17, 1789. 
 Dr. Sr:— 
 
 I take the liberty of introducing to your notice 
 my friend Mr. Bird an English Gentleman who 
 means to visit with his Lady the Northern & 
 Eastern States before he returns to Europe, & I 
 shall be much obliged to you for any attentions 
 you may be so kind as to shew them. I remain 
 with sincere esteem & regard. 
 
 Your most obedt. hble Sert. 
 
 Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. 
 
 His Excellency 
 
 John Langdon, Es(^ 
 
 Boston, 18th August 1793. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Mrs. Horry, a very worthy Lady of our 
 Country, who has lately had the misfortune of 
 losing her Mother in Philadelphia, intends mak- 
 ing a Tour as far as New Hampshire, & it is with 
 much pleasure that I introduce her to you, & 
 Mrs. Langdon. She will be accompanied by her 
 Daughter, & by her two Nieces, the Daughters 
 of General Pinckney, her Brother. I am lately 
 arrived in this City from Carolina, to join my 
 Family, who have passed the Summer here, & 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 avoided the hot weather of Philadelphia, & shall 
 not with a safe conscience return to the South, 
 before I have paid my respects to you & Mrs. 
 Langdon at Portsmouth. The Newspapers of 
 New York & Philadelphia inform us that the 
 Patriots in those parts are, as usual, very active in 
 promoting the public good, by rousing the People, 
 & preventing an injury to their health, by the 
 enjoyment of too much tranquility & happiness. 
 I am very glad that I shall for several weeks 
 longer be out of the way of those Worthies. 
 With Comps. to Mrs. Langdon, & your Daughter 
 I am with great regard 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Your friend & humble Servant, 
 
 Ra. Izard. 
 
 So. Carolina, March loth, 1795, Charleston, 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Should this letter be the means of my hearing 
 of the health of yourself, & family, I assure you 
 it will bring me sensible gratification. Allow me 
 my Dear Sir as a token of the esteem which I 
 entertain for you, to present for your acceptance, 
 a late publication of mine ; entitled "Letters writ- 
 ten during a tour through the Northern & Eastern 
 States of America." 
 16 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 I do it with diffidence : but I know you will 
 make every liberal allowance, for any incorrec- 
 tions in the work. 
 
 With respectful consideration I have the honor 
 to be, 
 
 Sir Yr. Most Obedt. Sert. 
 
 Jno. Drayton. 
 HoNBLE John Langdon 
 Senator in Congress 
 
 Be so obliging as to present my most respectful 
 compliments to your Lady & daughter ; and as- 
 sure them that with pleasure I often recal them 
 to my recollection : & hold myself much in- 
 debted, for their politeness when at Portsmouth. 
 
 Merrimack, Decemr. 25th, 95. 
 
 Honble. and much respected Sir : — 
 
 To write you the news of the Day, Foreign or 
 Domestick woud be like sending Coals to New- 
 castle, as you are iri the Center Of, Intelegence. 
 
 To write the Politicks of the Day, wou'd be to 
 mimick the Coffee-House Politicks that circulites 
 among the People, while the King and Parlia- 
 ment, too oft influenced by their Ministers settles 
 what the Nation must take for policy however 
 impolitick it may be — Therefore send my Wishes 
 that his Highness the President, your Honor, and 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 your Honble. Colleagues, and the Honble. Mem- 
 bers of House, may each remember that the Peo- 
 ple made him in his political Capacity, what he 
 is, and therefore every act He consents to in that 
 capacity ought to be for the good of the People, 
 may each have Wisdom to know what will most 
 effectually preserve the Lives, Liberties, and prop- 
 erties of the People, and promote the peace. 
 Honor & Interest of the Union. 
 
 My compliments to your very agreeable Lady 
 may She be as happy as She deserves, and She will 
 be very Happy. 
 
 To the amiable Miss Betsy 
 
 I wish Her a Husband that's generous & kind 
 A Beautiful body & a virtuous mind 
 A sweetness of temper a match for her own 
 Then they'l be as happy as Darby and joan 
 
 I'm Sir with due respect your very humble 
 Sert. 
 
 Matthew Thornton. 
 
 Honble. John Langdon Esqr. 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Philadelphia, January 8th, 1796, 
 3d year of The french Republic. 
 
 Sir:— 
 
 I have Perused the papers wich you left at my 
 lodging concerning Ebenezer Berry now prisoner 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 at Dinan, whom his family wants to get liberated 
 as soon as possible. As it appeared by the certifi- 
 cates produced, that he is an American Citizen, 
 and as this affair is recommanded by you, I will, 
 with pleasure, do in his behalf every thing that 
 may be with propriety done. In that view I wish 
 to be better acquainted with the occasion motives 
 and circumstances of his detention ; any informa- 
 tion on that subject which you will be pleased to 
 procure me will be readily made proper use of 
 Accept of my respects & Esteem 
 
 Genet. 
 Mr. John Langdon Member of Congress. 
 
 N. York, 30 July, 1800. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I have received your two letters on the subject 
 E. L's affair. His absence from town for several 
 weeks retarded the enquiries which you desired 
 me to make. 
 
 He has shown me his title to the Lotts, which 
 I have examined and find to be unexceptionable — 
 of these Lotts, six have been leased to different 
 persons producing an Annual rent of 1^218.75 
 payable quarterly, which may be considered as 
 equal to a principal sum of abt $3300. It is ob- 
 vious therefore that if fourteen more of the Lotts 
 could be rented or leased at the same rate it would 
 produce more than the legal Interest of your 
 
( 125 ) 
 
 money. How far this is practicable, I cannot 
 determine but I observe that considerable im- 
 provements are making in that quarter. 
 
 After various Negotiations with M & L — He 
 offers to give you these Lotts and the Leases above 
 mentioned, together with 4000 (four thousand) 
 acres of Land in Pena. in satisfaction of your debt 
 — but on account of his embarrassed situation, he 
 declines adding any thing by way of Collateral 
 Security — 
 
 He sais that you are acquainted with the situa- 
 tion of the 4000 acres Pena. Land & with his 
 title thereto — 
 
 If these Lands be fit for cultivation, I should 
 
 under all circumstances recommend to you to 
 
 close with his offer — or if you wish to Vary the 
 
 proposition, I will with pleasure Negotiate further. 
 
 I am Dear Sir 
 
 With much respect & attachment 
 
 Your friend & St. 
 
 A. Burr. 
 The Hon. J. Langdon. 
 
 There is no longer a doubt that Jefferson will 
 have all the votes of S. Carolina and at least eight 
 in N. C. and four in Maryland. 
 
 We have also much hope from Jersey — but as 
 this depends on their approaching election for 
 Members of Legislature — nothing can confidently 
 be said — Adams has no chance for a single vote 
 in S. C— A. B. 
 
( ^26 ) 
 
 Havre, Oct. i6, 1800. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I had the pleasure of seeing your daughter & 
 her husband at Paris, who arrived there with their 
 little one, all in health, a few days before I left 
 it. They write you by the present conveyance. 
 
 You will see, Sir, from the journal of our mis- 
 sion, that more could not be done than has been, 
 without too great a sacrifice ; and I hope you will 
 think, especially as appearances are strong in 
 favour of a general peace, that it was better to 
 sign a Convention than to do nothing. 
 I am. Dear Sir, 
 
 With much respect 
 Your most obed't 
 Oliv. Ellsworth. 
 
 The Honble. Mr. Langdon. 
 
 Salisbury, July 19, 1802. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I received a Letter Datted the sixth instant 
 From Esqu. Shannin in which he Says that you 
 want the Money I owe you or the Note renewed. 
 I mentioned the matter to you Sir at Concord in 
 June last told you that I would come down be- 
 tween now and fall and have the matter settled 
 you may depend upon it that your demand is Safe 
 the reason of non payment is my Educating two 
 
( 127 ) 
 
 of my sons in Dartmouth College it is now a buisy 
 time of the year for farmers and I think the Limy- 
 tation Act cannot affect the matter at present and 
 if providence spares my life and fortune you shall 
 be satisfied to your Satisfaction. 
 
 With Esteem I remain your Friend 
 and humble Servant 
 
 Ebenezer Webster. 
 
 To THE HoNR. John Langdon. 
 
 RY, July 9, 1805. 
 
 our Mr. Walker in which 
 he e have Left a demand 
 
 which I against me in his hands to be 
 
 collected at August Court but it will not be in my 
 power to raise the money at that time unless I sell 
 a part of my real estate if you could make it con- 
 venient to wait till fall I will delay no longer of 
 paying you to your satisfaction, for at that time I 
 have a considerable of money due I should have 
 called on you at Concord but the State of my 
 health would not admit of it my Son the Bearer 
 will doubtless make some Further Statements. 
 I remain your most obedient humble Servant 
 
 Ebenezer Webster. 
 
 To HIS Excellency John Langdon. 
 
128 
 
 Farewell, dear Sir, I am to sail to Europe in 
 very few hours. I would I should have been 
 again once more in your family, but I could not 
 — remember me very kindly, My best respects to 
 Mrs. Langdon and to she most happy Eliza. I 
 am glad to hear she is so much as she deserves to 
 be, I allways be remembering of your family & 
 every where I shall be your friends. When this 
 letter will reach you, I shall be the play of the 
 winds, dont forget me, and believe me your friend 
 in all Sincerity. 
 
 I remain with respect 
 
 Your most obd. Servant 
 
 LlANCOURT. 
 
 [Bond's Looe, pages 184 and 185. J 
 
 Keverel. This seat, which is in the Parish of 
 Saint Martin's near Looe, at a remote period was 
 the residence of a family called Keverell. The 
 Heiress married Langdon. Arms of Keverall — 
 Sable, two Lions, one in chief passant, the other in 
 lease, preparing to spring. Or Langdon originally 
 bore the name Lizard, and that of Langdon was 
 adopted from Langdon in Jacobston, eight gene- 
 rations before 1620. This ancient family, which 
 became extinct in 1676, had married heiresses of 
 Grimscot, Render, Bukeden or Trethewy, Bixton 
 
( 129 ) 
 
 and Keverell. Lysons Mag., Brit. Carew con- 
 jectures this place to have taken its name from 
 Chevreuil, a French word signifying a wild Goat, 
 as the high cliffs thereabout afford them com- 
 modious inhabitance. But Mr. Hals says Kev- 
 erall or Keveroll imports to regain or recover : 
 whether to be construed with reference to recover- 
 ing lost health or wealth of the inhabitants who 
 first settled there, or otherwise, let them, if they 
 can resolve. He further says this barton, for 
 many descents, was the seat of the Langdons 
 (whose name imports mischief or Treachery, Hill 
 or Fortress), gentlemen heretofore of large wealth 
 and estate. But this place by purchase is become 
 the possession of John Buller Esquire who mar- 
 ried the relict of Langdon. Langdon's arms 
 were — Argent a cheveron between three boar's 
 heads, erased Sable. In Saint Martin's Church 
 within which parish this estate lies there is an 
 aisle called the Keverel aisle on the seats of which 
 these arms are carved. Keverel is now occupied 
 by farmers, but belongs to John Buller, Esquire 
 of Morval. 
 
 [Bond's East and West Looe, page 2i.j 
 
 There is also in Saint Martin's Church a large 
 and an elegant Monument to the Langdon Family, 
 who formerly lived at Keveril in this parish. It 
 
( 13° ) 
 
 has the following inscription, — This monument 
 was erected in memory of Walter Langdon of 
 Keveril Esq. : being the last of the Male line of 
 that loyal antient and honourable family, and 
 Rhoda his wife, the daughter of William Martin, 
 of Linridg, in the County of Devon Esquire, he 
 died the i6th day of February, in the year of our 
 Lord 1676, and was buried under this marble. 
 
 [C. S. Gilbert's Survey of Cornwall.] 
 
 Langdon of Langdon in Jacobstow. It is gen- 
 erally supposed that many of the descendants of 
 this ancient house still survive in the Counties of 
 Cornwall and Devon, although we have not the 
 means of tracing the lineal descent. John Lang- 
 don, supposed to have been of this house, was 
 elected a member for Trure in 1419. Arms, — 
 Argent, a cheveron between three bears' heads, 
 sable, quartered by Langdon of Keverall. 
 
 Langdon of Keverall, in Saint Martin's near 
 Looe. The original name of this family was 
 Lizard, which was exchanged for that of Lang- 
 don eight generations before 1620. The original 
 Arms, viz.. Sable a cheveron, between three Liz- 
 ard's heads. Argent were however continued in 
 the first quarter of their shield, as is still to be 
 seen on their monument in Saint Martin's church. 
 Walter Langdon the last of the family at Keverell 
 
( 131 ) 
 
 died in 1676 leaving issue an only daughter mar- 
 ried to John Buller Esquire. 
 
 The Langdons during their residence at Kev- 
 erall had married many wealthy heiresses, of 
 whom may be distinguished on the splendid 
 monument of the above mentioned Walter, The 
 Arms of Grimscott, Langdon Keverall, Bicton 
 Mohun, Trethewy, Fortescue, Passmore, Poscar- 
 rock and Martin and several others, whom we 
 cannot exactly distinguish. Page 183, vol. 2. 
 
 [Manuscript Book of Arms. Devon and Cornwall of 1 689. J 
 
 Devon. 
 
 Langdon. Argent a cheveron between three 
 lions' heads, erased Sable. Walter Langdon, 
 Mayor of Exeter, 5 Edward 2d 131 1. It was 
 during Walter Langdon's Mayoralty that Hugh 
 Courtenay, Earl of Devon, in his displeasure with 
 the Citizens of Exeter, destroyed the Haven of 
 the City. 
 
'WT-l^-' 
 
 ''^^^^sL.*^ t^^^ J.