Colonel Trumbull's Letter. HEADQUARTERS, NEWBURG, DEAR SIR-The General* and lady return their compliments; they are going to-morrow on a visit to Governor Clinton and lady, at Poughkeepsie; their return is uncertain. Should it be the same day, and Mrs. Washington is not too fatigued, she will be happy to accept your invitation. Enclosed are the replies to your notes to Generals Knox and Hand. Should the General and lady not be able to attend you, 'tis probable you may see the muzzles of some of the family. Your most obd't serv't. J. TRUMBULL. Col. S. B. WEBB. Robert Totten's Letter. TRINIDAD, Ye., 17th May, 1787. SIR-Accident having cast me into this place, I am pleased with the country and its prospects. I have therefore determined to remain here the remainder of my days. There are a number of strangers who have resorted to this place, and many of them whose characters, perhaps, are as shattered as their fortunes, and who have brought no recommendation to Government, which is of the utmost consequence to a man who intends to live here. Being pursuaded of the universal bounty of your character, and knowing that you are personally well acquainted with the Governors of Jersey and Connecticut, I could think of no one to whom I could resort with so good a prospect of success as to yourself, and more particularly as the last time I had the honor to see you, you politely made me an offer of your attention to my necessities, or such of them as might be in your power to alleviate. If, therefore, you can reconcile it to your own principles of propriety, I shall consider it as a singular favor if you will solicit letters of introduction from both of them to the Governor of this Island, in my behalf. I shall despair of ever meeting with the moment that will present me with an opportunity of obliterating this obligation with a benefit of equal consequence to you. I can only therefore promise * Washington. you that the remembrance of it shall remain until the last fatal stroke shall clip it out of this heart, and the portion of gratitude by the immediate direction of its guardian angel shall enstamp it on my heart after it hath been seven times refined and tried in the fire. Should you succeed, please to forward them to me as soon as possible. As Mr. Archibald Gambeel has a vessel in this trade, it will present you with an opportunity of forwarding them. I have the honor Brig. Gen'l S. B. WEBB. ROBERT TOTTEN. Major George Turner's Letter. PHILADELPHIA, June 3d, '87. DEAR GEN'L-I received your favor yesterday, and feel anxious to be with you on the 4th of July. If possible I shall be at New York by that day. Colonel Hamilton, to whom I delivered your letter, left Philadelphia this morning. You can therefore dam him in person for the expected eulogium of our chief. Whoever may be the bearer of this sheet, he will have in charge, for you, the eagles or orders of the Cincinnati. They belong to the society, and are to be disposed of. Should any be wanting at your meeting for honorary or other members, you will oblige the society by disposing of these at twenty-six dollars each, the price they cost us. General Van Cortland has four more likewise belonging to us. Please to show him this part of my letter, as those are also for sale. DEAR COLONEL :-Agreeable to promise and duty I will send down David Gardner, of your regiment, at present my servant, to be inspected on Tuesday next. The gentlemen of the family inform me that there will be no impropriety in your permitting him to return to me; and as I have no other, nor will Congress' finances furnish the means of getting another, you'll oblige me greatly by ordering him back to me as soon as possible after inspection. He will want a shirt, or shirts, which I have not in my power to procure, and if you will permit him to have any other of his clothes I will attend to it that they shall not be parted with or even worn but when decency requires a change of his old clothes. Colonels Trumbull and Humphreys will speak to you on the subject. Col. S. B. WEBB. I am, with respect, yours, William Van Rensselaer's Letter. DEAR SIR-I received your polite letter per stage, for which I sincerely thank you. I shall be with you about the 20th of this month, and will communicate a thousand things that I cannot, for want of leisure, advise you of at present. The object of my dropping these line to you is with a view to obtain from New York, as early as possible, the news who is elected Representative in Congress for Columbia District, &c. Judge Silvester and Matt. Adgate were the candidates. I will be much obliged to you when the Canvassers next Tuesday meet at the Secretary's office to obtain an exact account how many votes have been taken in the great district to which Columbia belongs, and in particular the eighth district in this County, and how the votes are divided. Let me know, if you please, who are appointed to represent the other districts in this State. I send you love from one and sincere and cordial good wishes from many. April 17, '89. Your obed't serv't, WILLIAM. R. K. Van Renssaelaer's Letter. ALBANY, 29th July, 1789. MY DEAR FRIEND :-The stage driver informed me that he had put a letter in the post-office for me from you. This information I did not receive till this afternoon. I called at the office this evening and the Postmaster was absent. I know not the contents of your letter, but I will attend to it in the morning. Goodrich has not received his examination, and I am fearful it will not take place till the last of the week. My business I will accomplish tomorrow, but I shall be in duty bound to attend to Goodride, and wait until he gets his examination. Pray don't leave Claverack till after my return, which will be on Thursday or Friday. I hope you have taken possession of one of my rooms, or all. My love to my dear girls. Yours in great haste, Lewis' Tavern, Wednesday Ev'g, 9 o'clock. R. K. V. R. Captain Joseph Walker's Letter. HARTFORD, 6th Feb'y, 1780. DEAR SIR-By way of apology for not writing to you before, which I should have done had I not been informed you were on a tour of pleasure at Boston, therefore, you would not get my letter very soon; should have wrote by the last post had I known of your being at home. However, let what I have now wrote, and my embracing the earliest opportunity since to convince you it was not for want of attention. I left the regiment the sixth day of last month, and I am happy to say in much better circumstances at that time than they had been for weeks before. Our situation in regard to provisions was such as I never wish to see again. Short commons ever ought to be avoided, and when it cannot, the consequences are to be dreaded in an army, that you well know. However, I can with pleasure inform you (and what I think will give you no small satisfaction) that the lads bore it with the greatest patience and fortitude. We consider the severity of the season, the difficulty of transportation, and were willing to make all allowance possible. My good friend, it requires almost the wisdom of Solomon to conduct at these times, and the virtue of the Angel Gabriel to surmount the difficulties which, to appearance, came upon us as it were in a moment. After our long march you may well think our men were rather destitute of clothing. After our arrival we began and completed our huts, which destroyed our clothing still more, and to my certain knowledge we had not more than fifty men in the regiment returned fit for duty, all for the want of clothing. Many a good lad with nothing to cover him from his hips to his toes save his blanket ; some wanting one thing and some another, but the most general complaint was shoes. Once we did not experience these hardships, though we had greater reason to expect them at this time, when the public were convinced for three years past they had an army depending upon them for subsistence. As to provisions, before I left them they had received a full supply for the present, and clothing they received some, though inadequate to their wants. In short, my good friend, our sufferings were such as I did not expect at this day, and such as is past any art with pen, ink and paper to describe or even give you an idea of our feelings upon the occasion. Am informed you set out for headquarters soon; hope you will take Hartford in your way, that I may have the pleasure of seeing you and spending a little time in chat upon matters and things. I hear an exchange is like to take place, which is my most earnest wish should be effected, that I may once more have the happiness of seeing you at the head of your regiment, and where you have been long expected and much wished for. The family join with me in their best wishes for your health and happiness, and respects to your brothers and sisters. Make my compliments to the good people at Col. Chester's, and excuse this scrawl, as coming from one who remains with esteem, Col. S. B. WEBB. Your friend and + |