John Adams, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, writes to Abigail Adams on the state of creating a new country. "The difficulty and intricacy of it is prodigious," as Adams explains, "when 50 or 60 men have a Constitution to form for a great Empire, [and] at the same Time that they...

John Dickinson writes Continental Army General Charles Lee to explain his opinion on the Declaration of Independence. "I cannot agree with You, that a Declaration of Independence at this time will...

Thomas Walker writes the Committee of Congress for Indian Affairs and asks that they pay Joseph Simon and John Campbell for the "sundry merchandize" that they provided "for the use of this Department." John Montgomery, John Harris, and Jasper Yeates also sign the letter. The reverse side of the...

John Dickinson acknowledges the receipt of Benjamin Rush's pamphlet and mentions that he would only reenter Pennsylvania affairs to serve America. Dickinson also thanks Rush, a physician, for his attention to his daughter who is "well-recovered." Dickinson wrote this letter after the defeat of a...

Major General Nathanael Greene and Colonel Richard Humpton, both officers in the Continental Army, write Lieutenant Colonel Francis Gurney to certify that he is innocent of providing any support or information to the United Kingdom. After "being directed by His Excellency General Washington to"...

Continental Congressman John Dickinson asks Caesar Rodney, President of Delaware, to convey a resolution to the Council of Assembly. The resolution dictates a state payment of forty-five hundred thousand dollars to the Continental Treasury. Transcript included.

Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes six letters to Charles Nisbet on a number of different issues, including commenting on contemporary religious movements and arguing that Nisbet should not accept the position as President of Dickinson College. "The state of affairs there, &...

General William Irvine writes to Joseph Reed, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, about preparations to meet expected attempt to rescue the convention prisoners at Lancaster and York.  Irvine also notes his concern with Robert Morris' inability to provide sufficient...

Brigadier General William Irvine writes Colonel Richard Butler in Carlisle to address ongoing operations against the Indians, land speculation, and the limited prospects of frontier officers. Transcript included.

James Smith, a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania, writes to Frederick Muhlenberg and complains that Mr. Lyon refuses to pay for cattle purchased to feed the troops at Carlisle. Transcript included.

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson writes to Thomas Smith, a loan officer, and explains settling the certificates that public officers used to pay for supplies, the payment of interest, and how to account for depreciation.

William Bingham writes from London to John Montgomery in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Bingham discusses the prospect of British aid to the new college and comments on the conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom. "At present the British are smarting under the wounds that the...