Bedford Letters for the years 1777 thru 1827

Bedford, NY - 14 January 1777

Yesterday I walked from Danbury to this place twenty long miles in company with Mr. Cabot and two other gentlemen.

Bedford, CT - 19 November 1778

I have been hourly waiting, for more then two Days, for a letter from Culper, & I am confident the failure must be attributed to those employed in crossing the sound...

Bedford, CT - 18 July 1780

The Enemy are very busy collecting forage wood &c from L.I. A fleet of 40 Sail are constantly passing & repassing the Sound transporting those supplies

Bedford, CT - 4 December 1782

I had accounts yesterday from Long Island informing that Adml. Digby was at Huntington on a hunting party, & that Genl. Carleton was expected there in a Day or two

Bedford, NY - 25 July 1804

The philosophic topics of consolation are familiar to you, and we all know from experience how little relief is to be derived from them.

Bedford, NY - 2 November 1804

Our Heavenly Father has called this child home, and the very best wish that you or I could have formed for him. was, that after a long and virtuous abode bore, he might be where he now is.

Bedford, NY - 18 October 1805

I have been favoured with your letter of the 2d ultimo, respecting the African Free-school in the city of New-York. It is, in my opinion, a charitable and useful institution, and well entitled to encouragement and support.

Bedford, NY - 29 December 1805

Although I am persuaded that these reflections are not new to you, yet my solicitude about whatever may affect your comfort, prompts me to remind you of them.

Bedford, NY - 11 April 1806

It appears to me, that every independent state has, as such, a perfect right at all times, whether at war or at peace, to make grants to and treaties with any other independent state

Bedford, PA - 15 August 1806

I leave here my daughter and her son, who have both greatly profited by the use of the waters, or, what is perhaps more probable, by the mountain air.

Bedford, NY - 18 April 1807

Every modification of sovereignty has its inconveniences - there is a better and a worse in them all, and no other than a relative perfection in any of them.

Bedford, NY - 13 September 1807

You have the gout, and you extract consolation from it ; this is good moral chymistry. My rheumatism and your gout may perhaps carry us home the farthest way round, but not in an easy chair.

Bedford, NY - 22 May 1809

The information it conveys cannot fail of being grateful to all who prefer the wise and upright policy which distinguished the administration of Washington, to that which of late has distressed and disgraced our country.

Bedford, NY - 24 July 1809

I was called to Albany by the death of the only remaining child of my daughter, whose grief for the loss of her son and of her husband was still fresh and severe.

Bedford, NY - 16 August 1809

A proper history of the United States would have much to recommend it : in some respects it would be singular, or unlike all others

Bedford, NY - 8 November 1809

The patrons of the abolition act, and of the African Institution, certainly do honour, and will probably do more than ordinary good to Great Britain

Bedford, NY - 26 February 1810

After lingering through the summer, I found my disorder gradually returning in the autumn. Since the middle of November I have been confined to the house ; but have as yet suffered less this winter than I did the last.

Bedford, NY - 25 October 1810

The principles of the English constitution appear to require that the whole number of representatives should be fairly apportioned among the whole number of electors.

Bedford, NY - 0 January 1811

To sow wheat here is like taking a ticket in a lottery ; more blanks than prizes. The fly destroys more than we reap.

Bedford, NY - 29 March 1811

Your letter conveyed to me the first and only information I have received, that a copy of President Washington's valedictory address had been found among the papers of General Hamilton, and in his handwriting

Bedford, NY - 23 April 1811

Accept my thanks for the book on the Resources of Great Britain, which you was so obliging as to send me. It abounds in interesting matter

Bedford, NY - 7 November 1811

You have certainly had no inconsiderable share of difficulties, dangers, and troubles, and as you justly observe, Providence has carried you through them all, and has also given you consolations and enjoyments.

Bedford, NY - 2 March 1812

When a piece of ground is wanted for a use important to the State, I know that the State has a right to take it from the owner, on paying the full value of it ; but certainly the Legislature has no right to compel a freeholder to part with his land t

Bedford, NY - 7 September 1812

mention is made of a work of your brother, then in the press, viz. "Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department." The subject and the author naturally excited my attention, and my desire to procure a copy.

Bedford, NY - 2 December 1812

Such institutions become the religion we profess, and the blessings we enjoy. Be pleased to assure the board that I am very sensible of the honour they have done me

Bedford, NY - 1 January 1813

Whether our religion permits Christians to vote for infidel rulers, is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received, either from the clergy or the laity.

Bedford, NY - 12 January 1813

Notwithstanding the inducements I have to make frequent visits to New-York, I have not been there for four years past. The state of my health, and the regimen it requires, not permitting me to be far or long from home.

Bedford, NY - 22 February 1813

You request me to be one of the godfathers. Baptism is too generally regarded as being little more than a customary ceremony ; and yet the purpose of it, and the names used on the occasion, show it to be a solemn procedure.

Bedford, NY - 14 April 1813

Marks of respect to the characters of such men as Dr. Elliot, not only tend to console their afflicted relatives, but also to cherish the virtues by which they were distinguished.

Bedford, NY - 31 May 1813

The literary productions of Britain and America being interesting to each other, many are of opinion, and I concur in it, that the English language and its orthography should be the same in both countries.

Bedford, NY - 25 October 1813

I have chosen for this letter a subject that is more within your province than in mine.

Bedford, NY - 20 September 1814

The cold weather you mention has also prevailed here. I do not recollect so cool a summer. Our corn does not look well. The crops of rye were slender ; those of wheat were good.

Bedford, NY - 1 November 1814

Every independent nation has, as such, a rightful and exclusive jurisdiction over the country within its acknowledged boundary lines.

Bedford, NY - 9 January 1815

My health continues to wear away, but I seldom suffer severe pain. Conversation, books, and recollections still enable me, with the blessing of Providence, to amuse confinement, and to glide on placidly towards that ocean to which the stream of time

Bedford, NY - 11 March 1815

Unless discontents should arise between France and Britain, French influence will not soon be very active in America ; and, consequently, will not administer much fuel to renew and feed a flame against England.

Bedford, NY - 14 February 1816

As to the work you mention, I am glad you have undertaken it, because it is desirable, and because I expect it will be well performed. It would give me pleasure to afford the aids you request, but the state of my health admits of very little exertion

Bedford, NY - 22 May 1816

Accept my thanks for the friendly letter, and for the book which you was so obliging as to send me by my son.

Bedford, NY - 12 June 1816

I rejoice in the institution of that national society, and assure the Board of Managers, that I am very sensible of the honour they have done me, in thus connecting me with it.

Bedford, NY - 8 August 1816

Your exertions to improve agriculture, and render it more productive, are known and acknowledged.

Bedford, NY - 0 October 1816

Having heard much of your discourse before the New-York Historical Society, it gave me pleasure to receieve copy of it, and to find from the direction that I owed it to your friendly attention.

Bedford, NY - 12 October 1816

Whether war of every description is prohibited by the gospel, is one of those questions on which the excitement of any of the passions can produce no light. An answer to it can result only from careful investigation and fair reasoning.

Bedford, NY - 31 January 1818

I have not seen Mr. Wirt's book, nor heard of the "passage" in it, of which your letter contains a copy.

Bedford, NY - 15 April 1818

In my letter to you of the 16th October Inst, I hinted that I might perhaps write and send you a few more lines on the question, Whether war of every description is forbidden by the gospel ?

Bedford, NY - 25 January 1819

As you are in the seventy-fifth year of your age, and I in the seventy- fourth of mine, our leases have expired. We are holding over, and others will soon occupy our places.

Bedford, NY - 27 February 1819

The lawfulness of the invasion and conquest of Canaan, being made by express Divine command, is indubitable. It does not decide the question, whether any wars, unless so commanded, are permitted by the moral law

Bedford, NY - 21 December 1819

The remarks and statements contained in it place the pernicious influence of slavery on the welfare of our country in conspicuous and impressive points of view.

Bedford, NY - 26 December 1820

Men who are ardent in the pursuit of influence and its fruits, and more attentive to the prosecution than to the propriety of their schemes, usually become and remain hostile to those who steadfastly disapprove of their manoeuvres.

Bedford, NY - 13 January 1821

I have received your letter of the 23d ult. expressing a desire that Botta's History and your Translation of it may have my approbation

Bedford, NY - 12 March 1821

My letter to you of the 20th December last, contained some remarks relative to the perversions and obliquities which you had noticed, and which I observed were neither recent nor unexpected.

Bedford, NY - 24 April 1821

We have both experienced afflicting dispensations. Your portion of health has for a long time been diminished ; and I have not had a well day for the last twelve years.

Bedford, NY - 30 April 1821

Controversies between the national and a state government, or any of their respective departments, are to be regretted. It is desirable that the one which occasioned this report, should be brought to an amicable and satisfactory termination

Bedford, NY - 3 December 1821

Your Dictionary will doubtless derive utility and reputation from the extensive investigations you mention. The assiduity with which you have for many years persevered, and still persevere, in accomplishing that arduous task, will, I hope, be followe

Bedford, NY - 28 July 1822

That the government of a State should have authority to appoint "particular days for rendering thanks to God" for any signal blessing, or imploring his assistance "in any public calamity," is certainly proper.

Bedford, NY - 23 January 1827

A kind Providence has extended our lives to the commencement of another year. Very few of our early a ciates remain with us.