Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman and Founding Father from Virginia, best known for the June 1776 Lee Resolution, the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain leading to the United States Declaration of Independence, which he signed. Lee also served a one-year term as the president of the Continental Congress, proposed and was a signatory to the Continental Association, signed the Articles of Confederation, and was a United States senator from Virginia from 1789 to 1792, serving part of that time as the second president pro tempore of the upper house. He was a member of the Lee family, a historically influential family in Virginia politics.
Philadelphia 26 July 1775 Dear Sir With the most cordial warmth we recommend our Countryman Mr. Edmund Randolph to your patronage and favor. This young Gentlemans abilities, natural and acquired,…
Chantilly 21st. July 1776 Dear Sir I thank you much for your favor and its inclosures by this post, and I wish sincerely, as well for the honor of Congress,…
Philadelphia 27th Septr. 1776 Dear Sir I should have written to you before now if I had not been uncertain about finding you at home, as the distance was great,…
Philadelphia 3d. Novr. 1776 Dear Sir As I have received no answer to the letter I wrote you by the Express from Congress I conclude it has miscarried. I heared…
Philadelphia April 29th. 1777 Dear Sir If I were to consider punctilio more than the suggestions of friendship, I should expect an answer to some of the letters I have…
Phila. May 20. 1777 Dear Sir We are this moment informed here, that some evil disposed people (no doubt hired for the purpose) have industriously propagated among the N. Carolina…
Phila. August 25. 1777 Dear Sir It will not perhaps be disagreeable to you in your retirement, sometimes to hear the events of war, and how in other respects we…
York May 2. 1778. Dear Sir We are this moment made acquainted by the War Office that an Express was immediately to depart for Virginia, and I take the opportunity…
York 3d. May 1778 Dear Sir Having detained the Express that he might carry you the news that we heard was on its way from France, I am furnished with…
York the 11th of May 1778 Dear Sir We have once more ventured into the field of composition as the inclosed Address will shew you. And I have the pleasure…
York in Pennsylva. 16 June 1778 Dear Sir I thank you for your favor of the 5th which I received yesterday. It is the only satisfactory account I have received…
York Town in Pennsylva June 21 1778 Gentlemen The British Commissioners have arrived and transmitted their powers and propositions to Congress, which have received the answer you will see in…
York the 23d. June 1778 My dear Sir The inclosed Gazette will shew you the progress, and perhaps the end for some time, of our negotiation with the British Commissioners.…
Philadelphia July 20th 1778 Dear Sir The condition of our affairs is much changed since last I had the pleasure of writing to you, as by the favor of his…
Philadelphia 10th Augt. 1778 Dear Sir I agree entirely with you concerning the importance of the confederation, and have never failed to press it. Ten States have ratified—Jersey, Delaware, and…
Philadelphia October 5. 1778 Dear Sir A few days past, since the last post left us, Mr. Harvey presented me your favor of August the 30th, to which this is…
In Committee for foreign Affairs Philada. Octr. 28th. 1778 Sir While we officially communicate to you the inclosed Resolve 1 the Foundation of which you cannot remain a Stranger to,…
Philadelphia March 15. 1779 Dear Sir I have not been unmindful of the small commission you gave me to procure the song and receipt for you. I once had these,…
Philadelphia, 24 April 1779. Dft ( ViU : Lee Papers). printed : The Letters of Richard Henry Lee , ed. James Ballagh, 2 vols., N.Y., 1914 (repr. N.Y., 1970), 2:46–49.…
Philadelphia May the 3d. 1779 Dear Sir Always attentive to your commands, I have obtained here, and now inclose you the song and the receipt you desired. I once had…
Philadelphia May 22. 1779 Dear Sir I have paid due attention to your favor of April the 21st., and I believe there would have been no difficulty in obtaining what…
Chantilly, 8 July 1779 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 17 June. “Every good Whig will wish success to a governor whose principles of action are not the incentives of whim,…
Menokin, 12 Aug. 1779 . Arrival from France at Lee’s house of Hezekiah Ford, late secretary to Arthur Lee. The writer has advised Ford not to go on to Congress…
Menokin Septr. 6. 1779 Dear Sir The Chevalier D’Anmour who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, having been lately appointed Consul of France for this State, as…