#18th century history

[my-deer-history]

Never did I feel, my dear Bonstetten, to what a tedious length the few short moments of our life may be extended by impatience and expectation, till you had left me [...] I did not conceive till now (I own) what it was to lose you, nor felt the solitude and insipidity of my own condition, before I possess'd the happiness of your friendship.

Thomas Gray to Charles Victor de Bonstetten, [12 April 1770]

~

Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action rather than words, to convince you that I love you. I shall only tell you that ’till you bade us Adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you.

Alexander Hamilton to John Laurens, [April 1779]

[thestarsfightagainstusmyfriend]

Marie Antoinette's Private Chambers at Versailles

[my-deer-friend]

Fraunces Tavern is one of the very few remaining colonial-era buildings in New York, and was the site of several historic moments, including Washington's farewell to his officers in 1783 and the Society of the Cincinnati dinner that Hamilton and Burr attended a week before the duel.

The long room where Washington had his farewell:

The museum also has letters by Washington and Nathan Hale.

And Ben Tallmadge's memoirs.

Along with, for some reason, a bit of Washington's hair.

[little-desi-historian]

Re: Dandyism

The inherent problem with the “foncy poncy oppressive English narrative” that is definitely historical revisionism.

1) anyone who was anyone in the 18th century (Hamilton, Tallmadge, Major André, Washington’s other aides to camp and the British generals) would’ve both presented as a “dandy” it was a symbol of status and being cultured and/or well read.

2) imperialism cuts both ways and both sides brutalized and lied to black and indigenous folks. Don’t get me, a brown person, started on the British Raj. (Reading 1) (reading 2)

Prompted by this post also I highly recommend The Vampire Lestat, Tallmadge’s memoir, the scarlet pimpernel, and dangerous liaisons.

[meerawrites]

Benjamin Tallmadge, former resident of Setauket/Brookhaven and Litchfield, Connecticut. Now resident of my bookshelf. I hope he knows he’s loved and in good company.

Thank you for being a massive nerd with me @hamilpop and thank you for your lovely letter! ~ Shop link. ~ Link.

[culperscomet]

A little while ago I did this semester-long project focusing on the culper ring which had me trying to find primary sources that would be useful. One of the sources that I found was a letter from Charles Scott to George Washington and it's actually the funniest thing I found during the entire research part.

In the letter, Scott says that he forwarded a letter to Washington from a man named John Bolton, who was recommended to him by Benjamin Tallmadge… I’m sure you can see the irony here.

National Archives (where I found it) goes on to say that Scott more than likely meant to use the name Samuel Culper, but it’s actually way more funny he used Tallmadge’s alias instead. Just imagine Tallmadge indirectly hyping himself up to Scott like “this guy’s so smart you can totally trust him” as he’s just referring to himself.

[queerquaintrelle]

Femslash February 2024: Georgiana Cavendish/Elizabeth Christiana (later Cavendish) - the Duchesses of Devonshire

“writers have suggested that the two women had a relationship which was closer than their individual relationship with the Duke.” (Porter, 2016, p.196.)

(source) (romantic female friendship: 18th century)

[ms-march]

Fun Fact: When sources site Henry Knox having his Dunkies on the Great Baggage Train THIS is what they’re referring to !!

[melpomeneprose]

Come get (y)our boy, @honorhearted / @tallmadgeandtea (affectionate).

(Amrev museum in Philadelphia).

(Fraunces Tavern, NYC).

[eriiaer]

James when he's mad at his son idk I've never heard of the founding fathers

Kidding, uhh happy 273rd birthday to James Madison!

[my-deer-history]

What is your favorite John Laurens letter?

It's got to be John's 26 October 1776 letter to Henry. Written two months before John embarks on his return voyage to South Carolina - and on the actual day he gets married to Martha Manning - fully two thirds of the letter are devoted to causes close to John's heart, and he sneaks the biggest news in as a purposefuly dismissive throwaway line. It's just so very him. It's also quite long, so I have numbered and colour coded it for easier reference.

1. Trouble with the post (as usual).

2. I'm going to interpret your comments on hating slavery very generously for you.

3. I already decided all on my own that I'm coming home, but thanks anyway for giving me permission!

4. Okay, dad, I have some really important stuff I need to tell you...

...about naval warfare strategy.

Now--

5. You thought I was done talking about abolishing slavery? Guess again! (Oh and for some reason my West Indian father-in-law gets all uncomfortable when I talk about this?)

6. Oh btw I got married and I'm having a kid, soz.

7. Anyway! 😅 I might go to Prussia for some military training.

8. Everyone's fine, everything's fine, glad you're fine! Oh but let me snitch on cousin Molsy real quick.

[my-deer-friend]

Historical houses today!

Hamilton's Grange

Morris-Jumel mansion (highly recommended)

[little-desi-historian]

Memoir of Benjamin Tallmadge.

Fraunces Tavern, NYC.

[meerawrites]

Almost done my novel research, I just need to get to the terror and the (justified) trial and execution of Marie Antoinette and Louis le incompetent <- I’m not saying his number he doesn’t deserve that.

Ah yes, the French revolution the most divisive event in history, my beloved.

Also... Robespierre was a saint compared to feudalism, monarchy and what Louis (and every French monarch before him) was doing to Haiti.

Marie Antoinette’s execution (from a French Revolution pamphlet).

Marie Antoinette on the way to her execution (Francois Fleming 1887).

[culperscomet]

girls when they remember nathan hale and william tallmadge (benjamin tallmadge’s older brother) probably died only about a month or two apart from each other

[queerquaintrelle]

Happy Birthday to Benjamin Tallmadge (February 25, 1754) and John Graves Simcoe (February 25, 1752)!