1From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Diverse Causes and considerations essential to the Administration of the Government, in my Judgment requiring a Change in the Department of State you are hereby discharged from any further Service as Secretary of State. MHi : Timothy Pickering Papers.
2From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
As I perceive a necessity of introducing a change in the Administration of the office of State, I think it proper to make this communication of it to the present Secretary of State that he may have an opportunity of resigning, if he chooses. I should wish the day on which his resignation is to take place to be named by himself. I wish for an Answer to this Letter on or before Monday Morning...
3From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 28 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attention of the Secretary of State and all the heads of Department to the report of the Secretary of the Navy on ship yards & dock yards & their opinions & advice concerning it, as it is necessary a decision should be soon made MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States proposes to the Consideration of the heads of Departments a Subject which although at first view it may appear of inconsiderable Moment, will upon more mature reflection be found to be of some difficulty but of great importance to the honor Dignity and Consistency of the Government. In every Government of Europe I believe there is a Gazette in the Service of...
5From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have considered Mr. Harrisons letter to you of the 10th. & in consequence of his opinion & the intimation of the judges, you may prepare a pardon for William Durelle, for all the sentence, except what relates to the security for future good behavior. I wish however that I had more information of the nature of the libell. You will please to write Mr. Harrison & inform him, that I leave...
6From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President desires the Secretary of State to send him as soon as possible a number of sea letters and Mediteranean passes for signature, sufficient for the years consumption that this cumbrous business may be out of the way. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your letter of yesterday I take this———early opportunity to inform you, that the determination of the President, is not at present to remove Mr. Pintard from his consulship at Madeira. I return you to be filed in your office, the respectable recommendations of Mr. Lamer & have the honor to be Sir / your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
8From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Attorney General has left with me and I now Send to you a Project of an explanatory Article or Treaty and a Project of a Letter to Mr King, defining an Ultimatum. There is no Business before the Government at this time of more importance than this and I pray you to turn, your Attention to it, and prepare a Draught of a Letter to Mr King, to be considered if possible on Monday Evening at...
9From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The President requests the Secretary of State to send him a copy of Mr. Patric Henry’s letter in which he declines his appointment, to be laid before congress with the other papers relative to the mission to France. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
10From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I think it will be expedient to lay before congress, on the second day of the session, all the papers which relate to the embassy to France, that they may be printed together, & the public enabled to judge from correct and authentic documents. To this end I request you to order copies to be made of your letter to Mr. Murray & his answer, of his letter to Talleyrand & his answer which should be...
11From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just now, recd. your favour of the 6th. I am glad Mr. Winchester has accepted his Commission. I return your Sons Extract from Liancourts Travels. Who could have put into his head, falsehoods so absurd and so gross? It could not be Simcoe. Absurd as he often was he could not have been guilty of this folly which is almost too palpable for our own Jacobinical Prints. Why have We no Copy of...
12From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment favored with yours of this date, & thank you for the information it contains. It was proper to publish the news in Mr. Humphry’s letter. I return you Mr. Kings, as well as his. The assurances you propose to convey through Mr. King to the court of Denmark, that their consul will be cordially received are very agreeable to me.—I hope to meet you in Philadelphia on the course of...
13From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
As the Session of Congress draws nigh, I pray you to favour me with your sentiments concerning the Communication necessary to be made to Congress of the State of the Nation, and particularly a concise narration of the Proceedings with St Domingo and the Isle of France. It may be doubtful however whether any thing need be said at present, on the last. A very succinct Account of the Invitation...
14From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to order fair copies of the instructions, as corrected last evening, to be prepared and delivered to Judge Elsworth & Govenor Davie, with another for Mr. Murray without loss of time, & to write a letter to those gentlemen, as Envoys Extraordinary to the French republic, expressing with the affectionate respects of the President, his desire that they would take their passage for...
15From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Murrays letters of May 28. June 13 & 22d, July 13 & 15 & the parts of newspapers inclosed with them. The private letter you sent me from Mr Murray, sometime ago, contained much such a review of the pamphlet of Boulay de la Meurthe. I have been anxious to see it, but it is not yet arrived. A parrallel between the English republic & the French must be a curious thing. I have...
16From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Sometime between the 10th & fifteenth of October, I shall join you at Trenton & will suspend, till that time, the ultimate determination concerning the instructions. I pray you to write to the Attorney General to meet us. We must be all together to determine all the principles of our negotiations with France & England. I have been obliged to sail for Europe in the middle of winter once, & on...
17From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Joseph Covachich at Barcelona requesting to be consul at Marseilles which you will please to file among other applications to be considered in due time I am Sir &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
18From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
On the 17th at night, I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 11th, & have given it that attention, which the great importance of its contents deserves. On the subject of rôle d’equipage, I feel a strong reluctance to any relaxation of the peremptory demand, we agreed on before I left Philadelphia, & Gen. Marshall’s observations are very just, yet it may be wiser to leave it to the...
19From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters from Major McFarland, a meritorious old officer & as I have always understood an amiable, irreproachable character, though unfortunate & in distress. I pray you to attend to this thing, as soon as possible & if any thing is wanting to procure him a patent, to inform him or me of it, as soon as possible, for he has no time to loose MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
20From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Commissioners Scott & White. Whether the address in question, is one I sent you sometime ago or another, which may be comeing, I know not. In all things relative to the federal city, I rely much on your advice, aided by Messrs McHenry Stoddert & Lee. With much respect &c. Inclosed also is a letter from Mr Daniel Pettibone which ought to have been addressed to you. MHi...
21From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition of George Schaffer Daniel Swarts, Henry Stahler, Christian Rhodes & Henry Shafford for a pardon of their crimes to which is subjoined a petition in their favor signed by many. I pray you to consider this with a number of others I sent you sometime ago & say whether I ought to give any answer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
22From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition from American seamen on board the Carnatic Capt. Loring in Jamaica. I pray you to write pressingly to Mr. Savage, to demand Habeas corpuses for them if no other means will do. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
23From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 23d. I am very glad to be informed, that the instructions for the envoys will be prepared in a few days, & that you have written to Mr Davie What think you of our envoys landing at Lisbon, & the frigate that carries them, takeing Mr. Smith to Constantinople, or cruising on the Spanish coast or in the Mediteranean? I am not for delaying the negotiation...
24From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 24 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th & read the letter of Mr B. H. Phillips, our consul at Curacao of 20th July, & the papers inclosed with it, which I now return. It is right to communicate these documents to Mr. Van Polaner & to Mr Murray, and to remonstrate in clear language to the government, of the Batavian government against the partiality of the govenor & councils & the scandalous...
25From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th and have sent the inclosed letters from you, one to Mr. Goodhue & the other to Capt Giles by the post under my frank as well as yours. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
26From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 10th. Mr. Shaw discovered his omission of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 and the paper of extracts & sent them on the next day. I hope you received them in course.—I have read the address to the independent electors of Pennsylvania, & am very curious to know, where all this will end. The trial will bring out some whimsical things. At present I will say nothing. I...
27From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are four petitions for mercy. One from Conrad Marks, Fredk. Heyney Anthony Staler, John Getman, Valentine Kuder, Jacob Kline, David Shaffer & Philip Lesh. Another from George Schaffer, Daniel Swarts, Henry Stahler, Christian Rhodes & Henry Shaffert. A third from Jacob Eyerman & John Everhast & a fourth from John Fries, all supported by numerous petitioners on their behalf. I wish Dr....
28From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
And now, sir, what shall I say to you on the subject of Libells and Satyrs, lawless Things indeed? I have recd your private Letter of the 1st of this month and considered the subjects of it, as fully, as the pressure of other Business of more importance would allow me time to do. Of Priestley and Coper, I will say no more at present, than to relate to you, two facts. Anecdote the 1st. Dr....
29From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the Exequatur for Mr. Joham Ernest Christian Schultze to be Prussian consul at Baltimore, which was enclosed in your letter of the 1st of this month signed, & am Sir your most humble MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
30From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letters & documents from Samuel Cooper Esqr I transmit at the request of Mr. William Shaw, now of this town & my near neigbor. I pray you to convey them by the first opportunity to Mr. King, with a request to him, to obtain the discharge of this gentlemen as soon as possible. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
31From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received late last Evening your favour of the 31st. of July, inclosing a triplicate of Mr. Murrays Letter of the 17th. of May and a Copy certified by Mr. Murray on the 18th. of May, of a Letter of Ch. Man. Talleyrand dated Paris le 23 Floreal de l’an 7 de la Republique Francaise une et indivisible. Sovereign to Sovereign, and Minister to Minister is a Maxim in the Cabinets of Europe, and...
32From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank Mr. Bordley kindly for his Book and you for your care and trouble in Sending it. I have a great Opinion of Mr. Bordleys Experience, skill and Knowledge in Husbandry and should have great delight in trying his Experiments, if I was not obliged to recollect and apply to myself President Washingtons Words to me, a few days before he went out and I came in. “Sir, I have read nothing these...
33From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank Mr Bordley kindly for his book, & you for your care and trouble in sending it.—I have a great opinion of Mr. Bordleys experience, skill & knowledge in husbandry, & should have great delight in trying his experriments, if I were not obliged to recollect & apply to myself, president Washingtons words to me, a few days before he went out & I came in. Sir I have read nothing these eight...
34From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 29th of July, incloseing Mr. Murrays of 7th of May & copy of Mr. Murrays instructions. The business is well enough done by Mr. Murray, & now let citizen directors chichane if they will, or be candid if they can. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
35From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed protest & certificates I received last night with the letter from Capt. Ebenezer Giles, late commander of the schooner Betsey. This gentleman made me a visit some weeks ago, to complain to me in person of the horrid treatment he received from the commander of the Ship Daphne, a British vessel of war. He has now sent me the papers & expects that government will espouse his cause. I...
36From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received a long letter from Mr. Gerry of the 24th of July with papers inclosed numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 besides another paper of extracts of letters. I enclose extracts of his letter together with all the numbers & his paper of extracts. These numbers & last extracts I pray you to return to me, when you have made all the uses of them you wish.—These papers I think will convince you as...
37From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr Cunnington has been at Quincy & exhibited to me a model of the machinery represented by the inclosed draught. The splendor of the light was so great & the experriment succeeded in all respects so well that I really think the invention a great improvement in œconomy as well as general utility in other respects. I pray you to show the plan & papers to the Secretary of the Treasury & request...
38From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 24th of July, inclosing an Aurora of July 24th imbued with rather more impudence than is common to that Paper. Is there any Thing evil in the Regions of Actuality or Possibility, that the Aurora has not suggested of me? You may depend upon it, I disdain to Attempt a vindication of myself against any of the Lies of the Aurora as much as any man concerned in the...
39From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had last night your favor of 18th. The misapprehension of Dr Steephens is to me altogether unaccountable—but I presume Mr. Listons letter will correct the error of Gen. Maitland. Lest the copy you have sent to the collector should miscarry I have sent one of your declarations to Gen Lincoln. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
40From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13th, incloseing Mr. Seagroves talks with Methlogy, his letter to you & your answer, all which I return. The Indian attack upon Hawkins is probably as injurious as that lately of the Tennessee assembly. Mr. Seagroves answer is very clever & your answer to him is very proper.—The Indians do not always discover that honesty & sincerity, which some philosophers...
41From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Spectateur du Nord with your second letter of the 13th. I wish we had at Hamburgh a consul whose correspondence was a little more copious in political & commercial information in these days of great events & important prospects. Native Americans alone have the proper feelings. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
42From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 13th received only last night. I sent you lately Mr. Listons two letters with one from Govenor Miflin & a copy from chief justice McKean. I will not comment on the letters of Mr. Liston nor examine whether all his sentiments are just or politick. But I heartily reprobate the outrage on the British government in violating the seals of its accredited minister to the...
43From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your private Letter of the 11th. which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered and answered particularly by me, because I have in another Letter written this morning referred the whole Subject to your final decision. The manual Exercise of Writing has become almost as painfull to me, as a blow upon the Elbow or the Knee, which induces me to Spare almost...
44From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th & have read Mr. Davis’s letter inclosed in it of June 29th. My own opinion coincideing with yours & his, I have signed & now inclose the pardon of John Scotchar, not however without some serious apprehensions of the consequences of tenderness, for cases of such dangerous example. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
45From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your private letter of the 11th, which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered & answered particularly by me, because I have in another letter, written this morning, referred the whole subject to your final decision. The manual exercise of writeing has become almost as painful to me, as a blow upon the elbow, or the knee, which induces me to spare almost...
46From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from his Excellency Gov. Miflin, copy of one from Chief Justice McKean to him & two letters of Mr Liston. You will restore these letters to Mr. Liston & inform him of the circumstances. Inclosed is my answer to Gov. Miflin which I pray you to seal & to send. Since I received this letter from the Govenor I have received yours of July 12th upon the same subject. MHi : Adams...
47From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose a letter from Joshua Lamson soliciting an appointment, as consul or Vice consul at Trieste. Mr. Lamson has been handsomely recommended to me. I pray you to record him as a candidate for enquiry. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
48From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in the information that the reports propagated of Indian depredations in the North Western territory are destitute of foundation.—The letters from Christopher McPherson I return to you inclosed. It would not perhaps be proper for you or me to answer him. But a man of his stamp may be of more consequence than we may apprehend. If you think it worth while to communicate the letter to...
49From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent all the papers inclosed in yours of the 2d to Capt. Little. If however I should see Capt Little before he sails, I know not but I might with propriety, communicate to him some idea of his destination, because the reason you assign, for concealing his instructions, has ceased by the publication of the proclamation, relative to the trade of St Domingo I have the honor to be Sir your...
50From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
With Mr. Davis’s report of the 8th I enclose all the papers relative to the complaint of Mr Liston against Capt Laskey & Capt Mugford & am Sir your most obedient I return also Carnots pamphlet. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.