271To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 24 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
At the particular desire of the Bearer, the Miamis Chief called the little Turtle, I give Him this Letter of Introduction to you; His consequence among the Nations, approximate to one North Western frontier, gave Him pretensions to this distinction, I have deemed it political to indulge Him, and hope the Step may not be displeasing to you.— To the details which I have given the Secretary of...
272To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 26 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
To justify to our Country & to the World, your protection of me at a moment, when numerous & powerful Enemies were combined to destroy me, by implications which dare not meet the light, I profess before God & Man, is among the leading Motives of all my Actions. The Death of General Wayne silenced an investigation, which I had much at Heart, because it would have unfolded Scenes &...
273From John Adams to John Adams, 27 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate James Blake of Pensilvania to be Consul of the United States in the City of St. Domingo in the Island of St. Domingo. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
274To John Adams from John Lathrop, 27 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your very obliging favour of the 4th I recieved, together with the late professor Luzac’s very learned and elegant Oration concerning citizen Socrates. As it is read with great pleasure by those members of the Academy who have had an opportunity to see it, we have a desire to know why that great man left the chair of Rector Magnificent, and whether he now sustains any relation to the...
275To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 28 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
In pursuance of your direction founded on the Resolve of Congress passed the second of March 1797 I wrote to the Governors of the. . . . . states of Conversation in New-Jersey Pennsylvania Maryland, Virginia, Kentuckey Tennessee & South-Carolina. requesting to be informed whether those states respectively had “ratified the amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution concerning the...
276To John Adams from William Goforth, 30 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
Altho I am far from haveing the honor of your personal acquaintance, and am perhaps but scarcely within the circle of your knowledge; yet being a citizen, I presume to address you. I was early and decidedly in the interest of my beloved country, and being involed, with a band of patriots in the New york company of granediers, I had the pleasure to escort you into that city when on your way, in...
277To John Adams from James McHenry, 30 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of War begs leave to sub mit to the president certain facts and considerations which respect the situation of his department. 1. That the appropriation for the Salary of Clerks in the War Office is Four thousand and forty Dollars. 2. That this Sum was for a certain time thought sufficient for Seven Clerks. 3. That finding it inadequate to their support it became necessary in...
278To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
It is Long ago, that I was honoured with your favour of Dec. 6 and April 18—in which your Excellency communicated with me the unhappy situation of the worthy Luzac, worthy indeed the high encomiums, which you have bestowed on him, and more so to have merited in such high a degree your Excellency esteem and adprobation. I should have sooner accused this favour, had I not feared to interrupt...
279To John Adams from Citizens of Stockbridge, 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a time when our Country is convulsed by different and opposite political opinions and views, when national Councils are divided and embarrassed, the efforts of patriotism retarded, and measures necessary for self-defence, and the protection of its property and independent rights fail of that promptitude which alone can insure, or promise, the best effects, it may justly be considered both...
280To John Adams from Robert Wharton, 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a moment, when dangers threaten the peace and prosperity of the United States, when foreign insolence and rapine, have deeply wounded our national honor, and injured our lawful commerce, it is presumed the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of the City of Philadelphia will not be unwelcome, when they come forward to assure you of their perfect approbation of your administration & their entire...
281To John Adams from Robert Worrall, 3 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I hope your Goodness will not think me Troublesom in giving you this line, and Informing you of my being in the Building Branch of Buseness, and having nearly devoted all my Time, Since the begining of August last, with the Commissioner of Revenew, on the Light, and Beacon, House, Business, and makeing the best Plans, with Honest Estimates, delivered and fulley Approved of, with Bonds Men...
282To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to lay before you a copy of the act of the Legislature of Kentuckey, this day received, ratifying the amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States, respecting the suability of States. The amendment having now been ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, has become a part of the Constitution of the United States. MHi :...
283To John Adams from R. Bourne, 6 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
The employment of Individuals is a matter of Concern—The unfinished House in Chesnut street might probably be made of Much value to the State by being made into a Mint and Treasury I am with Much respect MHi : Adams Papers.
284To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 6 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Dalton desirous to pay the Compliments of the Season to her much respected Friend Mrs. Adams, I take the Liberty of putting under Cover, with this, a Letter to that Purpose—adding Mrs. D’s request that you will be so good as to pardon the Freedom. It affords me an Apology for troubling yourself with my best Wishes, on the same Occasion—I should have highly enjoyed the Opportunity of...
285To John Adams from John Allen, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
Judge Miller, of Connecticut, and a Gentleman in whose information entire confidence may be placed, arrived here within a few days from the Natchez which he left about the middle of Novr. In conversation with me and others last evening he mentioned that Lieut. Pope’s detachment of troops in that quarter were extremely destitute of cloathing, & that a year’s pay was due them— That Lieut. Pope...
286To John Adams from Richard Peters, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
From motives of humanity towards the objects of the act of Congress entitled “An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt,” I have, under several disagreeable circumstances, endeavored to carry that law into effect; but I find it deficient in many essential provisions. It is doubtful whether the district judge is vested with judicial powers, or those of a bankrupt commissioner. It...
287To John Adams from Henry Lee, 10 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I intrude on yr. time with reluctance but having communicated to you the purport of Mr John Taylors declaration (previous to the late presidential election) respecting your political principles, with a promise that I would present you with his written declaration on that subject, I feel myself bound so to do. You have herewith his ler: a form of doing the business to him most agreable, because...
288To John Adams from John Taylor, 10 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
At the time when the contest for the Presidency, produced a general discussion relative to the political opinions of the gentleman proposed for that office, I mentioned to Genl. Lee a conversation I had with you in the Senate chamber some years past, and he now calls upon me for a statement of what I then said. I think there would at this time be an impropriety, in giving it, except for the...
289To John Adams from Charles Lee, 10 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have attentively considered the letter of the judge of the United States for the district of Pennsylvania, dated the 8th instant, relative to the act of Congress entitled “An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt,” which he thinks deficient in many particulars. 1st. He states it as doubtful whether the act vested judicial power in the judge relative to the discharge of...
290To John Adams from John Murray Forbes, 12 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
It is with extreme pain that I find myself constrained, in justice to my own reputation, to occupy, with an affair of a personal nature, even a moment of that time which is so important to my Country— The distinguished place which Mr. Munroe has given my name in his late, as I conceive, Criminal Publication, renders it indispensably necessary that I should explain to you, Sir, what were my...
291To John Adams from Rev. James Wilson, 12 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
The only apology I can offer for troubling you is, that, I know, your highest gratification is to promote the welfare of the United States, over which you preside with so much wisdom and dignity. The annexed piece was written out for publication; but, as I am of opinion every good citizen ought to beware of unnecessarily agitating the public mind in such a government as ours, I anxiously...
292To John Adams from Noah Webster, 13 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
In my letters to Dr Currie, I have supposed the Influenza in 1789 to be a new disease in the United States. Dr Belknap informs me by letter that in 1760 or 1761 the same complaint prevailed in Boston, & that your father died of it. I beg the favor of you, Sir, to inform me, if you can, of the precise year of its prevalence the time of the year, & how extensive it was, and whether fatal to many...
293To John Adams from Thomas Adderley, 14 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
If in the Course of Your Excellency’s leisure your may be pleased to cast Your eye over the Poem I now have the honor of laying before You, You will be able to judge whether it possesses sufficient merit to be dedicated to You. I shall make it more perfect, before it meets the public, if Your Excellency conceives that You would not have to blush for Patronizing the sentiments and the humble...
294To John Adams from John Davis, 15 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I herewith inclose Mr. O’Brien’s letter, pursuant to your Excellency’s instructions. I thought it proper to copy the two first pages and to place the extract in the hands of Dr Lathrop, to be communicated to the Academy, at their next meeting. Mr O’Brien’s donation is still at Plymouth. No convenient opportunity has ocurred to have it conveyed by land, and the severity of the season has...
295To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 18 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am not without apprehension that I may commit an impropriety by the present mode of address—if I do, I trust to your well known indulgence for forgiveness— It is my fixed intention, Sir, after obtaining an honorable discharge from my present confinement, to quit Commercial pursuits, and turn my attention to Agriculture—unless an opportunity should immediately present for serving my Country...
296Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 22 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 8 th. I received the 17 th. Ins t. and broke the Affair to M r. Cranch, who has it under Consideration and expect he will give me an Answer this Week— A Day or two previous to the Receipt of yours, Solomon Thayer of Braintree came to my House and offered me a piece of Pasture Land adjoyning to a detached Piece of the Farm which You bought of Elkanah Thayer, the same Piece he had...
297To John Adams from John Redman, 2 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
From a Conviction that the Introduction of Contagious Diseases into the Ports of the United States may be prevented by effectual Laws, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia have directed me to present to you a Copy of their proceedings on this interesting Subject, of which they request your Acceptance. I am / with Sentiments of great / Respect, / By order of the College MHi : Adams Papers.
298To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 5 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Director of the Mint, begs leave for the Information of Government, respectfully to export That during the past Year, there have been issued from the Mint, the several Species of Coin particularly mentioned in the enclosed Returns, amounting in Value to 194,605 Dollars in Gold Coins, 63,156, 45/100 Dollars in Silver Coins, and 9,990, 34/100 Dollars in copper Coins, making up the whole...
299To John Adams from John Sevier, 6 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
In a letter of this day from the Honorable David Campbell esquire, one of the Judges of the Superior courts of law and equity in this state, he complains that on the third Instant about ten O Clock at night, on his own premises, and not within the indian line, he was arrested by two of Colonel Butlers Officers, and conducted a prisoner to his cantonment there detained until the next day before...
300To John Adams from Jean Payen de Boisneuf, 6 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Les maux qu’ont éprouvés les habitants des Colonies françoises, les Ministres des Autels, les cy-devant Nobles & autres, ont été si grands quils pourroient se persuader que la Justice N’habite plus sur la terre, si Dieu lui même N’avoit dit Cherchez et vous trouverez. C’est dans le Cœur de Celui qui par le Choix d’une Nation entierre a été Jugé digne d’occuper la premiere place que je dois la...