151John Adams to Richard Cranch, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here in anxious Expectation of the Arrival of my Family, which I hope are coming in Calahan. When I Shall have the Happiness to see you I know not, but I think it probable I Shall remain here untill I return to America, as We learn nothing of any determinations of Congress. M rs & Miss Adams will not be Sorry to have made a Trip to the Hague provided they are not obliged to Stay long, and...
152John Adams to Richard Cranch, 15 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Can you give me any Information concerning the Persons named in the inclosed Paper? Mr Jenkinson, I presume, has, by his late Motions in Parliament, all of which are carried without opposition, convinced the People of America, that they have nothing but a ruinous Commerce to expect with England. Our Crisis is at hand, and if the states do not hang together, they might as well have been “hanged...
153John Adams to Richard Cranch, 11 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged to you, for your Friend Ship to my Brother Adams, and hope that his Conduct in his new office, will do no dishonour to his Appointment but he will stand in need sometimes of your Advice. Inclosed with this is a Book of my Friend Jefferson, which, you will entrust to none but faith full Friends. It is not yet to be published. We are at War with Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and...
154From John Adams to William Cranch, 23 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your kind Letter of the 5. of December, and for a former one, and for the important Intelligence conveyed in both. Braintree could not have made a wiser Choice of Delegates to Convention, and We may now depend upon a wise decision from our Town. We can Scarcely hope to hear of the Result of the Massachusetts Convention, before We embark. March is the Month fixed...
155From John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 15 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Last evening Mons r: de le Tombe called upon me with your letter of 3 d. July, inclosing the Massachusetts’ Act of Navigation. As you do me the honor to ask my Sentiments of this law, you shall have them without disguise. If the legislature passed it from a sanguine expectation that it will soon force or intimidate the British Ministry into such a treaty of Commerce as we desire, or can agree...
156John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favour of the Second of June by M r Tracy. as I Stopped in London only a few Hours, I had not an Oppertunity to see him: but I flatter myself with the Hope of Seeing him and M r Jackson here, where at length I am happily established with my Family. M r Jefferson and M r Humphreys are arrived, and Shall Soon begin our Work. I am So near D r Franklin, that it is but a pleasant...
157John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 25 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
Within a few days I have rec d your Favour of the 16 of August, with the Resolve of the General Court of the 6 and 7 of July. The Line between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia gave me much Uneasiness at the Time of the Negotiation of the Provisional Articles, and Still continues to distress me. I knew that the French in former Times, had a Practice of erecting an holy Cross of Wood upon every...
158From John Adams to William Cushing, 7 March 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly obliged, by the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 18 th. of February; and regret very much the Want of Leisure to examine the Subject of it, with that Attention which its great Importance requires. That the Truth may be pleaded in Bar of a civil Action for Damages, for actionable Words, Spoken or written, I remembered very well: but it lay in my mind that Some just...
159From John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 26 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Jan: 23. like all your other Letters, contains valuable information & judicious reflections— The time is now come, when the affairs of the United states must take a turn for the better or become much worse— The Impost I presume is granted to Congress by this time. I only wish it were 20 p r. Cent instead of 5— indeed if 40. were necessary, to pay the Compleat interest of the...
160John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 2 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d , Yesterday, your obliging Letter of the fifth of December, having before received and answered as I Suppose, my Letter Book of that time being at Paris, those of July and August.— These Letters have given me great Pleasure as they let me into the Spirit of the Times and of Affairs in a Country, whose Happiness interests me very much. It would be improper for me perhaps, if I were...
161John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 5 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had last night the Pleasure of your Letter of Dec r: 21. I cannot, indeed Sir flatter myself at present that the Nation will receive, “the greatest Benefits” from any of my Labours in a public Line. It is a Consolation to me under all discouragements, to reflect upon services, which I have now & then had Opportunities of rendering. But such Occasions rarely occur: public Life is like a long...
162From John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 26 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
My Son is going home, and for his sake as well as my own, I will not let him go without a Line to you. We are glad to find that Congress are in a Place where they may be comfortably accommodated, and are anxious to learn their Decisions. probably they may adjourn in June, but I hope they will accomplish something towards raising a Fund for the payment of the Interest of their Debts abroad and...
163John Adams to Francis Dana, 8 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of 12 Dec r , Some days ago, and rejoice to hear of your returning Health and increasing Family. I wish the Young Lady whom I love the better for the much respected Name you have given her as good an Husband as the World Shall afford, whether Charles Shall be fidele to his Engagements or not.— I thank you, Sir for your kind attention to my Sons, the eldest of whom I hope...
164John Adams to Francis Dana, 4 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I presume this will meet you in Congress where No Doubt it is less irksome to Serve than heretofore, but not yet So agreable as it ought to be, and must be made.— The States will find themselves obliged to make their Delegates more comfortable & more honourable, if they do not See a Necessity of giving more Power to that assembly.— Many Gentlemen in Europe think the Powers in the Confederation...
165John Adams to Daniel Crommelin & Sons, 26 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have receiv’d the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me, on the twenty fourth of this month, and upon looking into the Treaty, I suspect you have not a right Copy. It is the 27 th: Article, which relates to the subject of shipping sailors, and not the 28 th as you suppose. And upon reading over attentively the 27 th: Article, I am afraid of doing mischief if I were, to intermeddle, or...
166The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that...
167The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12 th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
168The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your grace did us the honour of writing us on the 24 th. day of Last month, and we received with much Satisfaction the assurances on the part of his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States of america that Can tend to the establishing a System of mutual & permanent advantage, to the...
169From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Col. Forrest, informed me last Night that he delivered you the Letter I wrote by him. in which were orders upon the Bankers of Amsterdam to pay you your Salery, till then I was anxous about it, as you make no mention of it in yours of the 25 th of Sep r I am extreamly Sorry to hear of your unfortunate Situation, at the date of that Letter. but hope before this time there is some change for the...
170From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned that an absence in the Country should have So long delayed My Answer to your Letter of the tenth of July. There is no Act of Congress which authorizes me expressly, to order the Payment of your Salary,: But the Representation in your Letter Supported by the Extract from that of M r Jefferson to you of the 14. of June last, Show Such an Absolute necessity of it that I...
171From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 13 of March was brought in to me but this moment— I am not able to give you any information you desire— a Gen t. by the Name you mention & with the title of Colonel has been introduced to me & has dined with me at this House & I saw him in Holland— His Behaviour is Genteel and his Character is in all respects unexceptionable, as far as I know, having Never heard any...
172From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have not written you Since you inclosed me a Letter for M r Gardoqui from the Comte de Sanefe. I pray you to present that Nobleman with my Sincere Respects and let him know that I Sent his Letters with my first Dispatches. My Son arrived, at New York after a Passage of fifty five days, and was received by his Countrymen with great joy Cordiality. I have no Letters or News from him after he...
173John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 25 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I had a tedious Passage of two Days from Helvoet and was at last obliged to Land at Leostoff a dozen Leagues from Harwich, and ride from thence twenty four miles in a Cart before I could find a Post Chaise; but on Saturday noon, I had the Satisfaction of meeting my friends in perfect Health at the Adelphi Buildings in London, I never set my Foot in any other House, till next Morning at ten,...
174John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 26. Oct r: with the seven Questions inclosed. I have answered these Questions to the best of my Judgment, believing it to be my Duty to give to my enquiring Countrymen, all the satisfaction in my Power upon such occasions. I should wish too to gratify the Dutch merchants, and all others as far as I can in Character. But we must above all Things have the...
175From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 28 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been So taken up with Royal Societies and Royal Accademies, with British Musæums and Sir Ashton Levers Musæum with Wedgwoods Manufactory of Earthen Ware and Parkers of Glass, &c that I have not had time to write you a Line. You Observe I say nothing of Politicks for although I have been introduced to the great Politicians at their Desire I have not found them Sufficiently well disposed...
176From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 4 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last Night I received your favour of the 28 th Nov r: and hope in future to hear often from you, although I dont expect to be informed of the Politicks of the Country, so particularly as heretofore, yet you may write freely under the Same Cover. I should be glad, however to know, truly what has happened upon the Frontiers; I hope the Comte de Linden will be appointed notwithstanding the...
177John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 22 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Capture of one or two of our Vessells by the Barbary Rovers, obliges Us to think Seriously of treating with the Port, Morocco, Algiers Tunis Tripoli, and the rest. But We wish to be informed as nearly as We can, how much the Expences of every Kind will amount to. let me beg the Favour of you then, to apply to M r Bisdom and M r Vanderhope and inquire of those Gentlemen, what Presents they...
178John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 10 th. as well as the two former, with their Inclosures. The first I Sent by M r Tracy a Sure hand, by the Way of London, and the two Latter, I shall Send the Same Way by another private Hand, so that all three will go safe and as soon or sooner than by the Way of L’orient The two Abbys who continue their freindly and brotherly Course of Life, very often...
179From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
It has ever been my intention to come in Person to the Hague, and take Leave of their High Mightinesses, with all the Respect in my Power, before my departure for America. it is still my design. If it is the usage of their High Mightinesses, as you Say it is, to make a Present of a Chain upon the occasion, it will be very agreable to me to accept it, and in the Language of my Countrymen I hope...
180From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 13 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 7. and 8 of June. I have been introduced here, to Sir James Harris, who Seems to be a Sensible and agreable Man. I Should think it most adviseable, for you and for myself if I were at the Hague, to behave Towards him as the Minister of a Sovereign in Amity with the United States, not discovering any Aversion or Jealousy, on one side more than common, nor more...