31To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the opinions of the attorney general and heads of departments on the petitions of John Fries and others, insurgents in Bucks and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania; that no pardon should now be granted, nor any answer given. I am revising the draught of instructions for the envoys to France, and making the alterations which have been agreed on: I expect to...
32To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I inclose a letter addressed to you by Mr. Murray, which came to hand this morning under cover from Mr. King. The draught of instructions preparing agreeable to your directions for the Envoys to the French Republic, will be ready in two or three days to submit to the consideration of the Heads of Departments. Judge Ellsworth was here when I recd. your letter on this subject; and I wrote...
33To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I inclose a letter from B. H. Phillips the Consul of the U. States at Curacao, which with the three papers accompanying it, exhibit the shameless conduct of the Governor and Council of that Island, in the protection of French pirates, & in their rigorous punishment of Americans for acting in their own defence when assailed by those murderers. The fact not least remarkable is, that a Dutch...
34To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Upon the receipt of your letter inclosing the letter and deposition of Capt. Ebenr. Giles of Beverly, I turned to some communications I had some time before received from Captain Truxtun, in which he had, and I still think justly, ascribed the beating given to Giles on board the British frigate Daphne, to his own extremely improper and insolent behaviour. This I think will appear from the...
35To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just recd your letter of August 3d respecting Mr. Gerry’s accounts; and with it an extract of his letter to you of July 24th, & nothing else: the numbers 1. 2. 3. 4. & 5, and a paper of extracts of letters, which you mention as also inclosed were omitted; which doubtless your Secretary will discover, and forward them by the next mail. I have recd. at the same time your two letters of...
36To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The day before yesterday I received from Mr. Charles Hall of Northumberland County in this State, a letter concerning a publication by Thomas Cooper, an Englishman, & a connection of Dr. Priestly, addressed to the Readers of the Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette, on the 29th of June. This address has been republished in the Aurora of July 12th which I now inclose. By Mr. Hall’s information,...
37To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Paleski, formerly Prussian Consul in the U States, has sent me a certified copy of a commission from the King of Prussia to Johann Ernst Christian Schultze, appointing him his Consul at Baltimore, where Mr. Schultze resides. Mr. Paleski called this morning, and expresses no doubt of the authenticity of the appointment, and prays that the exequatur may issue. The original probably may...
38To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, by the southern mail, I received the inclosed triplicate of Mr. Murray’s letter of May 17th, covering a copy, also inclosed, of the answer of M. Talleyrand, minister of foreign relations of the French Republic, to his letter of May 5th (which I forwarded a day or two since) announcing the appointment of Envoys to negociate with that Republic, in which the Minister declares the...
39To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter dated June 5th. recd. this day from Mr. King, respecting the proposed negociations with the Porte and the Emperor of Russia; and to be / with perfect respect / sir your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
40To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Mr. Murray’s letter of May 5th, acknowledging the receipt of the commission constituting him, Mr. Ellsworth & Mr. Henry, Envoys to the French Republic, and covering a copy of his letter to the French Minister Mr. Talleyrand, announcing the appointment.—As he refers to his instructions on this subject, being by letter of March 6th, I also inclose a copy of the...
41To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
There is in the Aurora of this city, an uninterrupted stream of slander on the American Government. I inclose the paper of this morning. It is not the first time that the Editor has suggested—that you had asserted the influence of the British Government in the affairs of our own—and insinuated, that it was obtained by bribery. The general readers of the Aurora will believe both.—I shall give...
42To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The unfortunate mistake referred to in Mr. Liston’s letter of the 13th to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, has induced me to reprint your proclamation for opening the trade with St. Domingo, and to subjoin an extract of Mr. Liston’s letter, to put into the hands of as many of the Collectors as are within reach, prior to the first of August.—General Maitland’s letter to me of the 23d of May and the 5th...
43To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose copies of three letters from Mr. Liston, copied from his rough draughts which on the 8th instant he put into my hands, supposing them to be the letters which report said had been taken in Bucks County in this State from the man to whom Mr. Liston had entrusted them, and which in my letter of yesterday I said would be forwarded to-day. This morning the Aurora has...
44To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
By the southern mail of this day I have received the inclosed letter from James Seagrove, late superintendant of Indian affairs for the Creek nation, with Methlogy’s speech and his answer. I have also the honour to inclose the copy of a letter I have just written to Mr. Seagrove on the subject.—What Methlogy says of Colo. Hawkins’s conduct at the close of the conference, I doubt not is utterly...
45To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since closing my other letter of this date, I have received a packet from Mr. Pitcairn, with the inclosed note and pamphlet (Le Spectateur du Nord) for you. In his letter to me, he says he sends 1. one large letter for the President & do. for you; both from Mr. Adams. There was none for you, except the pamphlet & P’s note. Mr. Adams was near concluding a commercial treaty with Prussia: I will...
46To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
There has been much noise made by the presses and persons devoted to France, about some letters of Mr. Liston to the Governors of the Canadas. Mr. Liston has handed me his original draughts of the letters referred to, which are copying, and which copies I will transmit to you to-morrow: you will see that they are quite harmless; and therefore, notwithstanding the threat of publishing them, the...
47To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
You will recollect that John Scotchler presented to you a second petition, praying a remission of his fine. I desired Mr. Davis, the District Attorney of Massachusetts, to enquire into the truth of the petitioners allegations. His answer of the 29th ult. induced me to think that you would be inclined to forgive him. That answer with the draught of a pardon are now submitted to your...
48To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Messrs. Willings & Francis of this city have undertaken to prepare a fast sailing vessel, of a moderate size, to go to the Isle of France, with a cargo estimated to defray the expence of the voyage, in order to carry thither a suitable person as the agent of the United States, to propose a renewal of our commercial intercourse with that Island.—They have brought to me a very pointed...
49To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
When I took the liberty of referring you to Mr. Jacob Lewis for information relative to the Isle of France s , I presumed he might communicate something useful, because he would not, I conceived, have any interrested motive to deviate from facts: But when I learnt that he had returned home to Boston with his family, I thought it fortunate.—I had seen a letter from an American at the Isle of...
50To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received this morning a letter from the Secretary of the Northwestern Territory, informing that the reports propagated in the news-papers of Indian depredations in the two western counties of the Territory & in Shelby county in Kentuckey, are utterly destitute of foundation. I inclose a letter which came to hand yesterday under a cover from a Christopher McPherson at Norfolk. A letter...
51To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received this morning a letter from the Secretary of the Northwestern Territory, informing that the reports propagated in the news-papers of Indian depredations in the two western counties of the Territory & in Shelby county in Kentuckey, are utterly destitute of foundation. I inclose a letter which came to hand yesterday under a cover from a Christopher McPherson at Norfolk. A letter...
52To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 24th.—During the late session of Congress, Mr. Thatcher spoke to me once or twice, proposing Mr. Savage for the agent of the U. States at Jamaica; and left with me a letter from Mr. Savage on the subject. This letter was mislaid; and the business postponed. However, information of the impress of our seamen on that station, and the suffering of the sick,...
53To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The southern mail has just brought me a letter from Governor Davie, in answer to mine inclosing his commission as one of the Envoys to the French Republic. He desires me “to assure you, that whenever you shall deem it proper that the Envoys should proceed on the business of their appointment, his acceptance of the commission may be expected.” He also desires me “to present to you his thanks...
54To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that on considering, with the Secretary of the Treasury, the mode of communicating your proclamation for renewing the commercial intercourse between the United States and St. Domingo, we have concluded to transmit copies thereof by mail, as follows. To-morrow, Friday, to send off those for the District of Maine, for the States of Georgia, South and North...
55To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
In the letter in which I submitted the draught of a proclamation, I had the honor to observe, that the arrangements then expected from Doctor Stevens and General Maitland, might render some changes very proper or necessary. A consideration of those arrangements confirmed that opinion, and suggested the alterations which you will notice in the printed copy inclosed in my official letter which...
56To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 26 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Barclay is here, and produces an original letter from Lord Grenville, informing him that His Britannic Majesty had appointed him his Consul General for the Eastern States, in the room of Sir John Temple, and that his commission would be sent to him; desiring at the same time that he would repair to New-York. The letter is dated in January; and as the Commission is not yet arrived, there is...
57To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday the 22d I had the honor to inform you that dispatches had been received the preceeding evening from Dr. Stevens and General Maitland, relative to the opening of trade with St. Domingo; and I now inclose copies of them. They will require some variations or rather additions, in the form of the proclamation, which will be made with the advice of the heads of departments. The idea...
58To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I was honoured with your letter of the 15th covering the proclamation respecting the St. Domingo trade; and last evening a packet from Doctor Stevens & General Maitland, announcing that the arrangements were to far made as to admit of the opening the ports of Cape Francois & Port au Prince on the first of August. That is, vessels previously sailing from the U. States and Jamaica, may...
59To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
This morning I was honoured with your letter of the 12th, and agreeably to your direction, have had a commission made out for Mr. John Morton as Consul at Havana, and now inclose it for your signature. All the European Powers having Colonies in the West Indies have hitherto refused the formal admission of Consuls from the U. States. The British Treaty in its 16th article and the Spanish treaty...
60To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the inclosed letter from Jacob Lewis, Consul of the U. States at the Isle of France, from whence he has recently returned to Boston with his family. I shall write to him by this mail, and desire him to wait upon you, to give more full information concerning that French Colony; particularly in reference to the anxious wishes of a number of merchants here trading to the East...
61To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received from Mr. Liston, the minister of his Britannic Majesty to the U. States, a note of which the inclosed, is a copy. I also inclose a copy of the instructions given to private armed vessels, and of the bond entered into by their owners and commanders, to observe them. The penalty in each of the bonds, in the cases of the ship William and brig. Polly, mentioned in Mr....
62To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter was handed to me yesterday by Mr. Physick, agent for the late proprietaries of Pennsylvania. The books appear to be two volumes Octavo. I will forward them, or deliver them to your son Thomas, as you shall be pleased to direct. I am with great respect / sir yr. obt. servt MHi : Adams Papers.
63To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 7 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the honor to transmit to you Doctor Stevens’ dispatches, relative to the affairs of St. Domingo, they have much engaged the attention of myself and colleagues. We are all of opinion, that the arret of Roume, the particular agent of the Directory, of the 25th of April, cannot be considered as commensurate with those conditions which in the original instructions to Doctor Stevens...
64To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th ult. and in consequence of your intimation that a successor to Mr. Daniel Hawley might properly be sought for, I inclose the testimonies of many respectable merchants of Philadelphia and New-York, & from Brigr. General Hughes of the latter city, recommending Mr. John Morton of New-York to be the Consul of the United States in some port in...
65To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter for you came to hand this morning, without any letter from Mr. Adams to me. And the pamphlet accompanying this arrived yesterday, with letters from Mr. King, of which the duplicates have been before recd. and forwarded to you. A letter from Mr. Murray dated March 10th. is also inclosed. I have the honor to be / with great respect / sir your obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
66To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 1 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the inclosed letter from General Toussaint, which for the reason suggested in my last, I thought you would approve of my opening. It is of an old date, and only expressive of his impatience to have the intercourse with St. Domingo renewed. I have the honor to be / with great respect / Sir, your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
67To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
At the moment of closing my letter of yesterday, just before the departure of the mail, I forgot to inclose the two laws of the French Republic referred to in the arret of the Agent of St. Domingo, and General Toussaint’s letter to you. This letter I conceived He should rather have addressed to the department of state, and as it could relate only to the affairs conducted thro’ that department,...
68To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Doctor Edward Stevens, dated May 3d, the decree of the agency of St. Domingo, dated April 25, and the documents numbered from 1 to 8, were recd. here on the 25th, in my absence from town; together with his interesting private letter of May 6th. By a vessel arrived here on Sunday (the 26th) I received a duplicate of the Doctor’s letter of May 3d, and verbal information...
69To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received letters from Algiers, dated the 22d. of February. In one of that date written by Captain Eaton (Consul for Tunis) and signed by him and Captain O’Brien, is the following interesting passage. “This morning Consul General O’Brien informed me that he had just now concluded a settlement of all accounts between the Dey and the United States, which he desired me to sketch in the...
70To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your consideration the inclosed letter from Mr. John Ferrers of New-York, with five documents inclosed, respecting the conduct of Daniel Hawley, the Consul of the U. States for the Havana. I also inclose Mr. Hawley’s letter of the 11th. in answer to mine in which I had transmitted Mr. Ferrer’s first statement of facts (marked No. 3) as far as his signature of the...
71To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning been honored with your letter of the 13th. and will introduce in the 10th article the idea you have been pleased to suggest, in the instructions to Mr. King, to negociate a commercial treaty with Prussia. A copy of these instructions shall be transmitted to Mr. Adams at Berlin, with the fresh instructions you direct. Yesterday I received from our Consul at Gibraltar the...
72To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inclose the Commission for Governor Davie, for the President’s signature. MHi : Adams Papers.
73To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Liston informs me, that on information recd. by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, of one of the mutineers and murderers of the officers of the British Frigate Hermione being at Charleston So. Carolina, the Admiral sent thither a vessel on purpose to receive and carry the culprit to the fleet to be tried: but that the district judge had not deemed it proper to deliver him up. This question has...
74To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 14 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed should have been forwarded last Saturday. MHi : Adams Papers.
75To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Mr. Liston’s note of the 8th. requesting the usual Exequatur for Thomas Barclay Esqr. and Benjamin Moodie Esqr. whom his Britannic Majesty has appointed—The former Consul General for the Eastern States, and the latter Consul for North & South Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Barclay is the gentleman who was the British Commissioner for settling the question of the St....
76To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 9 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning been honoured with your letter of the 1st; and am happy that the measures & plans taken in concert with Mr. Liston & Genl. Maitland relative to St. Domingo have met with your approbation. One of the papers, No. 7. being my letter to Mr. King, inclosed in mine to you of April 23d, I shall be obliged by your returning, as I have no other copy; and the original was sent to Mr....
77To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 6 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I gave Mr. King early notice of his appointment to negociate a treaty of amity & commerce with Russia; which I supposed would be sufficient to induce the Russian minister in London to ask of his government the requisite commission to treat with Mr. King. I have now draughted a set of instructions which may probably arrive in London in time for commencing the negociation. I have the honor to...
78To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter from Patrick Henry Esqr. declining the appointment of an envoy to France. I now inclose a letter from Judge Ellsworth, which I have reserved for this expected event: and am, with great respect, / Sir, your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
79To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 23 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I was honoured with your letter of the 13th. General Maitland’s departure this morning for St. Domingo, left me no opportunity of conversing with him on the interesting questions you suggest. However, his & Mr. Liston’s powers respect St. Domingo alone. We did not until last Saturday (the 20th) finish our discussions on the arrangements to be adopted respecting St. Domingo: the...
80To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 17 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
With my letter concerning Mr. Jones, the candidate for the Consulate of New-Orleans, I intended to transmit a Commission, that if it seemed to you expedient to appoint him, his commission might be signed and returned, seeing he will very soon depart for that country. I have now the honor to inclose it. I inclose also a copy of a note received this day from Mr. Liston, announcing that the loan...