151To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 22 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
At my last interview I mentioned to your Excellency my apprehensions that there were some influential characters in the United States, who, if a change of the constitution could not be effected in the first instance would endeavour to destroy the influence of the new government and make it subservient to the views of the different States I see no reason since to change my opinion but am rather...
152From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Our instructions relative to the Barbary states having required us to proceed by way of negotiation to obtain their peace, it became our duty to do this to the best of our power. Whatever might be our private opinions, they were to be suppressed, and the line marked out to us, was to be followed. It has been so honestly, and zealously. It was therefore never material for us to consult together...
153Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that an Express from Congress is at last arrived, with their Ratification of the Definitive Treaty. Inclosed I send Copies of the President’s Letter, the Recommendatory Resolution, and the Proclamation, together with three Letters for yourself. We have written to M r Hartley, that we are now ready to make the Exchange. With great Respect, I am,...
154C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams, 12 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu avec grand plaisir l’honorée vôtre du 3 Nov. & j’ai fait déjà usage de son contenu & dans une Lettre au Congrès, & auprès de ces Messieurs d’Amsterdam. Vous recevrez, Monsieur, incessam̃ent par le canal indiqué de Mr. C. Storer, the true history of a Madman. Au mois de 7br. dernier je reçus une Lettre de Mr. D. Humphreys, Secr y. to the Commission of the Am n. Min rs. Pl. , qui en...
155Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
My last Letter to you was written in Sepbr. I closed it, because I knew not how to think upon any other subject than the solemn one I had just past through; since that date I have received a Number of Letters from you, written in April, May, june and 2 in july. To hear from you is a satisfaction, but the whole tenor of your Letters rather added to my melancholy, than mitigated it. The state of...
156To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 16 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere du 14 e. étoit partie, lorsque celle de Mr. votre fils à mon Epouse nous apprit que vous avez été fort malade, &, heureusement, mieux à présent. Nous prenons la part que nous devons & à l’indisposition passée, & à votre convalescence, dont nous vous félicitons de grand coeur. Mrs. Matthieu Van Arp & Co: m’écrivent ce qui suit d’Amst. 15 e Oct. “Le Vaisseau Américain l’Elisabeth,...
157To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Since my last of the 3 d of August I am favoured with yours of the 26 th of June, 6 th of July, 26 th of August & 11 th of September, & am much obliged to You for the papers inclosed in the July Letter, as well as for the useful Information contained in all of them. The Conduct of the Court of London, clearly indicates, & convinces Us on this Side the Atlantic that they have an unfriendly...
158To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
The Commissioners of the treasury have given notice to Willincks & Van Staphorsts that they shall not be able to remit them one shilling till the new government gets into action; and that therefore the sole resource for the paiment of the Dutch interest till that period is in the progress of the last loan. Willincks & V.S. reply that there is not the least probability of raising as much on...
159To John Adams from Richard Price, 2 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been wishing to call upon you all this week, but the weather has been so discouraging as not to Suffer me to go much from home. I have communicated your request to the Gentlemen who manage the affairs of the meeting at Hackney. They agree with me in thinking the Society much honoured by your attendance; and they have directed me to inform you that, as the pew lately made is a permanent...
160From John Jay to John Adams, 16 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
You will recieve this at a Moment, when you will again find yourself surrounded by your amiable Family— it is a pleasing Circumstance, and I congratulate you on the occasion. We are much obliged to M rs . Adams for having honored us tho for a little while with her Company— it has confirmed the Esteem which her Character had inspired.— If wishes were not vain, I should wish you all well settled...
161To John Adams from James Sullivan, 16 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have neglected writing to you perhaps more than I Should have done had I not supposed that your Numerous correspondents had become a burden to you. indeed our Country has afforded but little lately to write upon. I have been here seventeen days on a mission to settle by a way of Compromise with the State of N York a Controversy between our Commonwealth and them respecting the Western...
162Abbé Gabriel Bonnot de Mably to John Adams, 25 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
je réponds bien tard, Monsieur, à la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 14 de ce mois; c’est que j’esperois de vous porter moi même ma réponse. je me suis flatté de cette douce esperance, mais de jour en jour la fortune à rompu nos projets. Tantot le temps a été trop détestable pour oser se mettre en route, et tantot M rs les Abbes de Chalut, arnoux et moi nous avons été...
163Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 16 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Here I am after a six Months Session at Annapolis, on my Way to Massachusetts, & altho my Opposition to the same System in America, which you have opposed in Europe, has perhaps rendered me equally obnoxious here to the aristocratic Party, yet I assure You the Pleasure resulting from a Reflection on the Measures adopted by Congress, overballances every trifling Consideration of the loss of...
164To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 5 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Expected to write to You By c ll franks, But as His departure Has Been daily differed, I will not delay Any longer My Hearty Wishes of an Happy New year to You, mr̃s Adams, mr̃s Smith, Your Sons, the Adoptive one I will write to By in Bye— May this New Year Afford You, and Your Worthy family and friends Every kind of Public and Personal Satisfaction! Had I Been less Acquainted With the forms...
165To John Adams from John Williams, 20 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
When the dispute between America & the English ministry, first commenced; I summon’d a meeting of Americans and planters, in order to frame a petition against the measures, then agitated; it was sign’d by us and presented to each branch of the Legislature— after the war broke out, I wrote to the People of England under the signature of the Man of Ross, & inforced the doctrine of peace, and...
166To John Adams from John Stockdale, 20 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
(domestic News) I have received by the packet some Medals inclosed in a Letter directed for You for which I paid 16/8 & shall not open it til I receive Your instructions I this day received a Basket sealed up & directed for You, as I suspected it was some sort of Game I resolved in the presence of D r. John Jebb to commit an act of felony & break the Seals, with an intent for D r. Jebb to seal...
167To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the papers I sometime ago sent you, relative to the encroachments made upon our Eastern boundary by our Neighbours of New Brunswick, I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency copies of other Letters & papers upon the same subject— By Mess rs. Smith & Bowles’s Deposition it appears, that the Province of New Brunswick is by its Charter bounded on the Western shore of...
168To John Adams from John Thaxter, 28 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
At the last Term of the Supreme Judicial Court held at Ipswich came upon Trial the Celebrated Cause of John Murray vs the Inhabitants of Gloucester— (This Murray is known by the Name of Salvation Murray, to contradistinguish him from another of the same Name, who preaches a very opposite Doctrine, and is known by the Name of Damnation Murray.) M r. Murray about a twelvemonth agone brought an...
169From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 6 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commissioners of the treasury have given notice to Willincks and Van Staphorsts that they shall not be able to remit them one shilling till the new government gets into action; and that therefore the sole resource for the paiment of the Dutch interest till that period is in the progress of the last loan. Willincks & V.S. reply that there is not the least probability of raising as much on...
170To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your’s of the 10 th. inst. and am happy to hear of the success of your journey to Amsterdam. there can be no doubt of it’s ratification by Congress. would to heaven they would authorize you to take measures for transferring the debt of this country to Holland before you leave Europe. most especially is it necessary to get rid of the debt to the officers. their...
171C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams, 28 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to answer briefly in poor English, your favour of the 11 th. inst. An Ideot, no.—à Lunatick, may be for what I know.— With me, and other plain people, the character is that of a bad man, near to become a Madman by disappointment. I am not misinformed, concerning the pretended principle and motive of a certain metaphysical Distinction. The nonsense I told you has been really alledged...
172To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 22 January 1789 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here in six weeks from the Downs whence the ship in which I came took her departure on the 5 th of Nov r ; a day which all the whigs and many of the tories of Britain celebrated as the hundredth anniversary of the revolution— The party who oppose the administration in that country being about to seize so fair an occasion of canvassing for the next parliament the ministerial myrmidons...
173To John Adams from Richard O’Bryen, Zaccheus Coffin, Isaac Stephens, Andrew Montgomery, and Alexander Forsyth, 13 … (Adams Papers)
Your three Letters to us, dated London the 29 th. September, we received the 7 th. Instant, and is exceeding Sorry to find by the Tenor of your Letters to us that you can give us no comfortable Hopes or Assurances of speedy Relief. Respecting the erroneous Report you suppose we might have heard of what M r: Lamb said to the Dey, and that it is not likely that he made any Promises to the Dey,...
174John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have been looking out for lodgings, yesterday and this day, and have at length found a bed Room, in the House, where Mr. Smith lodges; and as he intends to go into the Country next week, I shall then take those Rooms which he now occupies. Captain Calohan , is expected every day, and it is very probable that within a fortnight, I shall hear from our Ladies. I have not seen Mr. Stockdale yet,...
175To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Notables met yesterday. the king opened the assembly with a short speech, wherein he expressed his inclination to consult with them on the affairs of his kingdom, to receive their opinions on the plans he had digested, and to endeavor to imitate the head of his family Henry IV. whose name is so dear to the nation. the speech was affectionate. the Guarde des sceaux spoke about 20 minutes,...
176To John Adams from Francis Dana, 4 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of your favour of 8 th: March last on the 26 th: of last Month, in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 12 th: Dec r: last. I have written to you since then, but doing it in haste, I had not time to take a copy of my letter, and do not now recollect the date of it. I remember however to have informed you that I had laid an account of my extra expences before...
177To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 5 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I return you my sincere thanks, Sir, for the petition from the City of Bristol in 1775, which I have found here on my return from Holland in the letter you did me the honor to write me the 29 th. of December. It will be of great service to prove, that the conduct of our Countrimen has been & is continually misrepresented. The petition, memorial, or address to the King, or some body else from...
178Baron Franz von Reischach to John Adams, 6 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Empressé à vous faire plaisir en toutes occasions, je n’ai point tardé a faire envers le Gouvernement General des Pais Bas de la domination de S. M té l’Empereur Roi, les demarches requises pour que non Seulement l’expres chargé de vos effets detenus à Bruxelles Soit imediatement remis en pleine liberté, mais aussi à ce que avantageat vos effets autant que faire se pouvoit quant aux droits de...
179To John Adams from Charles Storer, 13 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
While I was at S t: Quentin the last Winter, I was admitted to see a very large manufactory of Looking-Glass— ’Twas a particular priviledge, and allowed to but very few—yet the Gentleman to whom it belonged allowed me to ask any question—reserving to himself, however, the right of not answering those which should be improper— There were several hundred men at work, and all being in their...
180To John Adams from Joseph Barrell, 24 November 1787 (Adams Papers)
I request the Liberty (in behalf of those who are engaged in the enterprize) to present to your Excellency a Medal which was struck to be distributed amongst the Natives on the North West Coast of America, and to commemorate the first American Adventure to the Pacific Ocean We have been carefull to Equip these Vessells in the very best manner, and that every Person on board Forty in number,...