72111771. Sunday June 2d. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Wheeler, late Minister of Harvard, at Worcester all day. Here I saw many Faces much altered and many others not at all, since I first knew this Place which is now 16 Years. Here I saw many young Gentlemen, who were my Scholars and Pupils, when I kept School, here—Jno. Chandler Esq. of Petersham, Rufus Chandler, the Lawyer, Dr. Wm. Paine, who now studies Physick with Dr. Holyoke of...
7212From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 22 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
A thousand thanks to Richard for his Auroras and ten thousand to you for your Letter of the 14th. I am not subject to low spirits, but if I was one of your Letters would cure me at any time for a Month. Voltaires Brain I shall never get out of mine. It will make me laugh whenever I think of it. The Jews and Nonotte have pickled his Brain in a more durable Manner and kept it in a more perfect...
7213From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Joseph Woodward & another from Mr Thomas Amory. The first requests employment & the second recommends Mr Willliam Haswell to be a lieutenant in the navy. This is a brother of Mr Haswell already in the navy. I am with great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7214Monday May. 19. (Adams Papers)
The American Ministers met Mr. Hartley at my House, and he shewed Us his Commission and We shewed him ours. His Commission is very magnificent, the Great Seal in a Silver Box with the Kings Arms engraven on it, with two large gold Tassells &c. as usual. In the margin: The Commissions of the Comtes de Vergennes and D’Aranda, on the 20. of January, were plainer than ours, and upon Paper. The...
7215From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
How Shall I? How can I express my Obligations to you? My Time, thoughts, labours are all Spent in my Garden, from five in the morning to Eight at night. I am more fatigued than my Boys or my Men. They laugh and Sing and dance, after I am So exhausted that I can Scarcely hear Madame or Mademoiselle read your Letters or Buckminsters Sermons, or Everets. At a time, when I had resigned the Chair...
7216From John Adams to United States Congress, 21 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
According to an intimation in my Message of fryday last, I now lay before Congress, a report of the Secretary of State, containing his Observations on some of the Documents which Attended it. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
7217John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 23 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Pleasure of your Letter of the 18. The Bills you mention, which were only accepted by me, and were paid by Fizeau & Co in Behalf of D r Franklin, or M r Ferdinand Grand, are the proper Vouchers of those Gentlemen, and will Speak for themselves. They are the Vouchers which M r Grand must produce to you, in Support of his Account. I have no right to demand them, and...
7218From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 12 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, 26th April, 1782—The following note to Mr. Hodshon, omitted in the order of its date must not be ordered here because it is connected with one of the most intricate and vexatious transactions that I ever found to puzzle me in all my life. Mr. Hodshon is desired to make the necessary inquiries, and as soon as he will give me under his hand his engagement to furnish congress with four...
7219Grosvenor Square Westminster March 27. 1786. (Adams Papers)
March 26. Sunday, dined in Bolton Street Piccadilly, at the Bishop of St. Asaphs. Mr. and Mrs. Sloper, the Son in Law and Daughter of the Bishop; Mrs. and Miss Shipley the Wife and Daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan, Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Williams, Mr. Richard Peters and myself, were the Company. In the Evening other Company came in, according to the Fashion, in this Country. Mrs. Shipley at...
7220From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 22 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Upon a sudden notification from the Comte de Vergennes, M r. Franklin and myself, in the Absence of M r. Jay and M r. Laurens, went to Versailles, and arrived at the Comte’s Office at 10. o Clock on Monday, the twentieth of this Month At eleven arrived the Comte d’Aranda & M r. Fitzherbert. The Ministers of the three Crowns signed & sealed the Preliminaries of Peace, and an Armistice, in...
7221From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr Bray a Son in Law of Samuel Eliot Esquire, the putative Father of the Greek Professorship at H.C. will I hope have the honor to deliver this to you in the Bosom of all your Family. You probably know the political Connections of Mr Elliot and Mr Bray: but no considerations of this kind should interupt the Intercourse of Politeness hospitality and Civility. If my Eyes and hands could endure...
7222From John Adams to the President of Congress, 4 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I should Scarcely be credited, if I were to describe the present State of this Country. There is more Animosity against one another, than against the common Ennemy. They can agree upon nothing. Neither upon War, nor Peace: neither upon acknowledging the Independency of America, nor upon denying it. Hopes of a general Peace, which flatter all Parties, are continually kept up by Tales and...
7223Novr. 30th. 1762. (Adams Papers)
Last Thurdsday Night, at Cranch’s Wedding, Dr. Tufts, in the Room where the Gentlemen were, said We used to have on these Occasions, some good Matrimonial stories, to raise our spirits. The story of B. Bicknal’s Wife is a very clever one. She said, when she was married she was very anxious, she feared, she trembled, she could not go to Bed. But she recollected she had put her Hand to the Plow...
7224From John Adams to United States Senate, 3 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate James Simons of South Carolina to be Collector of the District of Charleston in the place of Isaac Holmes Superceeded DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
7225John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 1 st. of June, has not, I fear been answered. I have indeed been very happy ever Since I received it. I live here, on a kind of Pens Hill. It is a Village, remarkable for the Residence of Dauguesseau, Boileau, Molliere and Helvetius, and for nothing else. I choose it merely for my Health, as my Constitution is not able to Sustain, the nauseous Air of a great City. Amsterdam...
7226From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 27 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, my dear sir for your kind Congratulations, on the favourable Appearances in our American Concerns, and for so politely particularising one of the most inconsiderable of them, my Safe Arrival in France, which was after a very inconvenient Passage of forty five days. Your Letter to Mr. Izzard, I had the Pleasure to send to him immediately, in Paris, where he resides, the Court of...
7227John Adams to Charles Adams, 2 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
A Letter from M r Jay of the 24. of November informs me, that he had rec d two Letters from your Brother in Holland, one of the 14 th. and another of the 20 th. the first at the Hague the last at Amsterdam, which inform’d him that your Brother had been presented to their High Mightinesses, and rec d and acknowledged by them, and that he had Afterwards had an Audience of the statholder. so that...
7228From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 20 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
My last letter contained the journal of the 19th of June, 1783, and completes the copy of that journal, which was intended for no eye but my own: but which by a sudden thought was intended to be sent to Jonathan Jackson, Esq. peradventure, to furnish him with some hints to defend the American ministers, or at least to apologize for them in the case, that was very probable, of a motion of...
72291778. May. 10. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Messieurs Brattle, Waldo, Joy, Johonnot, Green and Austin dined with Us, at Passi. After dinner We walked in the Bois du Boulogne, as far as the new Seat of the Count D’Artois, where We saw Mr. Turgot, Mr. and Mm. La Fréte, and much other Company. Sunday in this Country is devoted to Amusements and Diversions. There are more Games, Plays, and Sports of every Kind on this day, than on any...
7230From John Adams to Robert Morris, 21 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am, just now, honoured with yours of the 19. of January, by the Way of London. We have not yet had the Happiness to receive, as We should be disposed to do with open Arms our Excellent old Friend Jefferson, and begin to fear that the News of Peace, has determined him, not to come. I thank you, Sir, for your polite Congratulations. When the Tide turned it flowed with Rapidity and carried the...
7231Adams’ Argument for the Defense: 3–4 December 1770 (Adams Papers)
May it please your Honours and you Gentlemen of the Jury, I am for the prisoners at the bar, and shall apologize for it only in the words of the Marquis Beccaria: “If I can but be the instrument of preserving one life, his blessing and tears of transport, shall be a sufficient consolation to me, for the contempt of all mankind.” As the prisoners stand before you for their lives, it may be...
7232Barriers, between Great Britain and the United States of America to Reconcilliation, Alliance, or even Peace, 1 June … (Adams Papers)
1. The Obstinacy , Malice, Revenge, Pride Obstinacy, and Absurdity of the King, and Royal Family. 2. The Guilt, and Danger of the Ministry. Danger to their Lives and personal safety, as well as of Ruin to their Fortunes, Characters and Reputations. 3. The Ambition and Avarice of the Minority, whose Chiefs have the same hunger for the Loaves and Fishes as the Ministers, as little Attention to...
7233John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just rec d yours of 14 th. — it has laid in the Post office I suppose Since saturday. The subjects of M r J. Q. A.s Agents are horrible to me. I will therefore dismiss them. Thomas’s Predilection for Phyladelphia, I suppose will determine him.— Alass! Nelly is married poor Boy! and I suppose some of the Six sisters will catch the Child in the Trap without a Groat and without...
7234From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Oct. 14 has greatly obliged me. Tracys Analysis, I have read once; and wish to read it a Second time. It shall be returned to you. But I wish to be informed whether this Gentleman is of that Family of Tracys with which the Marquis La Fayette is connected by intermarriages? I have read not only the Analysis, but Eight Volumes out of 12 of The Origine de tous les Cultes, and if...
7235From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 26 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Though my Letter presented to you by Dr James Rush came too late to answer the purpose intended, you may retain it if you please, or return it to Dr James Rush, as you please. The appointment of the Son to succeed his Father, has my cordial Approbation. “The publication of the Naval History is a great Event.” I hope you will Send a number of the first Edition to Boston: and every other...
7236From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 31 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I cannot take leave of the Year, without confession of my fault and begging Pardon, A Letter so kind and obliging as yours of 20th September ought not to have been Unnoticed, till this day. My heart is bound up with the Navy and I love the Officers, as well as my Sons. Their politeness to me, was conspicuous enough. Their Invitations were cordial enough. But I had reasons, which I could...
72371759. (Adams Papers)
Began Octr. 12th, in Pursuance of the foregoing Plan to transcribe from Brightlands english Grammar, Answer’s to Mr. Gridleys Questions for that Grammar. I have begun too, to compare Dr. Cowells Institutes of the Laws of England, with Justinians Institutes of the Laws of Rome, Title by Title, that each may reflect Light upon the other, and that I may advance my Knowledge of civil and common...
7238From John Adams to Alden Bradford, 26 October 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 24th. has exerted a thousand conjectures in my Mind, and as many questions.—Where was the paper enclosed found—To whom was it addressed, by whom was it written—I have no recollection, of having seen it in print, or read it in Manuscript—Apparently it was written by some person who had been conversant in law, and history—though some ideas in it, might have been borrowed...
7239From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I recieved return you Mr Adams letter & the speeches. The latter with an extract from the former might be advantageously inserted in the newspapers. I return you Mr Murrays letter to me of the 14th of July which I pray you to decypher with great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7240John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 13 September 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter, before my Departure for Philadelphia, but had not time to answer it. It is not probable that any Special Agents will be employed in the Business you had in contemplation. The Board consists of Men, who will Study Æconomy, in that as well as in all other Affairs committed, to their Charge; and therefore the Loan Officers or Collectors or some other known Character will...
7241Oct. 8. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. D. is indefatigable in his Way. He visits, every Day, the French Am bassador , Mr. G., Mr. V.—and occasionally Mr. K. and sometimes the Prince de Gallitzin, Mr. D’Asp, &c. No American Minister could do this. It would ruin his Character. I dont know whether it would do for a Secretary of Legation to do this. I can, however, make an excellent Use of him in this Way. I can get or communicate...
7242From John Adams to John Coffin, 4 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Better late than never, to acknowledge your discourse on Medical Education, which I read in the Season of it, with great pleasure. and intended to have immediately to have acknowledged my obligation for it—It is as elegant and instructive a Composition as any I have read of the kind; but in the confusion of my papers an it has slipped my memory for which I ask you pardon, And I pray you to...
7243From John Adams to Robert Walsh, Jr., 5 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
For every Man of Letters and reputation is dear to me—altho an entire stranger in Person—your name and writings have not been unknown to me—for several years— your favour of April 27th. does me honour—your Prospectous of Avindiciæ Americanæ is not only Comprehensive but vast and requires talents information and application equal to yours—I heartly wish you success in the execution of it....
7244John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 8. March is just put into my hand.— My beloved Mother is very near my heart and has Spread a gloom over my Days from the first of her Illness. I must resign her to the Disposition of the supreme Ruler and prepare to follow her Example if I can in Life and in Death. My Love to my Brother and his Family who will be sincere Mourners with me and you upon this occasion. It grieves me...
7245From John Adams to Oakes Angier, 12 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
It was with great Pleasure, and perhaps some little Mixture of Pride, that I read your Name among the Representatives of Bridgwater, in the Boston Gazette. I rejoiced to find that your Townsmen, had So much Confidence in your Abilities and Patriotism, and that you had so much Confidence in the Justice of our Cause, and the Abilities of America to support it, as to embark your Fortune in it....
72461774. Septr. 13. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Attended my Duty all Day, on the Sub Committee. Agreed on a Report. 1. and 2. Phil. and Mary. C. 10. ss. 7. To the full committee on stating the rights of the Colonies, &c. See the following entry and note 2 there. The statute cited in this detached note is “An Acte wherby certayne Offences bee made Tresons,” 1554–1555, of which the 7th section is a “General Saving” or exemption: “Saving to...
7247From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Judah Alden of Duxbury, a fifty fifth Cousin of yours, on the Fisheries. And another from Freeman Atwood. I have not time to read these Papers but I believe you may depend upon them. I think I have Sent you proofs enough of the importance of the Fisheries to your Country. And my Advice is to demand your recall and refuse Your Signature to any compact which shall...
7248July 13. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
My new Barn is to be raised this Afternoon, a Rod or two from my Fathers which he built when I was two or three Years old—about 58 years ago, or 59. Billings went out to hoe this morning but soon came in. Said he had sprained his Arm and could not work. Billings soon went out towards Captn. Beales’s. Puffer, one of my Workmen from Stoughton, came home late last night. Said Captn. Lindzee had...
7249John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I never fail to inclose to you the News papers, which contain the most of the Intelligence that comes to my Knowledge. I am obliged to slacken my Attention to Business a little, and ride and walk for the Sake of my Health, which is but infirm.—Oh that I could wander, upon Penns Hill, and in the Meadows and Mountains in its Neighbourhood free from Care! But this is a Felicity too great for me....
7250From John Adams to Thomas Wren, 25 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 22 d. , and pray you to advance the three Pence per day, as you propose, on Account of the United States and I will honour your, Draught for this and any other neccessary Expence, when you please I am fully of opinion with Sir John Carter, that it will be most prudent to release Muir on his own Recognizance. and pray you to receive into your Possession all...
7251From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 23, 23 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose the English Papers of the eleventh thirteenth and fourteenth of March. The Courier de L’Europe and the Hague, Leiden and Amsterdam Gazettes. We are in hourly Expectation of great News from Holland, Ireland, England, Spain, and above all from America and the West Indies. I have not a Letter from America, since I left it, except one from my Family of the tenth of...
7252John Adams to William Knox, 15 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your kind Letter of the 7. and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. M r Jackson and M r Tracy will take all our Letters and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyance by Captain Young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards. It is hazardous...
7253From John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 20 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
After my Letter to you of the tenth, I thought it might be more respectfull to the Lords the States General, to write to them and accordingly I drew a Memorial to their High Mightinesses and inclosed it, in a Letter which I did myself the Honour of writing to you, on the thirteenth. On the Eighteenth I received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me on the fourteenth which...
7254Feb. 17. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, heard Dr. Witherspoon upon redeeming Time. An excellent Sermon. I find that I understand the Dr. better, since I have heard him so much in Conversation, and in the Senate. But I perceive that his Attention to civil Affairs, has slackened his Memory. It cost him more Pains than heretofore to recollect his Discourse. Mr. H ancock told C.W. Colonel Whipple Yesterday, that he had...
7255From John Adams to Joseph Hardy, 6 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
In 1779 at Bilbao I was solicited for releif by a number of American seamen who had been captured by the English and turned adrift in Portugal. These wandered to Spain with much difficulty and in great distress. I had no means of supplying them: but M r Gardoqui very generously offered to assist them upon my advice. The article in his account, ought to be allowed him with interest and thanks....
7256Inaugural Address, 4 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
When, in early times it was first perceived; in early times that no middle course remained for America remained; between unlimited submission to a foreign Legislature, and a total Independence of its claims: men of reflection, were less apprehensive of danger, from the formidable Power of fleets and Armies they must determine to resist; than from those Contests and dissentions, which would...
7257From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 28 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
You know not the Feeling I have for you. I wish Mr Cutts and Mr Seaver, may guess right: but you know Men are apt to guess as they wish. You “do not See but Christians destroy each other full as much as Pagans”. To this I answer, Joshua Pizarro Alva, Lorrain, Laud, Bartholomews day, the Powder Plott and the Irish Massacre. I will add that Democrats, Deists and Atheists destroy each other, and...
7258From John Adams to Francis Dana, 15 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Feb 10/21. arrived last night, and I thank you for the Copy inclosed. I think that if the Ct. of St. James’s is capable of taking a hint, she may see herself advised to acknowledge the Sovereignty of the U.S. and admit their Ministers to the Congress. There Seems to be a Change of System in England, but the Change is too late: the Kingdom is undone past Redemption. Minorca, St...
7259From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of April 22d and that of May 8th. are recd. I will Examine, Mr Fizeaus accounts as soon as my Friend Mr Thaxter, is a little better, who is now sick of a Fever. I have attempted it alone, but I find a few little Variations from my accounts, of no great Consequence, which however perhaps Mr Thaxter may clear up. The arrangements of Time and Place, mentioned in Lord Shelburne’s...
7260From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 18 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have at last obtained liberty, by a vote of Congress, to acquaint my friends with a few of the things that have been done. The Congress have voted, or rather a committee of the whole house have unanimously agreed, that the sum of two million dollars be issued in bills of credit, for the redemption of which, in a certain number of years, twelve colonies have unanimously pledged themselves....