6931From John Adams to United States Senate, 31 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Timothy Pickering Secretary of State, Oliver Wolcott Secretary of the Treasury & Samuel Sitgreaves Esqr: of Pennsylvania;—To be Commissioners, to adjust and determine, with Commissioners appointed under the legislative authority of the State of Georgia, all interfering claims of the United States and that State, to territory, situate west of the River Chatahouchee, north of the...
6932John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Bass arrived this Day, with the joyfull News, that you were all well. By this Opportunity, I shall send you a Cannister of Green Tea, by Mr. Hare. Before Mr. G erry went away from hence, I asked Mrs. Yard to send a Pound of Green Tea to you. She readily agreed. When I came home at Night I was told Mr. G. was gone. I asked Mrs. Y. if she had sent the Cannister? She said Yes and that Mr. G....
6933To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favours of June 22d. and July 7 and 11th. are before me. The delay of Mr. Lamb’s arrival is unfortunate, but I think with you that the sooner a project of Treaties is prepared the better, and I will give the earliest attention to it whenever you shall send it. I shall go this morning to Stockdale, to talk with him about sending you the News Papers, and Pamphlets through the Channell of...
6934Adams’ Notes of Authorities: Suffolk Court of General Sessions, Boston, November 1768 (Adams Papers)
Prov. Law. Page 23. Names returned. 2. Salk. 482. Anonimous. 3 Men and families. 2 Salk 485. Sylvanus Johnson. Foleys Poor Laws 427. Lenham vs. Peckham. Foley 426. Flixton vs. Roston. Form of an order of Removal, Burn V. 3, P. 378. V. 3, Page 377. 13 & 14 Car. 2, Chap. 12, cited in Burn V. 3, P. 375. Prov. Law, 4 W. & M. c. 12. Justice shall not act in his Town. 2 Strange 1173 Great Charte and...
6935John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your Favour of Yesterday and am very Sorry to find by it that my Express is arrested at Brussells. This Express was Sent to Paris Solely upon Affairs of the United States of America and my private Affairs. In the three Trunks he has with him there is nothing but my Manuscript Books and Papers, Cloaths of myself, Son & servants and Ninety Six Spoons and Forks larger and...
6936From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 9 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for sending me the Centinel containing the peices upon neutrality signed by Marcellus which I have long been seeking without success—I hope you will be able to lend it to me long enough to get Copied those papers—for no human being knows the value of them so well as I do—not accepting the Auther of them himself— I hope you have not forsaken us—the time seemes very long since...
6937To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 22 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 22, 1778: In examining our joint accounts I find some articles for which I have paid separately. For future planning I propose we pay jointly for the wages and expenses of the maître d’hôtel, cook, coachman and other servants, the hire of horses and carriage, postage and expresses, and other common expenses. If Dr. Franklin chooses...
6938From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men, by these Presents, that I John Adams of Quincy, in the County of Norfolk, in the State of Massachusetts, Esquire, in Consideration of Twelve thousand Eight hundred and Twelve dollars paid me by John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and State aforesaid, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give grant Sell and convey unto the Said John Quincy Adams...
6939July 10. 1784 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
May not the Ascent of Vapours be explained, or rather accounted for upon the Principle of the Air Balloon? Is not every Bubble of Vapour, that rises, an Air Balloon? Bubbles are formed at the Bottoms of Canals, Rivers, Ponds, rise to the Top, and mount up. These Bubbles are particles, or small quantities of inflammable Air, surrounded with a thin film of Water. Champaign Wine, Bottled Porter...
6940John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
L’Ambition dans l’oisiveté, la Bassesse dans l’orgueil, Le Desir de s’enrichir Sans travail, l’Aversion pour la vérité; la flatterie, la Trahison, la Perfidie, l’Abandon de tous Ses Engagemens, le mépris des devoirs du Citoyen, la Crainte de la Vertu du Prince, l’espérance de Ses foiblesses, et plus que tout cela le ridicule perpétuel jetté sur la vertu, forment, je crois, le caractère du plus...
6941To John Adams from John Adams, 4 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Ego recepi tua epistolam a te scriptam Vigesimo tribus mensis Julii. ubi nuntius te a bombardâ matutinâ expavi actum fuisse dicis quoque tibi propinationês plamusque nullo modo placeve et frateribus mihi qua valda placent. Discipulus sum in Schola Doctoris Nicholas, ad Ealing, ubi docenti Septuaginta quisque condiscipulos habeo—Magister noster Universitatis Oxonii alumnus est, et mihi maxima...
6942John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of the 5th. came by Yesterdays Post, and I intended to have answered it by this Mornings Post, but was delayed by many Matters, untill he gave me the slip. I am sorry that you and the People of Boston were put to so much Trouble, but glad to hear that such Numbers determined to fly. The Prices for Carting which were demanded, were detestable. I wish your Fatigue and...
6943From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter & the Proceedings of Auvergne— The Provincial assemblies, if they act only as Councillors of the King must operate for the benefit of the Nation— Le nombre des personnes choises dans les deux premiers Orders ne puisse surposer le nombre des Personnes choiseis pour le trois etats et les voix seront recueillies par tête, alternativement entre les Membres des...
6944Nov. 5th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
I presume upon the common sense of the World that no offence will be taken at the Freedom of the following Sentiments while the utmost Deference for Authority and Decency of Language is preserved, as Persons of obscure Birth, and Station, and narrow Fortunes have no other Way, but thro the Press to communicate their Tho’ts abroad, either to the high or the low. The Vacancy, in the highest seat...
6945John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 29 [30] March 1785 (Adams Papers)
last night on my return from Versailles and the Sight of the gallant young Duke of Normandy. I found your Favour of the eighteenth with its Enclosures which I delivered as soon as I had read it to our Secretary M r Humphreys as I propose to do all of your future letters to be by him transmitted regularly every Month, with our Dispatches to Congress, who are now Sitting at New york with his...
6946From John Adams to Francis Dana, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This day was brought me, your kind favour of August 28th. the first Line I have received from you, Since We parted. A Line from my dear Son, aug. 21. O.S. which I recd 3 days ago, was the first from him. The publick News from America, you have before now. It is grand and I congratulate you upon it, with a gratefull Heart. Our allies have this year adopted a System, which you and I have long...
6947From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 3 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
In your third Volume page 169, you say that “on the twenty Second of April 1782, Mr. Adams was admitted at the Hague and with the Usual Ceremonies received as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America. ” This mistake of a few days in Chronology is Scarcely worth a Remark, but I suppose you would wish to be correct. It was on the Nineteenth day of April, not the twenty Second....
6948From John Adams to Jared S. Russell, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Our social and political compacts are indeed threatened with dissolution and with them all the moral, religious scientific and literary principles and institutions which have converted the wilderness into a fruitful field— If it is only a part it is a Very respectable part of the young Men of New-Ark who are sensible of the danger of their Country, they will long rejoice in the virtuous and...
6949John Adams’ Reply to George Washington’s Queries Regarding Presidential Conduct, [17 May 1789] (Adams Papers)
The Vice President of the United States has the honour to present his humble Opinion, on the Points proposed, for his consideration. 1. That an Association with all kinds of company, and a total Seclusion from Society, are extreams, which, in the actual Circumstances of this Country, and under our form of Government, may be properly avoided. 2. The System of the President, will gradually...
695018 Monday. (Adams Papers)
At Colledge, a warm morning, at 11 ’Clock read Theses on this question, (viz) antliarum et siphonum phaenomina solvuntur ex gravitate aeris. “The phenomena of pumps and siphons are explained by the weight of air.” The theses were outlines prepared earlier by tutors or sophisters, generally of single-page length, listing points relevant to the question posed and thus providing material for...
6951January 20. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Franklin and I met the Comte de Vergennes at his office at Ten. He told us, he was going to sign Preliminaries and an Armistice. At Eleven the C. D’Aranda came in, and Mr. Fitsherbert. After examining the Papers, D’Aranda and Fitsherbert signed the Preliminary Treaty, between the Crowns of G. Britain and Spain. De Vergennes and Fitsherbert that between Britain and France. Then Fitsherbert...
6952Draft Definitive Peace Treaty between the United States and Great Britain, [ante 19 July 1783] (Adams Papers)
(Project for) the definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, concluded at the Day of 1783. In the name of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, & Holy Ghost. So be it. Be it known to all those, to whom it shall or may, in any Manner, belong. It has pleased the most high to diffuse the Spirit of Union & Concord among the...
6953From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 21 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been highly gratified by your obliging letter recd Yesterday. You need not give yourself any concern about my Name in your future Edition. I desire no more than Neighboursfare. A memoir from me, would amount to little more, than the Soliloqui of the Fly upon the Chariot Wheel “What a Dust We raise”? And would excite many little Strong Passions, that we might injure rather than Serve the...
69541779. April 14. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
At Nantes, Hotel de la Comedie, Rue Bignonestar.... Walked, this Morning with my Son over all the Bridges. There are several Islands in the River and they have built Bridges from one to another, and Houses upon the Islands. There are fine Meadows on each Side, and the mixed Appearance of Houses, Meadows, Water and Bridges is very uncommon and amuzing. The first Island is built on with very...
6955[March 1783] (Adams Papers)
In the Morning Chronicle of Saturday February 22, Mr. Secretary Townsend in the Debate upon the five Propositions of Lord John Cavendish, is represented to have said “He was willing to give his full Assent to the first Proposition, because such a Declaration from Parlia ment was, after the Address voted on Monday last, indispensably necessary. To the second, and to the third Resolutions,...
6956[Monday the 25 of March 1776] (Adams Papers)
On Monday the 25 of March 1776 I made a Motion and laid it in Writing on the Table in these Words Resolved That the Thanks of this Congress, in their own Names and in the Name of the thirteen United Colonies, whom they repre sent be presented to his Excellency General Washington and the Officers and Soldiers under his Command, for their wise and spirited Conduct in the Seige and Acquisition...
6957John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Late last night I received Your Report and your translation of Tracy , for both of which, tho’ I have read neither I thank you, but the full pro o f of your returning health has given me more Pleasure than both. I envy your Eyes and hands and Horse. Mine are too dim, too tremulous and my head is too dizzy for the Sovereign Doctor . All is now Still and tranquil. There is nothing to try Mens...
69581779. Decr. 28. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Went from Castillan to Baamonde. The first Part of the Road, very bad, the latter Part tolerable. The whole Country We have passed, is very mountainous and rocky. There is here and there a Vally, and here and there a Farm that looks beautifully cultivated. But in general the Mountains are covered with Furze, and are not well cultivated. I am astonished to see so few Trees. Scarce an Elm, Oak,...
6959From John Adams to William Bentley, 28 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
The Essex Register, its Editors, and Printers are not only Innocent but meritorious for Publishing the pretended Meclengburg Resolutions—I have transmitted to Mr Jefferson the National Register, for his Satisfaction.—Such impostures, which our Polished English friends call Hoaxes, and boares—I am unpolite enough to think; ought to be called forgery’s, and Villany’s, and the Authers of them...
6960From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 15 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 15 February 1780. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:248–249 . John Adams thanked Williams for his letter of 1 Feb. (above) and briefly commented on events in America and the settlement of Williams’ accounts. He applauded Williams’ stated determination to eschew any party spirit,...