4711From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never was more amuzed with political Speculations, than Since my Arrival in this country. Every one has his Prophecy, and every Prophecy is a Paradox. One Says America will give France the Go By. Another that France and Spain, will abandon America. A Third that Spain will forsake France and America. A Fourth that America, has the Interest of all Europe against her. A Fifth that She will...
4712John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 25 Ult. is rec d. — Thomas is to Sett off from N. York to day for Quincy and I wish him a pleasant Journey, which the fine Weather and convenient Snow promises. An happy Sight of his Friends, will come of course, without Accidents. He found his Father, forty Years Older than when he left him, and if he finds his Mother advanced only ten, it may be an agreable disappointment to him.—...
4713From John Adams to James Madison, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I ought to make an apology to you for the trouble I give you to read so many of my letters upon subjects with which perhaps I should have nothing to do. but as I am requested to give a simple letter of introduction to a gentleman going to Washington, I could not refuse it. Mr Andrew Eliot a respectable Merchant of Boston has a petition to present to the Administration or to the legislature or...
4714[May 22 Fryday.] (Adams Papers)
May 22 Fryday. We sent the following Letter. Mr. Joseph Parker of London has made Application to Us concerning a Claim, that he has of Property in a certain Vessell, which has been as he informs Us, in the Custody of the Public, since the Spring of the Year 1775, requesting Us to write to your honours, on the Subject. From what some of Us know and all of Us have heard of Mr. Parker, We have...
4715From John Adams to John Bondfield, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the Cloathing, is a great Disappointment and Misfortune in America. The British Ministry are never at a Loss. You see they were very ready to discover how Mr. Laurens was to be treated. They will easily know how to treat Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler. If Americans had understood...
47167 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
A Fair warm, day. Dined at the Judges. Drank Tea at Major Gardiners.
4717From John Adams to John Vaughan, 23 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
I regret that your kind Letter of Oct. 11. has been so long unanswered. Mr Colman needed no recommendation or introduction from me to you. He is delighted with his Visit to Philadelphia and the liberal Society he found there. I will hazard Something to you. In my Opinion Something was wanting in Philadelphia, to irradiate the Solemn gloom of the religion of that City, on one hand: and to check...
4718[June 1779] (Adams Papers)
Dined on Shore at the Coffee House with Jones, Landais, the two Aids de Camp of the Marquis de la Fayette, Capt. Cotineau. Dined on Board the Sensible, at the Invitation of the Captn. Mr. Chavan Chavagnes , with Mr. Thevenard, Mr. Grandville, Mr. Chaumont, &c. &c. On fait, et defait—mande et contremand. “A Strong Fleet is necessary to defend the Port of Brest.” This Observation, which I had...
4719[Wednesday August 21. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday August 21. 1776. A Petition from Prudehome La Junesse was read and referred to the Board of War. The Committee to whom part of the Report from the Committee on Spies was recommitted, having brought in a report, the same was taken into Consideration where-upon Resolved, That all Persons, not Members of, nor owing Allegiance to any of the United States of America, as described in a...
4720From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 15 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Do not expect to escape so, I have a hundred if not a thousand letters to write you. which however I shall never write, upon the restoration of the tories to this Country, and their subsequent Conduct towards me—of that host of Vagabond Foreigners who have tormented and deceived this Simple American people for four and forty years—for the secret Correspondences’s and Corruption—Civil political...
4721From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 2d of this month. I am sincerely sorry for the resignation of Capt Truxton. Although you have not explained to me his motives, I presume the decision which gave rise to them, was founded in principles of sound policy and eternal justice, as it was made upon honor & with conscientious deliberation. If it were now to be made, it would be the same, tho my...
4722To John Jay from John Adams, 24 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
I received last Week your friendly private Letter of the tenth.— The assurance of the continuance of your friendship was unnecessary for me, because I have never had a doubt of it.— But others invent and report as they please. They have preserved hitherto, however more delicacy to wards the friendship between you and me than any other. The last Mission to France, and the consequent dismission...
4723John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
There is a Clock Calm, at this Time, in the political and military Hemispheres. The Surface is smooth and the Air serene. Not a Breath, nor a Wave. No News, nor Noise. Nothing would promote our Cause more, than Howes March to this Town. Nothing quickens and determines People so much, as a little Smart.—The Germans, who are numerous and wealthy in this state and who have very imperfect Ideas of...
4724To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, 17 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received, last night, a Letter from His Excellency Governor Jay, inclosing a Copy of an Act of the Legislature of New York for the further Defence of that State and for other Purposes. The Governor Observes that it appears to be the intention of that Act, that the Money appropriated in it, 150,000 dollars, Shall be laid out only in the manner which the National Government will recognize...
4725From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 January 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter inclosing the letters from Mr Basset and Mr. Custis Congress had resolved, but I believe not passed int o a law, to erect a monument to President Washington; but they passed resolutions requesting the then President to write a letter to Mrs. Washington soliciting her consent to have her remains removed, to be entombed with those of her Husband in the City of...
4726From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your kind Letter of the 10th of this month, and am happy to find that you are pleased with your situation at Bush Hill. I hope soon to hear of the Birth of a peaceable son of Mars, and that Mrs Knox is as well and in as good Spirits as you appear to be. The Paragraphs in the New York Papers I know nothing of: The Lyes in the New Haven one I never heard...
4727From John Adams to Susanna Boylston Adams Clark Treadway, 8 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
If I could write I should sooner, have answered your letter of the 10th June. I am very much pleased with all your letters, they discover an attentive observation and proper reflection. you have great opportunities to see the fashionable World and I hope you will not be too much fascinated with its delights and Charmes, Moral and intellectual beauties are the only ones that never fade;...
4728[May 26. Tuesday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
May 26. Tuesday. 1778. Dined at the Seat in the Country of Monsieur Bertin, a Secretary of State. Madam Bertin, the Lady of the Ministers Nephew, invited Dr. Franklin, Mr. William Temple Franklin and me to ride with her in her Coach with four Horses, which We did. This was one of the pleasantest rides, I had seen. We rode near the Backside of Mount Calvare, which is the finest Hill near Paris,...
4729From John Adams to Jacob Roorda, 16 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received the Letter, which you did me the Honour to write me, on the twelfth of this Month, and am much obliged to you, for your Congratulations on an Event, which is So much to the Honour and Interest of the two Republicks, to me an abundant Reward for all the dangerous Voyages, fatiguing Journeys and other disagreeable Circumstances, which I have been obliged to Submit to in...
4730From John Adams to Students of Harvard College, July 1798 (Adams Papers)
The companions, studies, and amusements of my youth, under the auspices of our alma mater , whom I shall ever hold in the highest veneration and affection, came fresh to my remembrance on receiving your address. The maxims of life and the elements of literature, which have ever been inculcated in that ancient seat of education, could produce no other sentiments, in a juncture like this, than...
4731From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of September 10th and am very glad to hear of your Visit to Braintree and Plymouth. I have traced your Path as far as Governor Trumbulls at Lebanon. I hope you found, Things in the Eastern States, as well as all others agreable. Govr. Trumbulls son and Mr. Tyler, are taken up in England and committed for high Treason. This will cure the Silly Itch of running over to...
4732John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1774 (Adams Papers)
This is the second day of the Term at York: very little Business--very hot weather. My Refreshment is a flight to B raintree to my Corn fields and Grass Plotts, my Gardens and Meadows. My Fancy runs about you perpetually. It is continually with you and in the Neighbourhood of you—frequently takes a Walk with you, and your little prattling, Nabby, Johnny, Charly, and Tommy. We walk all together...
473311 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Serene Weather, but somewhat cool. I am constantly forming, but never executing good resolutions. I take great Pleasure, in viewing and examining the magnificent Prospects of Nature, that lie before us in this Town. If I cast my Eyes one Way, I am entertained with the Savage and unsightly appearance of naked woods and leafless Forests. In another place a chain of broken and irregular...
4734Instructions to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
To the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, at the Court of Versailles empowered to negociate a Peace, or to any one or more of them. First. You are instructed and authorised to announce to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany or to his Ministers the high Sense which the United States in Congress assembled entertain of his exalted Character and eminent virtues, and...
4735From John Adams to Nathanael Greene, 7 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I never before took hold of a Pen, to write to my Friend General Green, without Pleasure, but I think myself obliged to do it now upon a Subject that gives me a great deal of Pain. The Three Letters from, the Generals Sullivan, Green and Knox, have interrupted the Deliberations of Congress, and given many of the Members of it much Uneasiness. They thought themselves bound, in Honour and...
4736John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 1 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Favour of Yesterday and thank you for the Promptitude with which you answered mine of the 29. Ult. I have been informed particularly by the two worthy Pensionaries, Vanberckel and Vischer, as well as by your Letter, of the Difficulties of Succeeding with your venerable Regency, and therefore See no hopes of Saving the Bills but in the Plan of a new Loan, or in that...
4737From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 16 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of 12. Your accounts from Paris coincide with mine, and make me happy. Vaughan has no public Character at all, and oswalds is the same with Carletons. The K. of Spain is not mentioned in Fitzherberts. The Slips are great Curiosities. They were written with the Design of being printed as written by a Briton. The Publisher has told that th ey are of an American! Which...
4738From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 7 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you a Commission signed for Moses Robinson Junr, upon your recommendation and that of Mr Jonathan Hunt. I have no difficulty in believing that he may be a good Commissioner. How is Father came to be so wrongheaded I never could account. I have / the Honor to be, Sir your humble / Servant. CtHi : Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Papers.
4739From John Adams to United States Senate, 14 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Nathaniel Rogers Esquire of New Hampshire to be Supervisor of the Revenue for that District in the Place of Joshua Wentworth dismissed DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
4740From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the information, transmitted in your letter of the 6, I think it most equitable to suspend the removal of Mr. Pintard for the present. I am glad to find that Mr. Lamar is a native American & now agree with you that whenever Mr. M Pintard must be removed, a more proper person cannot probably be selected, than Mr. Lamar. I have read with care your letter to Mr. Humphries, &...