Sewall, Attorney General. One of the highest Crimes, agravated as it was his Wife. Inquisition. Nancy Patterson. Lives in another Street, not so far as the Markett. Went to Bells House. He was in a great Passion with his Wife. She was bloody. He had a Child in his Arms, bloody. Cant tell the Time— whether it was a fortnight or 3 Weeks before she died. Her Eye was swelled so that she could not...
3992[Saturday Feb. 17. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Saturday Feb. 17. 1776. The Committee to whom the Letters from Generals Arnold, Wooster, Schuyler and Lee were referred brought in their report, which was agreed to in the several Resolutions detailed in page 67. and 68 of this Volume of the Journals. Same day Resolved that Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Wythe and Mr. Sherman be a Committee to prepare Instructions for the Committee appointed to go to...
3993From John Adams to Harriet Welsh, 22 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Question of the 11th of this Month which has been so long on its way, that I have received it but this moment, I have no hesitation in saying that at no period of our revolution, could any Man be his popularity what it might, could have persuaded the people of this Country or any considerable number of them to be governed by a King of their own, or even a President for Life,...
3994From John Adams to James Warren, October 1775 (Adams Papers)
What think you of a North American Monarchy? Suppose We should appoint a Continental King, and a Continental House of Lords, and a Continental House of Commons, to be annually, or triennially or Septennially elected? And in this Way make a Supreme American Legislature? This is easily done you know by an omnipotent Continental Congress, and When once effected, His American Majesty may appoint a...
3995John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. and Coll. Whipple, are at length gone. Coll. Tudor went off with them. They went away, about Three o Clock this afternoon. I wrote by A and Coll. Whipple too. By the latter I sent two large Bundles, which he promised to deliver to you. These middle States begin to taste the Sweets of War. Ten Thousand Difficulties and wants occur, which they had no Conception of before. Their Militia...
3996From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 14 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favours of the 8th. and 10th and the volume of Benjamin Edes’s gazettes printed at Watertown between the 5th of June 1775 and the 9th. of December 1776. I am much obliged to you and to Mr Austin, for the Loan of this prescious collection of Memorials I read last Fall and Winter, The Scottish Chiefs, Thadeus of Warsaw and The Exiles of Siberia; and Scotts Lay, Marmion and...
3997John Adams to Charles Adams, 17 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am delighted with your delicious little Letter of 14 th. —but was puzzled to guess where you got your Description of Lubberland or what do the French call it? Pays de Cocany or some such Word. Does he get this, says I, from Old Chauar, or Spencer, or from shakespear? Young M r Otis, turned me to the Passage in elegant Extracts— It is it seems from the Tempest, which was to me, once very...
3998From John Adams to Joshua Thomas, 20 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
Nothing could afford me, more pleasure than to visit my Friends in Plymouth (where I formerly so much delighted to reside) on the 22d instant, according to your polite and obliging Invitation: but various circumstances will oblige me to denay myself that gratification. I feel a well grounded conviction that the best principles of sure great and glorious Ancestors, are inherited by a large...
3999From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Col. Forrest, informed me last Night that he delivered you the Letter I wrote by him. in which were orders upon the Bankers of Amsterdam to pay you your Salery, till then I was anxous about it, as you make no mention of it in yours of the 25 th of Sep r I am extreamly Sorry to hear of your unfortunate Situation, at the date of that Letter. but hope before this time there is some change for the...
4000From John Adams to William MacCreery, 13 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never heard a Word of your Arrival, untill this Day. I sincerely congratulate you upon it, and hope the fine Cargo you have brought will Set you at your Ease. Pray how did you leave all Friends and all Things at Baltimore, and in the rest of America? What is become of my old Friends Johnson, Paca, Chase, and many others? Baltimore flourishes, it seems in trade, which I wish may be increased,...
4001From John Adams to Henry Grand, 1 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
You cannot imagine how much I am obliged to you for your early Information of the glorious News. I have Since received ample details of it from America, but your Letter reached me several days Sooner. I last night recd yours of 23 Novr—and will write you more fully upon it soon. We shall agree in every Thing I believe but the Article of L 6857: 3s, which you charge me for 29 Feb. 1780, as an...
4002From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 15 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
O that I had the talent at description of a Homer a Milton or a Walter Scott I would give you a picture of a hill that I have visited with more pleasure than I should mount Ida or Monticello. Mr David Hyslop has been importuning me for seven years to dine with him in Brookline: I have always declined till last Tuesday when taking my grandson George Washington Adams for my guide and aid de camp...
4003From John Adams to United States Senate, 26 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William McGuire of Virginia to be Chief Justice of the Mississippi Territory— William Henry Harrison Esqr: of Virginia to be Secretary of the Territory, north west of the River Ohio— Josiah Blakely of New York to be Consul of the United States in St. Jago in the Island of Cuba— DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
4004From John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 9 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d the Letter you Yesterday did me the Honour to write me, and will lay before you, all the Accounts I have, which are little more than Sums of Money rec d. for my Salary as Soon as I can get at my Books and Papers, which are at the Hague. M r Grand will be able to furnish you with the Account of the Monies paid by him or by the House of Horneca Fizeaux & Grand at Amsterdam for the...
40051772. Decr. 23. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Major Martin at the Office. He is very gracious with the first Man in the Province. The Governor spoke very handsomely, of all my Council.—“He did you Justice,” &c. &c. The Major is to dine with me tomorrow. He wishes for Warr, wants to be a Colonell—to get 1000 st. a Year for 8 or 10 Years that he may leave Something to his Children, &c. &c.—“An Ensign in the Army is Company for any Nobleman...
4006From John Adams to Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, 6 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Upon my Return to Town, to day I found your Favour of the 5th. instant: that of 31. Ult I had recd before. Am curious to know what Use will be made in the States of overyssell of the Memorial of the Russian Ministers. Will it be used as a Pretext for delay? It is really a Serious Thing, that great affairs should be thus obstructed by little ones. This Memorial promises more than Mr Fox’s...
4007[Fryday Feb. 23. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Fryday Feb. 23. 1776. Resolved that Congress will on Monday next resolve itself into a Committee of the whole, to take into Consideration the Letters from General Washington.
4008From John Adams to Oliver Spencer, 17 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your address has been forwarded by Colonel Spencer as you requested, and demands a respectfull return. The approbation of any of the Inhabitants beyond the Mountains, is very acceptable to me for reasons which cannot be mistaken. You must share the Fortunes of your Bretheren in the Atlantic States, whether prosperous or adverse. Seperated from them you would soon be the Prey of one or another...
4009From John Adams to Ebenezer Hazard, 28 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
M r Adams presents his Compliments to M r Hazard, and returns, with Pleasure, the Proposal for printing his valuable Collection of State Papers, with a Subscription. RC ( NHi :Gilder Lehrman Coll., on deposit); endorsed: “Vice Presid t. Adams.” New York City bookseller Ebenezer Hazard (1744–1817) widely advertised his plans to compile and print his Historical Collections; Consisting of State...
4010From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Barretts Arrival at Paris, is a lucky Event, and his appointment by the Merchants in Boston a judicious Step; but I am not So clear in the Choice he makes of L’Orient to reside in.— Paris, or even Havre, Seems to me a better Situation. Paris in preference to all others.— If Boylstone would Act in concert with him, his Capital, would be equal to every Thing which relates to the Business:...
4011From John Adams to James Lovell, 6 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Favours of 14 and 18 Novr. I received together, this Evening. I thank you, for your obliging Remembrance of me, and for your entertaining Anecdotes. Is there not Ground of Suspicion, that the Standards, Trophys, and other things, are concealed among, the Officers Baggage? But by the Convention Burgoignes Honour is to be relyed on, that nothing improper Shall be So concealed. A broken...
4012Monday. 27. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Boulainvilliers, at his House in Passi, with Generals and Bishops and Ladies &c—In the Evening went to the French Comedy, and happened to be placed in the first Box, very near to the celebrated Voltaire who attended the Performance of his own Alzire. Between the Acts the Audience called out Voltaire and clapped and applauded him, the whole Time. The old Poet arose and bowed...
40131771. Sunday, June 9th. (Adams Papers)
Feel a little discomposed this Morning. Rested but poorly last night. Anxious about my Return—fearfull of very hot or rainy weather. I have before me an uncomfortable Journey to Casco Bay—little short of 300 miles. Looking into a little bedroom, in this House Shaylers, I found a few Books, the musical Miscellany, Johnsons Dictionary, the farmers Letters, and the Ninth Volume of Dr. Clarks...
4014From John Adams to the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 8 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Permettez moi de vous presenter Mon Ami monsieur John Trumbull Fils du Governeur Trumbull et cidevant Colonel au service des Etats Unis— Il a l’Ambition noble de consigner a l’immortality les Evenemens de notre Histoire par son Pinceau— vous verrez son Warren et son Montgomery— M r. Trumbull est un Citizen tres estimable, et Je vous prie de l’assister avec vos Bontés Allow me to present to you...
4015From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 11 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed recommendation of Capt. Samuel Robinson to be keeper of the lighthouse on Wigwam point are from such authority & so decisive that I presume it will be unnecessary to look any further. With great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4016From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 23d. I am very glad to be informed, that the instructions for the envoys will be prepared in a few days, & that you have written to Mr Davie What think you of our envoys landing at Lisbon, & the frigate that carries them, takeing Mr. Smith to Constantinople, or cruising on the Spanish coast or in the Mediteranean? I am not for delaying the negotiation...
4017From John Adams to William Tudor, 29 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I wish it was in my Power, to write you any Thing for the Relief of your Anxiety, under the Pressure of those Calamities which now distress our beloved Town of Boston and Province of Massachusetts. The Sentiments expressed in your last to me, are Such as would do Honour to the best of Citizens, in the Minds of the Virtuous and worthy of any Age or Country in the worst of Times. You can have no...
4018From John Adams to Charles Lee, 29 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
Esteeming very highly the opinion & character of your friend General Marshall, I thank you for inclosing his letter of the 3d of March in yours of the 14th which I have received. The nomination of Murray has had one good effect at least It has shown to every observing & thinking man, the real strength or weakness of the constitution, & where one part of that weakness resides It has also...
4019From John Adams to James McIlroy, 27 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Whether you are Citizens or strangers I Thank you for this civil Address which is at least civil and polite presented to me by Mr North a Senator in Congress from New York. The strong sense you express of the Duties of Obedience and support to that Government which benignly protects you, is in conformable to the general Character of Nations the English and Irish Nations. In return for your...
4020From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following persons for promotions and appointments in the Army of the United States. Dragoons. Stephen G. Simmons Lieutenant vice Slough resigned Charles Warfield Cornet vice Ball promoted William Tharp ditto vice McDermot promoted. First Regiment of Infantry. William H. Harrison Captain vice Kingsbury promoted 15. May 1797 Nicholas Rosencrantz Lieutenant vice Harrison ditto