2671From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 1 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Preliminaries, to be inserted, in the definitive Treaty of Peace, when the other belligerent Powers shall be ready, were yesterday signed & sealed by the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty on the one part, & the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States on the other. This Fact I communicate to You in Confidence, that You may make the best Use of it You can, for the...
2672From John Adams to William Tudor, 12 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wish you Joy, sir, of your new Abode. I hope you found, the Houses, Wharves &c. &c., in the Town of Boston which are hereafter to contribute to your Satisfaction in Life, in good order. I Should be very happy to learn the Condition in which the Town appeared, the situation of the Buildings and the State and History of the Inhabitants, during the Seige, what Tories are left, and what is to be...
2673To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 7 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
As to the Cask of Wine at Auteuil, it is not paid for. If you will pay for it and take it, you will oblige me. By a sample of it, which I tasted it is good Wine, and very, extreamly cheap. I am happy to find We agree so perfectly in the Change which is made in the Project. The Dye is cast. The Proposal is made. Let them ruminate upon it. I thought of proposing a Tariff of Duties, that We might...
2674From John Adams to John Binns, 20 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Copy of your Declaration, which I have just received and will return by the first Opportunity. I pray you to save yourself the trouble and expence of sending any other Copy to Sir your / humble Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2675From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with the temper and spirit of your Letter of February 28th: The subjects of your future Examination, are judiciously chosen and I hope you will acquit yourself to your own satisfaction as well as that of your Instructor’s. I know of no Characteristic of a weak head a dull discernment and superficial reflection more remarkable than the opinion you mention of many young Men who...
2676From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 2 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Imputation of a weak Passion has made So much Impression upon me, that it may not be improper to Say a little more about it, even although I Should convert you, more and more to the Opinion of those who think the public Interest in danger from it. The Truth Should come out, and if the danger is real the Remedy is easily applied. According to all that I have read of Morals or Seen of...
2677From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress, the latest Gazettes. We have no other Intelligence than is contained in them. Since the 11. July the Date of Lord Howes Letter, announcing the Arrival of the Compte D’Estaing off Sandy Hook, We have not a syllable from America by Way of England. In France We have nothing from America Since 3 July. This long Interval leaves a vast Scope for Imagination...
2678From John Adams to Richard Rush, 23 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I might perhaps agee with Mr Grattan, that Mr Burke had read more of the Brittish Poets than even Dr Johnson, who wrote their Lives, that he understood them better and tasted them with better Judgment and correct discomment; & that he had read the Latin Poets and Orators: but I can go no farther. His uncommon Reading of History, the Law of Nature and Nations of Jurisprudence in General and of...
2679From John Adams to Thomas Truxtun, 13 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
This morning I had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 5th. of this month, with its important enclosures. I cannot accuse my Countrymen with ingratitude. They feel their obligations with ardent sensibility, whenever and wherever they see them. They sometimes from a variety of causes overlook them where they ought to be seen, and sometimes are made to believe they see them where they...
2680To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Adams presents his Compliments to his Excellency Dr: Franklin, & requests the honor of his Company to dinner on Monday the 16th. inst. at 3. oClock. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin. / Passy In the hand of Charles Storer. JA issued a nearly identical invitation to WTF ( APS ). Fitzherbert, Oswald, and Laurens attended JA ’s dinner, among...
2681From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Israel Ludlow of the North Western territory to be register of the land office at Cincinnati. James Findlay of the said territory to be receiver of public monies for lands of the United States at Cincinnati. Thomas Worthington of the territory to be register of the land office at Chilocothe Samuel Findley of the territory to be receiver of public monies for lands of the United...
2682To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 15 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your friend Professor Ticknor is bound upon a Tour in Virginia, though he needs no introduction to you he has requested a letter from me, and I cannot deny him,—he carries his Lady with him; who is rich enough, and handsome enough, & amiable enough; And what can we say more— Is the present calm in the Political World to continue long or not? Our controversy will be settled in a short time, and...
2683From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 21 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to inclose to your Lordship, for the Consideration of his Majestys Ministers, the Papers relative to the Brigantine Jane and Elizabeth the Property of James Sheafe and William Sheafe Citizens of the United States of America; by which it appears that the Said Brigantine was taken by Force, not only from the owners, but even from the officers and Custody of the Court of...
2684John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 15 Decr. was sent me Yesterday by the Marquiss whose Praises are celebrated in all the Letters from America. You must be content to receive a short Letter, because I have not Time now to write a long one.—I have lost many of your Letters, which are invaluable to me, and you have lost a vast Number of mine. Barns, Niles, and many other Vessells are lost. I have received Intelligence...
26851780. January 2. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Rode from Villa franca de el Bierzo Rio P uen te. We dined at Ponferrada. We passed through several Villages and over Bridges and Rivers. We passed Campo de Narraya, Cacabelos Rio P uente and Ponferrada where We dined. The Country grows smoother. The cavalcade stopped this night at Bembibre, a village seven leagues beyond Villafranca del Bierzo; both JQA and Dana had difficulty spelling its...
2686From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I owe you a thousand thanks for your favour of Aug. 22 and its Enclosures, and for Dr Priestley’s “Doctrines of heathen Philosophy compared with those of Revelation.” Your Letter to Dr Rush, and the Sillabus, I return inclosed with this, according to your Injunction; though with great reluctance. May I beg a copy of both? They will do you no harm: me and others much good. I hope you will...
2687From John Adams to John Jay, 13 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The public Papers announce Fitzherbert’s Comission to be, to treat “With the four Powers at War with Great-Britain” But whether they mean Hyder Aly, or the Marattas, is uncertain. I have obtained Intelligence of a Paper addressed lately from the Court of St. James’s to the Courts of Vienna and Petersbourg, as well as that of Paris, in which are the following words, vizt. Sa Majesté Britannique...
2688From John Adams to James Warren, 25 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Upon the Receipt of the Intelligence of Dr. Church’s Letter, Dr. Morgan was chosen in his Room. This Letter is intended to be sent by him, and therefore probably will not go in ten days. John Morgan, a Native of this City, is a Doctor of Physick, a Fellow of the Royal Society at London; Correspondent of the Royal Academy of Surgery at Paris; Member of the Arcadian Belles Lettres Society at...
Mr. Carnes. Simpson. Clark. Of Mrs. Thorntons, I bought them, one Pair. Wm. Simpson. I bought another Pair of Mrs. Thornton. Mrs. Hunt. I sold a Pair to William Clark. I had em of Reader. He told me he had em of Thos. Smith. Mrs. Thornton. I sold a Pair to Simpson. I bo’t em of Reader. He told me he had em from his friends in England. I gave 2 Pist areens, Pistoles and half a Pint of Rum. Wm....
2690From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 11 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
For myself and all my Family, I reciprocate to you and yours, the Compliments of the Season. At my Age, one knows not what a year or a day may produce or destroy. To you and yours I wish health long life and every blessing. I hope you will not keep a very Strict Account of Dr and Cr with me in the commerce of letters. I Should be obliged to you, for as large and as long Credit, without...
2691From John Adams to Matthew Robinson-Morris, 21 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
My Friend D r Price has kindly permitted me to read his Letter and to inclose mine with it— before the Commencement of Hostilities in America a Pamphlet was presented to me at Boston in your Name, which I read with more pleasure than I ever received from any other. it was intituled Considerations on the Measures Carrying on &c— it has been a Constant sceurce of Astonishment to me that a Nation...
2692From John Adams to James Brackett, 2 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that Mr. Brackett has cut off one lot of Mr Adams’s land almost half way down from the upper end, by mistake. It is not worth while at your age & mine for us to go to law about a few acres of mud and a few cords of wood. I therefore propose that we agree upon two or three honest neighbours and upon a skillful, experienced & scientific surveyor to go upon the spot and decide the...
2693June 28 Monday. (Adams Papers)
We have been favoured, in our Voyage hitherto, beyond my utmost Expectations. We have enjoyed a Succession of favourable Winds and Weather, from the Time of our leaving L’orient to this Moment. The Discipline, on Board this Ship, is a constant Subject of Speculation to me. I have seen no Punishments inflicted, no Blows struck, nor heard scarcely an Angry Word spoken, from the Captain to any of...
2694From John Adams to Richard Rush, 14 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
There is an height, beyond which the proudest Wave cannot ascend: there is a depth, at least a bottom, from which no Waters are left to rise or retire. There is a tide in the Affairs of Men. It is a trite observation of Historians, that there is in human Affairs, an ultimate point of depression, from whence, Things naturally but gradually rise and return to their Level. Our american Affairs...
2695John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 24 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here to collect together the Bills and Send them to you by Express. When this Express returns, I pray you to Send by him, my Trunk and all my Cloaths. The Books you will deliver also to him or his order to be Sent to me. Will you be so good as to pack the Trunk yourself, and see that the Books, Papers, and Plate are well placed and fixed So that they may not shake too much. You will Send...
2696From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 21 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 21 May 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:106–108 . Adams commented on, among other things, the probability of a European war, the movements of the French and British fleets, and the possibility of wider European support for the Revolution. He then discussed the large amounts...
2697From John Adams to David Sewall, 10 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 5th. has given me great pleasure off those which St Paul calls, light afflictions, which are but for a moment—a double portion has been allotted to me—but why should I grieve, when grieving must bear.— The seperation of Maine has never been approved by me, any more than by you.—but as the People judge it most convenient for their happiness—I wish them all the Prosperity they...
2698From John Adams to Henry Knox, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend the Marquis, with whom I have sometimes had the Honour to drink your Health after that of General Washington, will deliver you this. His Love of Glory is not diminished, nor his affection for America, as you see by his Return. He has been indefatigable in endeavours to promote the Welfare and Comfort of our Army, as well as to support their Honour and Character, and has had success...
2699From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Joseph Covachich at Barcelona requesting to be consul at Marseilles which you will please to file among other applications to be considered in due time I am Sir &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2700From John Adams to James Sullivan, 21 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 23 of July remains unanswered. There is in the United States and the regions to the southward of it a body of people, possesed of too much of the public confidence who are desperately in debt, and therefore determined all or any government, which shall have power to compel them to pay. Untill the property possesed by some of these men shall change hands, no government will...