10081VIII. (cont.). To the Inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, 20 March 1775 (Adams Papers)
Wales was a little portion of the island of Great-Britain, which the Saxons were never able to conquer. The Britons had reserved this tract of land to themselves and subsisted wholly by pasturage, among their mountains. Their princes however, during the Norman period, and untill the reign of king Edward the first, did homage to the crown of England, as their feudal sovereign, in the same...
10082XII. To the Inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, 17 April 1775 (Adams Papers)
We now come to Jersey and Guernsey, which Massachusettensis says “are no part of the realm of England, nor are they represented in parliament, but are subject to its authority.” A little knowledge of this subject will do us no harm, and as soon as we shall acquire it, we shall be satisfied, how these islands came to be subject to the authority of parliament. It is either upon the principle...
10083Draft Peace Treaty Agreed to by the American Peace Commissioners and Richard Oswald, 4 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald Esquire the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, on behalf of His said Majesty, on the one part. And Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams, three of the Commissioners of the said States for treating of Peace with the Commissioner of His said Majesty, on their...
10084Preliminary Articles of Peace, [30 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Public Record Office; copies: National Archives (six), Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (two), William L. Clements Library; press copies of copies: American Philosophical Society (two); transcripts: National Archives (four) Articles agreed upon, by and between Richard Oswald Esquire, the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the...
10085The Massachusetts Delegates to the President of the Council, 3 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Congress being Inform’d by a Letter from Genl. Washington, that two Thousand of the Continental Troops at Cambridge and Roxbury are deficient in Fire Arms, and that he has not been able to Purchase the Same from the Inhabitants or Obtain them from the Assemblies of the New England Colonies, have directed the General to make Returns to the Assemblies of the Numbers of men Inlisted from...
10086Remission of Punishment for John Scotchlar, 22 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Whereas John Scotchlar, late of the District of Massachusetts, Yeoman, at a Circuit Court of the United States, lately holden in and for the said District was duly convicted of larceny against the form and effect of An Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled “an Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States,” and by the Judgment of the same Court, the said John...
10087I. Humphrey Ploughjogger to the Boston Evening-Post, 3 March 1763 (Adams Papers)
Thes fue Lins cums to let you no, that I am very wel at prisent, thank God for it, hoping that you and the family are so too. I haf bin here this fortnite and it is fiftene yeres you no sins I was here laste, and ther is grate alterashons both in the plase and peple, the grate men dus nothin but quaril with one anuther and put peces in the nues paper aginst one anuther, and sum sayes one is...
10088Committee Report on Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson’s Message, 5 October 1770 (Adams Papers)
5 October 1770. MS not found. Prepared by a committee appointed and reporting 5 October, composed of John Murray, Joseph Gerrish, JA , Jedediah Prebble, and Samuel Adams. Murray reported the same day. In his reply to the House Message of 4 October (see preceding calendar entry), Hutchinson claimed he was “not at Liberty” to communicate the order in council of 6 July to which he had referred...
10089III. Instructions as Printed in the Massachusetts Gazette, 10 October 1765 (Adams Papers)
We hear from Braintree that the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of that Town, legally assembled on Tuesday the Twenty fourth of September last, unanimously voted, that Instructions should be given their Representative, for his Conduct in General Assembly, on this great Occasion—The Substance of these Instructions is as follows: SIR, “In all the Calamities which have ever befallen this...
10090II. Instructions Adopted by the Braintree Town Meeting, 24 September 1765 (Adams Papers)
The Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Braintree Qualifyd to vote in Town affairs being assembled at the Meeting House in the Middle Precinct of said Town pursuant to warrants for assembling said Town To inform their Representative Respecting their Sentiments Relative to the Stamp Act And other matters of Grievance, Also to see if the Town will instruct their Representative on...
10091From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 28 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Give me Leave to trouble you, to Send me two Newspapers, the General Advertiser and the Morning Post, Let them be sent constantly by the Post, to the Address of Mynheer Henry Schorn, Amsterdam. I have an opportunity already of Seeing Some other Papers. Let me beg the favour of your sending me also, General Burgoines and General Hows Narrative. When your Funds are near exhausted let me know. It...
10092From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 7 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 24. 27 and 31. Ultimo came altogether last night. The Note in that of 27 is of much Use much Importance to me. I wrote, Sometime ago, to see if any Thing could be done by Way of Exchange. If a certain Sett, are governed wholly by Passion, it must be confessed they have as constant a gale of it, as a Tempest so furious, will in the ordinary course of Nature admit of. C’en est...
10093From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 19 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Bundle by Mr. B romfield I received, and one or two Parcells since. Yesterday I received the N. Papers and yours of the 14th. I wish to know, how Sir. J. Y. Mem. is considered among you. Will they declare this Republick in Rebellion, or not? Whenever my Lord H—h has charged Faction and Cabal, it has been followed Soon by outlawry, and Charges of Rebellion and War. Poor Arnold! Where are...
10094Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 19 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Messieurs, les deux Lettres que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire au Sujet de la reclamation que fait M. Izard des Effets pris Sur le batiment le Nil. Je vous ai observé par ma Lettre du 7 de ce mois, que l’Autorite devoit Seulement Suppléer aux Loix lorsqu’elles etoient insuffisantes; et qu’elle devenoit inutile et déplacée lorsque la Legislation etoit claire et précise. Vous...
10095Adams’ Copy of the Information and Draft of His Argument: Court of Vice Admiralty, Boston, October 1768–March 1769 (Adams Papers)
Prov. &c. Before the Honorable Robert Auchmuty Esqr. Be it remembered, that on the 29 day of October in the Ninth Year of the Reign of his Majesty George the Third, Jonathan Sewall Esqr. Advocate General for the said Lord the King, in his proper Person comes and as well on behalf of the said Lord the King, as of the Governor of this Province, gives the said Court to understand and be informed,...
10096Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, with Adams’ Letter of Transmittal, 19 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had wrote you several posts before my hearing you was returned. I should be very glad if you and Mrs. Adams could take a turn this way before you return to Philadelphia again. I had lately a schooner arrived, with some powder, at Barnstable, rather better than three hundred pounds, which was disposed of there, as the people wanted it much. I understand that any person importing powder shall...
10097Louis Sonies, père et fils, to Gaillard Malibran & Cie., 4 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Bordeaux, 4 April 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ). A response to a recommendation of JA to the firm of Louis Sonies from a correspondent, “un ami,” in Boston, this letter introduced Adams to a Paris banking firm, Gaillard Malibran & Cie. It requested that the bankers render assistance to Adams when he arrived in that city, but the presence of the letter in the Adams Papers and the fact that the...
10098From Benjamin Stoddert to Commanders of Armed Vessels, 10 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Instructions to Commanders of Armed Vessels belonging to the United States:— Given at Philadelphia, The tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and ninety eight, and in the twenty third year of our Independence.— In pursuance of the Acts of Congress passed the 28th day of May, the 28th. day of June, & the 9th day of July;— You are hereby authorized instructed,...
10099Sui Juris to the Boston Gazette, 23 May 1768 (Adams Papers)
Not many Years ago, were transmitted to the Public, thro’ the Channel of the Boston-Gazette, a few desultory Essays, on the Spirit of the Canon and Feudal Law: in some of which were expressed Apprehensions of the future Mischiefs, that might be caused in America by the Efforts and Exertions of those expiring and detested systems. That those apprehensions were too well founded, Time has,...
10100John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The most exalted of our young Genius’s in Boston have an Ambition to See Montecello , its Library and its Sage. I lately gave a Line of Introduction to M r Everett , our most celebrated Youth: But his Calls at home, forced him back from Washington . George Ticknor Esquire who will have the Honour to present this to you, has a reputation here, equal to the Character given him in the enclosed...
10101IV. “U” to the Boston Gazette, 18 July 1763 (Adams Papers)
Among the Votaries of Science, and the numerous Competitors for literary Fame, Choice and Judgment, about the Utility of their Studies, and the Interest of the human Race, have been remarkably neglected. Mathematicians have exerted, an obstinate Industry, and the utmost Subtilty of Wit, in demonstrating, little Niceties, among the Relations of Lines and Numbers, of Surfaces and Solids; and in...
10102From John Adams to George Washington, 11 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
It is with peculiar satisfaction that we are informed by your Speech to the two Houses of Congress, that the long, and expensive war in which we have been engaged with the Indians North west of the Ohio, is in a situation to be finally terminated; and though we view with concern the danger of an interruption of the peace so recently confirmed with the Creeks, we indulge the hope, that the...
10103From John Adams to George Washington, 22 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
We receive with pleasure your speech to the two Houses of Congress. In it we perceive renewed proofs of that vigilant and paternal concern for the prosperity, honor, and happiness of our country, which has uniformly distinguished your past administration. Our anxiety arising from the licentious and open resistance to the laws in the western counties of Pennsylvania, has been increased by the...
10104Address to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson Requesting the Return of the General Court to Boston, 7 June 1770 (Adams Papers)
7 June 1770. MS ( M-Ar ), in an unidentified hand. Printed: Mass., House Jour. Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts [1715–], Boston, reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1919–. (For the years for which reprints are not yet available, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 22. Prepared by a committee appointed 6 June composed...
10105Report Relative to Assuming Civil Government, 10 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 73–74. This, the second report on this date of the Committee on the State of the Province, was framed in the form of three resolutions: that the adjournment on 29 October had...
10106Boston Town Committee Report on a Society to Promote the Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce, 29 September … (Adams Papers)
Boston, 29 September 1770. MS not found. At the Boston Town Meeting of 20 Sept., JA was named to a committee including John Hancock, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Thomas Boylston, Joseph Warren, and William Dennie to consider the “Proposal of a number of Inhabitants for forming a Society in order to promote Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce in this Province.” The town meeting...
10107New England Delegates to George Washington, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As Congress have authorized your Excellency to send a proper Officer to take the Command in the northern Department; We take the Liberty to signifie to your Excellency that in our Opinion, no Man will be more likely; to restore, Harmony, Order and Discipline, and retrieve our Affairs in that Quarter, than Majr. Genll. Gates. He has on Experience acquired the Confidence, and stands high in the...
10108Committee Report on the State of the Province, 16 November 1770 (Adams Papers)
16 November 1770. MS not found. Printed: Mass., House Jour. Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts [1715–], Boston, reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1919–. (For the years for which reprints are not yet available, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 164. Prepared by a committee appointed 16 October composed of Thomas...
10109An Act for the Limitation of Personal Actions, 20 November 1770 (Adams Papers)
20 November 1770. MS , engrossed copy, signed by Hutchinson ( M-Ar ). Printed: Mass., Province Laws The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay , Boston, 1869–1922; 21 vols. , 5:109–111. Prepared by a committee appointed 16 October composed of JA , John Worthington, and Joseph Hawley ( Mass., House Jour. Journals of the House of Representatives of...