1441March 3d. 1761. (Adams Papers)
Mem. To enquire of Tufts, Gould, Whitmarsh, Hunts, Whites, &c. about their Method of mending High Ways by a Rate. And to enquire at Worcester, whenever I shall get there of Chanlers, Putnam, Willard, Paine, Swan &c. about their Method. They mended their Ways by a Rate, I am sure. Saml. Clark, Jo. Field, Eb. Newcomb Danl. Nash, the Mirmidons of Thayer. Luke Lambard, Ben Hayden, Saml. Clark &c....
1442John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have taken a Sheet of Paper, only to wish you an happy new Year and many happy repetitions of this Aniversary. I received yesterday a Letter, and Pacquet of his Liberty Papers and Pamphlets from M r B. Hollis dated 18. Feb. 1793. Where it has been I cannot guess. He Sends his best Wishes to you and hopes you have recovered your health and Spirits. I Suppose Columbus has now done with G— I...
1443[December 1758] (Adams Papers)
Bob Paine is conceited and pretends to more Knowledge and Genius than he has. I have heard him say that he took more Pleasure in solving a Problem in Algebra than in a frolick. He told me the other day, that he was as curious after a minute and particular Knowledge of Mathematicks and Phylosophy, as I could be about the Laws of Antiquity. By his Boldness in Company, he makes himself a great...
144415 [i.e. 16] Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A Stormy Day.
1445From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 2 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
D r Gordon who is arrived with your Favour of the 13 of April, will probably be disappointed in his Wishes that mutual affection may be restored; as much as he is mistaken in his opinion; that this is the only means of the Prosperity of both Countries.— America will prosper whether Love or Hatred Subsists. It is indeed improbable that mutual affection will ever be restored, not indeed So much...
1446From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 20 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Schweighauser of Nantes, who is a Native of Switzerland, observing me, as I was, one Day at his House, looking with some Attention, upon a Stamp, of the heroic Deed of William Tell, asked me to take a few of them to America, as a Present from him, which I agreed to do, with Pleasure. He, accordingly Sent, on Board the Frigate a Box, containing as he told me, one Stamp for each of the...
1447John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I am returned in tolerable Health to this Town—have received but one Letter from you since I left you, that which you sent by Mr. Rice. If you send Letters to Coll. Warren, or your Unkle Smith, they will be conveyed, with safety. I hope the Post Office will be upon a better footing soon. An Army is gathering in the Jerseys. They have frequent Skirmishes, and the Enemy generally come off second...
1448[1780. January 2. Sunday.] (Adams Papers)
1780. January 2. Sunday. We rode from Villa Franca, da el Bierzo Rio P uen te, passed through several Villages, and over Rivers and Bridges; We passed also Campo de Narraya, Cacabelos Rio P uente and arrived at Ponferrada where We dined. The Country grew smoother.
1449From John Adams to United States Senate, 1 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Adolph C. Lent of New York to be surgeons mate in the navy. Killeair H Van Renselar of New York to be lieutenant in the navy. Richard Salter Tibbits of Massachusetts to be lieutenant in the navy. George R. Turner of Massachusetts to be lieutenant in the navy Joshua G Symmes of Massachusetts to be Surgeon in the navy Thomas Hoist of Massachusetts to be second lieutenant of marines...
1450John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, July 1802 (Adams Papers)
I am much alarmed at the Intimations in the public Prints of the appearance and prevalence of the Fever in Phyladelphia. Anxiety for the public in all our great Cities as well as in Philadelphia, is not So easily removed as our concern for your Person may be by your own discretion, in removing immediately from the Scene of danger. It will be a favourable moment to make a Visit to Us. I long to...
1451John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
No Letters from you Since last December. Write by the Way of England Holland, France Spain all the Winds of Heaven. You may desire Mr. Storer to inclose your Letters to the Care of his Connections in London. Letters come now by that Way very well. I know not when I shall see you. I begin to fear it will not be, till next year. Yet I am in constant hopes every Moment of receiving from Congress...
1452From John Adams to William Prentis, 6 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address. I thank you for your most zealous approbation of the Measures calculated for the preservation of Peace, and restoration of Harmony with the French Republic. War is not to be resorted to, but in pursuit of Justice and in Cases of necessity. A War with France, if just and necessary, might wean Us from fond & blind affections, which no Nation ought ever to feel...
1453From John Adams to William Tudor, 12 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters put me more and more out of Patience every Post.— Why, in that of the 6 th. do you call our national Government a federal Republick ? It is no more that, than it is Sphœrical Trigonometry. What is a federal Republic? It is an association of a Number of independent Sovereign States.— Are the Seperate States in our national Government, Sovereign and independent? If they are, We had...
1454From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 28 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of the 23 of December. I have rec d but one Letter for you, Since my Arrival in Paris, and that was inclosed with mine to you of the 26. Ult. I am not able to Say why the Letters were delivered to you at the Hague unsealed. I never unsealed any of your Letters, most certainly, and if you have rec d any in that State, which had passed through my hands,...
145530 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A fair day. Drank Tea and spent the Evening at Mr. Putnams, with Mr. Maccarty, very Sociably.
1456[April 11. Saturday 1778.] (Adams Papers)
April 11. Saturday 1778. Went to Versailles with Dr. Franklin and Mr. Lee, visited the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, the Count de Vergennes and was politely received. He hoped I should stay long enough in France, to acquire the French Language perfectly.... Assured me that every Thing should be done to make France agreable to me. Hoped the Treaty would be agreable, and the Alliance...
1457From John Adams to Benjamin Goodhue, 16 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Certain matters touching the public good requiring that the Session of the Senate for Executive Business should be continued, and that the Members thereof should convene on Tuesday the seventeenth day of July instant; you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber in Philadelphia on that day, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as...
1458From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 September 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have recd yours of Aug. 1802. I agree with you that “the deadly infection has not Spread thro every Limb.” But what Shall We Say when Such a Writer as Mr Callender, can write down the Administration of Washington, write up an administration of Jefferson and then write it down again. The Editors of Newspapers, have no Check, and yet have Power to make and Unmake Characters, at their Will; to...
14596 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
A cold day. Spent the Evening and supped at Mr. Putnams.
1460From John Adams to the President of Congress, 5 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
On Wednesday the third day of this Month, the American Ministers met the British Minister at his Lodgings at the Hôtel de York, and signed, sealed and delivered the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain. Altho’ it is but a Confirmation or Repetition of the Provisional Articles, I have the honor to congratulate Congress upon it, as it is a...
1461From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 1 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 18th. November—your comparison of the horse race with the presidential race is happy. I believe that the partisans, of the cavalry are more zealous than those of the presidency. I rejoice that the discussion has begun so early. Characters will now be sifted, and the decision will show the national character” Know thyself ought to be the motto of this nation....
1462From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you the selection of two majors from North Carolina & that of officers for South Carolina and Georgia with the letter of Genls Pinckney & Washington with that of Mr Steele. I am satisfied with these recommendations and approve the selections.—I return the proceedings of the court martial in the cases of the deserters. The absolute necessity of examples in such cases as that of Richard...
1463[Saturday June 1. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Saturday June 1. 1776. Colonel Joseph Read resigned his Office of Secretary to General Washington. Committee of the whole again. Mr. Harrison reported some resolutions. Leave to sit again.
14641795 June 21. (Adams Papers)
Lime dissolves all vegetable Substances, such as Leaves, Straws, Stalks, Weeds, and converts them into an immediate food for Vegetables. It kills the Eggs of Worms and Seeds of Weeds. The best method is to spread it in your Barn Yard among the Straw and Dung. It succeeds well when spread upon the Ground. Burning Lime Stones or Shells, diminishes their Weight: but slaking the Lime restores that...
1465From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 14 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Volume will not produce Answers or Examinations or reflections: but probably Reproaches, vilifications and Lies and Slanders enough. For there are no greater Liars than Men of Science and Letters Taste and Sense. Try His Observation in the civil political ecclesiastical or rather sacerdotal and phylosophical History of Chaldeans Egyptians, Jews Greeks Romans Zingisians Chinese,...
1466From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 22d. Inclosed is the commission to Mr. Woolsey Burton signed. Can you tell me any news of Mr. Brisler my steward & the rest of my Family left at Philadelphia. I am &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1467From John Adams to Stephen Higginson, 4 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your judicious Letter of August the Eighth I have received and read with Pleasure. it was a great sattisfaction to me to find, that the representation I had made from time to time to the British Ministry had been in general consistent with your sentiments, although I confess there are some Points in your Letter, which I have hitherto touched only, with reserve It is no doubt true that there is...
1468From John Adams to John Stockdale, 12 May 1793 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I had the Pleasure of receiving our letter of the 16th of March. My Son’s name is John Quincy Adams which you knew very well, so that by ushering the Pamphlet into the world in the Name of John Adams Esq. it still might pass for mine. I understand all this very well. Booksellers Policy! All I have to Say is that I did not write Publicola nor any Part of it: if you wish to know...
1469John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d this morning your kind Letter of the 7 th. and wonder you had not rec d a Letter. I wrote from Stratford & Newyork and twice a Week since I have been here. your Anxiety for your Country is amiable and becomes your Character. Elevated Expectations of Grandeur and Glory as well as Prosperity have accompanied me through Life and been a great source of my Enjoyment. They are not diminished...
1470From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 27 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. John C. Jones of Boston, recommending Capt Joseph Coffin Boyd, to fill the place of Col Lunt. Also a letter from Richard Hunnewell, requesting the office for himself. Thus you see we have an ample choice of candidates. Fosdick, Titcomb Mayo Boyd & Hunnewell, all well qualified & recommended by very respectable men. The last however appears to me to have the best...