1471July 2. 1770. (Adams Papers)
Monday morning, in my Sulky before 5 o clock, Mr. Winthrop, Farnum and D. Sewall, with me on Horse back. Rode thro the Woods the Tide being too high to go over the Beach and to cross Cape Nittick Neddick River. Came to Littlefields in Wells 1/4 before 8 o clock. Stopped there and breakfasted. Afterwards Sewall and I stopped at the Door of our Classmate Hemenway, whom we found well, and very...
14721776. Sunday. Jany. 28. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Upham informs that this Town of Brookfield abounds with a Stone, out of which Allum, Coperas and Sulphur are made. Out of one Bushell of this Stone, he made five Pounds of Coperas. He put the Stone into a Tub, poured Water on it, let it Stand 2 or 3 days, then drew it off, and boiled the Liquor away—let it stand and it shot into a Kind of Christals. Adding Chamberly and Alkaline Salts to...
1473From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the blank commission signed which you did me the honor to inclose in your letter of the 20th & pray you to have it filled up for Augustine J Smith, whose satisfactory recommendation from William Payne Esqr. I return with it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
147419 [i.e. 20] Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A lovely Day after the Storm. Drank Tea at Major Chandlers. Walked with the Coll. to his Saw-mill Farm.
1475From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Samuel Winslow Esquire of Massachusetts to be Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue for the port of Thomaston in the district of Waldoborough, in that State, in the place of Thomas Vose Esqr: resigned DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1476[1780 January 6. Thursday.] (Adams Papers)
1780 January 6. Thursday. We went to see the Cathedral Church at Leon which though magnificent, is not equal to that at Astorga, if it is to that at Lugo. It was the day of the Feast of the King and We happened to be at the celebration of High Mass. We saw the Procession of the Bishop and of all the Canons, in rich habits of Silk, Velvet, Silver and gold. The Bishop as he turned the Corners of...
1477From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am not about to write you much upon War or peace. You must have enough upon those Subjects in public papers. My principal Topicks will be to inform you that We are all in unusual good health, have had an uncommonly fine Autumn and that We are all extreamly desirous of Seeing you all return to our Embraces. But none of Us can conjecture how it will be possible for you to get home, unless you...
1478From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Pamphlet and Papers I have received this Week from the Author, with his request to transmit them to you. I have before transmitted in the Course of this Winter, another Packet from the same Writer; but have as yet no answer from you: so that I am uncertain whether you have recd. it. Mr Jays Treaty with Britain is not yet arrived at the Secretary of States Office, though there is...
1479Adams’ Minutes of the Argument: Court of Vice Admiralty, Boston, June or July 1774 (Adams Papers)
Leonard. Port Bill, Lex Talionis. Punishment of Boston the main Object. There is an Exception where by the Act of God, there is an Impossibility of getting out. A Necessity. She had no Right to Stay to repair and refit for a Voyage. She might have gone out, if not in 6 Hours, yet in two or three days. She was not in a worse situation than she had been. She might have hired assistance. The Part...
1480From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 25 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is plain from Mr. Hamiltons pamphlet & from all the writings against the negotiation with France that neither that gentleman nor his fellow laborers in the great work of detraction have ever known the rise and progress of the measures they have successfully misrepresented & abused. In order to correct the public opinion, I inclose you authenticated copies of the messages, which I pray you...
1481From John Adams to Et al., 4 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this day, received and read with much Pleasure your unanimous Address, subscribed in your behalf by Colonel Sprout Sproat, your commanding officer at a Regimental Parade at in Marietta on the twelfth of November 1798. The Coercion of Terrorism, cannot be practiced in America, so easily as in Europe where the fate Issue of a Battle determines the Fate of a Nation and the Capture of a...
1482From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 9 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Charters were quoted or alluded to by Mr Otis frequently in the whole Course of his Argument: but he made them also a more destinct and more Solemn head of his discourse. And here, these Charters ought to be Copied Verbatim.—But an immense Verbiage renders it impossible. Bishop Butler some where Complains of this enormous Abuse of Words in publick Transactions, and John Reed and Theophilus...
148326. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I believe you will be pleased when I tell you that We are now come to the 29th. and last Question, which is What are the real Damages Sustained, or still to be suffered by the Loss of Charlestown? and what Influence it has had upon the Minds of the People? An Interruption of the Commerce of Indigo and Rice. The Loss of many Negroes which the English will steal from the Plantations, and send to...
1484From John Adams to James Warren, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Every Post and every Day rolls in upon Us Independance like a Torrent. The Delegates from Georgia, made their Appearance, this Day in Congress, with unlimited Powers, and these Gentlemen themselves are very firm. South Carolina, has erected her Government and given her Delegates ample Powers, and they are firm enough. North Carolina, have given theirs full Powers after repealing an Instruction...
1485From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the two blank Commissions, signed and am satisfied with the recommendations of Robert Chesley, to succeed his Father. If a real reformation should take place in Northampton County, in consequence of a consciencious Conviction of their Error & Crime it would be happy: but a cessation of opposition from fear only, may last no longer than the terror. I am, Sir your most obt. CtHi .
1486From John Adams to Theodore Sedgwick, 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...
1487John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your kind and pleasing Letter of the 26, and am happy to hear of your and your Ladies health. I dont approve of your calling her Sally unless to herself in a Family Way. To other People especially in Writing you must call her Mr s Adams. Your Nephews and Neice I hope will have the Meazles favourably. it is a good age and a good Season: so that I think the family may be...
1488John Adams to Abigail Smith, 7 May 1764 (Adams Papers)
I promised you, Sometime agone, a Catalogue of your Faults, Imperfections, Defects, or whatever you please to call them. I feel at present, pretty much at Leisure, and in a very suitable Frame of Mind to perform my Promise. But I must caution you, before I proceed to recollect yourself, and instead of being vexed or fretted or thrown into a Passion, to resolve upon a Reformation—for this is my...
1489From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your Letter of Aug. 24 and pray you to keep the Packets from Sir John Sinclair till my return. This Agricultural Patriot and Hero has sent me Letters and Packets for Seven Years not one of which have I answered, but still he persevered.—I am not much charmed with the honour of being elected a Member of any Society in Europe especially in England, at this Crisis: but as it is owing...
149010 Monday. (Adams Papers)
A pleasant Day.
1491From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 24, I can only say that I have referred the Papers relative to extra Services to the Secretary of the Treasury who has not yet reported. That I cannot determine any Thing on Major Tousard’s Claim nor Mr. Dinsmores till some general rule is settled,—Major Tousard however and Mr Dinsmore will have Justice done them. If you approve of the Measure you may send a...
1492From John Adams to James Warren, 2 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Brownson, a Delegate from Georgia, in Congress, and a worthy, Spirited, sensible Man A Native of Connecticutt will deliver you this. He will be able to tell you much News, because he intends a circuitous Journey by Albany, and the New Hampshire Grants who have lately made themselves a state to Boston. The British Daemons have received a little Chastizement in Connecticutt. RC ( MHi...
1493John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of August 21. and Sept. 9. I have received and am much obliged to you for them. I hope you will be so good as to write me, by every Vessell. From the great Number of American Vessells which have arrived, in Europe in the Course of the past summer, I think our Commerce as well as Privateering is on the rising hand, and I hope that next year, it will increase considerably, and that...
1494Saturday Decr. 21st. 1765. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Morning in sauntering about, and chatting with one and another—The Sherriff, Mr. Goldthw ai t, Brother Sewal &c—upon the Times. Dined with Brother Kent; after Dinner received a Hint from the Committee that as I was of Council for the Town I not only had a Right, but it was expected I should attend the Meeting. I went accordingly. The Committee reported the Answer of the Board to...
1495Monday May 26th 1760. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Evening at Mr. Edd. Quincy’s, with Mr. Wibird, and my Cozen Zab. Mr. Quincy told a remarkable Instance of Mr. Ben. Franklin’s Activity, and Resolution, to improve the Productions of his own Country, for from that source it must have sprang, or else from an unheard of Stretch of Benevolence to a stranger. Mr. Franklin, happening upon a Visit to his Germantown Friends, to be at Mr....
1496From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
The information you gave me in your favour of the fifth of this month; for which I kindly thank you, has given me great pleasure, as it affords me a hope of once more embracing my Son. I feel a curiosity to know, the “dissenting Voice”; because a Singular Vote, against a multitude, I am always inclined to consider as a violent presumption; both of Integrity, and Fortitude. As I never had the...
1497From John Adams to Joseph Bradley Varnum, 26 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
I receive very kindly your obliging letter of the 15th. of this month. Ever since my return from Europe, where I had resided ten years and could not be fully informed of the state of affairs in my own Country, I have been constantly anxious and alarmed at the intemperance of party spirit and the unbounded license of our presses. In the same view I could not but lament some things, which have...
1498From John Adams to Matthew Robinson-Morris, 4 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
Among all the Pamphlets which have been written Since the Peace—I cannot recollect One, before the Address to the Landed Interest &c—which did not appear to me to be written with an express Intention to deceive the Nation by concealing Some real danger or holding out Some false hope, in order to recommend One Candidate for the Ministry, or Surpress another. You will not be Surprized at the...
1499From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I return inclosed the three letters of Mr Miller approved, in which he recommends John Shackleford, David Allen & Isam Clay to be keepers of light houses With great esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1500From John Adams to Jean Luzac, 22 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of 19 and am much obliged to you for your frank and candid Account of the Paragraphs mentioned. I could not wish, if it were in my Power, to diminish the Utmost Freedom of Speculation upon American Affairs, and especially yours, which are generally with a great deal of Knowledge of the Subject, and upon honest and amiable Principles. But in this Case, I hope your...