1531Tuesday Aug. [5 or 12] 1766. (Adams Papers)
Satt out with my Wife for Salem—dined at Boston—drank Tea at Dr. Simons Tufts’s at Medford —lodg’d at Mr. Bishops. Simon Tufts (1727–1786), Harvard 1744 , an older brother of AA ’s uncle by marriage, Dr. Cotton Tufts ( Charles Brooks, History of the Town of Medford , Boston, 1855 , p. 305–306).
1532John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 September 1794 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your kind Letter of Sept r. 3 d and am sorry to find that your Books were not then arrived. Before this day I hope they are in your Office, and I should be glad if you would inform me whether they are or not. The early Part of my Life was Spent among them, and they have never been many Days together out of my thoughts; so that I have contracted an habitual Affection for...
1533John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
If Congress when they revoked my Commission had appointed another to make a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain, We should have had the Business all done on the 30 of Nov. Shelburnes Ministry would not have been condemned in the H. of Commons, and the definitive Treaty would have been signed before now and I Should be ready to embark for the Blue Hills, where I must go to recover my health,...
1534John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Newspapers enclosed, will give you, all the Intelligence, of any Consequence. General Washington with a very numerous Army, is between Wilmington and the Head of Elke. How will make but a pitifull Figure. The Militia of four States, are turning out, with much Alacrity, and chearfull Spirits. The Continental Army, under Washington, Sullivan and Nash, besides is in my Opinion more numerous,...
1535From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & J. van Staphorst, 15 November 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, you did me the honor to write me, on the 9 th. of this month: informing me that His Excellency M r. Jefferson has applied to you to honour his orders monthly for about five thousand Livres, and that he has already drawn B. f. 5492:14, which you have accepted & paid, and desiring my directions for your Justification— As these orders of Mr. Jefferson are for the...
1536John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 3 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Pleasure of yours of the 5th. of August, for which I am much obliged to you. It is a great Satisfaction to me to be informed, of the Particulars which are enumerated in your Letter, upon which the Happiness of the People and their Exertions in the Cause so much depend. I am not able to inform you of any News, except what the News Papers contain. Those inclosed, contain some Things...
15371760. Novr. 26th. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Ten days are now elapsed, since I began Hale the 2d time, and all the Law I have read, for 10 days, is that Book once thro. I read Woods Institute thro the first Time with Mr. Put. in twice that time i.e. in 3 Weeks, and kept a school every day. My present Inattention to Law is intolerable and ruinous. This entry and those that follow, through 1 Dec. 1760 , are again from D/JA/4, JA ’s record...
1538From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 1 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind note of this afternoon. Mr De Wint and his family are all in Boston and are engaged there till next Saturday. It is utterly impossible for me to wait upon you in the present state of my health; nor in any case can I go with such an army as you have invited. All the strength nature has left me is not sufficient to endure it. Your kindness overwhelms me. My son said to...
1539From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, September 1807 (Adams Papers)
I want to write an Essay.—Whom Shall I choose for a Model?—Plutarch, old Montaigne, Lord Bacon, Addison, Johnson, or Franklin? The last, if he had devoted his Life to the Study might have equalled Montaine in Essays or La Fontaine in Fables: for he was fitter more fitted for either or both than to conduct a Nation like Prony or Colbert. I am however too round about, to imitate the close,...
1540From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your agreable Letter of the 9. Jan. has lain too long unanswered.—M r Mappa, I should be happy to present to the President and to Serve in any other Way in my Power. Your Criticisms upon “the defence” deserve more Consideration than I have time to give them. I can Say for myself, and I believe for most others, who have ever been called “leading Men,” in the late Revolution, that We were...
1541From John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 26 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
M r Van berckel informs me that you were desirous of seeing the second and third Volumes of the Defence & c When I gave orders for the first to be sent you I expected that the other two would have been sent. I am very glad nevertheless Sir of renewing to you the assurances of my sincre esteem attachment and respect. My regards at the same time if you please to my Friend D r Marclane— My Fellow...
1542From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 14 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Have just received yours of the 9th and I thank you. Waynes Agreement is thus explained. Gen. Arnold—Com. Jones, and many other officers of the American Army and Navy, have all along made it a maxim that the whiggish young Gentlemen ought to convert the Tory young Ladies. Accordingly the genteelest Part of the officers of Boston and Philadelphia used to keep up an Acquaintance with several...
1543From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 3 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
There are many parts of your Letter I have omitted, indeed it requires more Leisure than I have to do it Justice. Men of Cander and Discernment, you observe, have thought that my Predecessor erred, in some particulars. This may be and who has not? But you must remember that the French were always antifederalists. Always opposed and countenanced and stimulated the Party that opposed the federal...
154429 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
At Colledge, a Clear morning. Heard the valedictory oration, pronounced, By Oliver. 2 o Clock set out for Boston, Designing to go from thence home. Attendance at exercises being required of all students other than those in the graduating class until 1 July, and senior sophisters not being allowed, while preparing for their “sitting solstices” or oral examinations, to leave Cambridge between 21...
1545From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 6 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
The Talents and qualities of the Tumble Bugg, are Strength Industry, Patience, Foresight of Futurity, care to provide for Posterity and for individual Wants, at a future day. Now, which of these mental Faculties or bodily qualities, has this “the most enlightened, the best informed, the most Sagacious, and the most virtuous Nation on the Globe” discovered during the last 13 Years? A tumble...
1546John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
M r Dalton, M r Jenkes and myself are at Penfields in good health and Spirits.— My Horses perform very well and my Servant tolerably. We have met with nothing but Rocks in the Road to molest us. These have jolted us very rudely but Salubriously. I shall keep M r Dalton company to Boston at least to Cambridge. according to present Conjectures We shall Spend the Sabbath at Springfield. My Love...
1547Adams’ Assignment of Errors: Plymouth Superior Court, Plymouth, April 1768 (Adams Papers)
In the Case of Jane Dotey vs. Manuel Essane heard and adjudged at the Court of General Sessions of the Peace held at Plymouth within and for the County of Plymouth on the first second Tuesday of December being the Eighth day of said Month in the Year of our Lord 1767, the Errors assigned by said Manual, on the Certiorari are as follow viz. 1st. It does not appear by the Record of the Judgment...
1548From John Adams to Jacobus Nolet, 20 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received, to day the Letter you did me the honor to write to me yesterday, and am exceedingly obliged to you for your cordial congratulations, on the great Event which was yesterday finally concluded by their High Mightinesses. The Favour of Providence, has been remarkably manifested in the progress of this Negociation, hitherto, that I very sincerely join with you in imploring its...
1549From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 20 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
The more I reflect upon the late Revolution in the British Ministry the more I am Struck, with the Conduct of Mr Fox. I am become, upon certain Conditions his Admirer, and almost wish to be his Friend! . The Conditions are two 1. That his Conduct has been the Result of Deliberation and Judgment, not of mere Jealousy Ambition, or Resentment. 2. That he has Patience and Fortitude enough to...
1550[April 6. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 6. 1776. Congress resumed the consideration of the Report, from the Committee of the whole, and the same being twice read, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to. These Resolutions are on the Journal, and amount to something. They opened the Ports and sett our Commerce at Liberty: But they were far short of what had been moved by Members from Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia. There...
1551From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters from David Hobbs, Richard Bland Lee, Wm. Mason, H. G. Otis, Lt. Gov. Gill, Thomas Seymour, John Lillie, Gen. Philemon Dickinson, James Coskey, Judge Peters, John More, Samuel Panneli late ensign requesting or recommending to offices in the army which I transmit to you that all may appear upon your books & files. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1552Aug. 4. (Adams Papers)
Sett off, for London, had a tedious Passage from Helvoet, of near two days. Obliged to put in at Leostoff Lowestoft , and ride from thence 24 miles in a Cart. JA ’s sudden decision to go to London himself and take his family directly to Paris without a pause of some weeks at The Hague, was prompted by the news of Jefferson’s arrival in Europe a month or so before JA expected him; see JA to AA...
1553From John Adams to John Taylor, 17 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
What Shall I Say, of the “Resemblance, of our House of Representatives to a legislating Nation.”? It is, perhaps, a miniature, which resembles the original as much as a larger Picture, would or could. But, Sir, let me Say, once for all, that, as no Picture great or Small; no Statue, no Bust in brass or marble, gold or Silver, ever yet perfectly resembled the Original: So no Representative...
1554Decr. 6th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
Talked with Zab about Newton, Bacon, Lock, Martin, Chambers, Rowning, Desaguliers, S’Gravesende &c. I told him I had a low Opinion of the Compilers, Abridgers, and Abstract makers. We had better draw science from its fountain in original Authors. These Writers, the Hirelings of the Booksellers, only vend us the Discoveries of other Philosophers, in another form, and under another Title, in...
1555John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
I send you, all the News. When I do not write I suffer more Pain than you do, when you dont receive a Line. I have no greater Pleasure than in Writing to you, but I have not Time. When I shall come home I dont know. But this you may depend on, I can come when I will. The Communication is open and will remain so. It cannot be cutt off. The General Court have not appointed any one in my stead. I...
1556From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
The Mail of yesterday brought, me, the Documents and in the Evening I received from Boston your favour of the 14th. By the Journals of the Senate I see, that you have Work enough, to excuse you from private Correspondences. By all that I read in the Documents, Journals, and Newspapers, it seems to me that the reigning Principle is to crouch to france & Spain and be very terrible to Britain....
1557From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Mr. Ebenezer Bushnell of Lebanon, & sent it on in your letter to him, inclosed in yours of the 31st Aug. to MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1558John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of yours of from Boston, and am happy to find that you have been able to do so well, amidst all your Difficulties.—There is but one Course for Us to take and that is to renounce the Use of all foreign Commodities. For my own Part I never lived in my whole Life, so meanly and poorly as I do now, and yet my Constituents will growl at my Extravagance. Happy should I...
15591779. May 9. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
The Pilot came on Board this Morning from St. Nazare, and pronounced it unsafe to go out, with this Wind. F. this Morning, fell to talking.— “Above half the Gentlemen of Paris are Atheists, and the other half Deists. No Body goes to Church but the common People. I wish I could find one honest Man among their Merchants and Tradesmen” &c. &c. Mr. F., says I, let me be so free as to request of...
1560From John Adams to James Sullivan, 2 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received; last Evening the Letter you did me the honour to write me, the 30th of July, and am ready to give you all the Information in my power Mitchel’s Map s was the only one, which the Ministers Plenipotentiary of The United States and The Minister Plenipotentiary of great Britain made use of in their Conferences and Discussions relative to the Boundaries of the United States, in their...