91From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 18 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of 31 of August. Your complaint against our laws was well founded but we have passed a law which I hope will give satisfaction. This was done in full confidence, that you will adopt the constitution and send us senators and Representatives before next session. If we should be disappointed I presume that serious measures will be suggested, to let your Anti’s know...
92From John Adams to William Tudor, 18 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yours of July 9 & 27 are unanswered. I cannot reconcile myself to the Idea of a Division of this Continent, even fifty Years hence. great Sacrifices ought to be made to Union, and an habit of Obedience to a well ordered, and judiciously limited Government, formed at this early Period. a Dissolution of the Union involves Consequences of so terrible a kind, that I think We ought to consent to an...
93From John Adams to John Laurance, 19 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
My second son the bearer of this letter as soon as he was out of College was entered as a student at Law in the office of Col o: Hamilton upon certain conditions, one that if I should remove from New York, he should be at liberty to remove with me, and another was that if Hamilton should be made a minister of State his pupil should look out another patron. The latter condition being now...
94From John Adams to Stephen Higginson, 21 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of August 10 th was duly received and immediately communicated with several other letters on the same subject to the President. His determination which will be made on the best principles and from the purest motives, as well as the most universal information, for he receives letters and makes enquiries from all quarters, we shall soon know. Altho’ it is most probable to me that M r...
95From 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...
Mr. Grayson. No Census yet taken, by which the Center of Population— We have Markets, Archives, Houses, Lodgings.—Extreamly hurt at what has passed in the House of Rep resentative s. The Money. Is your Army paid? Virginia offered £100,000. towards the federal Buildings. The Buildings may be erected without Expence to the Union. Lands may be granted—these Lands laid out in Lots and sold to...
Mr. Lee. Navigation of the Susquehannah. Mr. Grayson. Antwerp and the Scheld. Reasons of State have influenced the Pensilvanians to prevent the navigation from being opened. The limiting the Seat of Empire to the State of Pen. on the Delaware is a characteristic Mark of Partiality. The Union will think that Pen. governs the Union, and that the general Interest is sacrificed to that of one...
Mr. Grayson. moves to strike out the Words, “in the State of Pensilvania.” Mr. Butler. The Center of Population the best Criterion. The Center of Wealth and the Center of Territory. Mr. Lee. The Center of Territory is the only permanent Center. Mr. Macclay. See his minutes. That is, following the words “river Susquehannah” in the House bill, and thus assigning the federal capital to Maryland;...
99From John Adams to George Walton, 25 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
The duplicate via Charlestown of your letter of the thirtieth of August, never reached my hand till a day or two before the nomination took place to the office of Judge of the district of Georgia. As I had the pleasure and advantage of a particular acquaintance with yourself, and the misfortune to know nothing at all, but by a very distant and general reputation of the gentleman nominated, I...
100To John Adams from John Adams To Jeremy Belknap, 26 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your favour of the 19 th. and learn with Pleasure your design to pursue your valuable History of New Hampshire. The Anecdote of “Positive Proof from Holland that military Stores, to the amount of 400,000 £ st. were ordered and purchased from N. America,” is wholly unknown to me. that Col Lee of Marblehead ever “rec d or dispersed” any stores I never heard nor that he was...
101From John Adams to Richard & Charles Puller, 27 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
When I had my audience of leave of his Britannic Majesty, orders were given to the master of the ceremonies Sir Clement Cotterell Dormer, to pay me the sum of money that was customarily given by his Majesty to ministers Plenipotentiaries from powers in amity with his court, upon like occasions. But as my departure was earlier than Sir Clement could receive the money from the treasury he...
102John 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...
103From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 28 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
It was not till the last evening that I had the pleasure of your favor, with the pamphlets. They were sent to New-York, but had not arrived when I left it. Mrs. A. has sent the letter back to me. Accept of my thanks for the kindness. This town has been wholly employed in civilities to the president for some days, and greater demonstrations of confidence and affection are not, cannot be given,...
104John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter inclosing that from our Friend Hollis. The Influenza is here as general as it was at N. York.— Your youngest Son has been laid up with it at M r Cranche’s; but is better. M r Wibird is confined with it, so that We had no Meeting. I have been to visit him: He is not very bad: but not fit to go out. My great Horse, had a Misfortune last night in the Stable, that...
105From John Adams to Marston Watson, 7 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
The Letter you did me the honour to write me, on the thirtieth of September, has been to New York; and from thence transmitted to this Place; but it never reached my hand, till the night before last. The Sentiments of Esteem for my private Character, expressed by Gentlemen who are probably Strangers to me, are very obliging: and the approbation of my public Conduct abroad, lays me under Still...
106John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am impatient to return but partly on Account of my Son who wishes to Stay at Colledge as long as he can, and partly, on Account of my Books and other Things which I wish to get ready before I go, to be sent to N. Y. I fear I shall not see you these three Weeks. I should however break away if I were not necessitated to wait for my horse, whose Lameness is not wholly cured. Excepting the...
107[1790?] (Adams Papers)
Interest, Corruption, Prejudice, Error, Ignorance. Causes of wrong Judgments. Have not these Causes, as much Influence in one Assembly as in two? If either or all of these Causes should prevail, over Reason, Justice, and the public good in one Assembly, is not a Revision of the Subject in another a probable means of correcting the false decree? The notes or reflections which follow were...
108From John Adams to John Trumbull, 13 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am at length determined to omit no longer to write to you.— You read yourself to death. this let me tell you, is a Sin and a crime. Whether it is not of a deeper die, than, intemperate Indulgences of the Bottle or the Girl, is a Case of Casuistry. You know best whether You are guilty of it, or not. if you are I enjoin upon You, Pennance, either of a Walk of five miles a day, all at one time...
109[January 1790] (Adams Papers)
It was not the sense of either House, or of any member of either, that the Business pending at the Adjournment should be lost. Where is the Oeconomy of repeating the Expence of Time? Can this opinion be founded on the Law of Parliament? The K ing can prorogue the Parliament. But there is no such Power here. The Rule of Parliament that Business once acted on, and rejected shall not be brought...
110[Notes of Debates in the Senate concerning unfinished business] 1790 Jan. 25. Monday. (Adams Papers)
It was not the sense of either House, or of any member of either, that the Business pending at the Adjournment should be lost. Where is the Oeconomy of repeating the Expence of Time? Can this opinion be founded on the Law of Parliament? The K ing can prorogue the Parliament. But there is no such Power here. The Rule of Parliament that Business once acted on, and rejected shall not be brought...
111From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 2 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I cannot give up my dear Latin and Greek although Fortune has never permitted me to enjoy so much of them as I wished.— I dont love you the less however for your Indifference or even Opposition to them. Pray do you carry your Theory so far as to wish to exclude French Italian, Spanish and Tudesque?— I begun to fear that your multiplied phisical and other Engagements had made You forget me— But...
112John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I hope your Anxiety, about your Prospects of future Life, will not be indulged too far. If, after your Term with M r Parsons expires your Judgment, Inclination and Advice of your Friends lead you to Boston, you shall have my full Consent and Approbation. If you could contrive to get a Small Family into my House with whom you could reputably board: and could reserve the best Room and Chamber,...
113From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, [17] February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I had heard, before I rec d your Letter of the 12 th , of your new Engagements in the Colledge added to your extensive Practice and other virtuous Pursuits: and therefore was at no loss to account for your long Silence. I have no Pretensions to the Merit of your manly and successful opposition to the Constitution of Pensilvania: but I am very willing to be responsible for. any Consequences of...
114John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
There is a sett of Scotch Writers that I think deserve your Attention in a very high Degree. There are Speculations in Morals Politicks and Law that are more luminous, than any other I have read. The Elements of Criticism and other of Lord Kaims’s Writings—Historical Law Tracts—sir James Steuart—Adam Smith &c both his Theory of Moral Sentiments and his Wealth of Nations— There are several...
115From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 27 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 15 th never reached me till yesterday I condole with you in the unfavorable aspect of your elections: but still hope that your people will cool upon reflection and that a majority of the convention may be induced to accept the constitution. It is in vain to enquire what Congress may or can do; at present they can do nothing. The awful object before them, I mean the national...
116From 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...
117From John Adams to John Brown and John Brown Francis, 28 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 16 th. I rec d only by the Post of last Wednesday.— I am really much affected at the obstinate Infatuation of So great a Part of the People of Rhode Island. It is inconceivable how men of common Sense can reconcile Such a Conduct to their Understandings men of common Honesty, to their Consciences; or men of human Feelings, to their Hearts. Do the Antis of Rhode Island expect...
118From John Adams to William Ellery, 28 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Many months ago I received a kind letter from you, which by some odd accident or strange fatality has never been answered, I really know not how this happened: but I hope you will excuse it and beleive me to be as I am, at all times ready to promote your views, expressed in it as far as I may have opportunity and ability. We are very greatly dissapointed in the election of Delegates to your...
119From John Adams to John Trumbull, 9 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Coll Humphreys; at the Levee, this morning, delivered me Your kind Letter of Feb. 6, for the favour of which you cannot imagine how much I am obliged to you.— not less delighted with Your frank communications respecting your own affairs, than Satisfyed with your friendly cautions to me, I shall make a kind of Commentary, or at least some marginal Notes upon both. I rejoice in your health, and...
120From John Adams to John Trumbull, 12 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Feb. 6. has made So deep an Impression that it may not be amiss to make a few more Observations on it as it respects both of Us. Your Friends have been very indiscreat and certainly have not done You Justice.— Fluency and Animation are Talents of a public Speaker which alone will go a great Way. I have known Several rise to Fame and extensive Practice, at the Bar, and afterwards...