1921To John Adams from James Oliver, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Grand Jurors of the county of Ulster , and state of New York , are well aware that the opinions of the people, in their individual capacity cannot, and ought not, to be expressed on every public measure—We should, therefore, have forborn, at this late period, from adding our voice to that of the thousands that have addressed you—If the events of every day did not demand, more injuriously,...
1922To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose a Report on the proposals of Henry Dearborn for erecting two Light Houses in North Carolina. The distresses in the City increase; attempts are making to draw all the people possible from the scene of danger; about fifteen hundred of the most indigent are encamped on the Common;—another Camp for such as are able to support themselves is forming, which may contain...
1923From John Adams to George Reid, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
With great respect & esteem, I receive your unanimous address, agreed on at a meeting expressly called for that purpose on the twenty second of August. That men who cheerfully arranged themselves in the front rank to oppose the most formidable attack, that was ever made on their country—that men, who have experienced the delightful reflexion of having contributed to the establishment of the...
1924To John Adams from Elias Boudinot, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Being on a Visit at this place, I am solicited by Mr John Pintard to introduce him to your knowledge. He means to apply for the office of your private Secretary in the room of Mr Malcolm, who he is informed has resigned— I am well acquainted with Mr Pintard and have been so from his Infancy, and can with pleasure recommend him in the strongest Terms— His liberal Education, knowledge of several...
1925To John Adams from Elisha Boudinot, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Being informed that Mr. Malcomb your private secretary has resigned his office my friend Mr. John Pintard has been advised to offer himself a candidate for it—If I did not feel myself particularly interested in your administration, I should not presume to take the liberty of recommending him to your notice for that office, but relying on the motives to excuse the freedom I have taken—permit me...
1926To John Adams from James McHenry, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your letters of the 3d 4th and 5th of this month. It is somewhat difficult, I imagine to please the governor of Georgia. I thought I had been attentive both to himself and the State. There has been ordered to Georgia, on the 3d. of May 2 brass 6 pounders; 2 brass 3 pounders with carriages and impliments & 4 Iron 24 pounders with a sufficient quantity of...
1927To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your letter of the 10th. and have handed to the Secretary of War the letter of lieut. Colo. Perkins, to be minuted & filed as you directed. Governor Sumner’s letter & inclosures of July 2d. I remembered to have packed up with other papers when the office was removing from Philadelphia; but I did not recollect where. This forenoon found them; and now have the honor...
1928To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since I had last the honor to address you, I have received from the Collector of Pennsylvania information of the arrival at Marcus Hook of Frenchman named Giraud, appointed Consul for Boston. It struck in one of the names presented last May by Mr. Létombe as Consul, for your exequatur was requested and refused. I turned to the Létombe’s letter, & found it so, with the variation of the last...
1929To John Adams from John Pintard, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Understanding that Mr. Malcomb has resigned the office of private secretary to Your Excellency, permit me to tender an offer of my services to supply the vacancy. To advance anything in praise of my own talents, would be highly indecorous. I take the liberty therefore to refer to the accompanying letters from my Connections and friends, Elias Boudinot Esq. director of the mint, the honorable...
1930From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th and return you the letters from Gen Wilkinson & the Q Msr. Gen. Inclosed is a letter from John Hampden Palmer of Vermont to Judge Cranch, requesting his aid in procuring a pair of coloures. This young gentleman is a grandson of old Gen Palmer, my neigbor, who was active, and useful in the early parts of the late revolution & indeed I believe through the...
1931From John Adams to David Sewall, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your address of the 4th of this month has been transmitted to me as you requested by one of my ancient and esteemed friends Judge Sewall. The mercenary views of the French Republick have been sufficiently maniffested for a course of years by their purchasing supplies without any thought of payment, by their continued depredations on our commerce & especially by the infamous law against all...
1932From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th. I wish I understood better than I do the conduct both of Gen. Pinckney & Mr. Gerry. I shall not be guilty of so much affectations of regard to science, as to be very willing to grant passports to Dupont De Nemours or any other French philosophers in the present situation of our Country. We have had too many French philosophers already; & I really begin...
1933From John Adams to David Sewall, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a short answer to the address of the Grand jury transmitted in your letter from Pownallborough at Sept term 1798. It would have given me great pleasure to have seen you at Pownalborough as I did in 1764 but I shall never see Kennebeck river again most probably. Some coincidence or other of affaires I hope will one day enable me to take you by the hand once more I am dear Sir your...
1934From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the commissions for William Hunter Cavendish of Virginia & Cornelius Howard of Maryland. I le also inclose to you letters from James Brackenridge Esqr. Robert Gorsuch, Daniel Bowley and have the honor to be Sir / your most &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1935From John Adams to M. Anderson, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The affection and Confidence expressed in your obliging Address, of the twenty fifth of August, is very Satisfactory to me. Although there is no Truth, of which I am more fully convinced, than this, which you approve, that “a free Republick is the best of Governments, and the greatest Blessing to which Mortals can aspire,” it is too apparent from History and Experience, that Such a Government...
1936From John Adams to James McHenry, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 10th and return you the Letters from General Wilkinson and the Qr. Mr. General. Inclosed is a Letter from John Hampdon Palmer of Vermont to Judge Cranch, requesting his Aid in procuring a Pair of Colours. This young Gentleman is a Grandson of old General Palmer my Neighbour, who was active and usefull in the early Part of the late Revolution, and indeed I believe...
1937From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the Eleventh. I wish I understood, better than I do, the Conduct both of General Pinckney and Mr Gerry. I shall not be guilty of So much affectation of regard to Science, as to be very Willing to grant Passports to Dupont De Nemours or any other French Philosophers, in the present Situation of our Country. We have had too many French Philosophers already: and I...
1938From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the Commissions for William Hunter Cavendish of Virginia and Cornelius Howard of Maryland signed, and have the Honor to be, Sir your most &c Also are inclosed letters from James Brackenbridge Esqr Robert Gorsuch & Daniel Rowley. CtHi : Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Papers.
1939To John Adams from John Sevier, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
It affoards Me great pleasure to have it in my power to transmit to you, Junary Resolutions entered into by four Companies of Cavalry and Mounted Infantry belonging to the District of Washington together With an Adress from Captains Gellispie & Nelson— You will discover sir, that they have tendered their Services to the President, provided the same should become Necessary, and be Assured, that...
1940To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the President of the United States the following Report. That it appears from a communication from the Commissioner of the Revenue dated the 14th instant, a Copy whereof is subjoined, to be expedient to increase the Salary of the Keeper of the Light House on Cape Cod, from one hundred & fifty to Two hundred Dollars per Annum, in...
1941To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of Was has permitted me to peruse your Letters to him dated the 14th. and 29th. of August, and after much reflection and some hesitation, I have ventured to request him to delay transmitting to you, the Commissions of the General Officers, untill I could accompany his official dispatch with a communication of my sentiments, upon the arrangement which appears to be meditated....
1942To John Adams from Daniel Davis, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter came to hand by this Evening’s mail. It contains all the information I possess upon the Subject, excepting that I have been informed, the Bristol Schooner mentioned in the letter, was captured by a French privateer; that the crew remained on board, and a few days after the capture, rose upon the four Frenchmen who were put on board to carry her into port, and retook her,...
1943To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose commissions for the Major Generals and Inspector of the army of the United States dated agreeably to your orders. At the instance of Mr. Wolcott, I have ventured to delay forwarding the Commissions, for a short time, to give him the opportunity of drawing up and presenting to you a respectful representation on the subject of the generals of the army. I have the honour to be, with the...
1944To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to introduce to you Captain Joseph Ingraham, who waits on you with a desire of stating his qualifications and pretensions to an appointment in the navy—Having been heretofore permitted to mention to you the name of this Gentleman, & his nautical reputation, I will only subjoin that I have the honor to be / with the greatest Respect / Sir, / Yr most obedt: Servt MHi :...
1945To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since I had last the honor to address you, I have received from the Collector of Pennsylvania information of the arrival at Marcus Hook of a Frenchman named Giraud, appointed Consul for Boston. It struck me as one of the names presented last May by Mr. Létombe as Consul, for whom your exequatur was requested and refused. I turned to Létombe’s letter, & found it so, with the variation of the...
1946From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Captain Patrick Fletcher recommending Captain John Cruft to be a Lieutenant in the Navy.—I have so good an opinion of this Captain Cruft from a personal Knowledge, that I desire you would place him on the List for Promotion among the first Lieutenants that Shall be appointed. Mr Breck of Philadelphia can probably give you Satisfactory Information concerning him. I...
1947To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a sealed letter addressed to you—An address signed Stephen Moore, Brigadier General, from the officers & soldiers in the 6th brigade of the third division of North Carolina Militia, which came to hand last evening under cover to me—a letter from Dr Rush dated the 14th, mentioning that his brother would decline the appointment he had solicited for him in the former...
1948To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter was recd. last night—it is yet too early to receive an official confirmation of the intelligence it contains—but as I hope, & believe it to be true, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of forwarding it to you in its present state. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect & / esteem, sir yr. most Obed / servt MHi : Adams Papers.
1949From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Last night Mr Amory & Mr Gardner came out to Quincy to shew me the original letters from the houses of Horsyth Smith & Co. and Hartshone & Boggs of Halifax, suggesting from Admiral Vandeput the idea of a convoy from Halifax in the fall, spring & midsummer. I pray you to consult with the other gentlemen especially the Secretary of the navy concerning the practicability utility & necessity &...
1950To John Adams from David Bradford, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
David Bradford an unfortunate man; who fell into the errors of that part of the community where he resided, having severely felt and suffered on account of those errors, with the deepest sensibility and contrition, adventures to address your Excellency in the sincerest language of submission, humiliation & petition. Far from beleiving that he can justify his conduct, your Petitioner will not...
1951To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment honoured with your letters of the 13th and 14th, and have directed a Commission to be made out for a judge of the Supreme Court, in the place of Judge Wilson deceased, leaving a blank for the name, and which I shall transmit to you in the mail of this evening. I shall also this day write to General Marshall to inform him that you have designated him to fill the vacant seat,...
1952To John Adams from Nathaniel Kezer, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a legal meeting of the inhabitance of Rowley , Voted to Address the President of the United States , and that Messrs. Parker Cleaveland , Esq. Joseph Chaplin , and David Mighill , be a Committe to prepare the Address. Voted , That the following Address, reported by the above Committee, be forwarded to the President of the United States . ADDRESS
1953To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet recd official accounts of the capture of the French 20 Gun Ship by Nicholson—But the account comes so well authenticated from different quarters, that the fact is not to be doubted. I hope this Ship will prove a useful addition to our Navy. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / & esteem sir Yr. most / Obed. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
1954To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the President of the United States the following Report. That by an Act of Congress passed on the 16th. day of July 1798, entitled “An Act to enable the President of the United States to borrow money for the public service,” authority is given to the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding five Millions of Dollars,...
1955From John Adams to Elisha Boudinot, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th recommending Mr John Pintard to be my private secretary in the place of Mr Malcom resigned. Mr William Smith Shaw has acted in that capacity with me when at home for more than a year past & has been sometime since appointed & officiateing as successor to Mr Malcom With great esteem I have the / honor to be &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1956From John Adams to James McHenry, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 15th with its inclosures, & perceive nothing to alter. Inclosed is a letter from Samuel Treat who has been a lieutenant at the castle a long time. His claims to a continuance in service I hope will be considered, but I know nothing of him, but his appearance on a late visit to me & the inclosed letter MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1957From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 14th & 15th. The letter to Govenor Sumner, I will send to his Excellency. I feel very sensibly the obligations of the US to Mr Liston to his royal highness, Prince Edward & to Sir John Wentworth for their civility and kindness & shall accept the loan of the cannon and shot upon the terms you propose. Mr Stoddert will take the earliest opportunity to give...
1958From John Adams to Increase Sumner, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honor to Send my Secretary Mr Shaw to present to your Excellency the Secretary of States Letter on the subject of the Castle, and Another Letter as an Apology for the Delay. With great Respect I have / the Honor to be, Your Excellencys / most obedient and most humble / Servant MHi : David S. Greenough Papers.
1959From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Halliburton of Portsmouth has called this morning upon me with the inclosed letters, which I transmit to you for your consideration with all other letters & recommendations you may receive relative to the succession to the naval office With great esteem &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1960From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Halliburton of Portsmouth has called this morning upon me with the inclosed Letters, which I transmit to you for your consideration with all other Letters and Recommendations you may receive, relative to the Succession to the Naval Office. With great Esteem &c CtHi : Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Papers.
1961To John Adams from James McHenry, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 13th instant, for which I sincerely thank you. It has not only relieved me from some painful impressions, but afforded me ground to expect, I shall be able, when I have the pleasure of again seeing you, to satisfy you more fully that I exceeded, in no particular whatever, the line pointed out to me by your Instructions. Having acted, both...
1962To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. Adams at Berlin a letter which I am decyphering: it is dated the 18th of June. If it appears necessary, I shall forward it in to-morrow’s mail. The three letters inclosed for Mrs. Adams, arrived last evening with the former. I have a letter from General Marshall, dated at Richmond the 15th. in which is the following passage:— “I have seldom seen more extraordinary...
1963To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have a letter dated 13th from Pennock, the naval agent at Norfolk, saying Nicholson had brought into Hampton Road a Ship of 20—or 24 Guns, full of men, who refused to give any account of themselves, and who are suspected to be Pirates. I hope by the mail of this evening to receive more certain intelligence. Capt Barry to my Surprize, made his Appearance here, at 1 OClk. His Ship with about...
1964To John Adams from Increase Sumner, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellencys letter, & the Secretary of State’s letters accompanying the same, by your Secretary Mr. Shaw, and shall cause the proper arrangements to be made for delivering the possession of Castle Island to the United States. I understood by Major Jackson, that your Excellency had Authorized him to receive possession, & to place his Comany in the Garrison; I...
1965From John Adams to Jonathan DeWitt, 22 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read with great pleasure your address of the first of Sept. which, in this kind of writing with a few explanations, may be confident as a model of sense & spirit, as well as of taste and eloquence. Is there any mode imaginable in which contempt of the understanding and feelings of a nation can be expressed with so much aggravation, as by affecting to treat the government of...
1966To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the copy of a letter I have just written to the Collector of Norfolk, on which I shall wait your orders. Perhaps another (and possibly a more effectual) condition may be required, on the issuing a permit to a vessel to carry off French persons—to wit, That the Collector shall previously ascertain that she is not a fast sailing vessel, and not calculated for being...
1967To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed address and tender of services from the Volunteer riflemen of Christiana Hundred, county of New Castle, State of Delaware came to hand last evening. MHi : Adams Papers.
1968From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th and read it over and over again, with all the attention I am master of. The long continued dangerous sickness of my best friend, and her still precarious destiny, have thrown my mind into a state of depression, agitation and anxiety, which will not admit of a full discussion of the various points on which, you and I appear to differ in opinion. I will...
1969To John Adams from Warner Mifflin, 24 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I hope I may address the first magistrate in the United States in this Stile without Offence , as I do esteem him my friend, and have a due respect unto him, & for the Office he fills; sincerely desiring to conduct myself under his Administration in every respect consistent with my conscience, as a good & faithful Citizen ought to do. I therefore inform the President, that being in this City...
1970To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 24 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inclose two letters from Mr. Adams, one dated “Berlin June 18th. 1798;” the other on the 25th of the same month; the latter covering three papers of extracts from French news-papers with Mr. Adams’s remarks. In his letter of June 18th he refers to the propositions made by the Swedish minister, Baron d’Engerstrom, (now at Berlin) when he was minister in England in 1793, to...