1021From John Adams to Citizens of Mississippi Territory, 7 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure, I have received, through your able and faithful Governor your obliging Address of the fifth of January. As your situation on a frontier of the United States near a Nation, under whose Government many of you have lived, and with whose Inhabitants you are well acquainted, qualify you in a particular manner, to maintain a benevolent pacific and friendly conduct towards your...
1022John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
With a great deal of snow upon the Ground it is now plentifully snowing. There must be an unusual Quantity upon the Earth. I suppose you have it very deep. our Men and Teams must have had a terrible Jobb to get the Lumber home: but I hope it is all compleated e’er this. To Day at two D r Ewing & M r snowden are to dine with me and tomorrow at four about 30 senators and Reps.— I have not had as...
1023From John Adams to Nehemiah Fales, 28 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the obliging Address you agreed on at the Supream Court in Dedham on the twenty third of this Month, and transmitted to me, through the Chief Justice of the State. It is not possible for a Grand Jury of honest and Sensible Men, to fullfill the Duties assigned them by the Laws of the Land, without reflecting on the inestimable Value of those Laws, and the distinction as well as...
1024From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
On the 17th at night, I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 11th, & have given it that attention, which the great importance of its contents deserves. On the subject of rôle d’equipage, I feel a strong reluctance to any relaxation of the peremptory demand, we agreed on before I left Philadelphia, & Gen. Marshall’s observations are very just, yet it may be wiser to leave it to the...
1025From John Adams to Richard Howell, 30 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honor to write me, on the 27th of this month and thank you for the favor.—the duty of nomination to Offices is of So much difficulty, delicacy and importance, that information concerning the Characters, Merits, and qualifications of Canditates is always acceptable, and especially when it Comes from Such respectable authority; Although it has been a...
1026From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 7 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have just now recd your favour of Yesterday I shall be obliged to you if you will inform General McPherson that I am very Sensible of the honour intended me by the Troops of the City and Vicinity. I shall dine at New Bruswick tomorrow and on Thursday get as far as Trenton or perhaps two Miles beyond the Delaware. On Fryday I intend to reach Philadelphia and that before night. I pray the...
1027From John Adams to Pennsylvania Legislature, 28 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I feel myself under the strongest Obligations to the Senate of Pennsylvania, for this excellent Address, in which, with so much Gravity and Dignity, than no less Wisdom and Precision than Gravity and Dignity they have expressed the sentiments they entertain respecting the Conduct of the French Government and the consequent Measures adopted during my Administration. It was not at all unnatural...
1028From John Adams to William Augustine Washington, 11 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
An Address so replete with sentiments purely American and so respectful to me subscribed with the Names of four hundred respectable Citizens of Virginia is to me of inestimable Value— The declaration that our People are hostile to a Government, made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, if it were true, would be a demonstration that the people despise and hate themselves;...
1029From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Petition from John Sylvester for a Pardon, a Copy of the Record of his Conviction, a Petition which he presented to Governor Sumner, and a Certificate and request Signed by a large Number of respectable and Worthy Citizens of Plymouth in his favour.— My answer to his Relation who brought me the Petition was that the Crime was of so serious a Nature, that, Whatever might be my...
1030John Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have no line from you, Since the 13 th at Brookfield. There has been So much rainy Weather as to have made travelling impracticable for you, some part of the time, and the roads disagreable at all times.— If your health fails not, Patience will bear the rest. We went to the Presbyterian Church Yesterday and heard M r Grant a young calvinistical Presbyterian of a good style and fair hopes....
1031From John Adams to Charles Lee, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The session of congress approaches faster than I can prepare for it in the afflicted State of my family & tottering state of my frame. I request you to consider, whether congress can meet in Philadelphia with safety to their persons, & also to write me your sentiments of the particulars, which ought to be inserted in the speech. I shall be obliged by the long continued sickness of Mrs Adams &...
1032From John Adams to Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, 27 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
In conformity with the desire of Congress I do myself the honor to inclose by Mr. William Smith Shaw my Secretary a copy of their resolutions passed the twenty fourth instant, occasioned by the decease of your late Consort Gen. George Washington assuring you of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to your person and character and of their condolence on this afflicting dispensation of...
1033From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of Aug 21st & the packet from Col Moultrie of South Carolina. The subject is so voluminous that I have not yet had time to read all the pamphlets. The letter I have read. I must refer him to you & the Attorney Gen.l to consider whether my first opinion is right or not & that the executive power is not by the constitution or any act of Congress adequate to the...
1034From John Adams to Francis Dana, 7 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received the honor of your letter of the 3d. yesterday. Inclosed is a short answer to the grand jury. I know the hand writing of the address very well. I went to E. Boston on Saturday to dine with you after spending two or three hours with Mr Gerry with whom I wished to converse a little more particularly concerning some things; but I was detained in Boston upon an indispensible piece of...
1035From John Adams to United States Senate, 31 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Timothy Pickering Secretary of State, Oliver Wolcott Secretary of the Treasury & Samuel Sitgreaves Esqr: of Pennsylvania;—To be Commissioners, to adjust and determine, with Commissioners appointed under the legislative authority of the State of Georgia, all interfering claims of the United States and that State, to territory, situate west of the River Chatahouchee, north of the...
1036From John Adams to Jared S. Russell, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Our social and political compacts are indeed threatened with dissolution and with them all the moral, religious scientific and literary principles and institutions which have converted the wilderness into a fruitful field— If it is only a part it is a Very respectable part of the young Men of New-Ark who are sensible of the danger of their Country, they will long rejoice in the virtuous and...
1037From John Adams to United States Senate, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate J. Phillips of Maryland to be a Captain in the Navy— Josias M: Speake of Maryland to be Lieutenant in the Navy— John West of Virginia to be a Lieutenant in the Navy These Gentlemen are intended for officers on board The Baltimore, a twenty gun Ship, fitting out at the City of that Name—It is hoped the Senate will consent, that the rank of these officers shall be settled hereafter,...
1038From John Adams to James McHenry, 2 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return Mr. Tracy’s letter as you desire in yours of the 27th Both Badger and Tracy recommended as subaltern officers are wholly unknown to me I am disposed to give great attention to the recommendation of Mr Tracy the Senator and Col Taylor, but if there is any considerable difference of sentiment about the appointment, among the gentlemen of Connecticut, perhaps it might be wise to write to...
1039From John Adams to Thomas Mifflin, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the fifth of this month, with the copy of Chief Justice Mc Keans letter to your Excellency & two letters of Mr Liston. These last I shall transmit to the Secretary of State to be restored to the writer of them, according to the idea of your Excellency, with the best apology that the subject will admit of, for the...
1040From John Adams to Ebenezer Tucker, 27 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The ardor of patriotism, which is expressed in this unanimous address of the Citizens, inhabitants of the township of Little Eggharbour in the state of New Jersey, is the Natural Result of Insults and cruelties practised by Arbitrary Power, on injured unoffending Innocence— The Enemies of our Country have a more dangerous and pernicious Instrument in their hands in the licentiousness of their...
1041From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor received your favour of the 10th. and have read the Letter of Brigadier General Macpherson to you of the 3d. and the letters of Mr. Chapman and Mr. Eyerly to him, with great pleasure— I pray you to present to General Macpherson and the Officers & troops under his Command in the late expedition my thanks for the prudence, Caution, Fortitude & perseverance with which they have...
1042From John Adams to United States Congress, 13 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I lay before you the Copy of a letter from the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, representing the inconvenience arising from altering the time of holding the Circuit Court for the State of Delaware, from April to June; and desiring that the existing law may be altered, by restoring the Spring-Session of the Circuit Court in Delaware to the 27th of April. DNA : RG 46—Records of...
1043From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this address. I wish you all possible success and satisfaction in your deliberations on the means which have a tendency to promote and extend our national interests and happiness, and I assure you that in all your measures directed to those great objects you may at all times rely with the highest confidence on my cordial cooperation. The praise of the Senate, so judiciously...
1044From John Adams to George Washington, 19 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Although I received the Honor of your Letter of the first of this month in its Season, I determined to postpone my Answer to it, till I had deliberated, on it, and the Letter from Barlow inclosed in it, as well as a multitude of other Letters and Documents official and unofficial, which relate to the Same Subject, and determined what Part to act. I Yesterday determined to nominate Mr. Murray...
1045From John Adams to Nathaniel Mitchell, 18 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this generous Address presented to me by your Representative in Congress Mr Bayard. The cordial approbation to you assert of the Administration of this Government, from the beginning of it, is highly satisfactory. Where is the Man of Honor or Virtue or public Spirit, who can hesitate, between dishonourable Peace and necessary War? between a moment of false security, purchased...
1046From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 26 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of this morning; and in Answer inform you that I have not recd an Answer to my Letter to Mr Pickering. The Engagement of his office, besides the confusion of a removal have been extreamly pressing.—I Shall See him Soon and Something will be determined. I Shall not have the Pleasure of Seeing you again probably till next Summer, Imperious Necessity or absolute Duty...
1047From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from a Mr William England, with a commission to him from the Grand master of Malta. If you think it worth while & there is no competitor, whose merits are superior, you may send him a commission as consul, or wait till he can be nominated to the Senate, as you judge best. Inclosed also is a letter from Mr. Malcom, & another from Mr. Peter Kemble, recommending his brother...
1048From John Adams to United States Congress, 3 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with the request of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of the second of this Month, I transmit to both Houses, those instructions to and dispatches from, the Envoys Extraordinary of the United States to the French Republic which were mentioned in my message of the nineteenth of March last, omitting only some names, and a few expressions descriptive of the...
1049From John Adams to Beriah Phipps, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for this well written and excellent Address. The Number of Addresses, which I daily receive from my fellow Citizens in greater Numbers than I can possibly answer is the Cause of the long delay of this. Your Indignation and Alarm are well founded. If there are Citizens capable of being made the disgraceful Instrument of counteracting the Measures of their own free Government, and...
1050From John Adams to Citizens of Washington City, 5 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receive with pleasure, in this address, your friendly welcome to the city and particularly to this place.—I congratulate you, on the blessings, which providence has been pleased to bestow, in a particular manner, on this situation, and especially on its destination to be the permanent seat of government. May the future councils of this august temple be forever governed by truth and liberty,...
1051From John Adams to Alexander Hamilton, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 22d. of August recommending Col Toussard to be Inspector of Artillery. I have no Reason to suspect that your entire Confidence in his Honor and Fidelity is misplaced.—But as his native Country is France and his Speech betrays his original, I am very Apprehensive that in a French War, neither the Army nor the People, would be without their Jealousies and...
1052From John Adams to Robert Treat Paine, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received, with great Pleasure, your very handsome Letter of the 27th of July inclosed with a Copy of your oration delivered in Boston on the 17th of that month. This oration is another Effort of a pregnant and prolific Genius, which had before exhibited many elegant learned and masterly Productions to the delight of our Americans and the Applause of all Men of Taste and Sentiment in...
1053From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 8 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received in your letter of the 30th April the very handsome apology of Mr. Henry & the letter of chief justice Ellesworth from Hallifax of March 21st.—In several conversations with Judge Elsworth, I mentioned to him Gov. Davie, as one among several, whom I had in contemplation to appoint in the place of Govenor Henry, if he should decline as was apprehended by many. The character of...
1054From John Adams to Benjamin Adams, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received but a few days ago your kind letter of the 30th of October. I was much gratified to receive a line from a kinsman whom I have always esteemed. I rejoice in your prosperity and wish you much comfort to the end of life. I knew it must be impossible for you not to take an interest in the cause and honor of your country, brought so unjustly to a tryal by our late-friends the French. As...
1055From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 7 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of 28 ult. & have signed the commission to Lieut. Haswell, and sent it on with the letter to Mr. JC. Jones. I return you the copies of Capt. Truxtons correspondence with Gen. Desfourneaux, which is conducted on our part with dignity and propriety. Excepting perhaps that the respect to French property on board neutral vessels & to unarmed French vessels might as well...
1056From John Adams to Nc., Citizens of Newbern, September 1798 (Adams Papers)
An address so cordial and respectful as this from the citizens of Newbern, and your warm approbation of my conduct since I have filled the office of chief magistrate of the United States, I ought to hold in the highest estimation. I was indeed called to it at a crisis fraught with difficulty and danger, when neither skill in the management of affairs, more improved than any I could pretend to,...
1057John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 19 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Before you receive this you will probably receive a letter from the Secy at war informing you that the general officers have proposed either you or Mr Hammond to be a Lt Col commandant. This event has embarassed me. I know not what to do. I know not whether the senate will not negative the nomination if I make it; nor whether you will accept the appointment if they should advise and consent to...
1058From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Sometime between the 10th & fifteenth of October, I shall join you at Trenton & will suspend, till that time, the ultimate determination concerning the instructions. I pray you to write to the Attorney General to meet us. We must be all together to determine all the principles of our negotiations with France & England. I have been obliged to sail for Europe in the middle of winter once, & on...
1059From John Adams to Commissioners of Washington City, 28 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me, the honour to write me on the 22d. of this month. your congratulations, “on the preference given” by my Fellow Citizens, in the Choice of the first Magistrate of the Union, and the Expressions of your Confidence are very obliging. I am not apprized of any reasonable objection to the measure Suggested, of offering Scites for houses to the Ministers of...
1060From John Adams to Ma., Citizens of Danvers, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since my Return to this place, I have received your obliging address, expressing your Sensibility of the great Advantages you derive from a Government, established by the People, upon the true Principles of equal Liberty, and your entire Satisfaction in the Administration of it, for which I thank you.—We had indeed, just reason to expect that no foreign Power would interfere in our National...
1061From John Adams to United States Senate, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Situation of Affairs, between Some of the Citizens of the United States, and the Cherokee Indians, has evinced the Propriety of holding a Treaty with that Nation, to extinguish by purchase, their Right to certain parcells of Land, and to adjust and Settle other points relative to the Safety and Conveniency of our Citizens. With this view, I nominate Fisher Ames of Dedham in the State of...
1062From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
My thoughts and feelings are exactly in union with yours, expressed in your favor of the 17th. I would propose that our envoys be landed at Lisbon & take an overland journey to Paris, through Madrid. This will give them an opportunity of gaining much information, useful to their Country. In this case, the frigate may take Mr. Smith & carry him to Constantinople, or the envoys may be landed at...
1063From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return Mrs Adams’s letter No 120 with its inclosure and Dr. Rushes letter of Sept the first, which I received in yours of the 7th of this month I am not all mortified at the delay of the treaties with Prussia, or Sweden, having no ardent desire of any treaties with Prussia till the crisis in Europe is more decided. Gen. Marshall or Bushrod Washington will succeed Judge Wilson, if you have...
1064From John Adams to George Richards Minot, 28 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Kind Letter of the 9th of this Month, with its elegant Companions, the first Volume of your Continuation of the History of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from the year 1748—for this Valuable present, the printing and binding of which the rapid improvement of the Arts in this Country, I pray you to Accept my thanks— I have read the Work with great pleasure. The Style of...
1065From John Adams to Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati, 12 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your respectful remembrance of me on the Birth day of our United States—the clear conviction you acknowledge of the firm, patriotic and enlightened policy pursued by the Chief Magistrate of the United States, after a Review of the progress of his Administration, will encourage his heart, and strengthen his hands— Our Country Supported by a great and respectable Majority of its...
1066John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured this morning with yours of the 22 d.— This is Accession day you know. I shall always consider it as a red Letter day: a fortunate day. I am happy to know that you are comfortably Situated. I pray you to live in all Things at your own Expence and be no Burthen to M rs Smith or the Lt. Col. I am pretty well recovered of my Cold, but it has reduced my flesh. James has found a...
1067From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of Aug 20th I believe tho the 0 is obscure. Gen. Knox is gone to the eastward as I understand, to return in ten or fifteen days. But if he were in Boston, I could not send him either your official or private letter, as neither contain sentiments that I can approve. My opinion is & always has been clear, that as the law now stands, the order of nomination or of...
1068From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Nabby Sylvester, the signer of the inclosed petition, came to me this morning to present it. She has the appearance of a virtuous & discreet woman. Left as she is with an helpless family of children, among whom is a pair of twins very young, she seems to me to be an object of compassion & of charity. I know not whether the law authorizes me to grant her request. The fine is yet in the...
1069Remission of Punishment for John Scotchlar, 22 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Whereas John Scotchlar, late of the District of Massachusetts, Yeoman, at a Circuit Court of the United States, lately holden in and for the said District was duly convicted of larceny against the form and effect of An Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled “an Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States,” and by the Judgment of the same Court, the said John...
1070From John Adams to James McHenry, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Gen Wadsworth & an address of a company of Volunteers at Portland. I pray you would answer this without loss of time & send the officers their comissions as I have accepted of their offer. Inclosed also is a recommendation of the Rev Jacob Emerson of Masss. to be chaplain at Castle Island. If the law enables us to appoint chaplains to the Artillerists or any other...