1251From John Adams to United States Senate, 23 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I receive, with the most respectful and affectionate sentiments, in this impressive address, the obliging expressions of your regard for the loss our country has sustained in the death of her most esteemed, beloved, and admired citizen. In the multitude of my thoughts and recollections on this melancholy event, you will permit me only to say, that I have seen him in the days of adversity, in...
1252From John Adams to Armistead Smith, 28 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your unanimous Resolutions of the 12 of June have been communicated to me by Mr Evans your Representative s in Congress. I thank you for your determination, that, whenever You shall find an Attack made on your national honor Character and respectability, your Country may rest assured, that to rescue America from public Odium and in defence of your Lives, Liberty and Property, You will again...
1253From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests the Secretary of the Treasury, to commit to writing in detail, and report to the President as early as may be convenient, such Particulars as the Secretary may think necessary or K reliant to be inserted in the Presidents Spee c h at the opening of the ensuing Congress, under the heads 1. of Such Things as ought to be communicated to Congress...
1254From John Adams to Young Men of Boston, 22 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
It is impossible for you to enter your own Fanuel Hall, or to throw your Eyes on the variagated Mountains and elegant Islands around you, without recollecting the Principles and Actions of your Fathers and feeling what is due to their Example, One of their most important Principles was to unite in themselves the Character of Citizens and Soldiers, and especially to preserve the latter always...
1255John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am So constantly engaged in Business most of which is new to me, that it Seems as if it was impossible to find time to write even to you— Yet I believe I write every Post. It proves to be a tedious Business to clear the Presidents house for me. I am now told it will not be ready this Week. You will See by the Gazette how the new Pensilvania House is disposed of. The Weather is bad— I have a...
1256From John Adams to Robert Wharton, 23 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Never, as I can recollect, were any Class of my Fellow Citizens more wellcome to me, on any occasion, than the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of the City of Philadelphia, upon this. At a time, when all the old Republics of Europe are crumbling into Dust, and others forming whose Destinies are dubious; when the Monarchies of the Old World are, Some of them fallen, and others trembling to their...
1257From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 6th. and considered the copy of instructions to Mrs. King, which have been examined and unanimously approved by the heads of departments. I am very well satisfied with them on the whole though, I wish that in the tenth article, you would introduce another idea in corroboration. As a principal mean of annoying a maratime commercial ennemy would be our...
1258From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr Adams’s letter No 128 and the document inclosed in it. I congratulate you on Gen Pinckneys arrival and condole with you on Gen. Marshalls erroneous answers to his catechist. An account of the conduct of the French in overturning the government of Switzerland, written by Sir Francis D’Ivernois has been published in one of the Boston papers. Perhaps that which you have received...
1259From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I transmit to you a document which seems to be intended to be a compliance with a condition mentioned at the conclusion of my message to congress of the twenty first of June last. Always disposed and ready to embrace every plausible appearance of probability of preserving or restoring tranquility I nominate William Vans Murray our minister President at the Hague to be minister plenipotentiary...
1260John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I send you the Letters— I could not keep my hands off of Nabby’s. I beg her Pardon. They write me flattering Accounts from Phil a. M r Anthony writes most confidently. No danger. No fever—alls well.— When Brisler goes he should throw Lime into the Cellar Vault &c. I think We ought to have been together to day. But tomorrow will do. I am glad Malcom came out. We must prepare to go to Phil a....
1261From John Adams to Va., Citizens of Richmond, 18 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your representative in congress, Mr. Jones, has presented to me your address to the president of the United States, and both houses of Congress. It is joyful indeed to receive assurances from respectable citizens of Virginia, that they are satisfied with the government of the United States. The pretext for rejecting our negociations has been, that we are a divided people—but the real cause, a...
1262From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 24th of July, inclosing an Aurora of July 24th imbued with rather more impudence than is common to that Paper. Is there any Thing evil in the Regions of Actuality or Possibility, that the Aurora has not suggested of me? You may depend upon it, I disdain to Attempt a vindication of myself against any of the Lies of the Aurora as much as any man concerned in the...
1263From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of 17 & 18th. Lieutenant Beale it is true is a young man of 26 or 27, but he has been fourteen years at sea. His conduct, since the ship arrived here, has been very attentive & faithful to his duty. If Talman and Dobell are appointed what are you to do with Hull & Hamilton. Do you give Talman & Dobell rank before them? Neither Hull nor Hamilton are older than Beale...
1264John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 26 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of the 2 d. — before this, you have Seen the Treaty with France. The full assurance of your Newspapers, has been wholly disappointed. M r Jefferson and M r Burr have equal Numbers 73.— Which will be Chief? I Shall be in Quincy as early in the Spring as the Roads and Weather will permit. The only Question remaining with me is what I shall do with myself? Something I must do or...
1265From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was not till last night that I received your favours of the 5. of the month. I am happy to learn that your Family and office are removed to Trenton, which I hope will proove a Place of Safety from the Contagion of the Plague of Philadelphia, as it is a well chosen Situation for the Business of your office. Dr. Way, I knew not: but his Character is such as excites a deep regret for his...
1266From John Adams to Elisha Boudinot, 3 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Address, at the Circuit Court of the State, in the March term of this year has been transmitted to me, by Elisha Boudinot Esqr one of the Justices of your Supreme Court, according to your request. The Indignation you express at combinations to resist the operation of the Laws, is evincive of the dispositions of good citizens, and does you much honor. That Infatuation, which alone...
1267From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 14 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 5. The gentleman you mention is a native of Boston and well known. I shall make no observations on his character. None of the suspicions of the Americans in France; which the Gentleman of Maryland mentioned to you, will surprize the federalists in this quarter. But the popularity of the French has so dwindled away that no impression can be made to any...
1268From John Adams to Ct., Inhabitants of Hartford, 10 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Although the sentiments and conduct of the people of Connecticut, as expressed upon all occasions by themselves at home, and their representatives in both houses of Congress, have been so unanimous and uniform in support of the government as to render their interposition at this crisis unnecessary, yet this address from the citizens of Hartford is not the less agreeable to me, or deserving my...
1269To George Washington from John Adams, 7 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr McHenry, the Secretary at War, will have the Honor to wait on you, in my behalf, to impart to you a Step I have ventured to take, and which I should have been happy to have communicated in person, if such a journey had been, at this time, in my power. As I said in a former letter, if it had been in my power to nominate you to be President of the United States, I should have done it, with...
1270From John Adams to George Washington, 22 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received, with great Pleasure, the Letter you did me the Honor to write me, on the Seventeenth of this month. Although a Visit to the City of Washington would give me great Pleasure, and chiefly for the opportunity it would afford me of paying my Respects at Mount Vernon; Yet I cannot but consider the execution of the Plan, as very uncertain. I thank you, Sir, for your...
1271From John Adams to United States Congress, 23 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
It appears that the Dey of Algiers has manifested a predilection for American built vessels, and in consequence has desired that two vessels might be constructed and equipped as cruisers, “according to the choice and taste of captain O’Brien.” But instead of two brigs, Captain O’Brien thinks it will be most eligible to build one brig of twenty guns, and a schooner of about sixteen guns. The...
1272From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th and return you three warrants signed, which you may fill up for Gen. Collot, Mr. Sweitzer & the person mentioned in Mr. Kings letter if he is to be found. I could trust the heads of departments with this power rather than my own judgment. But I think we ought to give the act a strict construction and therefore doubt the propriety of delegating the...
1273To George Washington from John Adams, 22 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have this morning received, with great Pleasure, the Letter you did me the Honor to write me, on the Seventeenth of this month. Although a Visit to the City of Washington would give me great Pleasure, and chiefly for the opportunity it would afford me of paying my Respects at Mount Vernon; yet I cannot but consider the execution of the Plan, as very uncertain. I thank you, Sir, for your...
1274From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived, with my Family at this Place four days ago and propose to remain here and at New york, till the Meeting of Congress. Letters addressed to me, to the Care of Charles Adams Esqr. Counsellor at Law in New york, will Soon find me. I pray you to commit to Writing such Things are you judge necessary to be communicated or recommended to Congress at the opening of the session, and convey...
1275From John Adams to United States Senate, 7 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate P. Fletcher———of Massachusetts, to be first Lieutenant of the Frigate Constitution, to fill the place of Mr. Prebble who is absent—this Gentleman has merits, services and talents to be a Captain in the Navy, and I should nominate him as such, but the absence of Mr. Prebble renders it necessary, that his place should be filled; as soon as he returns, he may take his station and Mr....
1276From John Adams to Gilbert Blane, 18 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received but yesterday your obliging note of the 13 of September, with your observations on the diseases of seamen, through the care of Mr. King. I pray you, Sir, to accept of my best thanks for this valuable present. The subject is of high importance to the commercial & political world, & there is scarcely any, in which philosophy & humanity are more deeply interested. The former editions...
1277From John Adams to United States Congress, 23 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed memorial from the commissioners appointed under an act of the United States entitled “An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States,” representing the situation and circumstances of the city of Washington, I take this opportunity to present to both Houses of the Legislature and recommend to their consideration. Alexander White,...
1278From John Adams to United States Senate, 11 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate, for confirmation, the following Gentlemen, who have been provisionally appointed, during the recess of the Senate in 1800— William Bainbridge, of Pennsa} Hugh G. Campbell, of S. Carolina} Promoted from Masters Commandants, To be Captains in the Navy. Benjamin Hillar of Massachusetts—Promoted from Lieutenant, To be a Master Commandant. John S K Cox, of Massachusetts, promoted from...
1279From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 13 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for your favour of 30 Nov. No reply will be made while I am a public Man—Perhaps none will ever be made. But I make no Promises. Before this Letter reaches you, the duration of my Station, to which you apply Such Sublime Epithets that I dare not repeat them, will be ascertained to your Satisfaction as it is now to mine. If nothing flew on Eagles Wings as Said or done by me, but what...
1280From John Adams to Tobias Lear, 24 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I recd—in due Season your Letter of the fifteenth of this Month, and immediately communicated it to both Houses of Congress in a Message. The melancholly Event announced in it, had been before communicated to the Legislature, but upon less authentic and regular Evidence. The American People are sincere Mourners, under the loss of their Friend and Benefactor. For General Washington it is a...