31From John Adams to John Marshall, 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 16. I am well satisfied with all its contents. The only thing, which requires any observation from me is, the proposed instruction to Mr. King. As far as I am able to form a conjecture, five millions of dollars are more than sufficient, provided the British creditors are left at liberty to prosecute in our courts and recover all the debts, which are now...
32From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 20th. and have no Objection to the plan you propose of raising a Company of Cavalry.—“Our means”! I never think of our means without shuddering! All the Declamations as well as Demonstrations of Trenchard & Gordon, Bolingbroke Bernard & Walpole, Hume, Burgh and Burke, rush upon my Memory and frighten me out of my Witts. The system of Debts and Taxes is levelling...
33John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I rec d last night your Letter of the 11 th. Your Girls and M r shipley arrived in good health and Spirits. I shall Send the Charriot this morning to meet you. It would be a great pleasure to me to go in it, but I am so engaged in indispensable business that I know not how to leave it and another thing of some importance is your Son may take a seat with you & Suzan in the Charriot and that...
34From John Adams to United States Senate, 22 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following List of Gentlemen for Promotions and Appointments in the Army of the United States. Cavalry 2d: Lieutt. William Tharp 1st. Lieutt. vice Simmons, dismissed Artillerists and Engineers Major of the First Regiment, Lewis Tousard. Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the Second Regiment First Regiment. Captain Moses Porter Major vice Tousard, promoted Lieutenant Jonathan...
35From John Adams to Ma., Grand Jury Middlesex County, 7 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address which has been transmitted to me by The Chief Justice of the State, according to your request. The sentiments expressed by you as your own and as those of your Fellow Citizens of the same County, do honor to the County of Middlesex. That County, whose Inhabitants were the first to make a military defence of their Rights, upon a former against unjust demands upon a...
36From John Adams to David Rawn, 1 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
By the President of the United States. Whereas John Steele Esquire Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States is at present absent from the seat of Government, and whereas it is represented to me as a matter of importance that the accounts of Edmund Randolph Esquire late Secretary of State should be forwith adjusted and Settled. —Therefore be it Known that in pursuance of the authority...
37From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 2 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night yours of the 28th. On the 21st I wrote you approving of Talbot to command the Constitution, and shall think the days and hours long, till he arrives in Boston, where he will be liked. I depend much on him for the dispatch of the ship. McNeil will loose no time in obeying your orders. It has been difficult for Perry to get men nearer than Boston. With great regard MHi :...
38John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Last night for the first time I slept in our new House.— But what a Scene! The Furniture belonging to the Publick is in the most deplorable Condition— There is not a Chair fit to sit in. The Beds and Bedding are in a woeful Pickle. This House has been a scene of the most scandalous Drunkenness and Disorder among the servants, that ever I heard of. I would not have one of them for any...
39From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your private Letter of the 11th. which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered and answered particularly by me, because I have in another Letter written this morning referred the whole Subject to your final decision. The manual Exercise of Writing has become almost as painfull to me, as a blow upon the Elbow or the Knee, which induces me to Spare almost...
40From John Adams to Ebenezer Tucker, 27 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of April 24th inclosing the address of the Inhabitants of little Eggharbour— The zeal and frankness of this unanimous declaration and is remarkable and purely American—my Answer is enclosed which I pray you to present in the manner most convenient and agreeable I am Sir with much Esteem / your most Obt: Servt: MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
41From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 14 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have recd with great pleasure your favour of the fifth. Of the Book which my Enemy has written you shall hear more, hereafter. My Character Shall not lie under that load. I will not write in Newspapers nor in Pamphlets, while I am in my present Station, against that Pamphlet. Personal Injuries! I cry you mercy, what personal Injuries? Is making his Nephew a Captain a personal Injury? Is...
42From John Adams to Daniel Greenleaf, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, & lady requests the Pleasure of Mr & Mrs. D. Greenleafs Company to Dine, on friday next, at two o’clock. An answer is requested. MHi : Homans Collection; Greenleaf Family Deposit.
43From John Adams to James Breckenridge, 17 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
A Copy of your unanimous Resolution of the 31. of May, together with an Address signed by your Chairman by your Order has been presented to me, by your Representative in Congress Mr Evans. The Confidence of the People of Virginia or any such respectable portion of them, is peculiarly agreable to me: and the more So because, I am conscious that more than twenty Years ago, in Circumstances, very...
44From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Letters from Colo. Rice, Lt. Soper, and from General Knox and Mr. HG Otis—which I pray you to file with all other applications of Similar natures. Mr. Henry Sargent appears a very respectable Man— MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
45From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Jesser Lewis which I recommend to your Consideration. General Marshall can probably give you more Information than the Letter contains or is known to your affectionate sert DNA : RG 45--Naval Records Collection.
46From John Adams to United States Senate, 11 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Obadiah Trimmier of South Carolina to be a Commissioner of Valuations in the third Division of that state in the place of Robert Anderson resigned. Julius Nicholls Junior of South Carolina to be Inspector of survey Number three in that state, in the place of Eugene Brenen, whose Commission will expire at the End of the present session of the Senate DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S....
47From John Adams to United States Senate, 20 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following List of Officers in the Army Cavalry. Lieutenant James V. Ball Captain—vice Van Rensselaer.. appointed Major First Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers Major.. Henry Burbeck,,, Lieut. Col. Commdt. vice Rochefontaine dismissed 7. May 1798 Captain Mahton Ford Major vice Burbeck promoted... 7. Ma..1798 Lieutenant Piercy S. Pope Captain vice McRee resigned... 24 April..—...
48From John Adams to William Macpherson, 18 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
This Dedication of yourselves, in the Presence of God and the World, to defend, against the Attacks of Arrogance, Injustice and lawless ambition, that happy System of Government which you have inherited from your Fathers cemented by the best blood of America and sanctioned by your own approbation, is very Solemn and affecting. It has, I presume been well weighted deliberately considered and...
49From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Joseph Beale of Massachusetts to be a Lieutenant in the Navy George Washington Few of Rhode Island to be a Lieutenant in the Navy. Charles Webb of Virginia to be a Surgeon’s mate in the navy. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
50From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I last night received your favor of the 10th: Mr Liston’s note of the 8th was not inclosed as you intended. Mr. Barclay I know & his Exequator will be ready. Mr. Moodie I know not, nor do I know or suspect any objection to him. I thank you for the account of the tryal of Fries, which if it was attended to by as numerous a concourse of people in Philadelphia, as it would have been in some other...
51From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the favor of your letter of 24 June, & the copies inclosed of dispatches from Stevens & Maitland, which I suppose it is unnecessary for me to return. The necessary alterations in the proclamation will of course be made by you, with the advice of the heads of department. Harmony with the English in all this business of St. Domingo, is the thing I have most at heart. The result...
52From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 26 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Reads letter & the note inclosed in your favor of the 19th From a long intimacy with Mr. Izard, and a knowledge of his worth & from some accquaintance with his son, I assure you that nothing of the kind could give me more pleasure, than the appointment of Ralph Izard, the son of Ralph Izard of S. Carolina to be a midshipman in the Navy. I wish it had been my fortune to have a...
53From John Adams to United States Senate, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Edward Prebble of Massachusetts to be first Lieutenant of the Frigate The Constitution in the Place of Benjamin Lee who has declined his appointment and John B. Cordis of Massachusetts to be second Lieutenant of the same Frigate in the Place of William H Wattles, who is Said to be deceased. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
54From John Adams to Thomas Gaskins, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your Address to the President Senate and House of Representatives. Misunderstandings and Differences cannot always be avoided between Individuals or Nations, unless both Parties are sincere and candid. Perhaps not always, even when they are so. Certain partial distinctions, have prevailed to give a Pretext, or rather an Invitation and Encouragement to France to believe that We are...
55John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 1 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you on the new Year and the new Century. Aspice venturo lætentur ut Omnia Sæclo. You may take Pennimans Island and Acre of Marsh at 27 £ or perhaps at 30 £ though fifteen is more than it is worth. The Island is mere Show. it lies however within me; and some one will Speculate upon me if I buy it not. Candlewood Hill is an unknown Country to me. I never heard the Name. But I...
56From John Adams to James McHenry, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of Aug 29 last night. I have recd nothing from the Secretary of State respecting the Castle which ought to be accepted, and the Convicts removed as soon as possible and a respectable officer and Garrison appointed. I perceive that Tousard is coming here I know not why, nor wherefore? General Hamilton recommends him to be Inspector of Artillery. I have no Reason to...
57From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed protest & certificates I received last night with the letter from Capt. Ebenezer Giles, late commander of the schooner Betsey. This gentleman made me a visit some weeks ago, to complain to me in person of the horrid treatment he received from the commander of the Ship Daphne, a British vessel of war. He has now sent me the papers & expects that government will espouse his cause. I...
58From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The combination of a very few ideas has been sufficient to excite apprehensions that the West India islands would soon become a scene of pyracy. The dissolution of all principles, of morals, government & religion the formed repeal of the ten commandments by which it is become as lawful by which it is become as lawful to covet, steal, kill as it is to profane the sabbath or commit adultery—the...
59From John Adams to John Murray Forbes, 6 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received in season, and with pleasure your Letter of the 12th of January I must avow that upon the first publication of Mr: Munroe’s Work, I was much hurt at that levity with which So many Americans, and among them some of respectable character, had taken an open part against the Executive authority of their own Country Government especially when that authority was exercised, by a Character...
60From John Adams to John Trumbull, 10 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 4th. Porcupines Gazette and Fenno’s Gazette, from the moment of the Mission to France, aided, countenanced and encouraged by Soidisant fœderalists in Boston New York and Phyladelphia, have done more to Shuffle the Cards into the hands of the Jacobin Leaders than all the Acts of Administration and all the Policy of opposition from the Commencement of the...