31To John Adams from John Chew Thomas, 17 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
It is with the most respectfull deference that I take the Liberty of offering to your Consideration Philip Barton Key Esqr. as a person in my Opinion well qualified to fill the Office of District Circuit Judge under the new Judiciary System—In addition to other Oppurtunities of becoming well acquainted with him—I have served two Sessions with him in our State Legislature and entertain an high...
32To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
As I consider the Appointment of a Judge, for the fifth Circuit, of very great Importance to the Public, and to the judiciary Department, I take the Liberty to recommend to your Excellency Philip Barton Key Esqr.—I know no Gentleman, in this State (who will accept) better qualified, in every Respect, to discharge the Duties of the Office; and I am well assured, that only Want of Health, of...
33To John Adams from Theodore Foster, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have long been acquainted with Samuel Bayard Esq. of New Rochelle, in the State of New York, where he has Settled with and has an amiable Family, having married Miss Pintard of that Place, a Relation of the Family of Mr. Boudinot, Director of the Mint.—He has had a Liberal Education. He practiced Law a Number of Years, at the Bar of Pensylvania—Served Six Years as Clerk of the Supreme Court...
34To John Adams from Theodore Foster, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In the event of the Hon. Benjamin Bourn being appointed a circuit judge in the first circuit, under the act providing for the more convenient organization of the courts of the United-States, we beg leave to recommend to you the Hon. Ray Greene , for the office of judge for the district of Rhode–Island, now held by Mr: Bourn. Mr. Greene has been uniformly and deservedly esteemed in private...
35To John Adams from Elizur Goodrich, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Having inclosed to the Secretary of the Treasury, a petition, addressed to your Excellency soliciting an Appointment to the vacant office of Collector of the Port of New Haven, I hope it will not be deemed improper to express, my motives leading at the present time to a wish for retirement. I have an affectionate family and young Children to support and educate—I have always considered the...
36To John Adams from Elizur Goodrich, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Office of Collector of the Port of New Haven in the State of Connecticut having become vacant by the Death of David Austin Esquire, I take the Liberty to solicit of your Excellency an appointment to succeed him in the office. A friend has in my absence, transmitted from New Haven the accompanying Certificate, signed by respectable Men. Perhaps it will not be deemed improper to observe,...
37To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Upon perusing with more attention a letter from Judge Lowell which I had the honor to mention to you, it appears to me to be a duty not only to him but to the Executive, to communicate the letter itself under his hand, as it seems to contain not merely an expression of his wishes in relation to the office of Circuit Judge, but an eventual resignation of his office, which he relies upon me to...
38To John Adams from Willis Alston, 14 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the passage of a law during the present session of Congress for organizing the courts of the united states the appointment of a circuit Judge in the state of North Carolina becomes necessary I therefore take the liberty of recommending to your consideration the character of the Honorable Samuel Johnston, at present a Judge of the Supreme court of said state, for the Honor of...
39To John Adams from Richard Bland Lee, 14 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
When I left Virginia a vacancy in the Collectorship of Alexandria seemed to be expected. Should that event happen I requested some of my friends to nominate me to you as a candidate to supply it. It was also expected that a government for the territory of Columbia would be adopted, which would include in its organization a judiciary System, consisting of one Judge & two associates—I took the...
40Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here about half after Six, without any accident, but beat and bang’d enough I do not wish for the present, a severer punishment to the Jacobins & half feds who have sent me home at this Season, than to travel the Roads in the san culot stile just now; the Roads were hard frozen points up, all the way. we were 4 hours making our first stage, and then commenced a voilent snow storm....
41To John Adams from Timothy Bloodworth, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Act pass’d this sessions, for the revisal of the Judicial sistem, will require the appointment of a Judge for the State of No Carolina, permit me, with resepectfull submission, to recommend Mr Samuel Johnston, as a Gentleman suitably quallified to fill that Station. his Charrecter is so wel established as a Lawyer, that any observations on that subject, would be superfluouse. I beg leave...
42To John Adams from William Cooper, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
By the provisions of the Act respecting the Judiciary, which has just become a Law—a new District in the Northern part of the State of New-York is created; In which the Offices of Attorney & Marshal are to be filld. by new appointments—relying upon the belief that your Excellency is willing to receive all information relating to the suitableness of persons for any employment which is vacant—we...
43To John Adams from Theodore Foster, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Act to provide for the more convenient organization of the Courts of the United States, contemplating the appointment of judges of the Courts in the several circuits, we take the liberty of recommending to you Benjamin Bourn Esqr: the present district judge of Rhode Island as a proper character to fill the office of a judge of the circuit Court in the circuit with which that State is...
44To John Adams from Jared Ingersoll, Jr., 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I extremely regret that my business requiring an immediate Return, prevented my having the honor a further Interview with you before I left the City of Washington. permit me to repeat, what I have already mentioned to you verbally, my resignation of the office I now hold, as District Attorney of the United States for the District of Pennsylvania. If the Result of the late Presidential election...
45To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
When I sported the Idea of an Ambassadorship I meant Nothing more than that it must be a most desirable Thing to the People of the United States to have their forign Affairs Again committed to the Charge of the ablest Minister they ever had in Europe; And that too under Circumstances more dignified & singular than any other Nation ever exhibited. As Farmer of Stonyfield You certainly can unite...
46To John Adams from James Wilson, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of addressing you upon a Subject, which, though of little Importance to you, is yet highly interesting to me. On the 26th of May last you were pleased to give a verbal Order to the Secretary of War, through Major Tousard, to make out for me a Commission of lieutenant in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers. Mr McHenry, then in the Hurry of Business necessarily attendant...
47To John Adams from Chauncey Goodrich, 11 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In the event of the “Bill for the more convenient Organization of the Courts of the United States,” receiving your signature, it is presumed that Recommendations of Persons suitable for the important Offices of Judges in the Circuit Courts will be acceptable to You. We therefore take the Liberty of respectfully recommending to You, the Honble. Egbert Benson of the State of New York, for the...
48To John Adams from Oliver Whipple, 11 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
This bein y for the Choice of President of the once united States I can not but view it as an eventfull Period: May that guardian Providence (which has hitherto protected this brave and once happy People ) secure to them, in your Person, as chief Majestrate, that Union, Safety and Protection, which is your Wish to cultivate, and Desire to give. I must, respected Sr, whatever is the Event, give...
49To John Adams from James Asheton Bayard, Jr., 11 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The House of Representatives having Set unusually late the last two days I have been prevented waiting upon You according to my intention. I beg You Sir to believe that I appreciate with a becoming Sense the high honor You have proposed to confer upon me. I took the liberty of stating the subject to the Chief Justice who was So obliging as to undertake to request your opinion upon the...
50To John Adams from Harry Innes, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
A desire to promote the happiness of our common country has induced me to address you at this time; this reason I flatter myself will be received as a sufficient appology for the freedom I have taken in writing this letter. It is reported that a change is proposed & will probably take place in the Judicial system of the U. States & that this change will require an additional Judge in this...
51To John Adams from Samuel Livermore, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
We beg leave respectfully to recommend Edward St Loe Livermore late a Judge in our supreme court, for the appointment of an associate Judge; in the first circuit Court for New hampshire Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We also take the liberty to recommend Jeremiah Smith late a Member of Congress from New hampr. for the appointment of an associate Judge The consideration that the District Judge...
52To John Adams from Jedediah Huntington, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The collector’s office at New Haven being vacant, I beg leave to mention to you Mr. Nathan Beers of that city as one who I think will fill that place to satisfaction.—He served in our revolutionary war with reputation as an officer in the line & as paymaster.—he is at present Steward of Yale College.—His standing generally and connections are respectable— I am with the greatest / Esteem &...
53To John Adams from Henry Knox, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Mr Wetmore who has been long a barrister at the bar of this state, but who meeting with pecuniary embarrasments has removed into the district of Maine, is very desirous of some employment in the judicial Line. His age about fifty, and his legal knowledge, qualify him in the opinion of those who are intimately acquainted with him, for almost any office in the department of the law I have the...
54To John Adams from Jonathan Mason, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
It being presumed that the bill for the amendment of the Judiciary System will by your approbation become a law, & you having intimated to some of us a wish to ascertain the sentiments of gentlemen in relation to persons qualified for promotion to the office of Judge. We therefore beg leave respectfully to re commend John Lowell Esquire for the appointment of Cheif Justice of the first...
55To John Adams from James Monroe, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In the course of last year on the receipt of information from mr. Lee of Norfolk, that a Mariner from the United States Frigate Constellation, had been delivered up by a magistrate of the Borough of Norfolk to the british consul at that port and sent by him to a british island, where he was condemned and executed on a charge of being a mutineer on board the british ship of War, the Hermione, I...
56To John Adams from Samuel Smedley, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Office which I had more particularly in view when I had the Honor of addressing my letter to you of the 30, of April last, is now become vacant. the Collector of the Customs for the District of New Haven, I am informed, is no more. there will be many applicants for this Vacant Office. Senators and Representatives will be intreated for their interest by the Several Applicants, their...
57To John Adams from Lewis B. Sturges, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I learn that Samuel Smedley Esqr. Collector of the Customs for this District has applied for the Office at New Haven – vacant by the Death of David Austine Esq – in Case he shou’d be promoted to that Office – it is my wish (if considered consistent with the public interest) to succeed him here,—As I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with your Excellency—I take the liberty of...
58To John Adams from Richard Lee, 7 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
the Editor of the American Universal Magazine ventures respectfully to solicit the following favor—Observing that his fellow Citizens universally wish for an accurate likeness of their first Magistrate, elect—and endeavouring to gratify so general a desire to the utmost of his power; he is encouraged to enquire if Mr. Adams possesses a miniature, or other painting and would thereby confer a...
59To John Adams from Richard Peters, 6 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Understanding that the Judiciary Bill is likely to pass the Senate as it came up from the House of Representatives I beg to mention to you, without any formal Application in any official Capacity, the 25th. Section of that Law. It is in the Opinion of every legal Character here a most flagrant Violation of the Constitution; & must have been overlooked in this Point of View by the Gentlemen who...
60To John Adams from Nathan Beers, 5 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The office of Collector for this Port being vacant by the Death of David Austin Esqr. For myself and at the solicitation of a number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Town I am induced to address your Excellency with a request that I may be appointed to that Office. As early as Augt 1798 (when it was the general opinion here that the Office would become vacant, Mr Austin being very...