151To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Mortimer the Bearer of this Letter, is a Gentleman of Letters, and although little known to me, is recommended by some of my Friends as a worthy, though unfortunate Man. He is represented to be a Friend to Liberty, and Humanity, and as such I beg leave to introduce him to you, and to ask for him any friendly Advice or Aid you may be able to afford him in his Views, of litterary Employment...
To William Stephens Smith Esquire Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America to the Court of Great Britain— The Secretary of the United States of America for the department of foreign affaires, His Excellency John Jay to whom was referred a letter to him from the Honourable John Adams of the 27 th. of June last, informing that the Queen of Portugal had ordered her squadron in...
Congress by their Resolution of February the 3 d. 1787, determined, that the Letter to the Queen of Portugal herewith delivered you, should be transmitted to Her faithfull Majesty by your hands— You will therefore prepare yourself, as soon as conveniently may be, and proceed to Lisbon.— In your way, as you pass through France & Spain, you will of Course pay your respects to the Ministers of...
154From John Adams to John Jay, 10 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Public Councils of this Country, as far as they regard America, remain So exactly the same as to afford nothing new to communicate to Congress. The Members of Parliament, have been so long irritated and tormented on that subject, that they detest to hear the Name of America mentioned, and the political System and national humour Seems to be, neither to Speak nor think of it.— a seemingly...
155From John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved in due time with great Pleasure all your Letters & Dispatches: But the Reason why I have not answ’ d. them regularly, was the uncertainty where you was to be found indeed I have been buisy in other things, & nothing from you seemed to require any other answers, than acceptance & payment of your Draughts, which has been punctually done, Give me leave my dear sir to congratulate...
156From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 13 of March was brought in to me but this moment— I am not able to give you any information you desire— a Gen t. by the Name you mention & with the title of Colonel has been introduced to me & has dined with me at this House & I saw him in Holland— His Behaviour is Genteel and his Character is in all respects unexceptionable, as far as I know, having Never heard any...
157From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 13 th. of March with the three obligations inclosed: & I thank you for your care in the Business— inclosed is an order on the Company of Willinks & Vanstaphorsts, for five hundred & sixty five Guilders being the Ballance due to you from me on account of these obligations— with great esteem & c. LbC in WSS ’s hand ( Adams Papers ); internal address: “Mess rs....
158From John Adams to Benjamin Vaughan, [ante 2 April 1787] (Adams Papers)
I am very much mortified to loose the Pleasure and Advantage of an Excursion to Windsor, to see M r Herschell in Such Company: but the State of my Family is such that I cannot justify leaving it.— M rs Smith is in Travel and the Anxiety occasioned by this Event has made M rs Adams so much worse, that I should be very bad Company at Windsor, and what is more decisive, it becomes my Duty to stay...
159From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favours of Feb. 20. and 23 by M r Carnes, and the curious Pamphlets. Opening a direct Communication between Paris and America will facilitate the Trade of the two Countries, very much, and the new Treaty between France and England, will promote it still more. John Bull dont see it. and if he dont See a Thing at first, you know it is a rule with him ever...
160To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 1 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favours of Feb. 20. and 23 by Mr. Carnes, and the curious Pamphlets. Opening a direct Communication between Paris and America will facilitate the Trade of the two Countries, very much, and the new Treaty between France and England, will promote it still more. John Bull dont see it, and if he dont see a Thing at first, you know it is a rule with him ever after...
161From John Adams to John Jay, 24 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to transmit to Congress, a Letter from M r Harrison, with an Account of Disbursements for Captain Erwin and his Associates on their return to Cadiz from their Captivity in Morocco. Situated as M r Harrison was he had every motive of Humanity, and love of his Countrymen to relieve their necessities, and it would be too Severe, if not unjust, to leave the burthen upon him....
162John Adams to Richard Cranch, 21 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I believe there is not another Man in the World whose Life has been such a series of Remorses as mine. It seems as if there was a Destiny that I should never be paid. The time is drawing near, for eleven or twelve months will soon be round, when we embark for Home. This is an irksome undertaking—to break up a settled habitation and remove a family across the Seas, at any time of life is no...
163John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 21 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Having determined to return to Pens hill, I begin to think in what a pitiful Condition I shall find my Meadow and Hill &c &c. Poor as a heath I Suppose, as I found them, but am determined they shall not remain long in such a contemptible plight. This is therefore to beg the favour of you to purchase for me Josh. Bracketts Heap at his stable for a year, and desire my Brother or my Tenant to...
164To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Gordon who is about publishing his Proposals for printing his History desires a Letter to you.—I told him that he might depend upon your good offices without any Letter, but as no harm will be done by complying with his Desire I beg Leave to introduce him, and to recommend his History to your Patronage in France. With equal affection, Esteem and respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir your...
165From John Adams to John Jay, 3 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote a few Days Since by Col Franks who embarks in the French Packet from Havre De Grace, with the Morocco Treaty. There is no further Intelligence of the Portugal Business, nor any better Prospect, or more agreable Disposition in this Country, whatever Artifices may be employed in America to keep up delusive hopes. Parliament opened with an uncommon Gloom, and has been Sitting in a...
166From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Last night, I received the Card your Lordship did me the Honour to write me Yesterday, inclosing a Petition, to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury, from John Hales, relative to Sixteen Chinese Seamen who are alledged to have informed M r. Hales that they came from India in the Hyder or Hydrea Captain Clark belonging to the United States of America, to Ostend...
167From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
D r White has been So obliging to me, as to take with him to America, two Volumes, one for your Excellency and one for the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, of a Production of mine, Suggested by the late popular Phrensy in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It contains my Confession of political Faith, and if it is Heresy, I shall I Suppose be cast out of Communion. But it is the only...
168From John Adams to Benjamin Hichborn, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received with pleasure your obliging Letter of the 24 of october and am much affected with the disagreable State of things in the Massachusetts— It is indeed news to me that there is any such fixed determination as you mention in the minds of men of greatest Influence. Perhaps I am not a proper confident of those Gentlemen, As to my comeing home it is not possible for me to come home...
169From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 26 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your Directions, I do myself the honor to inclose to you, a List of all the Draughts of money, which have been made by me, whether on a public or private account since the first day of August 1785. Sometime ago, I transmitted to M r. Barclay according to the Resolutions of Congress, all my Accounts up to that Day, —after the Examination he made a settlement of them and...
170The American Commissioners’ Provisional Ratification of the Moroccan-American Treaty, [1–25 January 1787] (Adams Papers)
Now know Ye that We the said John Adams & Thomas Jefferson Ministers Plenipotentiary aforesaid do approve & conclude the said Treaty and every Article and Clause therein contained, reserving the same nevertheless to the United States in Congress assembled for their final Ratification. In testimony whereof we have signed the same with our Names and Seals, at the Places of our respective...
171From John Adams to John Jay, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday, in your Ministerial Capacity as well as mine, my ulltimate Determination to revisit my Country, this time twelve months.— I now write you this private Letter to intreat you as a Friend, to promote in every Way in your Power, an Arrangement as early as possible, by which I may be permitted to return, with Decorum.— It is not from a desire to stimulate any Body to vote for...
172From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters of December 20. and Jan. 11. by Coll Franks.— The whole of the Business shall be dispatched, and Coll Franks Sent to Congress as you propose, as soon as possible. I have prepared a Draught of a joint Letter to M r Barclay, and Signed it, concerning M r Lamb, and shall inclose it to you with this. As to the Treaty with Portugal, the Chevalier De Pinto’s Courier whom...
173To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 25 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Letters of December 20. and Jan. 11. by Coll. Franks. The whole of the Business shall be dispatched, and Coll. Franks sent to Congress as you propose, as soon as possible. I have prepared a Draught of a joint Letter to Mr. Barclay and signed it, concerning Mr. Lamb, and shall inclose it to you with this. As to the Treaty with Portugal, the Chevalier De Pinto’s Courier whom...
174From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 24 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I took the first Opportunity of transmitting to Congress, the Letter which your Lordship did me the Honour to write me on the Eleventh of December last: and as I wished it might be considered, by Congress and by the States of South Carolina and Georgia in the Same light as if it had been presented to Congress by a British Minister Plenipotentiary, I transmitted it without any Remarks of mine....
175From John Adams to John Jay, 24 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I must beg the Indulgence of Congress, while I Sollicit their Attention, for a few moments to Some Particulars which are very interesting to me personally and have Some relation to the foreign Affairs of the United States.— It is now, in the Beginning of the tenth Year Since I embarked first for Europe in Obedience to the Commands of the United States. The various Services to which they have...
176John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to find by your Letter that you are so well situated, at Mr. Sewalls, make my Compliments to that Gent. and thank him for the Kind present of his translation of Young—it appears to me to be well done. You will write to me from time to time, if you want Books, or any assistance in your studies, from this side the Water. I hear a good account of your Conduct, your studies you must...
177From John Adams to Richard Cranch, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
D r Tufts will give you a Strange Book. I know not whether, the Sentiments of it, will be approved, by the Men of Sense and Letters in America.— if they are, they will make themselves popular in time. if they are not, our Countrymen have many Miseries yet to go through. if the System attempted to be defended in those Letters, is not the System of the Wisest Men among Us, I shall tremble for...
178From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of the 5 th. of this month is just now brought to me, & I beg leave to reciprocate to you & your amiable family all your obliging wishes— the latest accounts from the massachusetts assure us of a returning tranquility, altho the spirit of sedition in the County of Worcester was not wholly suppressed— I have no doubt it will all soon subside. With equal surprize & satisfaction I...
179John Adams to Charles Adams, 10 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved with pleasure your letter of the 22d. of octr. and agree with you that the times are such as to make it difficult for a young Gentleman, to determine upon a Profession, yet there is no reason to be discouraged, The Prospect will brighten. I have so well grounded a Veneration for the Law, that I shall never discourage any of my sons from pursuing the study of it, if their Genius...
180John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for the Copy of your Dialogue, which does you honour. I am the more pleased to learn that you are to col lect the Mathematical Theses, as the Same part fell to my Share in the Year 1755. Your Reasons for preferring Newbury Port to Boston for the Study of the Law are judicious, and discover an Attention and a Consideration, which give sure Presages of your future...