331[April 1776] (Adams Papers)
Coll. Whipple lodges at Mrs. in Walnut Street. Mr. Hancock, Messrs. Adams’s, Paine and Gerry at Mrs. Yards in 2d Street. Mr. Hopkins at Mr. Sherman, Coll. Wolcott and Coll. Huntington at Mr. Duncans in 3d. Mr. Duane at the Collectors in Markett Street, next door to Coll. Reads. Gen. Livingston, Mr. De Hart in Second Street. Mr. Serjeant at Dr. Ewing’s. Mr. Moreton at Mr. Wilson at Mr. Johnson...
332[Residences of Delegates in Philadelphia, April? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Coll. Whipple lodges at Mrs. in Walnut Street. Mr. Hancock, Messrs. Adams’s, Paine and Gerry at Mrs. Yards in 2d Street. Mr. Hopkins at Mr. Sherman, Coll. Wolcott and Coll. Huntington at Mr. Duncans in 3d. Mr. Duane at the Collectors in Markett Street, next door to Coll. Reads. Gen. Livingston, Mr. De Hart in Second Street. Mr. Serjeant at Dr. Ewing’s. Mr. Moreton at Mr. Wilson at Mr. Johnson...
333III. Thoughts on Government, April 1776 (Adams Papers)
If I was equal to the task of forming a plan for the government of a colony, I should be flattered with your request, and very happy to comply with it; because as the divine science of politicks is the science of social happiness, and the blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government, which are generally institutions that last for many generations, there can be no...
334[Monday April 1st.] (Adams Papers)
Monday April 1st. A Measure of Great Importance was adopted—a Treasury Office with an Auditor and a sufficient Number of Clerks. On the 17th. of February 1776 Congress had Resolved that a standing Committee of five be appointed for superintending the Treasury. Their duties pointed out and Mr. Duane, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Smith and Mr. Willing were chosen on the Committee. On this day...
335From John Adams to George Washington, 1 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter Francis Dana Esqr. of Cambridge, is a Gentleman of Family, Fortune and Education, returned in the last Packett from London where he has been about a Year. He has ever maintained an excellent Character in his Country, and a warm Friendship for the American Cause. He returns to share with his Friends in their Dangers, and their Triumphs. I have done myself the Honour to...
336To George Washington from John Adams, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter Francis Dana Esqr. of Cambridge, is a Gentleman of Family, Fortune and Education, returned in the last Packett from London where he has been about a Year. He has ever maintained an excellent Character in his Country, and a warm Friendship for the American Cause. He returns to share with his Friends in their Dangers, and their Triumphs. I have done myself the Honour to...
337[April 2. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 2. 1776. The Committee appointed to prepare a Letter of Thanks to General Washington, and the Officers and Soldiers under his command brought in a draught which was read and agreed to: Ordered that it be transcribed, signed by the President and forwarded. —But the Letter a great part of the Compliment of which would have lain in the Insertion of it in the Journal, was carefully secluded....
338IV. John Hancock to George Washington, 2 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress, the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors. The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a...
339From John Adams to Joseph Palmer, 2 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
This will go by my worthy Brother Dana who, is returned, as he went a very good Whigg and much more abundantly. I hope he will be appointed a Judge or Attorney General immediately, as he is extreamly well qualified for Either. Since my return to this Place, I have lived in tolerable good Humour with our old Friend, notwithstanding the rash Anger he expressed in certain Letters. I have had two...
340[April 3. 1776] (Adams Papers)
April 3. 1776 great Things were done. The Naval System made great Progress. See JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. , 4:251–254.
341From John Adams to James Warren, 3 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
As foreign Affairs become every day more interesting to Us no Pains should be spared to acquire a thorough Knowledge of them, and as the inclosed Extract contains some observations which are new to me, I thought it might not be uninteresting to you. Howe has put 3000 Troops on board of Transports, which lie or at least lay last saturday at Staten Island. Whether this is a Feint, or a Serious...
The Congress being Inform’d by a Letter from Genl. Washington, that two Thousand of the Continental Troops at Cambridge and Roxbury are deficient in Fire Arms, and that he has not been able to Purchase the Same from the Inhabitants or Obtain them from the Assemblies of the New England Colonies, have directed the General to make Returns to the Assemblies of the Numbers of men Inlisted from...
343[April 4. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 4. 1776. We did great Things again. Agreable to the order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the whole to take into Consideration the Trade of the United Colonies, and after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the Chair and Mr. Harrison reported that the Committee had taken into Consideration the matters referred to them and had come to sundry...
344[April 5. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 5. 1776. Good Fryday.
345[April 6. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 6. 1776. Congress resumed the consideration of the Report, from the Committee of the whole, and the same being twice read, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to. These Resolutions are on the Journal, and amount to something. They opened the Ports and sett our Commerce at Liberty: But they were far short of what had been moved by Members from Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia. There...
346[Tuesday April 9th. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday April 9th. 1776. No Committee of the whole.
347[Wednesday April 10. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday April 10. 1776. Resolved that the Letters from General Washington be referred to a Committee of the whole Congress. These were two additional letters, both dated 1 April ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. , 4:266); they are printed in Washington, Writings , ed. Fitzpatrick The Writings of George...
348[April 11. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 11. 1776. Resolved that a Committee of three be appointed to enquire into the Truth of the Report respecting Governor Tryons exacting an Oath from Persons going by the Packet, and to ascertain the Fact, by Affidavits taken before a Chief Justice, or other Chief Magistrate. The Members chosen Mr. Jay, Mr. Wythe and Mr. Wilson. This helped forward our designs a little. Resolved That it be...
349[April 12th. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 12th. 1776. No Committee of the whole.
350John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Inclose a few Sheets of Paper, and will send more as fast as Opportunities present. Chesterfields Letters are a chequered sett. You would not choose to have them in your Library, they are like Congreeves Plays, stained with libertine Morals and base Principles. You will see by the Papers, the News, the Speculations and the Political Plans of the Day. The Ports are opened wide enough at last,...
351From John Adams to Joseph Palmer, 12 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
We begin to make some little Figure here in the Naval Way. Captn. Barry was fitted out here a few days ago in a sixteen Gun Brig, and put to sea by the Roebuck Man of War which lies in Delaware River, and after he got without the Capes fell in with a Tender belonging to the Liverpool Man of War, and took her after an Engagement of two Glasses. She had 8 Cariage Guns and a Number of Swivells....
352From John Adams to William Tudor, 12 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wish you Joy, sir, of your new Abode. I hope you found, the Houses, Wharves &c. &c., in the Town of Boston which are hereafter to contribute to your Satisfaction in Life, in good order. I Should be very happy to learn the Condition in which the Town appeared, the situation of the Buildings and the State and History of the Inhabitants, during the Seige, what Tories are left, and what is to be...
353[April 13. 1776. and April 15.] (Adams Papers)
April 13. 1776. No Committee of the whole. April 15. No Committee of the whole.
354John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
You justly complain of my short Letters, but the critical State of Things and the Multiplicity of Avocations must plead my Excuse.—You ask where the Fleet is. The inclosed Papers will inform you. You ask what Sort of Defence Virginia can make. I believe they will make an able Defence. Their Militia and minute Men have been some time employed in training them selves, and they have Nine...
355John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I send you every News Paper, that comes out, and I send you now and then a few sheets of Paper but this Article is as scarce here, as with you. I would send a Quire, if I could get a Conveyance. I write you, now and then a Line, as often as I can, but I can tell you no News, but what I send in the public Papers. We are Waiting it is said for Commissioners, a Messiah that will never come.—This...
356From John Adams to William Heath, 15 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Altho I never had the Pleasure and the Honour of so intimate an Acquaintance with you as I wished yet I have a long Time, been sufficiently acquainted with your Character, to have the Utmost Confidence in your Patriotism and your Judgment of the true Interest of our Country. The critical State of the Colonies, at this Time, is the Cause of my writing you, because Providence has now placed you...
357[Tuesday April 16. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday April 16. 1776. Whereas Information has been this day laid before Congress, from which there is great reason to believe that Robert Eden Esq. Governor of Maryland, has lately carried on a Correspondence with the British Ministry highly dangerous to the Liberties of America: Resolved therefore that the Council of Safety of Maryland be earnestly requested immediately to cause the Person...
358From John Adams to James Warren, 16 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you, in yours of the 30 March, in opinion that five Regiments are too Small a Force to be left with you, considering the Necessity of fortifying the Harbour, and the Danger there is that the Enemy may renew their Designs upon our Province. Am happy to learn that you have Sent a Committee to view the Harbour of Boston and report the best Method of Securing it. When this Report is...
359From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 16 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Not untill Yesterdays Post, did your agreable Favour of March the Tenth, come to my Hands. It gave me great Pleasure and altho in the distracted Kind of Life, I am obliged to lead, I cannot promise to deserve a Continuance of So excellent a Correspondence yet I am determined by Scribbling Something or other, be it what it may, to provoke it. The Ladies I think are the greatest Politicians,...
360[Wednesday April 17. 1776. Thursday April 18.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday April 17. 1776. Thursday April 18. No Committee of the whole.