1From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr Pichon, your favour of the 10th. of January, and, while I feel my obligations to you for your kind Remembrance of me, I very heartily rejoice with you, in your return to your native Country. The new Superintendant of the commercial relations between France and the United States, will, I presume be very well received here, and the better by most men for the part he acted...
2From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I took the Journey leisurely, and arrived here on Thursday and had the pleasure to learn that Colonel Smith had arrived the evening before, which relieved me from an anxiety, as I wished to have him with me at the Commencement of operations as well as to have all the Papers before me. I have found this Gentleman possessed of all the good Qualities which you and Col o. Humphrys, who knew him...
3From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Conversation with which you honoured me last Evening, has induced me, to give you the Trouble of this Letter upon the same subject. It is certain that a Loan of Money, is very much wanted, to redeem the Redundancy of our Paper Bills, and without it, it is impossible to foresee what will be the Consequence to their Credit, and therefore every service that may be rendered, in order to obtain...
4From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 31 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I send you by M r. Joy, all the writings which have fallen in my way, against the slave trade— I mentioned your Desire to read, whatever you could find upon that subject to M r. Granville sharp who requests your acceptance of what he has written upon that subject— you may not Know the Character of this Gentleman, He is the Grand son of the famous Archbishop sharp, very amiable & benevolent in...
5From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 3 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend J. Q. A has given me Such an Account of his kind reception by your Family and of his delightful Journey and Visit to La Grange: that, though I could not envy his family their pleasure, I ardently wished I could have been one in their Suite. I would go father for such an excursion than for a Sight of Scipio in his retreat. Many Heroes, Statesmen and Phylosophers have retired: but...
6From 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...
7From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Proceedings, of late in the British Parliament, I think abundantly prove, that the British Troops will evacuate N. York and Charlestown, and go to Quebeck Hallifax and the West India Islands provided they can escape in the Course of the ensuing Summer. It cannot be a Question, with any Sensible Man, whether it will cost most Time, Blood and Treasure to France and Spain to take them all...
8From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
Major Samuel Sweet, who had has served in the American Army attached to General Izzards Staff, as a Topographical Engineer; wishing to Visit France to Compleat his Education, in the Study of Military Tacticks; I have been requested to give him a Letter of Introduction to a Character so interesting to Mankind in America and Europe, as — (shall I say know very well which title you would prefer.)...
9From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 26 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your kind Letter of the 16 th. I most heartily wish you success in your endeavours to introduce a benificial Commerce in Tobacco, oil, Timber & all other things, between the U.S. & France, L d. G. G.’ s attack was easily repulsed, The Ministry will not be so easily managed, in one word, I will let you into the whole secret, They think, that whatever wealth or Power...
10From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 20 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Major Porter, brought me, your kind favour of the first of this month, together with some Letters from America, in one of which is a Resolution of Congress of the 23d of November “That the secretary of foreign affairs acquaint the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States, that it is the desire of Congress that they confer with the Marquis de la Fayette, and avail themselves of...
11From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
David Hinckley Esqr of Boston a Gentleman of ample Fortune & respectable Character is about to travel in France with his amiable Daughter for the benefit of his health and the Gratification of his curiosity and the improvement of their knowledge of the World. Are extremely desirous of paying their respects to their illustrious fellow Citizen one of the Heroes of the American Revolution and...
12From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter & the Proceedings of Auvergne— The Provincial assemblies, if they act only as Councillors of the King must operate for the benefit of the Nation— Le nombre des personnes choises dans les deux premiers Orders ne puisse surposer le nombre des Personnes choiseis pour le trois etats et les voix seront recueillies par tête, alternativement entre les Membres des...
13From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am very glad to learn by your Kind favour of the 9 th. that Boylston has sold his oil to sangrains Correspondent because this will both shew the Bostonians that a Markett may be found in france, much better than in England, & the Parrissians that this oil is much better & Cheaper than any other M r. Barretts Contract bids fair to compleat the business & to introduce a regular Exchange of...
14From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 30 th. Ult o. and thank you for the extract enclosed— The Commerce of new England will follow their oil, wherever it may go and therefore I think it good Policy, in the Controller General to take of the duty— But there is another object of Importance I mean the sperma Cæti Chandles— Will you be so good as to inform me whether these are prohibited in france?...
15From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 29 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Should have written you, Since the 29 of May, when I wrote you a Letter that I hope you recd, if it had not been reported Sometimes that you was gone and at other times that you was upon the Point of going to America. This People must be indulged, in their ordinary March which you know is with the Slow Step. We have however at length the Consent of all the Cities and Provinces, and have...
16From John Adams to Lafayette, 3 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honour of receiving, from the Hand of my worthy Friend General Knox, your kind Letter to me, together with five others, which, with Submission to the Fortune of War, shall be conveyed and deliverd as you desire. I am happy in this opportunity to convey Intelligence from you to your Friends, and think myself greatly honoured and obliged by your Politeness and Attention to...
We have received the Letter you did us the honor to write on the 25 th. Inst. Our Country has had early and repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and Abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in America, induced us to adopt the Opinion, that you might be more useful here than there, especially in Case the Negotiation for Peace on the Part of France in England, should...
18John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 28 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter of the 8 th , untill the day before yesterday.— That I have not Seen with Pleasure, Approbation or Indifference, the Introduction into America, of So great an Innovation, as an order of Chivalry, or any Thing like One, or that has a Tendency to one, is very true. that I have been violent against it, is not So. I am not a violent Man. I have disapproved of this...
19From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I was made very happy by your letter, from New York 20th: September. I regretted your short visit but I was highly delighted with it, and wished it was much longer. A visit at my age from such a friend is a memorable epocha in my poor history. I thank you for introducing to me that excellent gentleman, Mr Huger. I find him an intelligent, amiable gentleman as any I have seen. I was delighted...
20John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received in Season, the Letter mentioned in yours of the Second of this Month, but as there was nothing in it which required an immediate Answer, I have not acknowledged the Recipt of it, untill now. If an Express should be upon his Passage with any Arrangement of Congress, respecting their foreign Affairs I presume the Departure of M r Jay and M r Laurens for America, will disarrange it: So...
21From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am just honored now with your’s of 27th. March. All things were working rapidly together for our good, untill on the 3d. instant, the Russian Ministers at the Hague presented the Memorial which You have seen in the Gazettes. This will set twenty little Engines to work, to embroil and delay: but I believe that in the Course of four or five Weeks We shall triumph over this which I take to be...
22From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr Paudlin, transmitted your kind introductory Letter to me from New York, and I presume went to the Southward. Whenever he comes to the Northward I Shall be very glad to receive him. An Architect I am Sure is wanted at Washington. Mr Theodore Lyman junior, Son of a Gentleman of Fortune and Consideration in Boston, will have the Honour to bear this Letter. His Manners are as modest as his...
23The American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, [27 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter you did us the Honor to write on the 25th. Inst. Our Country has had early & repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in america, induced us to adopt the opinion, that you might be more useful...
24From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the Seventh of this month, was yesterday brought me, by Mr Ridley, and I thank you for your kind Congratulations, on the Progress of our Cause in the Low Countries. Have a Care, however, how you profess Friendship for me: there may be more danger in it, than you are aware of. I have the Honour, and the Consolation to be a Republican on Principle. That is to Say, I esteem that Form of...
25From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 August 1824 (Adams Papers)
I send this letter by my two grandsons, George Washington Adams and Charles Francis Adams to congratulate you on your happy arrival in your country after so long an absence. There is not a man in America who more sincerely rejoices in your happiness and in the burst of joy which your presence has diffused through this whole continent than myself. I would wait upon you in person but the total...