1From John Adams to James Warren, 9 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received, Your Favour of October the 22 d. and am Sorry to find you so true a Prophet.— Yet I am happy to perceive that Government arrouses itself with some degree of Dignity, and is likely to prevail.— It is apparent however that Discontents, and a restless Temper, have taken a deep root and will require much Prudence as well as firmness, to guard against their Tendency.— When We find...
2From John Adams to James Warren, 4 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 30. April, is arrived. I am Surprized to read in your Letter that “our Poverty cant relieve Us from the Piracies of the Algerines.” Are the thirteen United States then not worth two or three hundred Thousand Guineas? Suppose they borrow it at Six per Cent. there will be Eighteen thousand Guineas to pay Yearly. We now loose a Million sterling a Year, by this War.— Are We able to...
3From John Adams to James Warren, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of October 6. I rec d but Yesterday.— I had before written very fully to M r Jay, a recommendation of your son to be Consull at Lisbon, and desired him to communicate it to the Members of Congress. I will write also to M r Jefferson, and wish very heartily that he may be appointed. He is a modest and ingenious Man, and independently of the Merits of his Family, which are equal to...
4From John Adams to James Warren, 26 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I See by the publick Papers that M r Hancock has resigned, and I Suppose you have just passed through the Bustle of a new Election. it is a question here among Us Americans Who? General Warren M r Bowdoin M r Cushing and General Lincoln are in nomination. But We cannot elect you know and therefore nobody Says who he would vote for. We all agree that there is danger of less Unanimity than in...
5John Adams to James Warren, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 29 of June, by M r Jefferson, whose appointment gives me great Pleasure. He is an old Friend with whom I have often had Occasion to labour at many a knotty Problem, and in whose Abilities and Steadiness I always found great Cause to confide. The Appointment of this Gentleman, and that of M r Jay and M r: Dana are excellent Symptoms. I am now settled with my Family at a...
6John Adams to James Warren, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your amiable Son, has done me the favour of his Company, here, for a Day or two, and this Morning goes to Amsterdam, intending to return to England at the End of the Week. From London He embarks Soon for Lisbon. My Son returned with him from London where I sent him to meet his Mother and Sister. But He was dissappointed as well as I.— I Still expect M rs Adams every day: but her last Letters,...
7From John Adams to James Warren, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I received with great Pleasure yours of 24. June. The Approbation of my Countrymen is a great Pleasure and Support to me but that approbation does not extend I fancy so far as you and several others seem to imagine. if it does I am unfit for their Purposes, having neither Health nor Patience, for the arduous and trying Duties of their first Magistrate. an honour too high and a situation too...
8From John Adams to James Warren, 16 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is my Duty to unbosom myself to Some Friend in Congress, upon whose discretion I can rely, and there is none to whom I can do it with more Propriety than to you of whose Patriotism and Friendship I have had So long Experience. We are at Peace, but not out of Danger. That there have been dangerous Designs against our real Independence, if not against our Union and Confederation, is past a...
9From John Adams to James Warren, 13 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have in some late Letters opened to You in Confidence the Dangers, which our most important Interests have been in, as well as the Opposition and Jealousy and Slanders, which your Ministers have met with, from the vain, ambitious and despotic Character of one Minister, I mean the C. de Vergennes— But You will form but an imperfect Idea after all of the Difficulties We have had to encounter,...
10From John Adams to James Warren, 12 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
What would I have given to have been your Doorkeeper for a few days while you had under Deliberation the Dispatches We Sent by Barney, that I might have listened with my Ear at the Key hole and overheard your Debates. I fancy Some Members will be of Opinion, that they have committed a Mistake in committing the Lamb so unreservedly to the Custody of the Wolf.— If Congress are not betrayed by...