1From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 8th. of this month; and am sorry to find that you judge it necessary to retire from office—Although I shall part with your services as Secretary of the Treasury, with reluctance and regret, I am nevertheless, sensible, that you are the best and the only judge of the expediency of your resignation.— If you persist in your resolution, your own time shall be...
2From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 11 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed recommendation of Capt. Samuel Robinson to be keeper of the lighthouse on Wigwam point are from such authority & so decisive that I presume it will be unnecessary to look any further. With great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr Jackson in favor of Major James Gibbons came to me only last night. I inclose it to you that it may be filed with others though it is too late for the present appointment as I suppose. It may be of use another time With great respect &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Gen Lee recommending in very strong terms Mr King for collector in place of M Col Byrd came to me but yesterday, & consequently too late I suppose to answer any purpose, but to be filed with the rest & considered on some future occasion MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
5From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 4 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Mr Daniel Bedinger, with a Certificate in his favour from Governor Wood. I Suppose the Letter comes too late but that if it had arrived earlier it would have made no Alteration in your Judgment or mine. Neither Mr Parker nor any other Person ever had authority from me to Say that any Mans political Creed, would be an insuperable Bar to promotion. No Such rule has ever...
6From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have carefully read all the applications & recommendations for the office of collector of Norfolk & although the list of candidates is numerous and their pretensions respectable I think I discover sufficient reasons in the papers to concur with you in opinion that Col William Davis ought to be appointed and pray you to send him a commission accordingly. His letters have a strong character of...
7From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have carefully read all the Applications and Recommendations for the Office of Collector of Norfolk: and altho the List of Candidates is numerous and their Pretensions respectable, I think I discern Sufficient reasons in the papers to concur with you in opinion that Col William Davis ought to be appointed and pray you to send him a Commission Accordingly. His Letters have a strong Character...
8From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr William Channing from Tappahannock requesting to be made Collector of Norfolk in the place of Col Bird which you will be pleased to file & consider with all other applications for the same office With affectionate esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
9From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 11th. I hope We have not made a mistake in Appointing Col. Hunnewell. On the Petition of Mrs Sylvester I am of the same opinion with you and your Colleagues. I had read with real Grief in the Papers, the account of the Death of Col. Otway Bird. The Character I read of him at the time of his appointment to the Collector, convinces me that the public has Sustained...
10From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is high time for me to request, that you would seriously revolve in your thoughts, the subject of communications, both of intelligence and advice, to be made to Congress, at the opening of the approaching session, and favor me with your sentiments upon the whole subject, as soon as possible. I shall leave this place on Monday the 13th of October. No letters should be directed to me here,...
11From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Mr. D Leonard Jarvis called on me to present me the inclosed letter from himself dated the 10th and the enclosed statement in print of the claim of the Rhode Island brigade. All the consolation I could give him, after reading over his representation with some care, was a promise to enclose it to you with my recommendation to you to give it a candid & impartial consideration & if you...
12From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 11 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from General Peleg Wadsworth of Portland, recommending Thomas Baker Wait to be surveyor & inspector in the place of James Lunt. You know as well as I the respectability of this recommendation With sincere regard &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
13From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Dr Bartleet of Charleston, offering himself a candidate for a medical appointment in case; I transmit to you, because I believe the law has committed the medical marine Establishment to your care. If I am mistaken in this, you will please to give this letter & its inclosures to Mr. Stoddert. Dr. Bartleet is as worthy & respectable character as any we have. Last night I...
14From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 5 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your favor of August 27 I consent to the appointment of Edward Pennington to be first mate, Donard Rimbley to be second mate & Richard Hrabowski to be third mate of the Revenue Cutter on the South Carolina station. I return you all the papers inclosed in yours. Enclosed also is a letter from Paul Dudley Sargeant proposing to be Surveyor of Portland. Although this gentleman...
15From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Sam Freeman of Falmouth, in favor of Mr. Joseph Titcomb, but although Mr. Freeman is a very respectable man, & I doubt not Mr. Titcomb is so too, I still am of opinion in favor of Col Hunnewell for the office of Surveyor, for reasons mentioned in a former letter I am with sincere esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
16From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 27 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. John C. Jones of Boston, recommending Capt Joseph Coffin Boyd, to fill the place of Col Lunt. Also a letter from Richard Hunnewell, requesting the office for himself. Thus you see we have an ample choice of candidates. Fosdick, Titcomb Mayo Boyd & Hunnewell, all well qualified & recommended by very respectable men. The last however appears to me to have the best...
17From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Nabby Sylvester, the signer of the inclosed petition, came to me this morning to present it. She has the appearance of a virtuous & discreet woman. Left as she is with an helpless family of children, among whom is a pair of twins very young, she seems to me to be an object of compassion & of charity. I know not whether the law authorizes me to grant her request. The fine is yet in the...
18From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Judge Bradbury, recommending Capt. Joseph Titcomb of Portland to be Surveyor in the place of Col Lunt deceased. I pray you to file with the testimonies in favor of Mr Fosdick, which I sent you yesterday & all others With high regard & MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
19From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Daniel Davis District Attorney for Maine Another from Woodbury Storer—another from the collector Mr. Nath. Fosdick in favor of Ebenezer Mayo to be Surveyor in place of Col Lunt deceased. I add a letter of Mr Smith. Which of the three candidates ought to have the preference Mayo, Titcomb or Fosdick is somewhat difficult to determine, as each has recommendation from...
20From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 23 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Thatcher another from Mr. Parker & a certificate of a number of respectable men recommending Mr. James Fosdick of Portland to be Surveyor in the place of Col Lunt deceased. You will please to file these with all other papers you may receive relative to the same to the same subject & consider them all together. I know not that the circumstances of the relation...
21From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received but last night your favor of the 4th. The papers containing applications & recommendations for the collectorship of the port of Louisville in Kentucky I have read & agree with you that Mr James McConnel appears to be the person most suitable to receive the appointment to succeed Col. Richard Taylor resigned & you may send him a commission accordingly. I return all these papers &...
22From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday night your favor of Aug 1st, & thank you for your care in transmitting the commission of Inspector, as well as that of Surveyor to Mr. Smith. I have signed the pardon of Slocum Fowler & return it to you with all the other papers inclosed. With great esteem. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
23From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your Letter of the 26 of July, I have to inform you that although you omitted to enclose to me the Letter from John Cowper Esq as you intended yet as there are no Candidates for the office, that I know of, who ought to excite any hestitation, I am well Satisfied that you Should apply to the Secretary of State for Commissions for Mr Claude Thompson to be Collector of the Customs...
24From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 3 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Will Channing or Will Chowning I cannot determine which by the hand writing, is most proper to be referred to your consideration. He is or has been deputy collector of at Tappahannock. With sincere regard & MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
25From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 22 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Petition of Samuel Spring, for a Pardon, of the Crime of forging and passing Counterfeit Bills of the Bank of the United States. The Petition will be better placed among your files than mine: but the offence is of a nature so heinous that without your Advice I shall mitigate nothing of the Punishment. Col Smith writes that he has not received his Commission: I pray you to send it...
26From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Questions 1. Among the three Criminals under sentence of death is there any discrimination in the essential Circumstances of their Cases which would would justify a determination to pardon or reprieve one or two and execute the other? 2. Is the Execution of one or more, so indispensably demanded by public Justice and by the Security of the public Peace, that Mercy cannot be extended to all...
27From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Report of the Sixteenth of this month, and for your early Attention to the important subject of the Loan. I have Subscribed, and Send you with this, an Authorization to borrow to the amount of the Law: but if the public Exigencies can be Satisfied with a part of it, your own public Spirit of Œconomy will induce you to confine your Self to Such part. The Rate of Interest is...
28From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President requests the several heads of Departments, to take the most prudent and economical arrangements, for the removal of the public offices, clerks, and papers, according to their own best judgment, as soon as may be convenient, in such manner that the public offices may be opened in the City of Washington for the despatch of business, by the 15th of June. Printed Source--George...
29From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The papers from the Accountant of the War office, which accompany this, are referred by the President of the U:S to the Secretary of the Treasury for his opinion & report, concerning the proper course to be taken in these cases. The President refers a petition of Richard Graham for a pardon, to the Secretary of the Treasury for his opinion & report. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
30From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
By Some Accident or other the Original Papers concerning the Conspiracy against the Laws and the Beginnings of the late Insurrection in Pennsylvania were never laid before me. I believe they were transmitted to You by the Judge and the Marshall. How far it will be necessary to communicate the Facts, in detail to Congress you will be So good as to consider and I Should be obliged to you for...