1441From John Adams to John Jay, 15 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me the 6. Sept r . The Act of Congress of the 18 of August, which you inclose, Shall be communicated as directed. I have the Honour to agree, fully with you in your Opinion, that “it is manifestly as much the Interest of this Country, to be well with Us, as for Us to be well with them” But this is not the Judgment of the English Nation:...
1442From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commissions inclosed in your favor of the 24 & shall send them in your letter to Capt Tryon to Weathersfield by the post. A report was brought to me yesterday from Boston that some of McNeils convoy had arrived at Newport. We must send a naval superiority to Surrinam. I hope with you that Barry has sent other ships there. I have the honor to be yours &c. MHi : Adams Family...
1443The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 13 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) We thank you for the civility of your favor of the 30th. ulto. and shall be obliged to you for the earliest communication of any interesting News that may reach your Port. We have the honor to be &c. &c. In Arthur Lee’s hand, on the verso of Bondfield’s letter above of March 30. The...
1444From John Adams to United States Senate, 18 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Winder of Maryland to be Accountant of the Navy DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1445From John Adams to James McHenry, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the letters of Gen. Pinckney and your answers inclosed in yours of 17th. There is no occasion for any comments on my part. I cannot refrain however from expressing a high gratification in the intelligence activity and zeal exhibited by the Gen. and my entire satisfaction with your answers. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1446From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 2 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Having just received your letter, accepting the office of Secretary of the Treasury, it is necessary that I should authorize & request you, as I do by this letter, to continue to execute all the functions of Secretary of War, untill further arrangements are made in that office. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1447From John Adams to United States Senate, 9 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Alexander Carmalt of North Carolina to be surveyor and inspector of the port of Swansborough in the place of John McCollough Esqr. deceased. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1448From John Adams to John Taylor, 27 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
When Superior genius gives greater Influence in Society than is possessed by inferiour Genius or a mediocrity of Genius, i.e than by the ordinary level of Men, this Superiour Influence, I call natural Aristocracy. This cause you Say is “fluctuating.” What then? It is Aristocracy Still while it exits. And is not Democracy “fluctuating” too? Are the Waves of the Sea, or the Winds of the Air or...
1449The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 26 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have received your Letter of the twenty first of this Month, and in Answer to it, We assure you that We cannot indorse your Bills, as you propose. We are your humble servants In JA ’s hand.
1450John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 22d came to hand this Morning. I shall leave it wholly to Mr. Thaxters Judgment, what Lectures you are to attend, as at this distance I cannot form any opinion. You will apply the most of your Attention, I hope, to your Latin and Greek Master, for the present. I am pleased to see that you recollect the 22 of December, the day on which, those Patriots and Heroes landed at Plymouth,...
1451From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr John C. Gray, Son of your Friend the once Lt. Governor will present this Letter to you. By the Letter, C. in his name, I presume, is signified Chipman, for he is a Grandson by his Mother of John Chipman Esquire a Barrister at Law in Marblehead, with whom I lived very pleasantly a Week at a Tavern in Pownalborough in 1764. Mr Gray proposes to travel, all over Europe, but wishes for your...
1452From John Adams to John Jay, 16 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
Two Days ago, I received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the 16. of Oct r. with its Enclosures. The Approbation of my Conduct in Europe expressed in the Resolution of Congress of the fifth of October, does me honour, and demands my Acknowledgments. The Permission to return to America and the termination of my Commission in Holland, having removed all Difficulties, It is my...
1453From John Adams to John Jay, 29 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The United States began their Career upon the most liberal System of Policy Commerce: France met them with a liberal System too, or rather with an Artfull Appearance of it. Her Practice during the War was more liberal than the Treaty. Since the Peace She has contracted it a little, as She had a Right to do, by excluding Some of her Produce and Some of our Ships from her West India Islands; and...
1454From John Adams to Samuel Adams, Sr., 11 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was but two days ago that I recived your obliging Letter of the Seventeenth of April by Mr Wyllis. I have found this Gentleman as you represent him intelligent, observing and impartial. I have had much pleasure in his conversation and expect more. I thank you Sir for your kind congratulations. As to party Papers they will represent Us as they please: and there is no remedy but Patience, and...
1455From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
As I know you hold a higher Rank in the intellectual Scale and a more estimable Situation in the moral Gradations of the Universe than Admiral Nelson, I know of no reason why I should not borrow his Fathers Epithets and for once or twice bestow them upon you. I, who perhaps ought to be indifferent to all Things in this World, and certainly Should conscientiously resign all Men Measures and...
1456From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am so continually entertained with applications to be chaplains & surgeons, that I pray you to give me some idea of your designs upon this important subject. Inclosed is a letter from Dr. Blake. Be so good as to send me a list of the twelve candidates to be Surgeons of Col Rice’s regiment. Are we to appoint regimental surgeons or only hospital surgeons? MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1457From John Adams to United States Senate, 3 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Enoch S. Lane of Virginia to be a Lieutenant of Marines DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1458From John Adams to William Smith, 5 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, requests the Pleasure of Mr. Smith’s Company to Dine, on thursday next, at ½ past 2 o’clock. An answer is requested. MHi : Adams Papers.
1459From John Adams to Henry Colman, 14 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your request in your favour of the 12th I have written to the President and the Secretary at war letters which will go in the mail tomorrow. The substance of all I have written is that from a personal knowledge and agreeable acquaintance I am fully persuaded. The Government may repose entire confidence in the candour and integrity of any representations you may make relative...
1460From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 24 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I inclose a petition of Mr. Joseph Morgan & a letter from Mr. John Brown of Providence for your examination. I perceive Mr. Morgan has an inclination to be Superintendent at Springfield. But it is not yet certain there will be a vacancy there & if it were I know not what other candidates may be on your lists With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1461From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. John M Carter, Your “Inquiry,” in 656 Pages, neatly bound. If I had any rational Expectation in my 79th. Year, of Life health, unclouded Eyes and unparralysed fingers, for 20 Years to come: I would chearfully engage with you, in an analitical Investigation of all those Subjects, which you Say, have amused Some of your Leisure hours for 20 Years past. The Field is vast....
1462From John Adams to Samuel Perkins, 15 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I commit my Grandsons to the Guardianship of yourself and Mrs Perkins and pray you to hold them under your Wings till you can deliver them to their Parents. I will thank you to write to their Father and receive his requests concerning them.— Your drafts for necessary Expences, will be honoured by him in Europe, by his Brother or by me, as you find convenient. I hope they will be little, for I...
1463From John Adams to Samuel Smith, 13 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the first of this month, in answer to mine of the twenty fifth of November—It is not less frank and candid, than prompt and punctual. I have only to remark that you were certainly mistaken when you thought that I “was personlly hostile to you.” Your brother Robert I never saw in my life, nor had any communication with him of any kind while I had any share in...
1464To John Jay from John Adams, 9 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
France appears at this Moment, in the Light of a Simple People Sincerely disposed to Peace, benevolence and Humanity, and judging of the dispositions of others by her own. She Seems by her late Glory and Prosperity to have been Soothed into a Security and Tranquility, out of which it is Scarce possible to awaken her. England on the other hand appears, like a Nation Smarting under her Wounds,...
1465From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your project for the employment of the United States and Constitution explained in your favor of the 25 June & am willing you should unite the Boston with them but mean not to enjoin it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1466From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Recommendations of Rufus Graves and Joseph Dunham, from Mr Freeman and Letters from themselves requesting Appointments in the Army. And some notes of Observations made to me verbally and put down on paper at my desire, which you may consider at present and return to me when I meet you again, if ever DLC : James McHenry Papers.
1467From John Adams to United States Congress, 19 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
In the Report of the Secretary of State, and the documents, herewith transmitted, will be found such information as is in our possession, of the losses recovered by the citizens of the United States, under the treaty made with Great Britain, which are now presented to the House of Representatives, in compliannce with their request, in their resolution of the first of this month. DNA : RG...
1468From John Adams to United States Senate, 4 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the U.S. yesterday approved & signed a Resolve, which originated in the House of Representatives, authorizing the Secretary of State to procure and transmit to the Govenor of N.C. a number of copies of the Laws of the U.S. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1469From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favour of the 5th: The Blank Commissions inclosed I return signed. I also return Mr. King’s and Mr. Humphreys Letters. I am anxious to receive the Result of the Conference with Mr. Liston, Gen. Maitland & Colo. Grant and their written propositions— I have the honor to be, Sir / Your very humble Servt. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1470From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the papers inclosed in your favor of the 4th. relative to the consulship at the Havanna and am very well satisfied with the recommendation of Mr John Moreton, whose commission may be prepared for him when you think fit. As I am preparing to attend the funeral of my esteemed relation & beloved Gov Sumner, I have not time at present to advert to any other matters in your late...