1471From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from John Frederick William Stintt as he says a Prussian requesting to be sett at liberty. If you see no impropriety in it, you may write to the commander of the castle to examine into the facts, & if he finds them true, sett the man free. With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1472From John Adams to United States Senate, 21 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Having received the original treaty concluded between the United States and the Government of Tunis, I lay it before the Senate of the United States, whether they advise and consent to its ratification. Printed Source--American State Papers. 38 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1831-61)..
1473From John Adams to Willis Foreman, 24 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Address of the twenty ninth of November has been presented to me, by your Representative in Congress Mr Baldwin. I rejoice to hear that you have shaken off supineness, and are in a state of readiness to oppose a foreign foe and that if occasion should require it you will sue for Peace, sword in hand Although you are all personally unknown to me, I wish you very sincerely every felicity....
1474From John Adams to Richard Varick, 7 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 28th of last month, with two copies of Mr. Morris’s oration on the death of General Washington, and I pray you to present my thanks to the common council of your city, for this obliging mark of their attention. I had before read with much pleasure this oration, and found it distinguished among the multitude of productions on this melancholly occasion, which I...
1475From John Adams to William Gillespie, 18 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have lately received the letter you did me the honor to write me from Glasgow on the 14th of March. The letter is a very handsome testimonial in honor of my friend & predecessor, & I must consider it as a very elegant compliment to me. I pray you to accept of my hearty thanks, for a valuable monument, in a handsome guilt frame of our deceased General, whose memory deserves to be preserved,...
1476From John Adams to John Trumbull, 5 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I take an opportunity by this Express, to thank you for Me Fingal, a Poem which has been shewn me within a few days. It is excellent, and perhaps the more so for being misterious. It wants explanatory Notes as much as Hudibrass. I cant conjecture the Characters either of Honorius or Mc Fingal. Am Sorry to learn that We are likely to loose some of our best Men. We may have better in their stead...
1477From John Adams to John Jay, 9 October 1787 (Adams 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,...
1478From John Adams to John Jay, 24 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I must beg the Indulgence of Congress, while I Sollicit their Attention, for a few moments to Some Particulars which are very interesting to me personally and have Some relation to the foreign Affairs of the United States.— It is now, in the Beginning of the tenth Year Since I embarked first for Europe in Obedience to the Commands of the United States. The various Services to which they have...
1479From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 31 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 21 has excited my Sympathies, visible and irascible. I never had the Shadow of a Shade of doubt that you was my legigtimate Son. But if I had been afflicted with Jealousy, the frank confession in your Letter of your impatience with Barrel would have cured me. For never were two Peas parching in the Same fire more alike. This however is no laughing Matter. If there is any...
1480From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Mr Rutledge at Newport and recommendations from a great Number of respectable Inhabitants of Charleston in favour of George Cross to be a Captain in the Navy. To this Letter and these recommendations I pray you to pay a particular Attention. DNA : RG 45--Naval Records Collection.
1481From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition of George Schaffer Daniel Swarts, Henry Stahler, Christian Rhodes & Henry Shafford for a pardon of their crimes to which is subjoined a petition in their favor signed by many. I pray you to consider this with a number of others I sent you sometime ago & say whether I ought to give any answer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1482From John Adams to United States Congress, 20 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed report to me, made by the Acting Secretary of War, on the 14 of this month, appears to be so well founded in all respects, that I recommend it to the consideration of Congress DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1483From John Adams to James Drake, 18 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I sent 600 dollars this morning to the Bank to purchase a Postnote and they sent me the inclosed. I hope it will answer your purpose: But it is not exactly as I wished and intended. You will please acknowlege the rest of it by return of Post I am Sir your obliged servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1484From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return signed all the blank commissions sent me with your letter of the 25th and am content you should fill up as many of them as are necessary with the names of the gentlemen you mention I have the honor to be Sir your most obedt. / st. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1485From John Adams to Jonathan Jackson, 20 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of this day. Col Dawes has declined his appointment—if you can suggest to me a proper person to fill his place, I shall be much obliged to you. Cannot the other commissioners meet & go on till a successor can be appointed to Mr. Dawes? I know of no man so fit, but he is a freeman, & cannot be compelled to serve.—I shall be at all times glad to see you. your friend...
1486From John Adams to United States Senate, 30 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Chauncey Whittlesey to be Collector of the Customs for the District of Middletown in Connecticut, in the Place of George Phillips, Superceeded DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1487From John Adams to John Jay, 4 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
A day or two after the receipt of your Letter of Nov r. 1 st. & that of President Lee. which came with it I wrote to the archbishop of Canterbury, by Col o. Smith, for an Hour when I might have the Honour to pay my Respects to his Grace—And was answerd very politely that he would be glad to have the Honour of seeing me, next day, between Eleven & twelve, accordingly I went Yesterday & was very...
1488From John Adams to Daniel Jackson, 23 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The firewards of the town of Boston have requested permission to deposit at castle Island a quantity of Gunpowder now lying in the harbor of Boston and more that is soon expected to arrive. As I can foresee no material inconvenience from granting from such permission. I request that you would give orders that for such gun powder as the firewards shall desire to be deposited at the castle, at...
1489From John Adams to John Jay, 30 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received, the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me, on the Sixth of June, with the Ratification of the Treaty with Prussia. As the Term limited, is near expiring, I Shall go over to Holland or Send Col Smith, to make the Exchange M r Penn, a Member of the House of Commons, whose Character is well known in America and in England as a Steady Friend, to our Country will be the Bearer...
1490From John Adams to United States Senate, 20 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I request of the Senate that the letter and journal of our late envoys to France and the copy of their instructions and other documents relative to that negotiation may be returned to me or to the Office of State. Printed Source--A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897. 10 vols. (Washington, 1896-1899)..
1491From John Adams to William Gray, 25 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter for Major Sweet. I leave it open, that he may shew it at his discretion in France. He may shew it to Monsieur Le Ray de Chaument, to the Count Marbois, to Mr Benjamin Beale, or to the whom he will.— My old Friends in France, (and I had Some) are all dead. I would venture to write to the Gentlemen above mentioned: but my Eyes and hands admonish me to forbear. If Major Sweet...
1492From John Adams to United States Senate, 4 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate John Hall of Pennsylvania to be Marshal of that district, in the room of William Nicholls resigned: and David Mead Randolph, the present marshal of the district of Virginia, for the term of four years, to commence on the fifteenth instant, when his existing commission will expire. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1493From John Adams to John Sullivan, 23 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your agreable Favour of May the fourth has lain by me unanswered, till now. The Relation of your Negotiations at New York, in order to convince the People of the Utility and necessity of instituting a new Government, is very entertaining, and if you had remained there a few Weeks longer, I conjecture you would have effected a Change in the Politicks of that Region. Is it Deceit, or Simple...
1494From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Richard Wall Esqr. of Georgia to be naval officer for the port & district of Savannah in the place of Lach. McIntosh Esqr. resigned. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1495From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
According to your request in your favour of the 9th. I inclose your Letter to Mr King N. 7 and remain, Sir your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1496From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
I have regularly received the Journals and Documents you have been So good as to inclose and two Short Letters for which I thank you. I have recd also the Economica of Mr Blodget for which I pray you to thank him. It is I presume a work of merit and Utility. I have not been able as yet to attend to it very carefully. I have not written to you before, because I had nothing to write, unless it...
1497John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have but lately received your kind Letters of the 3 d and 21. of Dec r. — They were like cold Water to a thirsty soul.— While I acknowledge your and your Brothers goodness in writing to me, I am afraid I ought to make an Apology to both, for having written so seldom to You. The late Elections to Congress have gone in general in favour of the Fœderal Government, in the Senate especially. The...
1498From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received by the Post from New York, your obliging Letter of 9. Novr.—Whether Letters are Sent through London Paris Gottenbourg or directly to Boston or directly to St. Petersbough they get along through all the Crannies and Gauntletts. I must Say that every Body has been very friendly in assisting our Intercourse by Letters. I have considered your Mothers Letters as written for me...
1499From John Adams to Samuel L. Southard, 1826 (Adams Papers)
Mr J. Adams presents his compliments to Mr Southard, and will be much obliged if he will inform him what arrangement has been made regarding the draft which Mr A. had the honour to present. As it is a money matter of some amount Mr A wishes to give all the information in his power to Mr Cruft of Boston by whom it was sent— NjP : Samuel L. Southard Papers.
1500To John Jay from John Adams, 10 August 1785 (Jay Papers)
The Arret of the King of France, in his Council of the Tenth of July, has a preamble which deserved to be well considered in America. The increasing Liberality of Sentiment among Philosophers and Men of Letters, in various Nations, has for sometime given Reason to hope for a Reformation, a Kind of Protestantism, in the Commercial System of the World; but I believe that this Arret is the first...
1501From John Adams to United States Senate, 18 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Miller of Pennsilvania to be Commissioner of the Revenue of the United States. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1502From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Kinchen Turner of Virginia requesting to be appointed a commissioner to value lands houses &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1503From John Adams to United States Senate, 23 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
The William Miller, whom I nominated some days ago, to be Commissioner of the Revenue is, William Miller, the second of that name of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1504From John Adams to Maria Sophia Quincy, 14 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
You have much better advisers than I can be—but I will venture suggest one line. As Nature will attach you sufficiently to your own contemporaries may I here suggest to you to seek the society and conversation of ladies and gentlemen older than yourselves. Such is the advice of your assured friend Printed Source--M. A. DeWolfe Howe, ed., The Articulate Sisters (Cambridge, 1946)..
1505From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am Still upon Birth and my Seventh Argument is. 7. It was a Custom among the Greeks and Romans; probably in all civilized Nations to give Names to the Castles Palaces and Mansions, of their Consulls Dictators and other Magistrates Senators &c This practice is still followed in England France Etc. Among the Ancients the distinctions of Extraction were most commonly marked by the Spots on...
1506From John Adams to James Brackett, 15 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that Mr Pratt and Mr Hunt are cutting wood upon my land by your order that they cut last year twenty cord and have now marked out 30 more If this is true I presume it is by mere mistake of the boundaries between you and me. I shall be obliged to you if your will inform me upon what lot of yours they are cutting which joins me and wish that this may be inquired into. I am...
1507From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had last night your favor of 18th. The misapprehension of Dr Steephens is to me altogether unaccountable—but I presume Mr. Listons letter will correct the error of Gen. Maitland. Lest the copy you have sent to the collector should miscarry I have sent one of your declarations to Gen Lincoln. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1508From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 31 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the commissions inclosed in yours of the 22d signed and desire you to fill the blanks with the names you report in favor of. I return you the letters of recommendation you sent me & send you a letter from Mr McDowel I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1509From John Adams to Justin Griswold, 3 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I was born on the nineteenth of October 1735, and consequently was eighty two years of age, on the thirtieth of October 1817. My Son John Quincy, was born on the eleventh of July 1767, and consequently will be fifty one years of age, on the eleventh of July next. If this information can afford any gratification to the old revolutionary Gentleman of your vicinity, everyone of whom I love, it is...
1510To John Jay from John Adams, 14 February 1788 (Jay Papers)
I yesterday received M r Remsens Letter of the 14. of December, with the Journals and Gazettes inclosed. At the last Conferences at Whitehall which were last Thursday, Lord Carmarthen thought proper to express a Wish that this Country had some sort of Treaty of Commerce with the United States of America, that it might be no longer necessary to take new Measures from time to time which looked...
1511From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your favor of the 7th. I consent with pleasure to the appointment of Thomas Pinckney Jun. a lieutenant in the 1st regiment of Artillerists & Engineers. Gen. Pinckneys letter I return. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1512From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Robert Ritchie of Pennsylvania to be the Consul of the United States for Port au Prince, in the Island of St. Domingo. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1513From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Col. Hunnewell & another from Major Rowe recommending Mr Daniel Bell of Boston late Lieut in the 15th regiment to be a first Lieut. of marines. If there is a vacancy I wish he may succeed I am Sir with very great regard &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1514From John Adams to James McHenry, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I consent to the appointment of Mr. William Hosack to be lieutenant in the first regiment of Artillery as recommended by Major Gen. Hamilton & by you in your letter of the 14 & that you should signify the appointment to the vacancy made by the resignation of Dr Hall as surgeon of the 10th regiment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1515From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
Among a million of Things I want to Say to you, which Shall I choose. Publick affairs? What are these to me? What care I, who is President or Governor, Monroe or King, Cousin Brooke or Friend Dexter. What is it to me who makes Judges and Justices Collectors of Revenue or Tide Waiters? Nevertheless, I Still interest myself in Some Things, I have read, with Eyes as bad as yours, four Volumes of...
1516From John Adams to John Taylor, 16 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
It is unnecessary to discuss, the nice distinctions, which follow in the first page of your respectable Volume; between Mind, Body and Morals. The Essence or Substance of Mind and Body, of Soul and Body of Spirit and Matter; are wholly witheld as yet, from our knowledge; from the penetration of our Sharpest faculties; from the keenest of our inscision knives; the most amplifying of our...
1517From John Adams to United States Senate, 28 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Henry Vandyke—of Delaware, to be a Lieutenant in the Navy. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
1518From John Adams to Anonymous, April 1825 (Adams Papers)
I am almost most ashamed to acknowledge to you my tardy obligation, for your handsom Edition of your History of the Colonies— butt I am heartily thankful for your valuable present—but ninety years are extremely heavy—ninety years are greatful to me—heavy as ninety years are MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1519From John Adams to James Maury, 22 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of July 30th, and the Quarterly review enclosed with it, & for all your obliging remembrances of me, & civilities to my children & friends. I had forgotten the first volume, which you say I presented to you in 1787: but as you remember it so well, I pray to you to accept the 2nd. and 3rd which I wish you may remember as long. not indeed for any great value that...
1520From John Adams to Dr. Joseph Hamilton, 25 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th with the agreeable present of your “occasional reflections on the operation of the small pox.” I am so little of a physician, that my applications approbation ought to have little weight. But haveing seen a good deal of the small pox, I do really believe your directions will be useful to the army & navy & the public at large. I am quite of your sect in...