2901From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed protest & certificates I received last night with the letter from Capt. Ebenezer Giles, late commander of the schooner Betsey. This gentleman made me a visit some weeks ago, to complain to me in person of the horrid treatment he received from the commander of the Ship Daphne, a British vessel of war. He has now sent me the papers & expects that government will espouse his cause. I...
2902From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received a long letter from Mr. Gerry of the 24th of July with papers inclosed numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 besides another paper of extracts of letters. I enclose extracts of his letter together with all the numbers & his paper of extracts. These numbers & last extracts I pray you to return to me, when you have made all the uses of them you wish.—These papers I think will convince you as...
2903From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr Cunnington has been at Quincy & exhibited to me a model of the machinery represented by the inclosed draught. The splendor of the light was so great & the experriment succeeded in all respects so well that I really think the invention a great improvement in œconomy as well as general utility in other respects. I pray you to show the plan & papers to the Secretary of the Treasury & request...
2904From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your report of the 24th of July 24th & have read the documents which attended to it, & now return them all to you. I agree with you, that a new appointment of a collector of Alexandria appears to be indispensibly required by the public interests. I hope we shall obtain information of the best character for a successor. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2905From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
With the blank commission signed I here return all the applications & recommendations inclosed in your favor of 24th of July.—If it is your ultimate judgment that Charles Simms ought to be prefered, you will please to have his name inserted. The recommendations of Mr Porter however seem to be very respectable. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2906From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition from New Bedford in favor of Thomas West to be keeper of the light house at Gay head MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2907From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 24th of July, inclosing an Aurora of July 24th imbued with rather more impudence than is common to that Paper. Is there any Thing evil in the Regions of Actuality or Possibility, that the Aurora has not suggested of me? You may depend upon it, I disdain to Attempt a vindication of myself against any of the Lies of the Aurora as much as any man concerned in the...
2908From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the blank e commission, inclosed in your letter of the 23d of July, that you may fill it up with the name of Captain William Taylor of Fredericksburg, in conformity to the recommendation of Gen Thomas Posey, if no other candidate occurs, whose pretensions are superior in your judgment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2909Remission Order for John Scotchlar, 30 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Whereas John Scotchlar late of the district of Massachusetts yeoman at a Circuit Court of the United States lately holden in and for the said district was duly convicted of larceny against the form and effect of an act of the Congress of the United States entitled an act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States and by the judgment of the same Court the said John Scotchlar...
2910From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter & petition of the officers of a company of Artillery at North Hampton, William Edwards, Jonathan Breck & David Hunt, requesting the loan of two brass field pieces at Springfield, a petition which I pray you to grant, on the conditions they offer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2911From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The talk of Methlogee & the answer of Mr Seagrove, copies of which were inclosed in your favors of the 22d had been before transmitted to me by the Secretary of State, & returned to him with some of my sentiments upon them. Mr. Seagrove’s answer is so unanswerable, that the Indians unless determined on War at all events, must be satisfied with it. The French officer in the Spanish service, who...
2912From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the blank commission signed which you did me the honor to inclose in your letter of the 20th & pray you to have it filled up for Augustine J Smith, whose satisfactory recommendation from William Payne Esqr. I return with it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2913From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 20th. and have no Objection to the plan you propose of raising a Company of Cavalry.—“Our means”! I never think of our means without shuddering! All the Declamations as well as Demonstrations of Trenchard & Gordon, Bolingbroke Bernard & Walpole, Hume, Burgh and Burke, rush upon my Memory and frighten me out of my Witts. The system of Debts and Taxes is levelling...
2914From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter of Gen. Hamilton, inclosed in yours of 22 July, which I return as you desire. I see no material or reasonable objection against the appointment of Mr Thomas Y How to be a second lieutenant in the eleventh regiment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2915From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter is from a very respectable Senator of our State, to a gentleman, whom you know to be as respectable as any of our best federalists. Application has been made to me by Dr. Hunt, another of our Senators and a man of the most worthy & independent character. Our North Hampton is the very reverse of its namesake in Pensylvania. It has produced some of our very best characters &...
2916From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I presume Mr. Pickering has sent you the inclosed declaration. But least it may not have come to your hand I send you a copy. This unaccountable misunderstanding, I hope will have no ill consequences. With great esteem I am Sir your / most obedient servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2917From 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.
2918From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the recommendations inclosed in your letter of 18th, received last night & agree to the list of appointments. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2919From 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.
2920From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
It always gives me pain, when I find myself obliged to differ in opinion from any of the heads of department, but as our understandings are not always in our own power, every man must judge for himself.—In the case of Capt Talbot, I am perfectly clear in my own mind, that he has been a Captain in the Navy of the United States, from the time of his appointment in 1794 to this hour—that a legal...
2921From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the regulations of the navy & your report on the naval establishment, received in yours of 17th, which I received last night. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2922From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Thaxter relative to the light house on Gay head. I shall soon send you a drawing if not a model of an œconomical improvement of these lights of Mr. Cunnington, which appears to me, but I may be mistaken, of greater importance than the great question who shall be the keeper of one of them. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2923From John Adams to James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday Dr. Waterhouse made me a visit & introduced Dr Lyman Spalding whose appearance justifys the character given him in the inclosed letter. I believe we shall not find a more proper appointment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2924From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13th, incloseing Mr. Seagroves talks with Methlogy, his letter to you & your answer, all which I return. The Indian attack upon Hawkins is probably as injurious as that lately of the Tennessee assembly. Mr. Seagroves answer is very clever & your answer to him is very proper.—The Indians do not always discover that honesty & sincerity, which some philosophers...
2925From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a recommendation from the Mayor & Alderman of New Haven of David Phipps Esqr to be a Captain in the navy. We shall not probably appoint more Captains till the Senate meets. I recommend to your consideration & enquiry, Samuel Tucker of Massachusetts as another candidate for the commission of Captain MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2926From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter or petition from the Indian proprietors of Gay head, recommending Mr. Nathaniel Mayhew to be keeper of the light house, which I pray you to file and consider with all other applications on the same subject. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2927From John Adams to James McHenry, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13th and am perfectly satisfied with the disposition you have made of Ensign David Fero & hope we shall have no father trouble about him. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2928From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Spectateur du Nord with your second letter of the 13th. I wish we had at Hamburgh a consul whose correspondence was a little more copious in political & commercial information in these days of great events & important prospects. Native Americans alone have the proper feelings. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2929From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 13th received only last night. I sent you lately Mr. Listons two letters with one from Govenor Miflin & a copy from chief justice McKean. I will not comment on the letters of Mr. Liston nor examine whether all his sentiments are just or politick. But I heartily reprobate the outrage on the British government in violating the seals of its accredited minister to the...
2930From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 13th & 15th, & thank you for the very satisfactory information you give me of our naval affairs, & your plans for future operations, which appear to me to be very judicious. I return Capt Tingey’s letters, which I esteem very much, & agree in wishing his commission was of an earlier date. My resolution is irrevocable, that Talbot shall go in the...
2931From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the commission signed, which you sent me in your letter of the 18th. I have left it in blank, that you may fill it, as you may find necessary or expedient. The recommendation of Mr Fleet is satisfactory. But I should be sorry that Mr. Burwell should be displeased if his election should fail. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2932From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you, in your opinion expressed in your favour of the 12th, that both an Army and Navy Establishment is essential to the present and future Interests & Greatness of the United States and that We must run the Risks which other Nations have run. It appeared to me that Offices were created and salaries made necessary in the Plan for supplying the Army, which would require the...
2933From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 12th, & have considered the opinions of the heads of departments. I wish that courts martial may be advised to be as cautious as possible, in all their proceedings, especially in cases of life, because the discipline of the army will depend much upon this habit. But the crime of Richard Hunt is of so deep a die, that I have not seen my way clear to avoid the...
2934From John Adams to Thomas Mifflin, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the fifth of this month, with the copy of Chief Justice Mc Keans letter to your Excellency & two letters of Mr Liston. These last I shall transmit to the Secretary of State to be restored to the writer of them, according to the idea of your Excellency, with the best apology that the subject will admit of, for the...
2935From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your private Letter of the 11th. which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered and answered particularly by me, because I have in another Letter written this morning referred the whole Subject to your final decision. The manual Exercise of Writing has become almost as painfull to me, as a blow upon the Elbow or the Knee, which induces me to Spare almost...
2936From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th & have read Mr. Davis’s letter inclosed in it of June 29th. My own opinion coincideing with yours & his, I have signed & now inclose the pardon of John Scotchar, not however without some serious apprehensions of the consequences of tenderness, for cases of such dangerous example. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2937From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your private letter of the 11th, which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered & answered particularly by me, because I have in another letter, written this morning, referred the whole subject to your final decision. The manual exercise of writeing has become almost as painful to me, as a blow upon the elbow, or the knee, which induces me to spare almost...
2938From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from his Excellency Gov. Miflin, copy of one from Chief Justice McKean to him & two letters of Mr Liston. You will restore these letters to Mr. Liston & inform him of the circumstances. Inclosed is my answer to Gov. Miflin which I pray you to seal & to send. Since I received this letter from the Govenor I have received yours of July 12th upon the same subject. MHi : Adams...
2939From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of July fourth by Mr. Hudson, & immediately signed & delivered his commission & sent him down to the Ship. The ship has been three days detained by dead calms & contrary winds. She has fallen down as far as she could & will sail at the first fair breeze. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2940From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the opinion of the heads of departments in the case of John Sylvester dated 5th. & agree in their opinion that John Sylvester ought not to be pardoned. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2941From John Adams to United States Senate, 16 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Certain matters touching the public good, requiring that the session of the Senate, for Executive business, should be continued, and that the members thereof should convene on Tuesday, the 17th day fo July, inst., you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber, in Philadelphia, on that day, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as...
2942From John Adams to Peter St. Medard, 14 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to act as surgeon on board the constitution as you have done from the 17th of December last. I shall write this day to the Secretary of the Navy to send you a commission in form to meet you at Norfolk I am Sir with great esteem your humble servt. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2943From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 8th of this month, & have read the letter from Major General Hamilton & the proceedings of the court martial in the case of Joseph Perkins. All circumstances considered I think this instance the least capable of a pardon of any, which has been laid before me. I have thought, it my duty to sign the warrant for his execution, & return it inclosed with all the...
2944From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6th & have examined the list of officers & read all the recommendations. In the fourteenth regiment I think John Hastings must be appointed Capt and if he refuses Beale. I am glad to find the gentlemen on the list have so good recommendations. I own however I have some doubts whether, Beale and Shaw have not superior pretensions to Mackay, notwithstanding the...
2945From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose a letter from Joshua Lamson soliciting an appointment, as consul or Vice consul at Trieste. Mr. Lamson has been handsomely recommended to me. I pray you to record him as a candidate for enquiry. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2946From John Adams to Silas Talbot, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
If it is your opinion upon consulting Dr. St Medard that Dr. Blake can be spared without inconvenience, you have my consent to give him leave of absence for this cruize. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2947From John Adams to Silas Talbot, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
As it is of importance, that the constitution should sail on her cruize as soon as possible, you are hereby authorized and directed to require the service of any marines to repair on board, without loss of time, till your compliment is as full as you think necessary. I am Sir your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2948From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in the information that the reports propagated of Indian depredations in the North Western territory are destitute of foundation.—The letters from Christopher McPherson I return to you inclosed. It would not perhaps be proper for you or me to answer him. But a man of his stamp may be of more consequence than we may apprehend. If you think it worth while to communicate the letter to...
2949From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent all the papers inclosed in yours of the 2d to Capt. Little. If however I should see Capt Little before he sails, I know not but I might with propriety, communicate to him some idea of his destination, because the reason you assign, for concealing his instructions, has ceased by the publication of the proclamation, relative to the trade of St Domingo I have the honor to be Sir your...
2950From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
With Mr. Davis’s report of the 8th I enclose all the papers relative to the complaint of Mr Liston against Capt Laskey & Capt Mugford & am Sir your most obedient I return also Carnots pamphlet. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.