3251From John Adams to Thomas Mifflin, 15 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 5th. instant by Tuesdays Post, and laid it before the Board of War, who recommended Monsr. Weibert to Congress for the Rank and pay of a Lieutenant Coll., and the Office of an assistant Engineer, to which he was appointed, without opposition and the President I suppose will transmit his Commission by the first opportunity. I am happy to learn that his Conduct, Skill,...
3252From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
Every one of your letters has given me great pleasure, and none more than No. 6. Aug. 15 just received. I am much pleased with the progress of your studies especially in the language of the Muses. When you are Master of the Greek all other Tongues Arts and Sciences you may want, will be easily in your power. You ought also to bestow Some of your attention upon Numbers and Figures as well as...
3253From John Adams to Jonathan Mason, 3 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter—And will proceed with my abrupt narrative— The practice of the British Government—by their instrument the Governor, and his friends and subordinate Agents in this little Parish of Quincy—was as Arbitrary and disgusting as their professed Religions, and Political principles and Theory.—You know the general History of Governor Shirley but perhaps you may not...
3254From John Adams to William Wenman Seward, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to Write me yesterday, and observe with pleasure your Friendly Sentiments towards my Country. America is growing more & more interesting every day to mankind, and your Countrymen have greater cause to expect a cordial welcome in it than any other. I doubt not you may lay out your money there to advantage, but some Skill and discretion will be...
3255From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 1 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
Permit one to enclose to you a Packet from my old Friend Governor M Kean: and a dialogue of the dead. The latter was the effusion of a musing moment of an evening at Richmond Hill when Congress sat at N York in 1789 immediately after the arrival of the news of Dr Franklins death. Searching last Sunday among a heap of forgotten rubbish for another paper, It struck my eye. After you shall have...
3256From John Adams to Engelbert François van Berckel, 10 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have this day received the Letter which you, did me the honour to write me, on the 8. and am much obliged to you for your candid kind Communications, which will be of much Use to me, as I hope in bringing the Treaty to a just Conclusion. I rejoice that the City of Amsterdam has decided upon the matter so amically and candidly, and whenever any Propositions or Remarks shall be made to me My...
3257John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter with the Copy inclosed, which has affected me too tenderly, to write any other Answer at present than this, that I have ever vindicated your Character as far as lay in my Power, from the Suspicion of having written that anonimous Libel the only case that I have ever heard of, in which it was endangered: and that I Shall ever continue to vindicate it, because I...
3258From John Adams to Mr. Thomas, 5 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for a valuable present of the transactions and Collections of the American Antiquarian Society, it is a work no less valuable than curious— Posterity as well as present Age will be under no less great obligations to your society—for their labours and researches—I have always regreted my inability to become a Member of it—but a great variety of reasons too many to be enumerated had...
3259From John Adams to Thomas Crafts, Jr., 4 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 31 st of January I received in its season. I have at two or three several times had conversation with General Knox upon the subject of M r Martin Brimmer Sohier; and have the General’s promise to give particular attention to M r Sohier’s merit and pretensions. As the Secretary at War appeared to be well acquainted with the candidate, and to have the best disposition to serve...
3260From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 12 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters containing the Anecdote and the Preliminaries have been recd., and You have seen the use of them. I have at length a friendly Letter from Mr. Jay, who tells me some good News, which I must not communicate. I have Letters too from Petersbourg with other News. Upon the whole they are consulting upon Preliminaries at Paris, and concerting Plans elsewhere for a Congress. If the...
3261From John Adams to James Warren, 24 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
When it is Said that it is the Prerogative of omniscience to Search Hearts, I Suppose it is meant that no human sagacity, can penetrate at all Times into Mens Bosoms and discover with precise Certainty the secrets there: and in this Sense it is certainly true. But there is a sense in which Men may be said to be possessed of a Faculty of Searching Hearts too. There is a Discernment competent to...
3262John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
This day you promis’d me to begin your Journey: but if the Weather is as disagreable with you as it is here, I could not exact the fullfillment of the Engagement. I fear you will have bad roads and unpleasant Weather. You talk of your Perplexities and say you must get out of them yourself. Do you think mine less severe, public or private? My dear and venerable Mother— Alass— I feel for her.—...
3263From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 26 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just now recieved the Letter, which You did me the Honor to write me yesterday , and I thank You, Sir, for the Loan of the English Paper s, which I shall carefully return, and beg the Loan of the oth ers, as y ou can spare them, until those shall arrive, which you have ordered for me: for the Trouble you have taken in ordering those Papers; for your kind Enquiries after my Son, who has...
3264From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned that an absence in the Country should have So long delayed My Answer to your Letter of the tenth of July. There is no Act of Congress which authorizes me expressly, to order the Payment of your Salary,: But the Representation in your Letter Supported by the Extract from that of M r Jefferson to you of the 14. of June last, Show Such an Absolute necessity of it that I...
3265From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 18 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of 31 of August. Your complaint against our laws was well founded but we have passed a law which I hope will give satisfaction. This was done in full confidence, that you will adopt the constitution and send us senators and Representatives before next session. If we should be disappointed I presume that serious measures will be suggested, to let your Anti’s know...
3266From John Adams to James Warren, 8 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
I am going tomorrow Morning on an Errand to Lord Howe not to beg a Pardon, I assure you, but to hear what he has to Say. He sent Sullivan here to let Us know that he wanted a Conversation with some Members of Congress. We are going to hear him, but as Congress have voted that they cannot Send Members to talk with him in their private Capacities but will send a Committee of their Body as...
3267From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, M r: Boudinot called upon me, with Dispatches from the President of Congress, his Brother. There were two Letters addressed to the “Ministers” and these I opened but found little or Nothing but Duplicates of Dispatches, receiv’d by you before I left Auteuil. There are two letters, and one large Packet addressed to you, which I have the Honour to transmit by M r:...
3268To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 24 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Benjamin Parker Richardson, a Grandson of a neighbour of mine, who has lived in harmony with me for almost eighty nine years, is very desirous of seeing the venerable Author of the Declaration of Independence, and as this is a virtuous curiosity which I always applaud and encourage in our young men, I have ventured to give him a line of introduction to you. A freedom which I have taken too...
3269From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 23 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter to Waterhouse inclosed in yours of the 16th. Shall be Sent tomorrow. With them came the News of the Hornets Glory. If Our Nation had as much Religion as Jews or Gentiles, they would consider these Victories as a Revelation of the Importance and Necessity of a maritime defence. Lawrence is now enrolled with Hull, Decatur, Jones Bainbridge in the Record of our Naval Conquerors....
3270From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 25 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inclose to your Excellency, a Copy of the fresh Instructions of Congress of the Sixteenth of August last which I received by the Post the 23d instant. I have also received a further Commission, from Congress, with full Powers, to confer treat, agree and conclude with the Person or Persons vested with equal Powers, by his most Christian Majesty, and their high mightinesses...
3271From John Adams to Ny., Courts of Onondage County, 23 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Address which has been presented to me by Mr Cochran your Representative in Congress, is very welcome to me. Should France in the Spirit of Rapine and destruction attempt the Practice of her Menaces I have no doubt the History of our Second War, will be worthy of the Records of the first. I am afraid that free Government is a subject which will never be under The delusive Theories of...
3272From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
Lord! Lord! What a Coat you have cutt out? It would require an hundred Taylors for twenty years to make it up. I would not undertake to make a Button hole in it, during the whole Remainder of my Life. I thank you however, for the sketch of your contemplated Work. I shipped, on board the Carriage of my Son in Law Colonel William Stevens Smith the two first Volumes of The Memoirs of your...
3273From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
What are We to infer from the Indecision of the present Ministers?— Do they expect to draw their Country out of her Embarrassments; to preserve her Credit,; to avoid a Bankruptcy; to Settle a Plan with Ireland; to pacify Scotland &c &c &c, by a Sour Countenance towards America? We desire nothing but our natural Advantages in Commerce? if these are refused can it be expected that our People...
3274From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 27 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I last night received by the post, an anonimous letter, together with a pretended copy of a process from John Allen, Justice of the peace against Mr. Tracy, in the name of Pearsall & Glover of N. York. As Mr Tracy is at present employed in the public service, as an agent of the War office, by the appointment of your predecessor, with my consent, I think it most proper to transmit these papers...
3275From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
In the 116 page of the inclosed Mercury, you will find the Strictures upon Lord G. Germaines nonsense. I dont see them in the English Papers. I suppose no Printer dares insert them. But I Swore they shall be seen, and therefore I beg you to get them inserted in the Leyden or Amsterdam or the Hague Gazette or all three. If it cant be done without pay let them be paid. I will repay in a moment....
3276From John Adams to Rufus King, 16 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letter from the Sec. of State I pray you to convey in Safety and as Soon as may be to Berlin. I ought not to omit the opportunity to thank you for the Pamphlets you have Sent me from time to time. They not only entertain and amuse me but I flatter myself are Usefull. Our Country Seems to be, as we used to Say in 1774 unanimous & firm. They are much more So now than they were then....
3277From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 12 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of 5. You will honour and oblige me much sir, by your Thoughts upon the Subject of European Jealousy and Caprice, hinted at. You will see that the Empress has undertaken to mediate between E. and Holland, but she will not join the Emperors Mediation but on two Conditions Sine quibus non. These are 1. an Acknowledgment by England of American Independance. 2. An...
3278From John Adams to Richard Rush, 2 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
While I am reading a Letter from you, I almost forget that I have lost my delightfull Corrispondent of forty Years—I thank you for information, upon many points. On the subject of J. Q. A, I cannot write, or Speak. My heart is too full. I see his Destiny. He is to be depressed and oppressed by an immense load of Jealousy, Envy, Malice and Revenge, as your Father and his Father have been before...
3279From John Adams to Abraham Holmes, 14 October 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 8. Oct & I thank you for your civilities. It is a comfort in old age to receive the testimony of an contemporary especially from one of so respectable a character, of his opinion that we have done any good in any part of our lifes. Whatever public good the publication you mention may have done at the period of its original publicaton composition or since its...
3280From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 17 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 17th and return you three Warrants signed, which you may fill up for General Collot, Mr. Sweitzer and the Person mentioned in Mr. Kings Letter, if he is to be found. I could trust the Heads of Departments with this Power, rather than my own Judgment; But I think We ought to give the Act a strict Construction, and therefore doubt the Propriety of delegating the...
3281From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in all your Felicities described in your favour of 29th. Nov. What a Contrast between your Existence and mine! You have travelled to Boston to Philadelphia and to New York, and been the delight and Admiration of all Men of Science, Letters and Taste in Massachusetts Pensilvania and that World of itself the State of New York. I am “fixed like a plant, to one peculiar Spot To draw...
3282John Adams to Charles Adams, 10 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Yesterdays Date has given me much Pleasure. I recognize in it, my own son. Your Language to the Gentleman was manly and your sentiments independent. Col. Smiths Aberrations from the true system of his Country have given me great Uneasiness. You must let me know in Confidence, the Name of the Gentleman. Every Citizen has a right to think, speak and Act for himself in his own...
3283The American Commissioners to [John Ross], 9 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 9, 1778: We acknowledge yours of August 29. We are authorized to discharge neither your private nor your public debts. If you purchased goods with money sent you by the commissioners and had given us an account, we could have given you orders. As it is, any goods you have belonging to the United States should be delivered to Mr....
3284From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have yet to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of the 26. 27. 30. & 31 of Dec r. and 2 of January. Your Dispatches are sent along as you desire.— I hope you are, quite recovered from your Indisposition. I can give you no Information concerning Peace. it is given out that the point will be decided here to day or Tomorrow: others Say that the Duke de la Vauguion is to make the Peace at...
3285From John Adams to William Steuben Smith, 30 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 22nd has Sensibly affected me; You need not however regret your birth, nor that of your child; The House of an Ambassador wherever he is, is in the Territory of his own Sovereign, & his children or Grand children, or Great Grand Children, or any of his Country men, or Country Women attached to his Embassy, & born in the house, or under his protection, are natives of his...
3286John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have no News here but what comes from you—except that all is well and quiet at Ticonderoga, that We have four Thousand Troops there, and that they were not afraid of Carlton. The Connecticutt People have given Sir Wm. Erskine a Concord and Lexington Drubbing. But I am very angry at our People for mak ing a Magazine, so near the Water and among such a Gang of high Church Tories. The Loss...
3287From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 19 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The British Admiralty sent Orders to Portsmouth the 21st. Feby., for the Departure of a small Squadron of Frigates, which accordingly sailed on the 28th, under the Command of Captain Marshall of the Emerald of 32. Guns: The others are the Hussar of 32, the Surprize of 28, the Squirrel, and the Heart of Oak of 20: the Sloops the Beavers Prize of 14, the Wolf and Wasp of 8, with the Cutters the...
3288From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 25 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 25 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:171–172 . In this letter, the last copied from Adams’ Letterbooks into his Autobiography for the period of the first mission, he thanked Lee for his letter of 13 May (above), described his voyage to France, and commented on the...
3289From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 25 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
Liberty Tree in Boston, was a very aged and a very large Elm—in the front yard of Deacon Elliot at the South End—he lived at the Corner of between the Maine Street—and the street that lead down to John Rowes House—It was very near to the Mansion of the Ancient and Honble. Samuell Wells—which was the spot on which the Boylston Market now stands—The Tree stood directly opposite to the House of...
3290From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 74, 28 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 28 May 1780. LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). Although a letter from John Adams of 28 May was read in Congress on 11 Sept. ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. , 18:817), no letter of that date is in the PCC . Notations on the Letterbook copies of Adams’ letters of 1 and 5 June (Nos. 75...
3291From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 20 February 1809 (Adams Papers)
When you informed me that Mr Cooper in his Life of Dr Priestly had ascribed to that Philosopher, the first hint of the Perfectibility of the human Mind, I answered you that this was the Doctrine of the ancient Stoicks. My Memory did not Serve me with details and I referred to no authorities, not thinking it worth while to Search Books upon Such a Subject. But within a day or two I have...
3292From John Adams to William Sever, 2 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour of writing to you for the sake of introducing to you Three Gentlemen, whose Characters and Embassy will render any private Introductions unnecessary. Dr. Franklyn, Mr. Lynch and Coll. Harrison, are a Committee from this Congress to consult, the General and the Council of the Massachusetts, the Governers of Connecticutt and Rhode Island, and the President of the Congress...
3293From John Adams to J. H. Tiffany, 30 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Of Republicks the Varieties are infinite—or at least as numerous, as the tunes and changes, that can be rang upon a complete sett of Bells—Of all the Variety’s a Democracy is the most Natural—the most ancient and the most fundamental—and essential of all others— In some writing of mine or others of mine I happened currente calamo to drop the phrase “the word republic as it is used may...
3294John Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have at last accomplished a troublesome Piece of Business. We have chosen a Number of additional Ambassadors. Mr. Ralph Izzard of S. Carolina, a Gentleman of large Fortune, for the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Mr. William Lee, formerly Alderman of London, for the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. LbC ( Adams Papers ). There is no indication that this letter was sent or received. JA...
3295From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I recieved yours of the 14th. which came very safe. I thank You for the News about the Northern Powers, but should have been glad you had been more particular. There are Reasons to suspect that some Letters are opened, but as the friends of our Country must communicate with each other, it will not do to interrupt Correspondences for fear our Letters shall be opened. We may write so...
3296From John Adams to Benjamin Russell, 7 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
As I have all my Life, professed to be a very sincere friend to the promotion of knowledge—and a free Circulation of it—through every vein, and Artery through the body Politic—in opposition to all the well-born—Well-bred—And well dressed few in every age and Country, who have taught an opposite doctrine I cannot but applaude the design of the good people of Boston for raising a Library for the...
3297To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Last night I received your obliging Favour of the fifth of this Month. Your Excellencys Sentiment, “that the Foundation of Credit abroad must be laid at Home” is perfectly just, and accords with the General Sentiment of the Money Lenders, Undertakers and Brokers in this Country, whose Universal Cry is “We should choose to see Some certain Method...
3298From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your Letter of the fourth and return You the blank Commissions signed and all the Papers inclosed in yours. As to Major Brooks, I know not how a Man can talk of fighting “French Bloodhounds” who has been capable of saying Since his appointment, “that Things were going very well before the Arrival of the Dispatches of the Envoys: but the publication of those Dispatches had ruined...
3299From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 19 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Letter in which this is inclosed, I received yesterday—open for my Inspection— The Bill of Exchange drawn by Mr. Morris for 144.000 florins, will I hope be some relief to you Our Secretary of State for foreign affairs informs me on the 7 th. of April that twelve of the States had granted the Impost new York only remained to come in— and it is not likely the Legislature of that State will...
3300From John Adams to Aaron Black, 15 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
On the receipt of your Letter of June 4th. I lost no time I communicating it to your Sister and your Neice. They have written you letters in answers which you will receive with this. Your Brother was my next Neighbour for more than twenty years. We lived in harmony and Friendship. He lived and died esteemed and beloved by all who knew him. His Estate which I understand is encumbered with heavy...