3301From John Adams to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 9 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your respectfull Address, has been presented to be by your Senators in Congress Mr Laurence and Mr North who are also Members of your Society. The interesting and critical Situation of our Country, threatoned as it is by a very powerfull foreign Nation, could not fail to command the Attention of Gentlemen of your Characters and Habits of Life. I am very happy to find that your Opinions...
3302From John Adams to James Asheton Bayard, 10 April 1802 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 19th March and am much flattered by your kind recollection of me. Your Speech which was inclosed I had read in detached parcels in newspapers more than once.—I have now read all together and at once. I shall not take the time to recollect enough of my Cicero and Quintilian to give a critical dissertation and comparison of the various orations in both houses of...
3303From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your favour of the 16th.—Thank you for your care in writing to Mr Sands, who has furnished me with two thousand dollars for which I gave him duplicate Receipts to Serve for one, according to your desire. Though I rejoice to learn from your Letter that the Sickness in the City is diminishing, I cannot admit your Walk through the Principal Streets of it, to be full proof; because it...
3304From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 April 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. is a reviving cordial in which I have languished for a fortnight—But I have to complain, that it is only two days, since I heard since I heard of George’s misfortune. I suppose it has been concealed in tenderness to me, but I wish to hear the worst of bad news from the begining. This tenderness for me has concealed many misfortunes which if they had been communicated to...
3305John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
I am at last after a great deal of Difficulty, settled in comfortable Quarters, but at an infinite Expence. . . . The Price I pay for my Board is more moderate than any other Gentlemen give, excepting my Colleagues, who are all in the same Quarters, and at the same Rates except Mr. H ancock who keeps an House by himself. The Prices of Things here, are much more intollerable than at Boston. The...
3306From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 16 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 2d. was brought to me from the Post office this morning, and I thank you for your Attention to the Reputation of our Country. I have Shewn your Letter to Mr Henry Mr Elsworth and other Members of Congress in 1779 and 1780 and to some others , and there is not one who remembers any Thing like the account which Dr Kippis has given. I will however take other Measures for...
3307Announcement of Changes of Address of John Adams’ Law Office, 22 April 1771 (Adams Papers)
Notifies the Removal of his Office to a Room in Queen-Street, in the House of Mr. John Gill, within a few Steps of the New Court-House, but on the opposite Side of the Street. Reprinted from ( Boston Gazette , 22 April 1771). The transfer of JA ’s law office was probably dictated by the Adams family’s return to Braintree earlier this month. Before becoming Gill’s tenant, JA had apparently...
3308From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
David Hinckley Esqr of Boston a Gentleman of ample Fortune & respectable Character is about to travel in France with his amiable Daughter for the benefit of his health and the Gratification of his curiosity and the improvement of their knowledge of the World. Are extremely desirous of paying their respects to their illustrious fellow Citizen one of the Heroes of the American Revolution and...
3309From John Adams to Moses Lloyd Hill, 21 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your first Ancestor in America lies buried in Quincy under a rough North Common Granite. I lament the hard Case of General Sinclair a Gentleman of Letters Taste and Sense, a Soldier and Scientific Officer, but unfortunate; and you know Success secures Fame and Fortune Sometimes when Merit, without it, cannot. “Careat Successibus Opto Quisquis ab eventu, Factu notandu putat” was written in...
3310From John Adams to Thomas Sprigg, 2 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return with pleasure your Congratulations, upon the Unanimity of Spirit among our Fellow Citizens, which in so firm Language expresses their Resolution to preserve inviolate their Independence; and thank you for your generous applause. I thank you your unanimous Resolution to defend the Rights of Freemen or perish in the Conflict, is heroic and glorious. I cannot promise you an...
3311From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 26 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Adams has the Honour to acquaint the Right Honourable the Marquis of Caermarthen, that he is just arrived in Town with Credentials from the United States of America, and desires to be informed at what Hour, he may have the Honour of paying his Respects to his Lordship. RC ( British Library, London :Leeds Papers); endorsed: “May. 26. 1785. / M r. Adams.” FC ( Adams Papers ). LbC ( Adams...
3312From John Adams to Charles Lee, 21 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday the opinion of yourself the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Navy on the Case of the Prisoners under Sentence of death for Treason, formed, as I doubt not under the full Exercise of Integrity and humanity. Nevertheless as I differ in opinion, I must take on myself alone the responsibility of one more appeal to the humane and generous natures of the...
3313From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your important letter of the 7th. The form of a proclamation—is sufficient I believe for the purpose; and I have signed it, that it may be compleated and published at a proper season without loss of time. I am glad the heads of departments did not form a definitive opinion on the very important question, whether it will be expedient to renew the commerce without a...
3314From John Adams to Henry Colman, 10 October 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Thanksgiving Fast Sermon which I have repeatedly read, with much pleasure. It is a Model for Sermons on Such Occasions. Phylosophy Morality and Divinity, appear in it, in So much Harmony, that I could almost Subscribe it as a Creed: Yet I would not Subscribe it in Obedience to human Authority, much less would I pass an Act of Uniformity to compel a Nation to Subscribe it....
3315From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 20 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 13 is received. I did approve of Mess rs Pullers paying the Account of M r Baker, the Broker, amounting to £105. 13s: 6d s t. — The Account appeared to me very high. But I could not do any otherwise than Submit it to the Judgment of Mess rs Pullers, who thought it could not be done for less. I have drawn an order, besides, within a few days upon Messieurs Pullers, for Seventy five...
3316Arthur Lee and John Adams to William Lee, 13 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Letter which you did Us the Honour to write Us on the 15 December, We have received. As We have heard nothing further of the Congress in Germany, which you inform Us was talked of, We presume that no such Measure will take Place. However, whether there be a Congress or not, We cannot comply with the Terms of the Gentleman you mention, nor Advise him to take any Steps in the Business. We...
3317From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 9 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Aug. 28th has been duly received and highly esteemed. I say with you, the Will of eternal Wisdom and Benevolence, be done.— I wish to know, where the Anecdote of Sir William Keith is to be found. I have my doubts whether any History of America would “sell well.” Gordons, Ramsays, Warrens, even Marshalls I believe have not been very lucrative. No Party has been quite satisfied...
3318From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have your favour of March 12 before me. The Choice you exult in, may not be considered as a favour, by the Chosen and by his Father and Mother So much as it is by you. The President, though by no means unfriendly to the chosen or his Friends was, with great Reluctance in duced to this Appointment. The appointment of Lincoln I did not disapprove, because I have known him for forty years, and...
3319From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 26 April 1824 (Adams Papers)
You have always been too good to me & I regret that I have never been able to make you any returns, your last favor to me is the most gratify in g of all because it shows that your kindness to me is not extinct, In answer to your question you may undoubtedly send any volume to me by mail free of expence, I shall be happy to receive it, though I cannot read it, I may have some of it read to me...
3320From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
Can you give me any News of the Millenium? Is it to commence Soon enough for me to entertain a hope that I may live a thousand Years longer? I want to Study the Chaldaic Language and all its Dialects and all the Books that are written in them. I want to read all the Christian Fathers and ecclesiastical Historians. I want to learn the Chinese Language, and to Study all the Asiatic Researchers....
3321John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, Tuesday when the Levee Room began to be thin Brisler came running in, with the delightful sounds “Sir, Mr Adams is up Stairs.” I was not long in mounting the escalier and had the high Pleasure of embracing my dear son Thomas after an Absence of four years & an half.— We had a very happy Evening and he has had a good nights rest after the fatigues of his Voyage & Journey. He seems in...
3322John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have suffered a great deal of Anxiety on your Account, having heard of your severe sickness. But am very glad to learn that you are better. I hope you will remember to whom you are obliged for your Restoration to Health, and that you will be sensible of the kind Care of your Mamma in your Illness and thankfull for it. Your excellent Grandmamma, it is to be feared, took the Distemper which...
3323From John Adams to Jean Luzac, 20 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your obliging Letter and a dozen Copies of the “Pensees.” I am much obliged to you Sir, for these Copies, and for an excellent Preface, which is worth more than the Book. I Should be glad to pay for a Couple of Dozens more of these Pamphlets. They come out, in the critical Moment to do good, if ever. If the Impression they make now should not be deep, it will sink deeper e’er...
3324From John Adams to Allen Danforth, 18 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am so delighted with the idea of an Old Colony memorial; and so perfectly satisfied with the design and execution of the first number dated Saturday May the 4th. 1822—that I pray you to admit your my name among your subscribers and accept the inclosed Bill as my subscription for the first year— I have no disposition to Vilify the character of the illustrious William Penn, or to depreciate...
3325From John Adams to Samuel Osgood , 14 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with your agreable Letter by Captn. Price, for which as well as a former Letter I acknowledge myself much obliged to you. In such a Period as this, Sir, when Thirteen Colonies unacquainted in a great Measure, with each other, are rushing together into one Mass, it would be a Miracle, if Such heterogeneous Ingredients did not at first produce violent Fermentations....
3326From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 6 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honour of your Letter of 25. September, and I beg leave to thank you, for your kind Congratulations on our little Success at the Hague.— I wish to have it in my Power to congratulate you Soon, upon a good Peace.— But, every Thing within my Observation, is disposing itself, both on the side of France and England for another Campaign So that I cannot give much Encouragement...
3327From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13th and thank you for your zeal for the honor of my “defence”. That work, which was begun on the 4th of October 1786 & finished on the 26th of December 1787, was written in haste. It was not the fruit of twenty years labor, like Montesquieu’s & Gibbon’s, and as it was written in haste, may be supposed to have marks enough of inaccuracy. I am not yet sensible...
3328From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr. Winslow Warren, is the Son of my Friend Major General Warren of the Massachusetts. He is, on all Sides of Families the most ancient and honourable and meritorious of that Part of America. And the Young Gentn. himself is amiable and has Merit. I should be vastly obliged to you, if you would shew him Brussels. Pray shall We have the Pleasure to see you here in a few days?...
3329From John Adams to Rufus King, 10 July 1803 (Adams Papers)
I duly received, his Britannic Majestys Declaration and the List of Papers presented to Parliament with the kind Letter you did me the Honor to write me on the twenty Second of June. With great Sincerity I thank you, Sir for this instance of your polite Attention to me, and for a great number of others of a like kind, during your Embassy in England. I was then So Situated that I could not...
3330From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 26 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your Directions, I do myself the honor to inclose to you, a List of all the Draughts of money, which have been made by me, whether on a public or private account since the first day of August 1785. Sometime ago, I transmitted to M r. Barclay according to the Resolutions of Congress, all my Accounts up to that Day, —after the Examination he made a settlement of them and...