4801From 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.
4802From 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.
4803From 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.
4804From John Adams to James McHenry, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two letters of 25 June and return you all the papers inclosed.—If you believe Fonda has a shade in his favor, you are at liberty to appoint him. He is to me a stranger. Fowler has been presented to me as an old officer and a man of property. I have read all the recommendations & approve of your list for the 7th. 8 & 9 regiments. If any of the surgeon’s mates should refuse...
4805From John Adams to James McHenry, 10 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed certificates from a clergyman & two surgeons of good authority were brought to me yesterday by the gentlemen recommended. Dr. David King, whose countenance, figure, dress & conversation, certified in favor of his certificates. I pray you to place his name among the candidates to be a surgeon or a mate, & his papers among the files. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4806From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived, with my Family at this Place four days ago and propose to remain here and at New york, till the Meeting of Congress. Letters addressed to me, to the Care of Charles Adams Esqr. Counsellor at Law in New york, will Soon find me. I pray you to commit to Writing such Things are you judge necessary to be communicated or recommended to Congress at the opening of the session, and convey...
4807From John Adams to James McHenry, 11 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations of Major McFarland, Captain Nathaniel Thwing to be appointed in the army which I pray you to file with other recommendations & record among the candidates for appointments—Also a letter from Dr Waterhouse a very respectable authority recommending Wm: Amherst Barron to be one of the scientific teachers. I have the honor to be Sir your / most obedient Servant MHi :...
4808From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Freeport volunteers are so well recommended, that I pray you to send their officers commissions. Their application & recommendations are all inclosed. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4809From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 11, & have read the sentence of the court martial against Lieutenant Jacob Kreemer of the first regiment of infantry & have no hesitation in confirming the sentence that he be dismissed from the service of the US MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4810From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
As It is an excellent Principle for every Man in public Life, to magnify his office and make it honourable I admire the Dexterity with which you dignify yours by representing an Army and means adequate to its Support as the first thing necessary to make the nation respected. Genius in a General is oftener, an Instrument of divine Vengeance, than a Guardian Angell. Stoddert I warrant you,...
4811From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received only this morning your Letter of the 4th. of this month. Its Contents are of much importance. I desire that you would inform General Washington, that I consider him in the Public Service from the Date of his Appointment and intitled to all the Emoluments of it. He is at Liberty to receive all or any part, at his Discretion: and is fully Authorised to appoint his Aids and...
4812From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I will not object to the surgeons & mates selected by Col Rice & Col Hunnewell for their regiments. But I am not fully satisfied with the appointment of Dr Blake. He would do very well as a mate but his age does not entitle him I fear to the preeminence, if his learning is sufficient. I wish we had a system digested & Hospital surgeons appointed who might give us better information. MHi :...
4813From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, Jr., 29 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States refers the inclosed law of Tennessee, and letter from the Govenor, laid before him, by the Senators and Representatives of that state this day, to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, & requests their examination into the subject & a report of their opinion, what is in the power of the President to do for the accommodation of the people of...
4814From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you the papers inclosed in your letter of the 1st. I have carefully read the proceedings of the court martial on Ensign David Fero It will be necessary for the legislature at their next session to make some provisions for cases of standing mute. The best possible jurisprudence in this case in my opinion is, to order the refusal to plead, to be recorded & then proceed to tryal in all...
4815From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your favour of the sixth and approve of your determination to make out the Commissions in the order of Knox on the first day, Pinckney on the Second and Hamilton on the third. This being done you may call Generals Knox and Hamilton into Service as soon as you please. Your request to be informed, whether I attach any portion of the Intrigues, which I alluded to, if any have been...
4816From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I recd last night your favour of the 11 and thank you for the Copy of General Macphersons Letter and the List of his Prisoners. The Generals Conduct has been prudent and Successfull, and will terminate in the permanent tranquility of the People. I return you Reeders Letter and Jacksons Address. Have these Democrats, a morality of their own? or have they none? Do they really believe that lying...
4817From 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...
4818From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the List of Appointments for the Eleventh Regiment Commanded by Colo. Ogden, inclosed in your favr. of the 9th: Approved— MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4819From John Adams to James McHenry, 3 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to put on the list of captains of infantry, Mr. Philip Church of New-York, who is very handsomely recommended by Gen. Hamilton, & whom from a personal accquaintance with him, I believe to be well qualified. I enclose to you also a letter & documents from his Excellency Governor Jackson of Georgia, which I pray you to consider, and answer according to those arrangements, which you...
4820From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 29th of April and have considered the subject of it with as much attention as will be necessary to agree in general to your principles. Merit however I consider as the only true scale of graduation in the army. Services & rank in the last war or any other war are only to be taken into consideration as presumptive evidence of merit & may at any time be set...
4821From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 11 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I wish to recommend to your Benediction, the Gentleman who will have the honour to present to you, this Letter. Mr Francis C. Gray, a Son of our late Lt. Governor, who after an Education at our University, two Years travels in Europe and three Years Studies at the Bar, has Wisdom enough to wish to See more of his native Country. And Who, or what can he more rationally wish to See, than the...
4822From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 26 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 20th revives me. A Brother Octogenarian who can write with Such vigour of hand and mind, excites a kind of Emulation even in these old Veins. A History of the first War of The United States, is a very different thing from an History of The American Revolution. I have Seen in France a military History of France during the Reign of Louis the 14th. by the Marquis of Quincy....
4823From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 20 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is a long Time, Since I had the Pleasure to see you, but my Esteem is not at all diminished. None of Us have any Thing to boast of in these Times, in Respect to the Happiness of Life. You have been in disagreable Scaenes no doubt—mine have been much worse than I expected. I never heard of any Jealousy, Envy or Malevolence, among our Commissioners, at Paris, untill my Arrival at Bourdeaux....
4824From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 24 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
If I am committing an indiscretion, I hope you will pardon it. The Reverend Mr Henry Colman of Hingham, a Clergyman established in the Affections and Esteem of this Neighbourhood is on a Journey to Philadelphia. He has an Ardent desire to See the Old Patriots of the Revolution, and where can I look for an older one, than to Governor M. Kean? In addition to his professional Virtues of Piety and...
4825From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 29 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
The Revd. Mr Edward Everett, though in early youth is desirous of Seeing the oldest Patriot and Statesman in America; and to gratify him I give him a Letter to you. As I cannot Say enough of him, I have a great mind to Say nothing at all; but I will Say, he has given to the World proofs of Genius Learning and Industry, which might be compared to a Pascal at his Age. Mr Colman has a Letter,...
4826From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 30 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 15th, which I very highly esteem, now received last night, after I have given a line of introduction to Mr Everett, a very distinguished young Schollar, Preacher and Author. The Brittish Nation and their Government has sufficiently and uniformly manifested that disposition towards this Countrey for two hundred years. As they prefer the Roman Catholic Religion to Ours; So...
4827From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 2 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
Our ancient and venerable Friend Clinton is gone before us. It had long been my intention to write to him: but while I was busied about many things perhaps of less importance, he has Slipped out of my reach. I am determined no longer to neglect a moment to write to you lest I Should glide away where there is no pen and ink. Nearly thirty eight years ago our friendship commenced. It has never...
4828From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 30 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
Who Shall write the History of the American Revoluion? Who can write it? Who will ever be able to write it? The most essential Documents; the debates and deliberations in Congress from 1774 to 1783 were all in secret, and are now lost forever. Mr Dickinson printed a Speech which he aid he made in Congress against the declaration of Independence: but it appeared to me very different from that...
4829From 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...
4830From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 21 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 13th. of this month, with Emotions like those of two old Friends after a Seperation of many Years; Such as We may Suppose Ulysses to have felt on meeting one of his ancient Associates, (not one of the Suiters) on his return to Utica. Your Name among the Members of Congress in New York in October 1765 is and has long been a Singular distinction. I wish...
4831From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 6 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly letter of the first of this memorable month; bearing in the hand writing, the sentiments and the arrangement every mark of undecayed Vigour of mind and body: while it delights me in every other View mortifies me by a comparison with my own quivering Infirmities which make it painful and difficult for me to write. The History of Mankind, as far as We can race it, is full of...
4832From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 26 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for yours of the 15th. Mr Colman is much pleased and very grateful for your kind reception of him and regrets that his limited time would not permit him a longer Enjoyment of your Society and Civility. As far as I recollect to have heared; your Account of the political Sentiments of Pensilvania and Delaware are mathematically exact, in 1774.5.6 I mean. An Analysis of the Interests and...
4833From John Adams to the President of Congress, 6 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 6 August 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 347–350. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:623.. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 16 Nov., John Adams provided an English translation of a report dated 13 July at St....
4834From John Adams to the President of Congress, 13 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 13 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 283–285. LbC Adams Papers . printed : JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot Correspondence of the Late President Adams. Originally Published in the Boston Patriot. In a Series of Letters , Boston, 1809[–1810]; 10 pts. , p. 546–549. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an...
4835From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am very sorry to learn that Congress had recieved no Letters from October to June. It is not that I wrote less than usual in that period, but that I was more unfortunate. Two Vessels, which sailed from hence for Boston, each of which had Dispatches from me for Congress, destroyed them, one upon being taken, and the other being chased. But the most of my Dispatches were Lost at St. Eustatia,...
4836From John Adams to the President of Congress, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 16 August 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 370–373. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:640. This letter, read in Congress on 12 Nov., contains an English translation of a “verbal insinuation” to the Dutch minister at St. Petersburg,...
4837From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 31 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 20th, with the Authentic Account of the proceedings of the Congress held at New York A.D 1765 on the Subject of the American Stamp Act”: though they found me in the deepest affliction for the loss of my Daughter; were very acceptable and deserve my thanks. There was a prior Congress, held at Albany in 1754 or 1755, in which Franklin, Hutchinson, Wells and Brattle...
4838From John Adams to the President of Congress, 3 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Copies of some Papers which passed between the Comte de Vergennes and me, lately at Paris. The Conjecture, that the British Court would insist upon their two Preliminaries, is become more probable by the publication of the King’s Speech at the Prorogation of Parliament. “The Zeal and Ardor which You have shewn for the Honor of my Crown,” says the King; “your firm...
4839From John Adams to the President of Congress, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Temple has held offices of such Importance, and a Rank so considerable in America, before the Revolution, that his Return to his native Country at this time, cannot fail to cause much Speculation, and it is to be feared some diversity of sentiments concerning him. As he came from London to Amsterdam and did me the honor of a visit, in which he opened to me his design of returning, and his...
4840From John Adams to the President of Congress, 10 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 10 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 268–269. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:556–557. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of an article that...
4841From John Adams to the President of Congress, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
The late glorious Victory, obtained by Admiral Zoutman over Admiral Parker, is wholly to be ascribed to the Exertions of Amsterdam. Pretences and Excuses would have been devised, for avoiding to send out the Fleet, and indeed for avoiding an Action, when at Sea, if it had not been for the Measures which have been taken to arouse the Attention and animate the Zeal of the Nation. The Officers...
4842From John Adams to the President of Congress, 17 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 17 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 319–329 printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:584–588. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains a full English translation of the memorial...
4843From John Adams to the President of Congress, 4 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I should Scarcely be credited, if I were to describe the present State of this Country. There is more Animosity against one another, than against the common Ennemy. They can agree upon nothing. Neither upon War, nor Peace: neither upon acknowledging the Independency of America, nor upon denying it. Hopes of a general Peace, which flatter all Parties, are continually kept up by Tales and...
4844From John Adams to the President of Congress, 8 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
This People must have their own Way. They proceed like no other. There cannot be a more striking Example of this, than the Instructions given to Privateers and Letters of Mark. The Commander is ordered to bring his Prizes into some Port of the United Provinces, or into the Ports or Roads of the Allies and Friends of this Republick, especially France, Sweeden, North America, or Spain: and the...
4845From John Adams to the President of Congress, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Constitution of this Country is such, that it is difficult to discover the general Sense. There have been all along Circumstances in which it might be discerned; but these were so feeble, and so susceptible of Contradiction and Disguise, that some extraordinary Exertions were necessary to strike out unquestionable proofs of the Temper and Opinion of the Nation. Last Spring, the Part of...
4846From John Adams to the President of Congress, 21 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 21 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 331–332. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:596–597. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of an article...
4847From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 26 April 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the April 1st. And am very sorry it will not be in my power to give you more detailed information That your Father was a steadfast Patriot, of the Revolution, from its beginning to its end, is most certain—In the Congress at New York in 1765, he we though young, he was one of the most active and spirited members. In the Congress of 74—and in all the...
4848From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I see in the London Courant, which arrived to day, an advertisement of a translation into English of the address to the People of the Netherlands: so that this work is likely to be translated into all Languages and read by all the World, notwithstanding the Placards against it. I have before sent that of Utrecht. That of Holland is as follows: “The States of Holland and of West Friesland, to...
4849From John Adams to the President of Congress, 11 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have only time, by Major Jackson, to inform Congress, that upon Information from the Comte de Vergennes, that questions concerning Peace, under the Mediation of the two imperial Courts, were in agitation that required my Presence, I undertook the Journey and arrived here last Friday Night the 6th. of the month, and have twice waited on the Comte de Vergennes at Versailles, who this day...
4850From John Adams to the President of Congress, 18 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
We have recieved at last Parkers Account of the Action with Admiral Zoutman: according to which, the Battle was maintained with a continual fire for three Hours and forty Minutes, when it became impossible to work his Ships. He made an Attempt to recommence the Action, but found it impracticable. The Bienfaisant had lost his Main-Top-Mast, and the Buffalo her Mizzen Yard, and the other Vessels...