8911The Commissioners’ Accounts with Ferdinand Grand, 30 June – 8 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
1778 Debit Credit Juin 30 Pour solde de lancien Compte 697434. 4. Juillet 1er Mandat de J. Williams du 25 7bre. ordre Mr. Franklin 891. 10. 1er Ces Messieurs aiant été debites dans deux differents Comptes, de l’achat fait a L’Orient des 34 Affuts je les credite d’autant dans cellui cy, afin qu’ils ne soient debites qu’une seule fois du Montant de cet Achat de 5607. 2. 6 3 Acceptn. de Mr....
8912Adams’ Minutes of the Argument and Decision: Suffolk Superior Court, Boston, August 1766 (Adams Papers)
Fitch. 1st Question whether Appeal will lie? Page 33 of tem porary Acts. Art —. Otis . Case of Barnstable vs. Bodfish. June 1747, in Sessions. Superior Court, Barnstable July 1747. Prov. Law 21. Relations. Lynde. Bastardy, Highways—Ministers and Paupers, no Appeal has been allowed. Gridley. This not taking up the Law upon the sense of it: but is taking up one Part of the Law to make it...
8913I. Report of the Braintree Committee on the Continental Association, 15 March 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Committee appointed the Sixth of March Inst. to prepare a Covenant agreeable to the association of the Continental Congress to be adopted by this Town offered the Same to the Town as follows (viz.) We the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay; having taken into our most Serious Consideration the Subject matter of the association entered into by the...
8914The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 1 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and transcript: National Archives <Passy, October 1, 1778: We have received your letter of September 27 and its enclosure. Our instructions from Congress do not empower us to conclude treaties with the Barbary states but we request your help in obtaining passes from them for American...
891523 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Came to Mr. Putnams and began Law. And studied not very closely this Week.
8916II. Committee Report on A Plan of Treaties, 27 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
There shall be a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a true and sincere friendship between A. and B. and the subjects of A. and of B. and between the countries, islands, cities, and towns situate under the jurisdiction of A. and of B. and the people and inhabitants thereof of every degree, without exception of persons or places; and the Terms herein after mentioned shall be perpetual...
8917August 3d. 1760. (Adams Papers)
Hollis has appealed. If he prosecutes his Appeal, he shall be paid. I believe there never was an Action in this Court where more Instances of Ignorance, Negligence and Inattention appeared on one side, and of Artifice, Secresy and Guile I must say Guile on the other, since it was erected. Let me draw a Picture of the Defendants stupidity, and of Plaintiffs Knavery. Neglect to acknowledge the...
89183. M[onday]. (Adams Papers)
Rode to Astorga. We passed through the Town and Country of the Marragattoes. The Town is small—stands on a Brook in a great Plain. We met Coaches, and genteel People as We went into Astorga.
8919The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 30 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft ): Yale University Library; three copies: National Archives When the commissioners met on November 27 to plan this dispatch, differences between them soon emerged. Lee profoundly distrusted Deane, who he believed had Franklin in his pocket and, in his dual role of private businessman and agent of Congress, was playing fast and loose with public money. Deane...
89201779. June 30. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Marbois, this Morning, upon my Enquiry, told me, that the Chevalier de la Luzerne is the Grandson of the famous Chancelier de la Moignon by his Mothers Side. That the Marchall Broglie is a Cousin to the Chevalier. He also told me, that he himself, Mr. Marbois, was born in Metz, where the Comte de Broglie is Commandant. That going lately to Metz to be admitted a Counsellor in Parliament, he...
8921The American Commissioners to Sartine, 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of yesterdays Date, requesting Us to give to the Sieur Fagan all the Security in our Power, for three Vessells, to transport the Merchandises of France to England. We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that we have accordingly given the Sieur Fagan, three...
8922[Wednesday October 18. 1775.] (Adams Papers)
On Wednesday October 18. 1775. The Delegates from New Hampshire laid before the Congress a part of the Instructions delivered to them by their Colony, in these Words: ”We would have you immediately Use your utmost Endeavours, to obtain the Advice and direction of the Congress, with respect to a Method for our Administering Justice, and regulating our civil Police. We press you not to delay...
892327 August., 27 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
27 August. The congress resolved that the expense of clothing the soldiers for the Continental Army raised in Virginia be assumed by the Continent and deducted from the soldiers’ pay and that Mr. Measam’s petition for compensation be referred to the Treasury Board ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress , 1774–1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. ,...
8924Feb. 1. (Adams Papers)
I intend a Journey to Worcester to morrow. How many observations shall I make on the People at West Town, and Worcester, and how many new Ideas, Hints, Rules of Law, and Eloquence, shall I acquire before I return? Let my Journal answer this Question, after my Return.
8925[In Congress, January–June 1776] (Adams Papers)
I returned to my daily routine of Service in the Board of War, and a punctual Attendance on Congress, every day, in all their hours. I returned also to my almost dayley exhortations to the Institutions of Governments in the States and a declaration of Independence. I soon found there was a Whispering among the Partisans in Opposition to Independence, that I was interested, that I held an...
8926I. To William Hooper, 27 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Subject, on which you was pleased to request my Sentiments, is of infinite Importance to Mankind. Politicks is the Science of human Happiness—and the Felicity of Societies depends entirely on the Constitutions of Government under which they live. That puerile famous Couplet of a very great Poet, “For Forms of Government let Fools contest That’s best administered, is best,” Shows him to...
89271778 April 18. Samedi. (Adams Papers)
This Morning the Father of General Conway came to visit me, and enquire after his Son as well as American Affairs. He seems a venerable Personage. Dined at Mr. Bouffets, who speaks a little English. Mr. Bouffetts Brother, Mr. Veillard, M. Le Fevre, L’Abbe des Prades, Mr. Borry, &c. were there. Called and drank Tea at Mm. Brillons. Then made a Visit to M. Boullainvilliers, and his Lady, who is...
8928The American Commissioners to Ferdinand Grand, 15 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): University of Virginia Library Nous approuvons toutes les Dispositions que Monsr. Jona. Williams a fait sur vous jusqu’a ce Jour conformement a son Compte. Nous avons l’honneur d’etre vos trés humbles Serviteurs This order was probably not sent because Arthur Lee refused to sign it, and was eventually replaced by the more conditional instructions to Grand below, July 10; even those...
8929Fryday May 9. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Laurens, with a large Company. The M. de la Fayette shewed me, the Beginning of an Attack upon the Chancellor &c. &c.
893016. (Adams Papers)
Found a Grammar, entitled, Élémens de la Langue Angloise, ou Méthode pratique, pour apprendre facilement cette Langue. Par M. Siret, A Paris, chez Ruault, Libraire, rue de la Harpe, près de la rue Serpente. 1773. Avec Approbation, et Permission.
8931[January 1804] (Adams Papers)
July 2d. Mowed, over vs. Yard and Garden 3 One Load, from the road to the ditch and from the cart path to the pasture Lane 1 4 Four Loads, over the Way and between the ditch and orchard 4 5 One Load from Chris Webbs House Lott 1 6 One from the 10 Acre Lot on the hill 1 7 Two in Cranchs Barn and two from the 10 Acre Lott 4 Sunday 8
8932May 8. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning Dr. Franklin, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Adams, went to Versailles, in Order that Mr. Adams might be presented to the King.—Waited on the Count De Vergennes, at his office, and at the Hour of Eleven the Count conducted Us, into the Kings Bed Chamber where he was dressing—one officer putting on his Sword, another his Coat &c. The Count went up to the King, and his Majesty turned about,...
89331778. Ap. 22. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home and spent the day with Mr. Lee.
89341771. Tuesday. June 4th. (Adams Papers)
Rode over to the Spring. One Childs had built a little House, within a few Yards of the Spring, and there some of the lame and infirm People keep. The Spring arises at the Foot of a Steep high Hill, between a Cluster of Rocks very near the Side of a River. The Water is very clear, limpid and transparent, the Rocks And Stones and Earth at the Bottom are tinged with a reddish yellow Colour, and...
8935Wednesday. May 21. (Adams Papers)
What is it, in the Air, which burns? When We blow a Spark with the Bellows, it spreads. We force a current of Air to the Fire, by this machine, and in this Air, are inflammable Particles. Can it be in the same manner that Life is continued by the Breath. Are there any Particles conveyed into the Blood of Animals through the Lungs, which increase the heat of it, or is the Pulse caused by...
8936Enclosure: List of Enquiries, 20 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
1. Force of his Vessel, Number of Men, &c. 2. What time he left America, and from what Port. 3. What Instructions he had from Congress. 4. If he knows the Contents of his Dispatches. 5. Ask for News, and Newspapers. 6. What Account there was of Differences between Count D’Estaign’s People and those of Boston. 7. Whether he was well supply’d with Necessaries there and Provisions. 8. Whether he...
8937London Thursday March 30. (Adams Papers)
Presented Mr. Hamilton to the Queen at the Drawing Room. Dined at Mr. Paradices. Count Warranzow Woronzow and his Gentleman and Chaplain, M. Sodorini the Venetian Minister, Mr. Jefferson, Dr. Bancroft, Coll. Smith and my Family. Went at Nine O Clock to the French Ambassadors Ball, where were two or three hundred People, chiefly Ladies. Here I met the Marquis of Landsdown and the Earl of...
8938May 12. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Dined, at Mr. Dupré’s, at the Montagne. The Gardens and the Prospect are very fine. It lies adjoining to the Seat of the President of the Parliament of Paris. We met his Lady, who desired the Gentlemen to shew Us the Place, but not the Whole, for she wished to enjoy our Company, there, at her own Invitation, and she chose to reserve a Part of the Curiosities of the Place as an Inducement to Us...
8939Proposal by the American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 May 1783. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:125–127 . LbC-Tr ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. With this offer the commissioners sought to counter Hartley’s proposal of the previous day (above) as well as the 14 May Order in Council. They proposed an agreement whereby both parties would appoint ministers to negotiate a permanent commercial treaty. Until such time as an agreement was concluded,...
89401783 June [8]. (Adams Papers)
Went to Versailles on the Day of Pentecôte.