201From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
There are many things which deserve to be maturely considered before the meeting of congress. I shall mention two or three at present, concerning which I pray you to take as early measures as possible to obtain the advice of the heads of departments. One of them is, whether it will be expedient for the president to recommend to the consideration of congress a declaration of war against France....
202From John Adams to United States Senate, 11 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate The Honourable John Sloss Hobart Esqr to be Judge of the District of New York in the Place of Robert Troup Esqr resigned. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
203From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I think it will be expedient to lay before congress, on the second day of the session, all the papers which relate to the embassy to France, that they may be printed together, & the public enabled to judge from correct and authentic documents. To this end I request you to order copies to be made of your letter to Mr. Murray & his answer, of his letter to Talleyrand & his answer which should be...
204From John Adams to United States Congress, 28 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
An edict of the Executive directory of the French republic of the twenty ninth of October 1798, inclosed in a letter from our minister plenipotentiary in London, of the sixteenth of November, is of so much importance, that it cannot be too soon communicated to you & to the public DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
205From John Adams to William Fitzhugh, Jr., 11 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receive from the Citizens of Alexandria, this kind salutation on my first Visit to Virginia with much pleasure. In the earlier Part of my Life I felt at sometimes an inexpressible Grief and at others an unutterable Indignation at the Injustice and Indignities which I thought wantonly heaped on my innocent virtuous, peaceable and unoffending Country. And perceiving that the American People...
206John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I cannot Say when I shall be able to sett out. But I shall loose no time here. When the Public Business is in such a state that I can leave it, I shall go, be the Roads as they may.— I expect bad travelling all the Way. Truxton has indeed taken the Insurgent. But We have a silly Insurgence in Northampton County in this state, which will detain me, I suppose, some days This state is not a moral...
207From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 2d. I have considered the petition of Warrall and return you his pardon signed.—The copies of the Instructions and dispatches I have received. I will thank you to send me a Copy or two of the Laws of the last Session compleat.— I have the Honor to be Sir / yr mo Obt. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
208From John Adams to John Rogers, 6 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of Jan 31st. If the judiciary bill should pass, as I hope it will, it will cost me much anxiety and dilligence, to select characters such as you describe to fill the offices & I am obliged to you & to all other friends of their Country, who favor me with their advice & assistance in discharging that important duty. I have a personal regard for Mr. Bayard & his...
209From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 20th and thank you for your vigilant attention to the Progress or rather to the decline of the Fever in Philadelphia. I request your explicit opinion, and pray you, if you can, to obtain those of Mr McHenry and Mr Lee; whether from the Prevalence of contagious Sickness in Philadelphia, or the Existence of any other Circumstances it would be hazardous to the Lives...
210From John Adams to United States Senate, 1 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Adolph C. Lent of New York to be surgeons mate in the navy. Killeair H Van Renselar of New York to be lieutenant in the navy. Richard Salter Tibbits of Massachusetts to be lieutenant in the navy. George R. Turner of Massachusetts to be lieutenant in the navy Joshua G Symmes of Massachusetts to be Surgeon in the navy Thomas Hoist of Massachusetts to be second lieutenant of marines...
211From John Adams to William Prentis, 6 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address. I thank you for your most zealous approbation of the Measures calculated for the preservation of Peace, and restoration of Harmony with the French Republic. War is not to be resorted to, but in pursuit of Justice and in Cases of necessity. A War with France, if just and necessary, might wean Us from fond & blind affections, which no Nation ought ever to feel...
212From John Adams to Benjamin Goodhue, 16 July 1798 (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 seventeenth day of July instant; 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...
213From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you the selection of two majors from North Carolina & that of officers for South Carolina and Georgia with the letter of Genls Pinckney & Washington with that of Mr Steele. I am satisfied with these recommendations and approve the selections.—I return the proceedings of the court martial in the cases of the deserters. The absolute necessity of examples in such cases as that of Richard...
214From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 22d. Inclosed is the commission to Mr. Woolsey Burton signed. Can you tell me any news of Mr. Brisler my steward & the rest of my Family left at Philadelphia. I am &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
215From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 27 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. John C. Jones of Boston, recommending Capt Joseph Coffin Boyd, to fill the place of Col Lunt. Also a letter from Richard Hunnewell, requesting the office for himself. Thus you see we have an ample choice of candidates. Fosdick, Titcomb Mayo Boyd & Hunnewell, all well qualified & recommended by very respectable men. The last however appears to me to have the best...
216From 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.
217From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Samuel Winslow Esquire of Massachusetts to be Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue for the port of Thomaston in the district of Waldoborough, in that State, in the place of Thomas Vose Esqr: resigned DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
218From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 25 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is plain from Mr. Hamiltons pamphlet & from all the writings against the negotiation with France that neither that gentleman nor his fellow laborers in the great work of detraction have ever known the rise and progress of the measures they have successfully misrepresented & abused. In order to correct the public opinion, I inclose you authenticated copies of the messages, which I pray you...
219From John Adams to Et al., 4 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this day, received and read with much Pleasure your unanimous Address, subscribed in your behalf by Colonel Sprout Sproat, your commanding officer at a Regimental Parade at in Marietta on the twelfth of November 1798. The Coercion of Terrorism, cannot be practiced in America, so easily as in Europe where the fate Issue of a Battle determines the Fate of a Nation and the Capture of a...
220From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the two blank Commissions, signed and am satisfied with the recommendations of Robert Chesley, to succeed his Father. If a real reformation should take place in Northampton County, in consequence of a consciencious Conviction of their Error & Crime it would be happy: but a cessation of opposition from fear only, may last no longer than the terror. I am, Sir your most obt. CtHi .
221From John Adams to Theodore Sedgwick, 16 July 1798 (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 seventeenth day of July instant; 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...
222From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your Letter of Aug. 24 and pray you to keep the Packets from Sir John Sinclair till my return. This Agricultural Patriot and Hero has sent me Letters and Packets for Seven Years not one of which have I answered, but still he persevered.—I am not much charmed with the honour of being elected a Member of any Society in Europe especially in England, at this Crisis: but as it is owing...
223From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 24, I can only say that I have referred the Papers relative to extra Services to the Secretary of the Treasury who has not yet reported. That I cannot determine any Thing on Major Tousard’s Claim nor Mr. Dinsmores till some general rule is settled,—Major Tousard however and Mr Dinsmore will have Justice done them. If you approve of the Measure you may send a...
224From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I return inclosed the three letters of Mr Miller approved, in which he recommends John Shackleford, David Allen & Isam Clay to be keepers of light houses With great esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
225From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
One, “intituled an Act extending the privilege of franking, to William Henry Harrison, the delegate from the territory of the United States, North West of the Ohio and making provision for his compensation.” The other, “Intituled an Act to provide for the supplementary to the Act, intituled an Act,—to provide for the valuation of lands & dwelling-houses and the enumeration of Slaves within the...
226From John Adams to Stephen Moore, 26 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
An Address from Seven thousand two hundred and Ninety four Men, a Number Sufficient to compose a respectable Army, giving Assurance of their Approbation of Public Measures, and their Determination as Men and Soldiers to Support them, with their Lives and Fortunes, must be a pleasing Appearance to every Lover of his Country. There is no Part of the Union from which, such Sentiments could be...
227From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 3 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
There are many parts of your Letter I have omitted, indeed it requires more Leisure than I have to do it Justice. Men of Cander and Discernment, you observe, have thought that my Predecessor erred, in some particulars. This may be and who has not? But you must remember that the French were always antifederalists. Always opposed and countenanced and stimulated the Party that opposed the federal...
228From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters from David Hobbs, Richard Bland Lee, Wm. Mason, H. G. Otis, Lt. Gov. Gill, Thomas Seymour, John Lillie, Gen. Philemon Dickinson, James Coskey, Judge Peters, John More, Samuel Panneli late ensign requesting or recommending to offices in the army which I transmit to you that all may appear upon your books & files. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
229From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Mr. Ebenezer Bushnell of Lebanon, & sent it on in your letter to him, inclosed in yours of the 31st Aug. to MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
230John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Monday Morning, the most agreable in the Week because it brings me Letters from you, has not failed me to day. I have yours of 23 and 25 March. The Correspondence with Plymouth amused me much— The Answer is Superiour to the Letter both in Delicacy, and keenness.— You might have told her, if Chance decides in Elections, it is no better than Descent. But she knows not what she wants. The Letter...
231From 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.
232From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I wish, by the leave of the Senate, to recall my former Message containing Nominations of Officers for the Mississippi Territory, and to nominate others vizt. Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the North Western Territory to be Governor. John Steel of Virginia to be Secretary and Peter Bryan Bruin of the Mississippi Territory to be the Second Judge and Daniel Tilton of New Hampshire to be the...
233From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from the president & professor of divinity of our university recommending William Frothingham to be a chaplain on board of some frigate. I know not whether the commanders of our ships have given much attention to this subject—but in my humble opinion we shall be very unskillful politicians as well as bad christians & unwise men if we neglect this important office in our...
234From John Adams to United States Senate, 27 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Daniel Hawley of New York to be Consul of the United States at the Havannah in the Island of Cuba DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
235From John Adams to John Marshall, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Elias Backman, Consul in Sweden with an account, which you will please to consider. If he took upon himself the office of Ambassador without orders, commission or instructions and spent money to obtain advantages to American commerce, the Executive authority cannot reimburse him. Enclosed also is a letter from C. Blackberd. You may take notice of it or not at your...
236From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 22 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your favor of the 20th of Jan. & am sensibly touched with the remembrance of our learned & ingenious friend whom I saw at the red Lyon in Leyden I thank you for his poems. Whether you will find purchasers for the edition of his juvenile poems you meditate I cannot say. My Countrymen I fear do not sufficiently attend to Greek & Latin after they leave College, perhaps not...
237From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter of the 20th from Dr Leib together with a petition from Philip Desh & Abraham Shants for pardons. A certificate of physicians and other citizens accompany the petition. Refer this to the Attorney Gen. & let me know your opinions. With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
238From John Adams to Samuel Smith, 7 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the honor of your letter of the 3d. I know the worth of Mr. Bayard & should be happy to give the proof of it, but in these cases I can give no encouragement untill all the candidates are before me & their cases weighed. I am much obliged by your information concerning him, which coincides with all the testimonies I have seen & indeed with all that I have observed. Most...
239From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to order fair copies of the instructions, as corrected last evening, to be prepared and delivered to Judge Elsworth & Govenor Davie, with another for Mr. Murray without loss of time, & to write a letter to those gentlemen, as Envoys Extraordinary to the French republic, expressing with the affectionate respects of the President, his desire that they would take their passage for...
240John Adams to Joshua Johnson, 4 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
A Letter from my Nephew, M r: William Cranch of the City of Washington, informing me of your arrival, gives me an opportunity of congratulating you and M rs: Johnson and the young Ladies, on your good fortune in seeing your Native Country, after so long an Absence and so tedious a Voyage— I have at the same time to thank you for an amiable daughter, and to congratulate you, on the acquisition...
241From John Adams to John M. Gill, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Address to the President Senate and House of Representatives has been presented to me Foreign Governments will always have grounds to believe, that there are divisions Diversities of Opinion, if not divisions into Parties in every Republican Government. Those whose Knowledge of free Governments, is Superficial, and whose Experience is young, will be very apt to Mistake these Diversities...
242From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Col. Hawkins of 23 of May inclosed in yours of 29. July and am happy to find that all accounts agree in holding out expectations of a continuance of Peace with the Indians. Inclosed is a letter to me from Gen. S. Smith of Baltimore, dated 24 July with an address to the Citizens of Baltimore from the Marine Committee, in a slip of a Newspaper. I wish that Justice may be done to...
243From John Adams to George Churchman, 24 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 17 of the 1. Mo. and thank you for communicating the Letter to me, of our friend Warner Mifflin. I have read both with pleasure, because I believe they proceeded from a Sense of Duty and a principle of Benevolence. Although I have never Sought popularity by any animated Speeches or inflammatory publications against the Slavery of the Blacks, my opinion...
244From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters of Septr 14. 15. and 19th. The Letters inclosed in them, from Govr. Sinclair, Judge Patterson and Dr. James Sykes, I return to you inclosed with this, that you may be able to preserve together all the Papers, relative to the successor to Dr. Way in the Treasury of the Mint. Tomorrow I shall sett out on my Journey to the Southward, and shall Stop at East Chester...
245From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favor of the 22d. and rejoice to find you have received dispatches from Stevens and Maitland. If the British merchant vessels are to enter the ports of Cape Francoise & Port au Prince under a flagg of truce, and ours are not & if an agent from the British government is not admitted, while one from the United States is, this will render it more necessary for us to be...
246From John Adams to United States Congress, 12 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the Law, I now present to both Houses of Congress, my annual account of Expenditures from the Contingent Fund during the year 1797. by which it appears, that on the first of January last there remained in the Treasury a Balance of Fifteen thousand, four hundred, and ninety four dollars and twenty four Cents, Subject to future dispositions of Government. DNA : RG 46—Records of...
247From 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...
248From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations of Joseph Williston & Habijah Savage, to be midshipman to whom I pray you to send warrants. If they can be admitted on board the Boston I shall be glad—if not they may be appointed to some other ship MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
249From John Adams to John Marshall, 13 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to yours of the 2d I have agreed to the appointment of Major David Hopkins to be Marshall of Maryland, according to the advice of Mr Stoddert, although it was a great disappointment & mortification to me to loose the only opportunity I shall ever have of testifying to the world, the high opinion I have of the merits of a great majistrate, by the appointment of his son to an office...
250From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Duplicate of a Letter from Miranda with some Estimates. Read it and think of it. A number of questions and considerations over . We are Friends with Spain. If We were Ennemies, would the Project be usefull to us.—It will not be in for me to answer the Letter. Will any Notice of it, in any manner be proper. I shall send it by Mr. Humphreys, with Mr. Gerrys Papers. I am &c. MHi :...