1From John Adams to John Marshall, 9 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Adam Babcock a respectable merchant of Boston whom I have known and esteemed for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Spooner I also know and believe him to merit the character given him by Mr. Babcock. If it should be thought expedient to try a new experiment at negociation with the isle of France I dont believe we shall find a more proper person to conduct it as...
2From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of this morning and am happy in your acceptance of the office of Chief Justice. The Circumstances however of the times render it necessary that I should request and Authorise you, as I do by this Letter, to continue to discharge all the Duties of Secretary of State, untill ulteriour Arrangements can be made. With great Esteem, I have the / Honor to be,...
3From John Adams to John Marshall, 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 16. I am well satisfied with all its contents. The only thing, which requires any observation from me is, the proposed instruction to Mr. King. As far as I am able to form a conjecture, five millions of dollars are more than sufficient, provided the British creditors are left at liberty to prosecute in our courts and recover all the debts, which are now...
4From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Frederick Butler of Weathersfield in Connecticutt requests a Patent for the Invention of a Tin Cook Stove the description of which is inclosed. He incloses the money necessary by Law. I pray your particular Attention to carry this Business through the offices and to send him a Patent. With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
5From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
In the night of the 29, your favor of the 21st was left at my house. Mr Kings letter shall be soon considered. At present I shall confine myself to the dispatches from our Envoys in France. The impression, made upon me, by these communications, is the same with that, which they appear by your letter, to have made upon you. There is not sufficient grounds, on which to form any decisive opinion...
6From John Adams to John Marshall, 12 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I return inclosed the duplicate answers to the letter of the prince regent of Portugal signed. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter or Memorial from Mr J. Lewis late Consul at the Isle of France. I pray you to consider it in connection with that from Mr Babcock in favour of Mr Spooner. I know of no disqualification or demerit in Lewis. He has often called on me Since his return, and I think him a considerate and well informed and well behaved Man.... The great difficulty will be to permit the...
8From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the enclosed letter of J Cox Barnet at Bourdeaux of 27 July. This letter being addressed to the Secretary of State, I ventured to open & found in it only a private letter to you. This, I did not think myself warranted to open, though it may contain intelligence of a public nature, and now transmit it to you in the same enclosure, which first covered it. I have received...
9From 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...
10From 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.
11From 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...
12From John Adams to John Marshall, 14 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received but last night your favor of the 4th. I have read the papers enclosed. 1. the letter from Mr. Robert Waln 2. the letter from Gid. Hill Wells. 3d The representation of three masters of vessels, Thomas Choate, Robert Forrest & Knowles Adams relative to the consulate of Madeira.—If there is a necessity of removing Mr. John Marsden Pintard, a native American & an old consul, why should...
13From John Adams to John Marshall, 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to me from the Vice President of the U.S. with a resolution of the Senate, dated the 18 of this month & a certificate of the Vice President of the election of Aaron Burr to be the future Vice President of the United States. I request you to select a proper person, according to the usage in such cases, to proceed to N York and convey this certificate to Mr Burr With great...
14From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Newbury Port Herald in which is quoted “A letter from John Adams dated Amsterdam 15 of Dec. 1780 to Thomas Cushing Lieutenant Govenor of Massatts.” This letter has been for some years past reprinted & quoted in many American pamphlets & newspapers as genuine & imposes on many people by supposing & imputing to me sentiments inconsistent with the whole tenor of my life & all the...
15From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the information, transmitted in your letter of the 6, I think it most equitable to suspend the removal of Mr. Pintard for the present. I am glad to find that Mr. Lamar is a native American & now agree with you that whenever Mr. M Pintard must be removed, a more proper person cannot probably be selected, than Mr. Lamar. I have read with care your letter to Mr. Humphries, &...
16From John Adams to John Marshall, 28 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
As it has been the practice of this government, to summon the Senate of the United States to meet on the fourth of March after a new election of a President and Vice President, & as various considerations render it probable, that it will be at least as necessary this year, as it ever has been at any former period, I request you to prepare summons for all the Senators, who are to serve after...
17From John Adams to John Marshall, 16 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Cotton Tufts Esqr one of the most respectable men in our State I pray you to file with all other applications for consulships that it may be considered in due time. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
18From John Adams to John Marshall, 2 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
On the last of August at night I received a packet containing a letter from our envoys of May 17th. A memorial of our Envoys to the French ministers of May 8, in answer to one of those ministers to ours of the 16 floreal 8th year. These I return inclosed There was no letter from you nor any other paper in the packett. You will know whether I received all the papers you sent. If not the packet...
19From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr. William Rogers of N York, requesting to be Consul at Bourdeaux I pray you to file with others, aiming at the same object. I am Sir with much respect, MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
20From John Adams to John Marshall, 3 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received last night your letter of 24 Sept. I return you Mr. Adams’s letter of 28th of June. The question whether neutral ships shall protect ennemies property is indeed important. It is of so much importance that if the principle of free ships free goods were once really established & honestly observed, it would put an end forever to all maratime war & render all military navies...
21From John Adams to John Marshall, 18 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night & have read this morning the copy of your letter to Mr. King inclosed in your favor of the 9th. I know not how the subject could have been better digested. An idea has occurred to me, which I wish you would consider. Ought not something to be said to Mr. King about the other board, that I mean in London. We understand it no doubt all along, that those commissioners are to...
22From John Adams to John Marshall, 18 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I believe you will find in the office that either the original or a duplicate of Mr. Kings triplicate dispatch of Sept 11 1799 has been before received & perhaps your predecessor wrote to Mr. King upon the subject. Be this as it may. With you, I presume it was a mistake of the American Captains in thick & hazy weather. But still it is proper, that you should write to Mr. King in the manner you...
23From John Adams to John Marshall, 21 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 16th. I am well satisfied with all its contents. The only thing which requires any observation from me, is the proposed instruction to Mr. King. As far as I am able to form a conjecture, five millions of dollars are more than sufficient, provided the British creditors are at liberty to prosecute in our courts, and recover all the debts which are now...
24From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from a worthy Clergyman of Braintree who has invented a very ingenious machine to facilitate that necessary domestic operation called Washing; which, by the concurrent testimony of those who have Used it, Saves, two days labour out of three. A Patent was granted him long ago: but by the inclosed Letter it was sent back for some Amendment. I pray you to send on his Patent...
25From John Adams to John Marshall, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you a letter from William Wetmore Esqr. of Castine in the District of Maine, to be filed & considered in time & in case. Mr. Whetmore is one of the remaining characters, whom I knew as a student in a Barristers office, when I was at the bar. What other applications may be presented I know not. With sincere regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
26From John Adams to John Marshall, 23 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Col. Norton of Marthas vineyard & copy of a certificate from Sir Guy Carlton. If Norton should make you a visit it is my desire that you would attend to his story & give him a letter to Mr. King, requesting Mr. King to give him any in his power without committing his government. I wish you to write at the same time a private letter to Mr. King, expressing it to be at...
27From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your favor of July 29th. The merit of Judge Chase of which I have been a witness at times for six & twenty years are very great in my estimation & if his sons are as well qualified as others, it is quite consistent with my principles to consider the sacrifices & services of a father, on weighing the pretensions of a son. The old gentleman will not last very long, & it can...
28From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I should rather have waited till nominations could be made to the Senate, when we might have had an opportunity to make more enquiries, but as Mr. Harrison seems so anxious & you seem to be satisfied, I am willing to appoint Mr William Clark, Major Henry Vanderburgh & Mr. John Griffin. I am apprehensive that this will be suspected to be a compliment to his father & that other candidates may be...
29From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Memorial from a respectable Merchant in Boston Mr Babcock. Mr Lewis has a similar request before you. Can We do any Thing in either Case or is it worth while to send another Agent to negotiate with the Isle of France? Enclosed is the Permit signed for the Brig. Amazon to carry Passengers to France, sent me in yours of 26. septr. DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Port Louis.
30From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 24th of June & thank you for transmitting to the Secretary of the Treasury a commission for Mr. Smith. If Mr. Smith for any reason should decline this appointment, my opinion is that Mr. William Morris of N. York, at present Deputy collector is next in the line of merit & you may send a commission to him.—I concurred with you & the gentlemen you consulted in...