31From 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...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34From 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...
35From 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...
36From 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...
37From 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...
38From 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...
39From 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...
40From 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...
41From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 21st and have read the respectable recommendations inclosed in favor of Mr Lloyd Beal & Mr. Kent Rawlings to be Marshall of Maryland. I return all these letters to you in this. With the advantages of Mr. Thomas Chace in the opportunity to consult his father & Mr. Martin, I still think that his appointment is, as likely to benefit the public, as that of any of...
42From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received only last night your favor of the 30th of June. There is no part of the administration of our government, which has given me so much discontent, as the negotiation in the Mediteranean—our ill success in which I attribute to the diffidence of the agents and ministers employed in them, in soliciting aid from the French & the English and the Prussians. Mr. D’Engestrom has too much...
43From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday I received your favor of the 26th ult. The German letter, proposing to introduce into this country, a company of schoolmasters, painters, poets &c all of them disciples of Mr. Thomas Paine, will require no answer. I had rather countenance the introduction of Ariel & Caliban, with a troop of Spirits the most mischievous from Fairy land—The direction, to deliver the Sandwich to the...
44From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Last night the consul of Spain, Mr. Stoughton, came out to Quincy upon the important errand, of delivering to me in my own hand, according to his own account of his orders, the inclosed letter, demanding of the government, a fulfillment of the fifth article of our treaty with Spain. Although I see no sufficient reason in this case, for deviating from the ordinary course of business, I shall...
45From John Adams to John Marshall, 9 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Stevens’s letter inclosed in yours of the 30th seems to require a proclamation to open the trade between the United States & the ports of St Domingo which were lately in the possession of Rigaud, & I am ready to agree to it whenever you & the heads of department shall be satisfied. Mr. Mitchell of Charleston promises great things, & he may be able to perform them, for any thing that I know....
46From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of Aug 21st. I wrote you, on the 7th of this month, my consent to the appointment of Major David Hopkins, to be Marshall conformably to the advice of Mr Stoddert. The letter from the Prince Regent of Portugal, announcing another birth, with the answer prepared for my signature, I find not among the papers. It has not arrived to me. I embrace with pleasure, the...
47From John Adams to John Marshall, 1 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have twice read the dispatch of Mr. King, No. 67. inclosed in your favor of the 21st of July. I am glad to see that Lord Grenville expressed his opinion, that the new board ought to proceed in a different manner from their predecessors, by deciding cases singly one after another, instead of attempting to decide them by general resolves & in classes.—The idea of paying a gross sum to the...
48From John Adams to John Marshall, 2 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favor of the 24th of July. The letter to Mr. Adams dated the 24th of July, I have read & as I see no reason to desire any alteration in it, I shall give it to Gen Lincoln, the collector at Boston, to be by him sent to Hamburg or Amsterdam, by the first good opportunity. The duplicate & triplicate you may send by such opportunities as may be presented to you. Mr....
49From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday the inclosed letter, sent up from Boston, with several others and large packets, which appear to be only newspapers. This is duplicate of N. 244 from Mr. Humphries at Madrid, dated 29 July & Aug 1. Talleyrands reply to the French minister, “in the present state of the negociation, between the US & France, you may inform Mr. Humphry’s that he shall not long have occasion to...
50From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 23d. My ideas are perfectly conformable to yours in your instructions to Mr. King, as you state them to me. The explanatory articles, if attainable, are preferable to any other mode. The next most eligible is the substitution of a sum in gross. That sum to be as small as can be agreed to or will be agreed to by the British government. But to agree to...
51From John Adams to John Marshall, 13 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the third. There is indeed so much delicacy in engaging in the support of a claim founded on provision furnished the British army during the revolutionary war that I would not consent that Mr. King should interpose officially in the business of Col Norton. I return the letter of Will. H. Harrison to you & Mr. John Wilkins’s letter to him recommending Mr. John...
52From John Adams to John Marshall, 19 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters proper to be deposited in your office & submitted to your consideration 1. from Mr Jonathan R Wilmer solliciting the office of Marshall of Maryland 2 A letter from Judge Chace 3d. A letter from Mr Luther Martin recommending Thomas Chase Esqr. 4. A letter from Richard Raynall Keene, with a number of papers inclosed, which I pray you to inclose to him after you have read...
53From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I agree entirely with your sentiments relative to explanations with the British government & a gross sum, and am happy to learn that you have prepared a letter to Mr. King, according to the principles understood between us, which has been approved by the heads of department. This letter may be sent without further advice from me. Mr. Liston apparently had un peu de l’heumeur when he wrote his...
54From John Adams to John Marshall, 21 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from General Forrest, recommending his nephew Mr. Joseph Forrest to be marshall, in the place of Mr Grabell deceased & another letter from Mr. Wilmer, soliciting the place for himself. The letter of Mr. Wilmer is so confidential in its nature and so liable to the imputation of indelicacy, if it should be seen by uncandid persons, that I pray you to return it to me, after...
55From John Adams to John Marshall, 23 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning Mr. Wagners letter of the 12th & return the blank commission signed, to be filled up in your office. I have read all the letters and recommendations and continue inclined to fill the blank with the name of Thomas Chase Esqr, according to the recommendation of his father & Mr Martin, but if you are aware of any serious objection or give a decided preference to any other,...
56From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your favor of the 6th I agree upon the whole with you. The law considers the whole of the Island as a dependance on France, which raises some doubt of the power of the Executive to discharge & restore the vessel captured by Capt Talbot. If therefore the interested should insist on the judgment of the judiciary, the plan you propose will be the safest. Capt Talbot I am convinced...
57From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I request you would cause to be prepared letters for me to sign, to the king of Prussia, recalling Mr. John Quincy Adams, as Minister plenipotentiary from his Court. You may express the thanks of the President to his Majesty for the obliging reception & kind treatment this minister has—met with t at his court & may throw the letter into the form of leave to return to the United States. You...
58From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of August 25th I am much of your opinion, that we ought not to be surprized, if we see our envoys in the course of a few weeks or days, without a treaty. Nor should I be surprized, if they should be loaded with professions and protestations of love, to serve as a substitute for a treaty. The state of things will be so critical, that the government ought to be...
59From John Adams to John Marshall, 22 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 12 & I am very happy to find that a correspondence upon terms of friendship & good humor has at length taken place between the office of State & the Spanish minister. I am entirely of your opinion, & approve of all you have done. The diclaration of Mr. Liston & Lord Grenville are to me satisfactory. If the relation between American debtors & British...
60From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a letter from Governor Trumbull of Connecticutt, a petition for a pardon from Isaac Williams, in prison at Hartford for privateering under French colors. His petition is seconded by a number of very respectable people. I inclose many other papers relative to the subject, put into my hands yesterday, by a young gentleman from Norwich, his nephew. The mans generosity to American...