551From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 26 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your kind Letter of the 16 th. I most heartily wish you success in your endeavours to introduce a benificial Commerce in Tobacco, oil, Timber & all other things, between the U.S. & France, L d. G. G.’ s attack was easily repulsed, The Ministry will not be so easily managed, in one word, I will let you into the whole secret, They think, that whatever wealth or Power...
552From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter & the Proceedings of Auvergne— The Provincial assemblies, if they act only as Councillors of the King must operate for the benefit of the Nation— Le nombre des personnes choises dans les deux premiers Orders ne puisse surposer le nombre des Personnes choiseis pour le trois etats et les voix seront recueillies par tête, alternativement entre les Membres des...
553From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am very glad to learn by your Kind favour of the 9 th. that Boylston has sold his oil to sangrains Correspondent because this will both shew the Bostonians that a Markett may be found in france, much better than in England, & the Parrissians that this oil is much better & Cheaper than any other M r. Barretts Contract bids fair to compleat the business & to introduce a regular Exchange of...
554From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 30 th. Ult o. and thank you for the extract enclosed— The Commerce of new England will follow their oil, wherever it may go and therefore I think it good Policy, in the Controller General to take of the duty— But there is another object of Importance I mean the sperma Cæti Chandles— Will you be so good as to inform me whether these are prohibited in france?...
555John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 28 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter of the 8 th , untill the day before yesterday.— That I have not Seen with Pleasure, Approbation or Indifference, the Introduction into America, of So great an Innovation, as an order of Chivalry, or any Thing like One, or that has a Tendency to one, is very true. that I have been violent against it, is not So. I am not a violent Man. I have disapproved of this...
556John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received in Season, the Letter mentioned in yours of the Second of this Month, but as there was nothing in it which required an immediate Answer, I have not acknowledged the Recipt of it, untill now. If an Express should be upon his Passage with any Arrangement of Congress, respecting their foreign Affairs I presume the Departure of M r Jay and M r Laurens for America, will disarrange it: So...
557From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 29 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am now to inform you, that I am ordered by Congress to this Country, and you will please to address your future Letters to me as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, at the Court of Great Britain. The Relation nevertheless between you and me, is not yet dissolved, because Congress have not yet sent me a Letter of Recall, nor appointed another Minister to succeed me at...
558From John Adams to De la Lande & Fynje, 24 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Letter and Sincerely Sympathize with you under your Misfortunes. I have transmitted your Letter to N. York and had before written to the Treasury Board, as much in your Favour, as you could reasonably desire: but it has been Since hinted in Conversation here that you have entered into some Covenant with an House here to the partial Advantage of that House and its Connections...
559From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 29 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me on the 23 d: inst t: and approve very much of your proposed application to the Regency of Amsterdam. But I hope to consult with you, more particularly very soon.— I shall sett off as soon as possible, but as I must go round by Calais and Antwerp. and the Season is extremely rigorous, and travelling very bad, I fear it will be...
560From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 14 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been prevented from writing you, a long Time by another Attack of a Fever, the Rests as I Suppose of that violent one which I had at Amsterdam two Years ago which was never perfectly cured.— This last I am perswaded will be of Service to me. I must now beg the Favour of you Gentlemen to inform me by Letter, how our Loan proceeds, and what Number of Obligations remain to be disposed of,...
561From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 29 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
when I left Amsterdam, I despaired of doing any Thing to prevent the Bills of Exchange from being Sent back.— It is possible however that Something may have Since happened, to give Us better hopes.— I should be obliged to you, if you would inform me, whether there is yet any Ground to expect any Aid from the venerable Regency of your City, or not. The Commerce of the City is much interested in...
562From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 14 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the Second of December and am extreamly Sorry to learn, that a Number of M r Morris’s Bills have been protested. You did very prudently in writing immediately to M r Franklin, to enquire if M r Grand could afford you, any Assistance. I hope you have received a favourable Answer. I am waiting for Answers from M r Franklin to Letters written to him, to determine...
563III. Supplementary Instructions to John Lamb, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received information that two American vessels, the Dauphin from Philadelphia and the Maria from Boston with their crews and cargoes have lately been taken by the Algerines off the coast of Portugal and that the crews are reduced to slavery. Our full powers to that State being for the general purpose only of concluding a treaty of Amity and Commerce, the redemption of our citizens made...
564From John Adams to John Lamb, 31 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
M r Randall who proposes to Sail in a few Days for N York, will deliver you this Letter. If, I have not Overlookd any Article in your Account you have drawn Bills upon me which have been accepted & paid to the amount of 32 hundred and 12 Pounds 12 shillings Sterling for the Expenditure of which you will Account with Congress and pay the Ballance into their Treasury after paying M r Randall his...
565VI. Heads of Inquiry, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
1. Commerce. What are the articles of their export and import? What articles of American produce might find a market in Algiers and at what prices? Whether rice, flour, tobacco, furs, ready built ships, fish, oil, tar, turpintine, ship timber &c. and whether any of these articles would hereafter be acceptable as presents? What duties are levied by them on exports and imports? Do all nations...
566John Adams to Henry Laurens, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received yours of the third of this Month, accompanied with the Packet, put into your Hands by M r Reed, I have also received, as I Suppose the two or three Letters which went to Bath and were returned to M r stockdales, and am obliged to you for your Care of them. Upon my Arrival at the Hague, from London, one of the first Things I did, was to look for the Letters you demand. I...
567From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your Favour of 27. July. and wish it were in my Power to relieve your Anxiety by giving you any comfortable Hopes from this Country. The national Sense and public Voice is decidedly against Us in the Whale Trade and Ship trade, and there are as yet but feeble Parties for Us in the West India Trade and Colony Trade. I may Say to you that, if Ireland had not escaped from the...
568John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 14. Jan. was brought me Yesterday. I have been obliged to come here, in order to raise Money, for the Payment of Bills to a large amount, which M r Morris drew, at a venture, and have at length Succeeded, but it is So lately, that I have not yet joined my Colleagues in Paris, and I am undetermined, whether I Shall go there before the Commission you mention arrives, to treat with...
569John Adams to Arthur Lee, 31 January 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 12 th. August from New York, and by the Marquis de la Fayette who visited me last night, I have the Pleasure to learn that you have finished your Negotiations with the Indians, to the Satisfaction and Advantage of the Publick. I learn too with great Pleasure that your Brother has accepted a Seat in Congress and in the Chair. permit me to congratulate you upon...
570From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 18 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you, for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival, and M rs Adams returns you her Compliments and Thanks. The Accession of Virginia, to the New Constitution is a great Event.— You and I Should not materially differ, I fancy, if We were to compare Notes of a perfect Commonwealth. But I consider the present Project, as a commencement of a national Government, to be a valuable...
571From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 24 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of 23. oct r. and I must confess to you, that the situation I am in is the most pleasant in many respects, that I have ever been in, on this side the ocean. But still there is something wanting, which is quite essential: I mean a more benevolent spirit in the Nation towards the United States— a more honest disposition too is wanting— I even wish that my Candour...
572John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 8 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
It was with very great Pleasure, that I learn’d your Return to Congress, and Election to the Chair. indeed So many names that are familiar to me make me wish myself with you. a Congress So respectable as the present must have great Weight both at home and abroad. it is only by Sending to that Assembly, the best Men and most respectable Characters, that the People can expect to have their Union...
573From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 29 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Appointment of a Secretary of foreign Affairs, interrupts the Official Correspondence, with your Excellency, and I know too well the constant Employment of the Time of the President of Congress to flatter myself with hopes of many private Letters. I may not however Suffer my son to return home, as he must go by the Way of New York without a Letter of Introduction to the President...
574From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honour of receiving your Letter of the first of August, and I pray you to accept of my Thanks for your kind Attention and obliging Civilities to my son. It was the first News We had of him Since he Sail’d from L’Orient. I hope that, after remaining in N. York long enough to pay his Respects where they were due, he made haste to Boston. Your Reasoning, Sir, both upon the...
575From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 26 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
This letter will be delivered you by M r: C. S. of Boston, who has lived much in my family & done me much service as a private Seretary, and that without any other reward than the opinion that he was doing service to his Country.— The time was approaching when the K. of Prussia was to make the annual review of his Army, & the month of August is so disagreable & unwholesome in London that all...
576From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 15 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 28 May, and am fully of your Opinion of the Importance of Concord between our Country and this and of the Causes which obstruct it. The Malignity of disappointed Men is astonishing; but the Change of Language, if not of Sentiment, of Some who have not been disappointed is more so. in Truth Sir, some, who foresaw the Success of...
577From John Adams to Philippe André Joseph de Létombe, 14 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Packetts which go Monthly from L’Orient to New york are very beneficial in my humble opinion both to France and America—and I cannot say that they would be more so if any alteration were made in the Plan But some Americans are of opinion it would be better to have them Sail from Havre de Grace as that is the sea Port of Paris the Convenience of transporting both Mails Passengers and...
578From John Adams to Christian Lotter, 8 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 30 of March as I did another Sometime ago. I congratulate you on the Increase of your family and wish the New born as well as his Parrents Health Long Life and Happiness My son is to embark in May for his native Country, where he is to finish his education for a Profession in which I hope he will be a usefull Man, you will be so good as to pack up for him...
579From John Adams to Christian Lotter, 10 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry to have given M r: or Mad e: Dumas any trouble about my little affairs at the Hotel. Their friendship for me would have induced them to take the trouble upon them; but, as it is not necessary, I am sorry I ever hinted to M r: Dumas any thing about overseeing the packing of my books & c: & c: — But I have written to him & M r: Willinks that you are to come over with the things. M r....
580John Adams to James Lovell, 12 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to confess that your Letter of the 5. of July is unanswered. But my dear Sir, I have been So roughly handled by various Climates, Voyages Journeys, Scurveys and Fevers, and So tossed about from Post to Pillar, by the Business assigned me from time to time, and amidst all this, So overloaded with Business, that I have for Sometime past, been constrained to prefer Indolence and Ease...
581From John Adams to Jean Luzac, 2 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
It is with great and sincere Pleasure, that I have to acknowledge the receipt of your friendly and obliging Letter of the 26 th of August. Your kind congratulations on my arrival are very agreeable to me. I assure you it was a very pleasing Event. and the few Months that have passed since I have been at home, have been the happiest portion of my Life. The Agriculture, the Manufactures and the...
582From John Adams to the Massachusetts General Court, 18 June 1788 (Adams Papers)
To the Honourable the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts The kind and condescending Congratulations of So illustrious a Body as the Legislature of the Massachusetts, on my arrival with my Family, in this my native Country, does me great honour and demands my most gratefull Acknowledgments If the Dangers and Fatigues which have fallen to my Share in the Course of a memorable...
583From John Adams to Samuel Mather, 26 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received with Pleasure your valuable Legacy, and your Letter by M r: Temple. I am obliged to you for these Attentions to me, and should have acknowledged them sooner if the public Service had not so constantly employed me. Your Son, and his Lady, with M rs: Hay, were so kind, as to call and dine with us at Auteuil last Fall. They are now at Beaugency, at some distance from Paris, but in good...
584From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 12 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24. May is before me. To presume defend the Seperation of the Legislative Executive and Judicial Powers, from each other, and the Division of the Legislature into three branches, from the attacks of County Committees, riotous assemblies, and uninformed Philosophers and Statesmen, will be the Burthen of my Song and I am very glad to find that the Attempt, has met with your...
585From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 15 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
In your favour of Oct r. 29, You inform me that The Marquis has observed in Germany, that the Lies which are Spread to our disadvantage, must be injurious to our national honour, if We neglect to contradict them.— When I came first to Europe now approaching to Eight Years ago, my Indignation was roused, at the Shameless Falshoods which were continually propagated, and I took a great deal of...
586From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 23 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favours of the 8. &. 10, and although I am Sorry you did not find every Thing to your Satisfaction in America, I congratulate You on your Safe Arrival in Europe and wish you Success in your Views. If by giving a proper Consistency to our Confederation you mean, the making of Congress Souvereign and Supream in the Negotiation of Treaties of Commerce, and in Regulating the...
587From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 29 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have found in the Remembrancer of the Year 1775, page 309, that a Petition was presented to his Majesty on Wednesday the 11 th. of September, from the City of Bristol by M r Burke, one of the Representatives of that City, in which are the following Words. “We owe a Testimony of Justice to your Colonies, which is, that in the midst of the present distractions, We have received many...
588From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 1 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of Feb. 24. I rec d. but this Moment.— The Mass. Law in question obliged Masters of Vessells, before they landed a Passenger to give Bonds, to maintain him, in Case he came to want. it was intended to indemnify Parishes, or rather Towns, against the Maintenance of Paupers.— This Law turned the Tide of Emigration from Ireland to Philadelphia.— it was early in this Century I believe,...
589From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 26 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
The insinuation of the Abby Raynal, mentioned in your Letter of the 17 th. —that “the Savages were to be dispossessed of Lands, which they would not cultivate,” is injurious. The first Settlers of New England, as well as of the other Parts of America, were Scrupulous to purchase the Title of the Indians, wherever they planted. In a Course of many Years practice in the Courts of Law, I have had...
590From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 20 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
It is impossible for me to assist you in your Refutation of the Abbe Raynal.— My time is all taken up, and there is not enough of it.— The Quakers changed the Names of Days and Months, first day second day &c first Month, Second Month &c—but the other New England People never did that I know any Thing of.— if they did you will find it in Hutchinson, as well as what relates to the 2250 Livres...
591From John Adams to Patrick Miller, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received the elegant volume you did me the honor to address to me, and shall take the first favorable opportunity to transmit it to Congress at New York, in conformity to your desire. Improvements in Naval Architecture are interesting to all men, and to none more than to the United States of America; where your inventions Sir, in this kind, will meet with both Scientific and experienced...
592VI. Thomas Barclay’s Letter of Credence to the Emperor of Morocco, 1–11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Congress of the United States of America after the conclusion of that war which established their freedom & independance, & after the cares which were first necessary for the restoration of order & regular government, turned their attention in the first moment possible to the connections which it would be proper to form with the nations on this side the Atlantic for the maintenance of...
593I. The American Commissioners’ Draft of Thomas Barclay’s Letter of Credence to the Emperor of Morocco, 12 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America, heretofore connected in Government with Great Britain, have found it necessary for their Happiness to Seperate from her, and to assume an independant Station. consisting of a number of Seperate States, they have confederated together, and placed the Sovereignty of the whole, in matters relating to foreign nations, in an body an Assembly consisting of Delegates...
594VII. The American Commissioners’ Instructions to Thomas Barclay for Negotiations with Morocco, 1–11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Congress having been pleased to invest us with full powers for entering into treaty of Amity and Alliance with the Emperor of Morocco, and it being impracticable for us to attend his court in person & equally impracticable on account of our seperate stations to receive a Minister from him, we have concluded to effect our object by the intervention of a confidential person. We concur in wishing...
595From John Adams to Robert Morris, 14 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I beg Leave to introduce to you M r: Thaxter, and to recommend him to your Benevolence— If very hard Services constitute Merit he has it in great Perfection— When I was received in Holland it would have been natural for me to have recommended him to Congress for the Secretary to that Legation, But M r: Dumas had been long there. and had behaved well— As M r: Thaxter came out with me, when I...
596From John Adams to Perez Morton, 15 September 1788 (Adams Papers)
On saturday night, I received your letter of the tenth of this month, and with it a letter inclosed to you from his excellency M r Bowdoin of the same date. The late misfortune in a family for which from my earliest infancy, I have entertained a particular respect, the charges and suspicions against you, for whom I have long had a particular regard, have affected me so very sensibly, that I...
597From John Adams to Robert Murdoch, 4 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am no stranger to the case of the unfortunate Alexander Grosse in whose favour You did me the honor to write me your Letter from Dunkirk of the 30 th. June, I lately received from His Excellency James Bowdoin Esq r Governor of the Massachusetts an Application from the friends of M r. Grosse, which as I was desired, I communicated to the Comte D’Adhemar, who has transmitted it to the Comte De...
598From John Adams to Edward Newenham, 24 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the Letter you did me the honour to write me, on the 16 of this Month. The Editors of News papers find that nothing contributes more to the Sale of their Merchandize than paragraphs respecting Dr Franklin. at one time they put him to death by sickness on his passage; at another they Send him captive to Algiers: & then they wreck him on the coast of Madeira: & any Such...
599From John Adams to the Second Congregational Church of Newport, Rhode Island, 12 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 26 th. of May with two addresses inclosed one to the Ministers and Churches of the reformed in Holland, the other to those in France, and it should have been answered sooner had not a long Sickness prevented.— I am duely Sensible of the Honour, you do me, Gentlemen by confiding this benevolent Office to my Care, and it would...
600From John Adams to Charles van Notten, 29 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of Yesterday and I wish it were in my power to give you a Sattisfactory answer, and to remove all your apprehensions for the fate of your Friends. but it is not I have not any reason however to increase them as I have not received from America any Intelligence like that you mention to me. If the Article of the 15 of August from N Y—which you Saw, was in an American...