21Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, February 10, 1779: As the change in command of the Ranger might be subject to misinterpretation, we hereby certify that your leaving that ship was with our consent and at the express request of M. de Sartine, who desired to employ you in some public service. That Lt. Simpson...
22From John Adams to John Bondfield, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the Cloathing, is a great Disappointment and Misfortune in America. The British Ministry are never at a Loss. You see they were very ready to discover how Mr. Laurens was to be treated. They will easily know how to treat Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler. If Americans had understood...
23From John Adams to John Bondfield, 31 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
At Bayonne, I had the Honour of yours of the 25. Decr. last, which was delivered me by Mr. Dufour, whom you desired to assist me with whatever I should want particularly with Money. Mr. Dufour politely offered me, Supplies of Cash, and services of any sort in which he could be usefull to me, and I was very sorry that I could not have the Opportunity of forming an Acquaintance with him: but my...
24From John Adams to John Bondfield, 24 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
This day I had the Pleasure of yours of the 20th. By the arrival of so many Vessells, at Bilbao, Bourdeaux Nantes, L’orient, and Amsterdam, I think We may fairly conclude that the British Vessells of War have other occupations than cruising, and that the Commerce of our Country is opening and extending in an agreable manner. But as these Vessells bring so few Letters to the Politicians I begin...
25From John Adams to John Jay, 28 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
26From John Adams to John Bondfield, 2 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have Occasion for a Cask of Bordeaux Wine, of the very best Quality, such as You sent Us, when I was at Passy. I wish You would be so good, as to send it me, as soon as possible, as I am in great distress for want of it, having none, and being able to get none so good for daily Consumption. Your Bill for the Money shall be paid punctually. Another favor I have to ask of You, and that is a...
27Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We do not think ourselves authorized to give any Orders concerning the Deductions to be made from the Seamen’s Price money or Wages, of what was advanced to them. The Resolutions of Congress must be complied with as to your Stores and Furniture, we suppose there can be no Difficulty, but that M. Simpson will as he ought to deliver you your private Property upon Request. We are not informed...
28To John Jay from John Adams, 28 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
29John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of March 20/31 I have received. I am well pleased with your learning German for many Reasons, and principally because I am told that Science and Literature flourish more at present in Germany than any where. A Variety of Languages will do no harm unless you should get an habit of attending more to Words than Things. But, my dear Boy, above all Things, preserve your Innocence, and a pure...
30From John Adams to John Howard, 16 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have just rec d. the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 26 th. ult:. You could not have applied to a person, less acquainted with the subject of lands. I know not where the best, & cheapest at the same time, are to be found: Indeed I should think it most prudent, for the man who wishes to purchase, to go to the Country first & enquire—and not to be in haste. There are Lands...
31From John Adams to John Bondfield, 25 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you once before this day —but it is necessary I should write again. After sending my french servant, a monstrous number of Times, all over the City after my Wine I can learn nothing of it. Upon looking over the Invoice and your Letters, and showing them to the Abbé’s my friends, they say that my Wine, was sent by a private Waggon, and that that Waggon belongs to a private Person in the...
32From John Adams to John Hodshon, 13 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I called the day before Yesterday at your House, but had not the good Fortune to find you at home. My Business was to pay you my Respects, and to present you my Sincere Thanks for your Kindness and Politeness to me, in assisting my Removal from Amsterdam to the Hague, and to pay you the Expence of it. But not finding you at home and being obliged to return to the Hague, I do myself the Honour...
33John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I last night received yours of 21st. I have written twice to Mr. Thaxter and inclosed in each Letter, one for you and another for Charles. I directed the Letters to Mr. Thaxter a la Cour D’Hollande. Enquire for them at that House. You tell me you attended a Lecture on Medicine, but you have mistaken the Name of the Professor. It is not Horn, but Hahn. Is not the Professor of Law named Pestel?...
34John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of 21 Aug. O.S. the first I have received, reached me only two or three days ago. I am pleased to see, your hand Writing improve, as well as your Judgment ripen, as you travel. But I am above all happy to find that your Behaviour has been such as to gain the Confidence of M r . D ana so far as to employ you in copying. This Employment requires a great degree of Patience and...
35From John Adams to John Bondfield, 3 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letters of the 17th. 20th. of June as well as that of 20th of May, are unanswered. I hope Soon to receive the Vin de Boisac —please to draw upon me, as soon as you please for, the whole, your Bills shall be paid upon sight. I am very glad that your Application to the Minister succeeded. Have you transmitted those Papers to Congress? Sending them to me, can only convince me of what, I...
36John Adams and Arthur Lee to John J. Pringle, 12 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have received your Letter of Feb. 9. offering your Services to the public by going to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, We have considered this Subject and judging it necessary to send some Person upon this Business, We have determined to accept of your Proposition, and We desire you to...
37John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
You cannot imagine, the Anxiety I have felt on your Account, nor the Pleasure just received from your Letter of Feb. 1. I had heard nothing of you Since the Beginning of December when you was in Stockholm, and then only by the public Papers. When you arrive at the Hague, you may take your Choice, either to remain there and follow your Studies under the Direction of Mr. Dumas or go to Leyden to...
38John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Two ingenious Artificers, a Mr. Wheeler and a Mr. Wiley, under the Direction of a Committee, have been lately employed in making a Field Piece, a three Pounder, of bar iron. They have succeeded beyond Expectation. They have finished off a beautifull Piece of ordnance, which from all the Experiments hitherto made, promises great Things. The Weight of it, is two hundred and twenty six Pounds...
39Arthur Lee and John Adams to John Julius Pringle, 12 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letter of Feb. 9. offering your Services to the public by going to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners. We have considered this Subject and judging it necessary to send some Person upon this Business, We have determined to accept of your Proposition, and We desire you to prepare yourself for the Journey, with all convenient Dispatch. Your Instructions shall be...
40John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to learn, by your Favour of the 12th, that you have begun to translate Suetonius. This is a very proper book to teach you to love your Country and her Laws. Do you translate it into French or English? You Should always have a Book of Amusement, to read, along with your Severe Studies and laborious Exercises. I should not advise you to take these Books always from the shelf of Plays...
41John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
It gives me great Pleasure to find, that your Situation is agreable to you. An abler Instructor than Mr. Dumas is not to be found. Is not an 100 Verses at a Time too long a Lesson? Are you familiar enough with the Latin to comprehend So many Verses at once? You have Ainsworths Dictionary I presume. Let no Word escape you, without being understood. Drydens is a good translation, but it is not...
42To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and John Jay, 28 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Delaware Mr Adams and Mr Jay present their Compliments to Dr Franklin and inform him, that they have just seen Mr Laurens and agreed with him upon a Meeting of the American Ministers Tomorrow at Eleven, at Mr Laurens’s Lodgings. The Drs Company is desired, and Mr Franklin Junr is requested also to attend. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre...
43From John Adams to John Jay, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I recieved from L’Orient a sett of fresh Instructions from Congress, dated the 16th. of August, and with the more enjoined to open a Correspondence with your Excellency, upon the subject of them. I presume You have Copy by the same Vessel; but as it is possible it may have been omitted, I shall venture to inclose a Copy, and hope it may pass unopened. I have communicated it...
44From John Adams to John Bondfield, 7 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday yours of 30 of June. As to taking the ships, for the United States, I have no Commission Instructions or other Authority whatsoever, to do any such Thing: and I presume no other Person in Europe has. I hope in God that no ship will ever be again, built, bought, hired, lent or I had almost Said given to the united states in Europe, nor any ever again put under the Command...
45From John Adams to John Avery, 25 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I find myself, under a Necessity of applying to the Honourable the general Court for Leave to return home. I have attended here, So long and So constantly, that I feel myself necessitated to ask this Favour, on Account of my Health, as well as on many other Accounts. I beg Leave to propose to the Honourable Court an Alteration in their Plan of Delegation in Congress, which it appears to me,...
46John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your Letter of Jany. 1/12, and thank you for your account of the Place where you are. I will send you a Dictionary, as soon as I can, but it will be a long time before you can have it. I am very anxious for your Studies. Write me what Books You can procure there, and what others you want. I am much pleased with your Letter to Mr. Thaxter, but it is a Mortification to me to...
47John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of 13 this morning. If you have not found a convenient Place to remove into, you may continue in your present Lodgings another Month. I am glad you have finished Phaedrus, and made Such Progress in Nepos, and in Greek. Amidst your Ardour for Greek and Latin I hope you will not forget your mother Tongue. Read Somewhat in the English Poets every day. You will find them elegant,...
48From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 27 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed To Congress. By what Vessell it will be proper to Send it, deserves to be considered as soon as possible,...
49John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this Morning received yours inclosing a Letter from the Duke de la Vauguion. Please to inform me in your next, when the Vacation begins. It is my Design that you shall come and spend a Part of the Vacation with me.—I approve very much of your taking the Delft Gazette the Writer of which is a great Master of his Language, and is besides a very good Friend to his Country and to yours. You...
50To John Jay from John Adams, 13 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26 th . of April, and am very happy, to have at last recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but some how or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest abilities, and the most...