11From John Adams to James Searle, 15 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received your friendly Letter last Evening, and thank you for your kind Remembrance, of your Old Friend. To hear of your Success and Prosperity in Business; the Independence of your Circumstances, and the Contentment of your heart, gives me a Pleasure, the more exquisite, as it is so rare.— It is almost the Single Instance, that I have received Since my Return to America. My Correspondence...
12John Adams’ Reply to George Washington’s Queries Regarding Presidential Conduct, [17 May 1789] (Adams Papers)
The Vice President of the United States has the honour to present his humble Opinion, on the Points proposed, for his consideration. 1. That an Association with all kinds of company, and a total Seclusion from Society, are extreams, which, in the actual Circumstances of this Country, and under our form of Government, may be properly avoided. 2. The System of the President, will gradually...
13From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 17 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 19 of March deserves a particular consideration and answer, which I have not, till now, been able, from a multitude of avocations some frivolous yet indispensable, others of more consequence, to give it. The Influence which you Suppose I may have as President of the Senate, will be found to be very little, if any at all. you Say the Eastern States must not be Suspected: but...
14To George Washington from John Adams, 17 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Vice President of the United States has the honour to present his humble opinion, on the Points proposed, for his consideration. 1. That an association with all kinds of company, and a total Seclusion from Society, are extreams, which, in the actual Circumstances of this Country, and under our form of Government, may be properly avoided. 2. The System of the President, will gradually...
15John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am in such a situation that I cannot see the way clear for you to come on, till some resolution is passed in the House.— You will be as ready as you can, and I will write you the Moment to come on . any Thing is done.— I will resign my office rather than bring you here to be miserable. Yours eternally RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “M rs Adams / Braintree.”
16From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 18 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two letters of April 21 and 28 th and am obliged to you for introducing your Brother Oliver Bowen Esq r , to whom I wish success in his pursuits— But the Senators & Representatives from Georgia and other States in its neighbourhood will be most naturally consulted upon his application your Observations upon the high duty upon Molasses, are all very just and have been...
17John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
inclosed is a Letter from Capt n. Brown who commands the best Packet between Providence and this Place.— He called very politely and respectfully to offer his service in bringing you to New York.— if you can let him know the time when you can come, he will be ready. I have taken an House: but have nothing to put in it, [no]r to live on.— nothing is yet determined, I never felt so [ir]resolute...
18From John Adams to Richard Price, 20 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I last night received your friendly letter of March the fifth: and am happy to find that I have a place in your remembrance. There are few portions of my life that I recollect with more entire satisfaction than the hours I spent at Hackney, under your Ministry, and in private society, and conversation with you at other places— The approbation you are pleased to express of my Speculations on...
19From John Adams to Arnold Welles, 21 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honour to write me, on the fifth of this month and thank you for your obliging congratulation on the event of the votes of the Electors. as far as I am personally concerned in this Event it was not a subject of much congratulation: it was rather a mortification to me to see that in our first great Election, so great a portion of our Fellow Citizens had...
20From John Adams to William Hindman, 22 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of April 24 th —recommending Gustavus Scott Esq r for employment in the Law Department— The President is you know in the first Instance the sole Judge of the Persons proper to be nominated to officer When the Nomination is made the Senate have a Negative but the Vice President has no Voice excepting in the case of an equal division of the Senators— There are...
21From John Adams to Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, 22 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received with pleasure your friendly letter of the 25 th of April—your recommendation of M r William Pickman has great weight with me. but you must give me leave to enquire whether he has made application to the President: if he has not he should be advised to do it, immediately. There you know the Constitution has wisely placed the Authority of judging in the first instance of the Merits...
22John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 16 th .— I have taken a large and handsome house, in a beautiful Situation, about two miles out of the City, upon the North River. The Rent is less, than I must have given for a much meaner house in Town, without any such accommodations of Stable Garden, Pasture &c I now desire you to come on, as soon as possible, and to Send by Tirrell, or some other Vessel,...
23From John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 26 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
M r Van berckel informs me that you were desirous of seeing the second and third Volumes of the Defence & c When I gave orders for the first to be sent you I expected that the other two would have been sent. I am very glad nevertheless Sir of renewing to you the assurances of my sincre esteem attachment and respect. My regards at the same time if you please to my Friend D r Marclane— My Fellow...
24From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 26 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am, this Evening favoured with yours of the 18. In Answer to your Question, I ask another.— Where is the Sovereignty of the Nation lodged? Is it in the national Government, or in the State Governmen[ts?] Are there more Sovereignties than one? if there is more than one there are Eleven. if there are Eleven there is no general Government—for there cannot be eleven Sovereignties against one.—...
25From John Adams to William Smith, 27 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your obliging Letter of the 19 th . a drawback on Rum exported is admitted by the House, and I believe will not be taken off by the Senate. The duty on Molasses will be reduced to 4 Cents and I hope to three. Your Reasoning appears to be very just and I think will prevail. The jealousies Distilleries and Breweries are natural and cannot be wholly prevented: but I hope they will...
26From John Adams to William Tudor, 27 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 18 th. but cannot agree with you that “a considerable Period must elapse before the United States can arise to Greatness.”— They are already arrived at Greatness, and their greatest Misfortune is that they know it not.— The Politicians, if such there are, who think it best We never should be great are already disappointed. They may possibly contribute to keep...
27From John Adams to William Tudor, 28 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
What is there which the new Government possesses, on which to found its Authority.? Has it Honours? has it pleasures? has it profits to bestow, which may Attract the Attention, excite the Love, or alarm the Fear, of Such a Majority in every State as will compell the Minority to Obedience? Has the national Government at this moment, Attractions enough to make a Seat in it, an Object of Desire,...
28From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 29 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
A little before my departure from Braintree I received your favour inclosing a letter from M rs Walker. last night I received that of the 7 th May There was no necessity of any apology for writing to me after so long a correspondence there has never been on my part any failure of friendship to M r Warren or yourself— you are very much mistaken in your opinion of my situation. I have neither...
29John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your old Acquaintance M r Harrison of Cadiz will deliver you this, if you should not, as I hope you will, be Sett off for this place before he can reach Braintree.— I expect you, here indeed in a Week or ten days at farthest, from this date. M rs Washington is arrived. My House and Garden want us very much. We Shall be obliged to bring all our Furniture and most of our Books, except the Law...
30From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
By the last post I was favoured with yours of the twenty first of May: M r Duncan I presume has not come on—neither by his letter or your own am I made acquainted with his Views or the Object of his Wishes— I can only say to him as to all others, that his application must be made to the President and it ought to in writing Your testimony in his fav r will have weight— I thank you Sir for your...
31From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 5 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have this Evening received, your favour of May 30 th. inclosed with a Sermon at the Installation of M r Morse. This elegant Discourse, I have read with the more pleasure, because that, besides the good Sense, the moral Sentiments and christian Benevolence which it breaths, I had the last Week an Opportunity of commencing an Acquaintance with M r Morse himself, who appears to be an...
32From John Adams to Richard Peters, 5 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the Pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 28 th. of May. M r Beals Intention was not to Stay in Philadelphia more than two or three days, and his absence from this Place was accordingly very short. I thank you, for your obliging Enquiries after him, and for your kind offers of Civility to others of my Friends. I hope e’re long to be in a Condition to receive any Friend of...
33John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I must now most Seriously request you to come on to me as soon as conveniently you can. never did I want your assistance more than at present, as my Physician and my Nurse. my disorder of Eight years standing has encreased to such a degree as to be very troublesome and not a little alarming.— I have agreed to take Col Smith and his Family and Furniture into the House with us and they will be...
34From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 9 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
No! You and I will not cease to discuss political questions: but We will agree to disagree , whenever We please, or rather whenever either of Us thinks he has reason for it.— I really know not what you mean by apeing the Corruptions of the British Court. I wish Congress had been called to meet at Philadelphia: but as it is now here, I can conceive of no way to get it transported thither,...
35From John Adams to Samuel Barrett, 11 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honour to write me on the first of this month with its inclosures: The Letter to The President is conceived with propriety & expressed with decency. As the Investigation of the Characters, Services, Qualifications, and all other pretensions of every Candidate for public employment, is constitutionally, in the President in the first Instance; General...
36From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 11 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the Letter you did me, the honour to write me, on the 30. of May: but have not yet had an opportunity to See M r Boid. Whenever that Gentleman shall appear, it will be a pleasure to me to give him all the Attention and Assistance, in my Power, which may be due to public Justice, and to your Recommendation. We proceed Slowly: but in digesting Plans so new, so extensive and so...
37From John Adams to William Tudor, 12 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters put me more and more out of Patience every Post.— Why, in that of the 6 th. do you call our national Government a federal Republick ? It is no more that, than it is Sphœrical Trigonometry. What is a federal Republic? It is an association of a Number of independent Sovereign States.— Are the Seperate States in our national Government, Sovereign and independent? If they are, We had...
38From John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 12 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
The last Evenings Post favoured me with yours of the 6 th . Many Gentlemen are in favour of a national Excise: and Some would have the nation take upon itself all the State Debts. M r Morris particularly: but I cannot say what will be done. My Burthens are not very heavy: but my health is not very good.— I have been obliged to decide many questions on the Impost Bill, the Senate being equally...
39From John Adams to Richard Peters, 18 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
Success you say, in yours of the 15 th. stamps a substantial value upon measures, Yet the Motto under a Picture of O. Cromwell, is not without its Justice It is a saying in France, “We can never be ruined, for if our ruin had been possible, it would have been accomplished long ago, since the wisest Heads in France have been these hundred Years employed in doing all they could to effect it”—...
40From John Adams to James Searle, 18 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 10 th. and in answer to your question, I have no scruple to say, that on your arrival in Holland you appeared to me to take as effectual measures as any man could then have taken to obtain a loan to the state of Pensylvania: But that such was the situation of Affairs, that it was next to Impossible to obtain any considerable Loan for the United states Jointly...