201To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 24 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a Letter from the Baron De Thulemeier of the 19th. and a Copy of his Letter to you of the same date. I hope now in a few Day’s to take Mr. Short by the hand in Grosvenor Square and to put my hand to the treaty. I think no time should be lost. We will join Mr. Dumas with Mr. Short in the Exchange if you please. I applyed as you desired, and obtained the interposition of the Lords...
202John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 27 th June is received with pleasure, for the free air of it delights me. Your number of 1267. letters in a year, does not surprise me; I have no list of mine, and I could not make one without a weeks research, And I do not believe I ever received one quarter part of your number. And I very much doubt whether I received in the same year one twelfth part; There are reasons enough...
203From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Barretts Arrival at Paris, is a lucky Event, and his appointment by the Merchants in Boston a judicious Step; but I am not So clear in the Choice he makes of L’Orient to reside in.— Paris, or even Havre, Seems to me a better Situation. Paris in preference to all others.— If Boylstone would Act in concert with him, his Capital, would be equal to every Thing which relates to the Business:...
204From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your favour of the 23 of January. I suspected that the Sample was left at the Post Office and that you would soon have it. I regret the Shabby Condition in which you found it: but it was the only Copy I had, and I thought it Scarcely worth while to wait till I could get a Sett properly bound. The Dissertation on the State of real homespun was a feast to me,...
205To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 3 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 23 of June is come to hand, with a Copy of Mr. Lambs of 6 June from Aranjuez. There is no Intelligence from America of Armies marching to take the Posts from the English. The News was made as I Suppose against the opening of the Three Per Cents, and it had the intended Effect to beat down the Stocks a little. Altho the Posts are important, the war with the Turks is more So. I lay...
206X. John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday, at Boston, I received your friendly Letter of July 17th. with great pleasure. I give full credit to your relation of the manner, in which your note was written and prefixed to the Philadelphia edition of Mr. Paines pamphlet on the rights of Man: but the misconduct of the person, who committed this breach of your confidence, by making it publick, whatever were his intentions, has...
207From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
Yours Ap. 8 has long Since been recd. J. “Would you agree to live your 80 years over again”? A. Aye! And Sanse Phrases.” J. “Would you agree to live your Eighty-Years over again forever”? A. I once heard our Acquaintance, Chew, of Philadelphia Say, “He Should like to go back to 25, to all Eternity”: but I own my Soul would Start and Shrink back on itself, at the Prospect of an endless...
208John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Before I proceed to the order of the day, which is the terrorism of a former day: I beg leave to correct an Idea, that Some readers may infer from an expression in one of your Letters. No Sentiment or expression in any of my Answers to Addresses were obtruded or insinuated by any Person about me. Every one of them was written with my own hand. I alone am responsable for all the Mistakes and...
209From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your Favour of 30. May with its Inclosures. You have Since that day no doubt received my Answer to yours of the 11 th. , in which I agreed perfectly with You in the Propriety of Sending M r Lamb to Congress without Loss of time. I am content to Send M r Randal with him but had rather he Should come to You first and then to me, and embark in London after We shall have had...
210John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 3–5] July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Correspondences! The Letters of Bernard and Hutchinson , and Oliver and Paxton &c were detected and exposed before The Revolution. There are I doubt not, thousands of Letters, now in being, but Still concealed, from their Party to their Friends, which will, one day See the light. I have wondered for more than thirty years that So few have appeared: and have constantly expected that a Tory...
211From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
I last night received, the Ratification of my last Loan and the inclosed Resolution of Congress of 18 July last, for the Redemption of Prisoners at Algiers.— It is probable you have received it before, but as it is, in your Department to execute it, and possible that you may, not have received it, I thought it Safest to transmit it to you, as I have now the honour to do, here inclosed. M r...
212To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Nathaniel Barrett, a Gentleman of a respectable Family in Boston, of a fair Character and long Experience in Trade, will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter. He comes to France for the express Purpose of negotiating with proper Persons concerning the Proposals of Monsieur Tourtille de Sangrain, relative of Sperma Cœti oil. I beg Leave to recommend him and his Business to your...
213From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Mazzei, called on me, last Evening, to let me know that he was this morning at three to Sett off, on his Journey, for Italy. He desired me to write you, that he has communicated to me the Nature of his Errand: but that his Papers being lost, he waits for a Commission and Instructions from you. That being limited to five Per Cent, and more than that being given by the Powers of Europe, and...
214From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, September 1813 (Adams Papers)
σὲ γὰρ πάντεσσι θέμις θνητοῖσι προσαυδᾶn. “It is not only permitted but enjoined upon all Mortals to address you.” Why should not our Divines translate it “It is our duty and our priviledge to address the Throne of thy grace and pray for all needed lawfull Blessings temporal and Spiritual,”. Θεμις was the Goddess of honesty, Justice, Decency, and right; the Wife of Jove, another name for Juno....
215From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
last night M r Randal arrived with yours of the 9 th. If the Prussian Treaty arrives to You, I think you will do well to Send M r Short with it to the Hague and Exchange it with Thulemeier, and get it printed in a Pamphlet Sending a Sufficient Number to you and to me. if it comes to me and you approve, I will Send Some one or go myself. The Chev r. De Pinto’s Courier unfortunately missed a...
216John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
As I owe you more for your Letters of Oct. 12. and 28 than I Shall be able to pay, I Shall begin with the P.S. to the last. I am very Sorry to Say, that I cannot “assist your memory in the Enquiries of your letter of August 22 d .” I really know not who was the compositor of any one of the Petitions or Addresses you enumerate. Nay farther I am certain I never did know. I was so shallow a...
217From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favours of Feb. 20. and 23 by M r Carnes, and the curious Pamphlets. Opening a direct Communication between Paris and America will facilitate the Trade of the two Countries, very much, and the new Treaty between France and England, will promote it still more. John Bull dont see it. and if he dont See a Thing at first, you know it is a rule with him ever...
218To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
With much pleasure I have heard read the sure words of prophecy in your letter of Sep 4 th It is melancholy to contemplate the cruel wars, dessolutions of Countries, and ocians of blood which must occure, before rational principles, and rational systems of Government can prevail and be established—but as these are inevitable we must content ourselves with the consolations which you from sound...
219From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 July 1791 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, at Boston, I received your friendly Letter of July 17th. with great pleasure. I give full credit to your relation of the manner, in which your note was written and prefixed to the Philadelphia edition of Mr Paines pamphlet on the rights of Man: but the misconduct of the person, who committed this breach of your confidence, by making it publick, whatever were his intentions, has sown...
220From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter dear Sir of Nov. 15 from Poplar Forrest was Sent to me from the Post Office the next day after I had Sent “The Analysis with my Thanks to you. “3. Vols. of Idiology!” Pray explain to me this Neological Title! What does it mean? When Bonaparte used it, I was delighted with it, upon the common Principle of delight in every Thing We cannot understand. Does it mean Idiotism? The...
221To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 23 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 11th. with the enclosures from Mr. Lamb, Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Barclay. I am not surprized that Mr. Lamb has only discovered that our means are inadequate, without learning the Sum that would be Sufficient. Il faut marchander avec ces Gens la. They must be beaten down as low as possible. But We shall find at last the Terms very dear. The Algerines will never...
222John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just read a sketch of the life of Swedenborg , and a larger work in two huge volumes of Memoirs of John Westley by Southey , and your kind letter of January 22 d came to hand in the nick of time to furnish me with a very rational exclamation, “What a bedlamite is man”! They are histories of Galvanism and Mesmerism thrown into hotch potch , they say that these men were honest and...
223From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1787 (Adams Papers)
On my return from an Excursion to Devonshire with my Family, where We have been to fly from the Putrefaction of a Great City in the Summer heats, I had the Pleasure to find your favours of 17. & 23. of July. a Million of Guilders are borrowed on a new Loan in Holland, and I went over lately to Subscribe the Obligations, a Punctillio which the Brokers were pleased to think indispensible, to...
224To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 4 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received three Letter[s] of the Tenor and Date of the within. I cannot find in any Gazetteer or geographical Dictionary any Such Place as Roscoff, and I can make nothing of the Story. I hope you have more Skill in Divination. I have no Letters from Congress, nor any Answer from the Ministry. Pray what are the Sentiments in France upon the American Acts of Navigation? And what has been...
225From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
My loving and beloved Friend, Pickering, has been pleased to inform the World that I have “few Friends.” I wanted to whip the rogue, and I had it in my Power, if it had been in my Will to do it, till the blood came. But all my real Friends as I thought them, with Dexter and Gray at their Head insisted “that I Should not Say a Word.” “That nothing that Such a Person could write would do me the...
226To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 31 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the Ratification of the Prussian Treaty, and next Thursday Shall Sett off for the Hague in order to exchange it with the Baron De Thulemeyer. Your favour of the 11th. instant I have received. There are great and weighty Considerations urged in it in favour of arming against the Algerines, and I confess, if our States could be brought to agree in the Measure, I Should be very...
227From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I forgot in my last to remark, a very trifling Inaccuracy in yours of June 27th. The Letter intercepted in Hichbournes Trunk which was reported to glance at Mr Dickenson, was not in 1776. It was in the month of June 1775. Had it been June 1776, the English would not have printed it. The Nation had then too maturely reflected, on the necessity of Independence, and was too ripe and too hot for a...
228John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your favour of the 23 of January . I suspected that the Sample was left at the Post Office and that you would Soon have it. I regret the Shabby Condition in which you found it: but it was the only Copy I had, and I thought it Scarcely worth while to wait till I could get a Sett properly bound. The Dissertation on the State of real homespun was a feast to me,...
229John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
D r Priestley , in a letter to M r Lindsey Northumberland Nov. 4. 1803 Says “ As you were pleased with my comparison of Socrates and Jesus , I have begun to carry the same comparison to all the heathen Moralists , and I have all the books that I want for the purpose, except
230John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 12 inst t . Hope springs eternal . Eight millions of Jews hope for a Messiah more powerful & glorious than Moses , David , or Solomon who is to make them as powerful as he pleases. Some hundreds of millions of Musslemen expect another Prophet more powerful than Mahomet who is to spread Islamism over the whole earth— Hundreds of millions of Christians expect...
231From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
We left Auteuil the 20 th. afternoon and have made easy Journeys. indeed We could not have done otherwise, because the Posthorses were engaged, by the unusual Number of Travellers, in Such Numbers that We have been Sometimes obliged to wait. The Country is an heap of Ashes. Grass is Scarcely to be Seen and all Sorts of Grain is Short, thin, pale and feeble while the Flax is quite dead. You See...
232From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Sent you a Copy of my Second Volume by Mr Barthelemy the French Chargé here now Minister, with a Letter about Money matters. in your favour of Sept. 28. you dont mention the receipt of them.— I have indeed long thought with Anxiety of our Money in the hands of our Friends, whom you mention, and have taken the best Precaution in my Power, against Accidents.— I do not consider the Game as up.—...
233John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February–3 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I was nibbing my pen and brushing my Faculties, to write a polite Letter of Thanks to M r Counsellor Barton for his valuable Memoirs of D r Rittenhouse though I could not account for his Sending it to me; when I received your favour of Jan. 24 th . I now most cordially indorse my Thanks over to you. The Book is in the modern American Style, an able imitation of Marshalls Washington, though far...
234John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Lord! Lord! What can I do, with So much Greek? When I was of your Age, young Man, i.e. 7 or 8 or 9 years ago I felt, a kind of pang of Affection, for one of the flames of my youth, and again paid my Addresses to Isocrates and Dionissius Hallicarnassensis &c &c &c I collected all my Lexicons and Grammers and Sat down to περι ενθε ς εως ονοματων &c. In this Way I amused myself for sometime: but...
235John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taxed my eyes with a very heavy imost impost to read the senator Tracy ’s Political Economy & been amply rewarded for the expense. When I first saw the volume I thought it was impossible I should get through it, but when I had once made a begg beginning I found myself led on in so easy a train from proposition to proposition, every one of which appeared to me self evident, that I could...
236John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your kind congratulations on the return of my little family from Europe . To receive them all in fine hea l th and good Spirits, after So long an absence, was a greater Blessing, than at my time of Life when they went away I had any right to hope or reason to expect. If the Secretary of State can give Satisfaction to his fellow citizens in his new Office it will be a Source of...
237John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, with postscript by Abigail Adams, 20 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The fit of recollection came upon both of Us, So nearly at the same time that I may, Sometime or other, begin to think there is Some thing in Priestleys and Hartleys vibrations. The day before Yesterday I Sent to the Post office a letter to you and last night I received your kind favour of the 10 th . The question before the human race is, Whether the God of nature Shall govern the World by...
238From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
As to the Cask of Wine at Auteuil, it is not paid for. if you will pay for it and take it, you will oblige me. by a Sample of it, which I tasted it is good Wine, and very, extreamly cheap. I am happy to find We agree So perfectly in the Change which is made in the Project.— The Dye is cast. The Proposal is made. Let them ruminate upon it.— I thought of proposing a Tariff of Duties, that We...
239From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Ridento dicere Verum, quid vetat. I must make you and myself merry or melancholly, by a little more Phylosophical Speculation about the formidable Subject of Aristocracy. Not long after General Dearborns return to Boston from the Army, a violent Alarm was excited and Spread in Boston and through the country, by a report at first only Secretly whispered in private circles that an Affair of Love...
240To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 1 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 18th. did not reach me, till last night. I am glad the Doctor has arrived safe and in so good health, and would fain hope he may contribute to compose the jarring Parties in Pensilvania, as well as assist in improving the Union of the States. Mrs. Rucker has a Letter from her Sister at New York, which mentions the Arrival of Mr. Otto, so that I think Madame la Comtess de...
241From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. Yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock, to Harrington, to Milton, to Hume, to Montesquieu to Roauseau, to Turgot, Condorcet, to Rochefaucault,...
242John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I must answer your great question of the 10 th in the words of Dalembert to his Correspondent, who asked him what is Matter—“ Je vous avoue que Je n’en scais rien .”— In some part of my Life I read a great Work of a Scotchmen on the Court of Augustus , in which with much learning, hard study, and fatiguing labour, he undertook to prove that had Brutus and Cassius been conqueror, they would...
243To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 9 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you a copy of my second volume by Mr. Barthelemy the French Chargé here now Minister, with a Letter about Money matters. In your favour of Sept. 28. you dont mention the receipt of them.—I have indeed long thought with Anxiety of our Money in the hands of our Friends, whom you mention, and have taken the best Precaution in my Power, against Accidents. I do not consider the Game as up....
244From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1823 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure I have heard read the sure words of prophecy in your letter of Sep— 4th. It is melancholy to contemplate the cruel wars, dessolations of Countries, and ocians of blood which must occure, before rational principles, and rational systems of Government can prevail and be established—but as these are inevitable we must content ourselves with the consolations which you from sound...
245To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Coll. Franks arrived Yesterday afternoon, with your Favour of Septr. 24.—I have signed all the Papers as you sent them, not perceiving any Alteration necessary. I am afraid, that our Agent to Algiers going without any military Power will not succeed; as the Danger of having their Town bombarded, or their Vessells taken, is the Principal Argument which the Dey has to use with the People, to...
246John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours Ap. 8 has long Since been rec d J. “Would you agree to live your 80 Years over again”? A. “ Aye! And Sanse Phrases .” J. “Would you agree to live your Eighty Years over again forever”? A. I once heard our Acquaintance, Chew , of Philadelphia Say, “He Should like to go back to 25, to all Eternity”: but I own my Soul would Start and Shrink back on itself, at the Prospect of an endless...
247From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with yours of 27. Dec r. and am obliged to you for what you Said to the Count De Vergennes in the Case of the Chevalier De Mezieres.— You may always very Safely depend upon it, that I never have given and never shall give any Opinion against the Letter or Spirit of the Treaty with France. In this Case I have never given any Opinion at all. indeed I have never been consulted. The...
248From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have been so perplexed with Ceremonials, Visits Removals and eternal applications from Beggars of one Species and another, besides the real Business of my Department, that I fear I have not answered your favour of the second of June, which I received in Season— I have received from M r. Garvey all but my wine & have written him to day to forward that and will run the risque of it, as I...
249From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 15th came to me Yesterday, and it is a pleasure to discover that We are only 9 days apart. Be not Surprised or alarmed. Lindsays Memoirs will do no harm to you or me. You have right and reason to feel and to resent the breach of Confidence. I have had enough of the same kind of Treachery and Perfidy practiced upon me, to know how to Sympathize with you. I will agree with...
250John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [22] September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Considering all things, I admire D r Priestleys last Effort for which I am entirely indebted to you. But as I think it is extreamly imperfect, I beg of you to pursue the investigation, according to your promise to D r Rush , and according to your Syllabus. It may be presumptuous in me to denominate any Thing of Dr Priestley imperfect: but I must avow, that among all the vast Exertions of his...