1From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 August 1825 (Adams Papers)
The extreme imbecility of old age must be my apology for neglecting to write, and thank you for your valuable Book, It has not been for want of esteem or respect, or admiration that I have not written frequently to you—There is no part of my Life that I look back upon with more pleasure, than the short time I spent with you—And it is the pride of my life that I have given to this nation a...
2From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 July 1806 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received from the Post Office your obliging Letter of the Sixth of this month. It is not necessary for me to recurr to my Letter Books, and examine the few Letters I wrote to General Washington, before I assure you, that I Shalt take no offence at your inserting in your History, parts or the whole of them. They were written under great Agitation of Mind, at a time when a cruel...
3From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received from you, three Volumes of the Life of our late General and President Washington in a condition of convenience and ornament, which has not yet been exceeded by any of the Arts or Artists of our Country, nor indeed much inferiour to any in the most refined Countries of Europe. I pray you, Sir to accept my best Thanks for this elegant present. Exegisti monumentum ære perennius....
4From John Adams to John Marshall, 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to me from the Vice President of the U.S. with a resolution of the Senate, dated the 18 of this month & a certificate of the Vice President of the election of Aaron Burr to be the future Vice President of the United States. I request you to select a proper person, according to the usage in such cases, to proceed to N York and convey this certificate to Mr Burr With great...
5From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Newbury Port Herald in which is quoted “A letter from John Adams dated Amsterdam 15 of Dec. 1780 to Thomas Cushing Lieutenant Govenor of Massatts.” This letter has been for some years past reprinted & quoted in many American pamphlets & newspapers as genuine & imposes on many people by supposing & imputing to me sentiments inconsistent with the whole tenor of my life & all the...
6From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of this morning and am happy in your acceptance of the office of Chief Justice. The Circumstances however of the times render it necessary that I should request and Authorise you, as I do by this Letter, to continue to discharge all the Duties of Secretary of State, untill ulteriour Arrangements can be made. With great Esteem, I have the / Honor to be,...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From John Adams to John Marshall, 21 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President presents his kind regards to Gen Marshall, & requests the favor of him to look into the dispatches of Gen. Pinckney, which gave an account of his rejection by the Executive directory & of Mr. Barras’s speech to Mr. Monroe on his taking leave & mark the day when that news was first received. It must have been in the month of march 1797. The President wishes to be furnished with...
10From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter or Memorial from Mr J. Lewis late Consul at the Isle of France. I pray you to consider it in connection with that from Mr Babcock in favour of Mr Spooner. I know of no disqualification or demerit in Lewis. He has often called on me Since his return, and I think him a considerate and well informed and well behaved Man.... The great difficulty will be to permit the...
11From John Adams to John Marshall, 9 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Adam Babcock a respectable merchant of Boston whom I have known and esteemed for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Spooner I also know and believe him to merit the character given him by Mr. Babcock. If it should be thought expedient to try a new experiment at negociation with the isle of France I dont believe we shall find a more proper person to conduct it as...
12From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are papers received from Govenor Sargeant. I pray you to keep them till I arrive. As they are private communications to me I would not wish them to be read by any but yourself With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
13From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Memorial from a respectable Merchant in Boston Mr Babcock. Mr Lewis has a similar request before you. Can We do any Thing in either Case or is it worth while to send another Agent to negotiate with the Isle of France? Enclosed is the Permit signed for the Brig. Amazon to carry Passengers to France, sent me in yours of 26. septr. DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Port Louis.
14From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are some packets of Newspapers &c received from Mr. Smith & a private letter to you which I dared not open. I am for sending half a dozen frigates into the Mediteranean With great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
15From 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...
16From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is high time for me to request that you would seriously revolve in your own thoughts, the subject of communications both of intelligence & advice to be made to congress at the opening of the approaching session and favor me with your sentiments upon the whole subject, as soon as possible. I shall leave this place on Monday the 13 of Oct. No letters should be directed to me here which are to...
17From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr. William Rogers of N York, requesting to be Consul at Bourdeaux I pray you to file with others, aiming at the same object. I am Sir with much respect, MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
18From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the enclosed letter of J Cox Barnet at Bourdeaux of 27 July. This letter being addressed to the Secretary of State, I ventured to open & found in it only a private letter to you. This, I did not think myself warranted to open, though it may contain intelligence of a public nature, and now transmit it to you in the same enclosure, which first covered it. I have received...
19From 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...
20From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter of the 20th from Dr Leib together with a petition from Philip Desh & Abraham Shants for pardons. A certificate of physicians and other citizens accompany the petition. Refer this to the Attorney Gen. & let me know your opinions. With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
21From John Adams to John Marshall, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Elias Backman, Consul in Sweden with an account, which you will please to consider. If he took upon himself the office of Ambassador without orders, commission or instructions and spent money to obtain advantages to American commerce, the Executive authority cannot reimburse him. Enclosed also is a letter from C. Blackberd. You may take notice of it or not at your...
22From John Adams to John Marshall, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Samuel Parkman, a very respectable citizen of Boston & a member of our Massachusetts legislature, recommending Mr George A Cushing to be Consul at Havanna. You will find in your office the papers referred to. This letter you will please to file with them to be considered in case. I know nothing of the probability of the office being vacant. A letter is also...
23From 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...
24From 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...
25From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the information, transmitted in your letter of the 6, I think it most equitable to suspend the removal of Mr. Pintard for the present. I am glad to find that Mr. Lamar is a native American & now agree with you that whenever Mr. M Pintard must be removed, a more proper person cannot probably be selected, than Mr. Lamar. I have read with care your letter to Mr. Humphries, &...
26From 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...
27From 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...
28From 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....
29From John Adams to John Marshall, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you a letter from William Wetmore Esqr. of Castine in the District of Maine, to be filed & considered in time & in case. Mr. Whetmore is one of the remaining characters, whom I knew as a student in a Barristers office, when I was at the bar. What other applications may be presented I know not. With sincere regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
30From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I hope as you do, that the resistance to the execution of the judgment of the courts of the United States in Kentucky, as represented by Judge Harry Innis, exists no longer. I return you all the papers. Mounflorence’s information was, that our envoys “were ready to depart for Havre De Grace, where they intended to embark for the Hague.” This was probably given out by the French to conceal...
31From 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...
32From 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...
33From John Adams to John Marshall, 2 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
On the last of August at night I received a packet containing a letter from our envoys of May 17th. A memorial of our Envoys to the French ministers of May 8, in answer to one of those ministers to ours of the 16 floreal 8th year. These I return inclosed There was no letter from you nor any other paper in the packett. You will know whether I received all the papers you sent. If not the packet...
34From 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...
35From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Mr. Boudinot, recommending Mr. Isaac Barnet I pray you to file among the applications for the consulate at Bourdeaux. The inclosed letter from Govenor St Clair, though a private one, is I think proper for you to peruse, as we shall e’er long have to consider of a nomination of a Govenor. After your have perused it, you may let the other gentlemen read it & then return...
36From John Adams to John Marshall, 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 16. 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 left at liberty to prosecute in our courts and recover all the debts, which are now...
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, 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...
39From 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...
40From 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...
41From John Adams to John Marshall, 16 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Cotton Tufts Esqr one of the most respectable men in our State I pray you to file with all other applications for consulships that it may be considered in due time. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
42From John Adams to John Marshall, 14 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received but last night your favor of the 4th. I have read the papers enclosed. 1. the letter from Mr. Robert Waln 2. the letter from Gid. Hill Wells. 3d The representation of three masters of vessels, Thomas Choate, Robert Forrest & Knowles Adams relative to the consulate of Madeira.—If there is a necessity of removing Mr. John Marsden Pintard, a native American & an old consul, why should...
43From John Adams to John Marshall, 13 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to yours of the 2d I have agreed to the appointment of Major David Hopkins to be Marshall of Maryland, according to the advice of Mr Stoddert, although it was a great disappointment & mortification to me to loose the only opportunity I shall ever have of testifying to the world, the high opinion I have of the merits of a great majistrate, by the appointment of his son to an office...
44From John Adams to John Marshall, 12 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I return inclosed the duplicate answers to the letter of the prince regent of Portugal signed. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
45From 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...
46From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Frederick Butler of Weathersfield in Connecticutt requests a Patent for the Invention of a Tin Cook Stove the description of which is inclosed. He incloses the money necessary by Law. I pray your particular Attention to carry this Business through the offices and to send him a Patent. With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
47From 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...
48From 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...
49From 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...
50From 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...