11From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 31 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 20th, with the Authentic Account of the proceedings of the Congress held at New York A.D 1765 on the Subject of the American Stamp Act”: though they found me in the deepest affliction for the loss of my Daughter; were very acceptable and deserve my thanks. There was a prior Congress, held at Albany in 1754 or 1755, in which Franklin, Hutchinson, Wells and Brattle...
12From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 21 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 13th. of this month, with Emotions like those of two old Friends after a Seperation of many Years; Such as We may Suppose Ulysses to have felt on meeting one of his ancient Associates, (not one of the Suiters) on his return to Utica. Your Name among the Members of Congress in New York in October 1765 is and has long been a Singular distinction. I wish...
13From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 2 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
Our ancient and venerable Friend Clinton is gone before us. It had long been my intention to write to him: but while I was busied about many things perhaps of less importance, he has Slipped out of my reach. I am determined no longer to neglect a moment to write to you lest I Should glide away where there is no pen and ink. Nearly thirty eight years ago our friendship commenced. It has never...
14From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 6 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour by M r Randall, I received last Night, by the Way of Marseilles, where I Suppose that Gentleman landed and Still remains, as he is not arrived here Whenever I may meet him, all that Attention shall be Shewn him which is due from me, to your Recommendation.— I wish you had oftener laid me under Obligation to you in this Way.— The Sight of your Letter refreshed me like the...
15From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is still as problematical as ever, what is the political System of this Republick, and indeed whether it has any System at all. They talk much and deliberate long, but execute nothing. By the Violence with which they speak and write of each other, a Stranger would think them ripe for a civil War. In the Assembly of the States of Guelderland, held to consider of the Requisition of the King...
16From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I see in the London Courant, which arrived to day, an advertisement of a translation into English of the address to the People of the Netherlands: so that this work is likely to be translated into all Languages and read by all the World, notwithstanding the Placards against it. I have before sent that of Utrecht. That of Holland is as follows: “The States of Holland and of West Friesland, to...
17From John Adams to the President of Congress, 18 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 18 October 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC, Misc. Papers , Reel No. 1, f. 427–433). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:787–790. In this letter, a duplicate, JA discussed the war’s effect on Dutch trade. He reported that fishermen from Vlaardingen...
18From John Adams to the President of Congress, 17 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 17 October 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC, Misc. Papers , Reel No. 1, f. 423–426). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:782–783. Included in this letter, a duplicate, was an English translation of a placard issued at Utrecht on 3 Oct. against Aan...
19From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am very sorry to learn that Congress had recieved no Letters from October to June. It is not that I wrote less than usual in that period, but that I was more unfortunate. Two Vessels, which sailed from hence for Boston, each of which had Dispatches from me for Congress, destroyed them, one upon being taken, and the other being chased. But the most of my Dispatches were Lost at St. Eustatia,...
20From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wish, if it were possible, to communicate to Congress the present State of every Affair, which they have been pleased to confide in any measure to me. I have recieved the new Commission for Peace, and the Revocation of my Commission and Instructions of the 29th of September 1779. To both of these Measures of Congress, as to the Commands of my Sovereign, I shall pay the most exact Attention....