1To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Adams, 18 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr: Eustis will be so kind as to deliver you this Letter.—I am perswaded, you will find him a man of a candid and fair Mind and liberal sentiments.— I congratulate you on the return of Peace. The War both in America and Europe was designed by Tyrant Kings to exterminate those rights and liberties which the Gracious Creator has granted to Man, and to sink the happiness resulting therefrom in...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Adams, 24 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of the 29th. of March came duly to my hand. I sincerely congratulate our Country on the arrival of the day of Glory, which has called you to the first office in the administration of our federal Government. Your warm feelings of friendship must certainly have carried you to a higher tone of expression, than my utmost merrits will bear: If I have at any time been avoided, or frowned...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Adams, 31 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have very lately written to you recommending a Young Gentleman by the name of Winthrop. I pray you not to apprehend that I design to trouble you with frequent Letters: your time will not admit of it.—But, when I meet with a Youth of good natural, and acquired abilities—of an accurate knowledge of the World, and a firm attachment to the elective representative System of Government; I cannot...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Adams, 11 December [1799] (Jefferson Papers)
I am very loth to trespass upon your precious time; but shall be happy with your leave to introduce to your notice the young Gentleman who takes the charge of this letter. It is his own request. He descended from that illustrious man Governor Winthrop the leader of our first rennoned ancestors; leaving what was called in those days a handsome fortune that he might plant the seeds of religion...
5To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 21 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Or may it plese your Excellency, I imbrace this oppertunety to address your Excellency: it is from a kinsman tho a little remote I am the oldest son of Ebenezer Adams grand son to the Reverend Joseph Adams of Newington your Uncle decest; may these lines find your Excellency and family: in helth and happiness injoying the blessings that divine providence has bestowed upon you in placeing your...
6To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 25 November 1790 (Adams Papers)
I lately received your Letter of the 18 th: of October.— The Sentiment, and observations contained in it demand my attention. A Republic, you tell me, is a Government in which “the People have an essential share in the Sovereignty”; Is not the whole sovereignty, my friend, essentially in the People? Is not Government designed for the Welfare, and happiness of all the People? and is it not the...
7To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 4 October 1790 (Adams Papers)
With pleasure I received your Letter of Sept r. 12 th ; and as our good friend, to whom I dictated my last is yet in Town; I have requested of him a second favour— You ask what the World is about to become? and, Is the Millenium commencing? I have not studied the Prophesies, and cannot even conjecture. The Golden Age so finely pictured by Poets, I beleive has never yet existed; but in their...
8To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 21 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
There are two great Objects which I think should engage the Attention of Patriots here, & which appear to me to involve every thing else—to preserve entire our political Liberties, & to support our National Faith. To effect either of these Capital Ends, we must counterwork the Designs of Great Britan, who to say the least does not appear to be our most cordial Friend, by her Emissaries amongst...
9To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 13 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Doctor Gordon is to deliver you this Letter. He is going to the Land of his Nativity, wishing for the best Happiness of his own Country & ours and hoping that mutual Affection will be at length restored, as the only Means of the Prosperity of both. As he determines to spend the Remainder of his Days in the Country where he was born, what rational Man who considers the Ties of human Nature will...
10To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 16 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Governour of this Commonwealth will transmit to you Copies of Letters which lately passed between him and Capt Stanhope Commander of the British Ship of War Mercury. This is the same Person, as I am told, who, when a Prisoner here in the early time of the War, was not too delicate in Point of Honor to break his Parole. The Governor however had treated him from the Time of his Arrival with...