1To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you in August last relative to the conduct of Captain Stanhope; and twice since on the subject of British Encroachments upon territory of the United States, adjoining the newly established Province of New Brunswick. I hope those Letters came to your hand. New complaints from our people in those parts have been received, particularly from the Inhabitants of Moose...
2To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the papers I sometime ago sent you, relative to the encroachments made upon our Eastern boundary by our Neighbours of New Brunswick, I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency copies of other Letters & papers upon the same subject— By Mess rs. Smith & Bowles’s Deposition it appears, that the Province of New Brunswick is by its Charter bounded on the Western shore of...
3To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of March last I have but lately received. It was Sent by the Post, I suppose from Newport. When the Gentleman you recom mend in it, Monsr. Petry, comes here, it will give me pleasure to make Boston agreable to him. I wish we could have had more of your assistance in compleating the plan of government. Some of the alterations made in it after you left us, were by no means for the...
4To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your removal from the Hague to London, in the character of Plenipotentiary, gives a general & great pleasure. The abilities so successfully exerted in the Treaty of Peace, will, if any thing can, procure a happy issue to the negociations for settling a commercial Treaty with Great Britain.— M r Higginson by this opportunity sends you a well written letter on the state & circumstances of our...
5To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
As it is the duty of every good citizen to counteract, as far as he can, any measures that may operate injuriously to the Public, I am constrained to inform you of a plan, which if successful, will have that operation in the important department of the Administration of Justice in this Commonwealth. We have a perfect Confidence, and are therefore happy, in the Gentlemen, who now constitute our...
6To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 2 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
The interesting intelligence of your Letter occasioned my sending it to Council as soon as I received it. In Consequence of it, and of other corroborating information, the General Court by a resolve of the 30th. Ultimo have ordered a draft to be made the 15th. Instant to complete the raising a number of able bodied men, equal to a seventh part of the male Inhabitants within the State from 16...
7To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 30 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
The attachment of M r. Boid to the American Cause has, as you are Sensible, occasioned the forfeiture to the British Government of all his Lands upon the Schoodac: to which river they have extended their Province of New Brunswick.— The Papers that relate to his Case, as well as to that encroachment, were by order of Congress, as I have understood, transmitted to you, during your residence in...
8To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 24 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
The Gentleman, by whom this will be delivered to you, is Nathaniel Appleton esq r the Commissioner of the Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts. At the first institution of the Office in the Year 1776 he was appointed to it, and has been continued in it by the Several Boards of Treasury to the present time. Besides the approbation of those, to whom he was immediately accountable, his...
9To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 12 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your Excellency’s Letter of the 2 d. of Sept. by M r. Storer. The navigation Act of Massachusetts having been found to militate with the french treaty of commerce, & to exclude our fish from the Levant by excluding the subjects of the italian & other states coming with their Vessels for it, when our own in attempting to carry it to them would be intercepted by the Algerines, it...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received your favour of the 24th. January past, inclosing an Extract from your Letter to Mr. Collinson and Dr. Colden’s Letter to yourself, which I have read with a great deal of pleasure, and am much obliged to you for. Your Extract confirms a correction Mr. Kinnersley made a few days ago of a mistake I was under respecting the polarity given to...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, [March 1753?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VI , 161 n. By the post I received your favor, enclosing several printed letters relating to the transit of Mercury over the sun. A gentleman here, who is provided with the proper instruments, and well skilled in astronomy, intends to make the necessary observations; to whom, as well as to several others, I shall communicate said letters....
12To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I had the honour of writing to you by Mr. Guild some months ago. He probably acquainted you, there was a Bill then depending in our Assembly for incorporating a philosophical Society. It has been compleated, and the Society formed, under the name of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences. They have had several...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 6 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I am much obliged to you for introducing me to the acquaintance of General Lee. He came hither from the Southward about a month ago, when I had the pleasure of receiving by him your agreable Letter of July 28. 1773. The character you give of him is very just, and what compleats it is, that he is a hearty Friend of America. This may be no...
14To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 12 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society I observe by the last Papers that your Assembly have again appointed you one of their Agents in Great Britain: which without doubt, is much to the mortification of the party, whose spleen has been lately gratified by your not being returned a member of the present assembly. I am very glad the...
15To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 23 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to congratulate you on the return of peace, and the conspicuous part You had in bringing it about: especially as the terms of it are So advantageous to the united States. Though the late contending powers appear disposed to peace, we greatly wish the confirmation of it by the completion of the definitive treaty: wch. notwithstanding reports,...
16To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 8 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have read the first Chapter of Dr. Colden’s piece on Gravitation which you was so good as to inclose in yours of the 14th. Ult. and endeavoured to understand it, but with as little Success as yourself. I have ventured notwithstanding to make in the margin a few remarks on several passages, which detach’d from the rest I tho’t I understood; but it is...
17To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 12 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I received your Favour of the 18th Ult. accompanied with Dr. Brownrigg’s Treatise on Salt which I shall comunicate to the Gentlemen you mention. According to your desire I send you our Law for regulating the Trade with the Indians. Our Indians formerly (as yours now) made great Complaints of the Abuses they suffer’d from private Traders, which induced the...
18To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 19 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I recd. per Mr. Gerry a Packet from you containing a Russian Book on Comets, and Vattel’s Droit des Gens. The former agreable to your desire I have sent to Mr. Oliver at Salem together with your Billet. The latter when I have looked over it I shall send to the President of Harvard College as a Present to the Library from you. Dr. Cooper shewed me...
19To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I take this opportunity by my Son to express my own Pleasure, and the general Satisfaction at your appointment as Agent for the House of Representatives. The Council have recommended to their Agent Mr. Bollan to consult and cooperate with you for the best interest of the Province: which as it has distinguished itself in the great cause of American Liberty...
20To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 16 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society According to promise in my last, I now return you Dr. Colden’s Letter, for communicating which I am greatly obliged to you. The Dr. dissenting from you, is of opinion, that Sea Clouds are less electrified than Land Clouds, and gives the reasons of his opinion “That Salt, tho’ an Electric per se, is never raised in Sea-vapours, therefore Sea-Clouds are...
21To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 5 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I thank you for the Copy of the Instructions from the Committee of Plantations to Mr. Randolph inclosed in the last Letter [dated Feby. 5. 1771] with which you honoured me. His Answer to the Enquiries he was directed to make (if to be had) and compared with the present State of this Province, would probably shew in the Articles enumerated the...
22To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Your last favor informed me that you had sent my Letter to Mr. Canton inclosed in one of your own per the Packet: for which I am much obliged. When I last saw Mr. Winthrop, I inquired of him after Æpinus: he told me he sent it to Mr. Stiles of Newport, who would convey it to you. I thank you for your Pamphlet relative to the Massacre of the...
23To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 1 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It gave me great pleasure to hear by the Marquis de la Fayette, who arrived here three days ago that you continued to enjoy a perfect State of health. The Snows of seventy winters seem to have had no other effect on your constitution than to whiten your locks. It is for the credit of philosophy, when its adepts can so well guard against the attendants of...
24To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 21 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Experiments Mr. Kennersley has exhibited here, have been greatly pleasing to all sorts of people, that have seen them; and I hope by the time he returns to Philadelphia, his Tour this way will turn to good account. His Experiments are very curious, and I think, prove most effectually your doctrine of Electricity: that it is a real Element annexed to,...
25To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 18 January 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I am very glad to hear you got home Safe with your Daughter and Mr. Foxcroft without any further accident; and hope your arm has recovered it’s former Strength. I here enclose, open for your perusal, a Letter to Mr. Canton on the Subject I spoke to you about. If any thing should occur to you to improve the Telescope further than what is noticed...
26To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 27 January 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Your collection of philosophical papers I have perused with a great deal of pleasure. I take notice that several letters of mine to you make a part of it, which gave me an additional pleasure, as it places me in some respect in a situation I should always be glad personally to be in, near my friend Franklin. There are several things in the...
27To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 20 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged for yesterday’s Communications. You’ll permit me to adopt a request of Father Beccaria. “Si alia habeas [Scripta praesertim Franklini] quae a me desiderari posse putes (quid autem esse potest Franklinianarum Rerum quod non planè depeream?) quaeque verecundè peti abs me posse arbitrere, ut mittas etiam atque etiam efflagito.” I congratulate...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 25 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot resist, Sir, the disposition which I feel of writing to you, from the renewed instance of your politeness & condescension, in readily dispensing with my attendance at Washington, from motives, which refer to my Health: this indulgence, rather than to accept of my Resignation, demands from me my most respectful acknowledgments; and you will permit me upon the occasion to present you...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 17 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
As the present posture of our affairs in this country may require, that you shd. receive information from every source by which it may be obtained, I have thôt it my duty to state to you the result of such observations as I have made relative thereto, since my late arrival here; & perhaps I cannot do it better than by enclosing you a copy of a letter written to David Williams Esqr. at his...
30To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 18 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Being quite unwell when your obliging letter of the 23d Ultimo & its enclosures reached me, I embrace the first moment of convalescence to thank you for them. Your letters to me while in france, with one exception, intercepted by means as I have reason to believe, as unjustifiable as dishonourable, would have afforded me much satisfaction, had I have duly recd. them; but left as I was without...
31To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 3 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of acquainting you with the sudden death of Mr Lewis oBrien, late Consul of the U States for the Port of St. Ander in Spain. He was at Madrid making reclamations of the property of our Citizens, condemned in the lower [prvat] Courts, where he died in a most distressing manner on the 24th of April last, as will appear by the enclosed letters. I was not personally acquainted...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 24 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The public dispatches forwarded by the Revenge having been directed to General Armstrong and me jointly by Mr. Bullus, they were bro’t to me by Mr. Vail the consul of Lorient accompanied with Lt. Hunt; I opened them, & found your letter of the 10th of July last, enclosed in one from Mr. Madison, it gave me great pleasure, as it is the first & only one, I have had the honour to receive from...
33To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 23 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I should be insensible to the marked & distinguished notice, you have been pleased to take of me, in nominating me, as one of the foreign ministers of the united States, did I not avail myself of the earliest opportunity, to thank you for your condescension & politeness, in thus thinking of me.— Should it Sir, not meet the sanction of the Senate or should I, from ill-health, or other cause,...
34To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 20 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour to write to you on the 1st. of March last, wch. I forwarded by Mr. Cabel, & wch. like others of my letters, seems to have met unexpected detention: I therein stated to you what had been my situation & conduct since my arrival in europe, and what changes had taken place in the situation and politics of france, & of some of the principal european states: and particularly in...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 22 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour to write to you under dates of the 1st. of Mar. 20th. May & 23 of July; and to Mr. Madison of the 20th. May, 23d July & of this day, to which you will permit me to most respectfully refer you. You will observe Sir, by my letters to Mr. Madison, that the Spanish govermt. had appointed M. Isquierdo an agent or minister to confer with genl. Armstrong & me on the subsisting...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 12 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour to write to you on the 9th instant, & the last evening to receive your friendly & obliging letter of the 29th of May:—I thank you Sir, for your congratulations upon my safe return to my native country: it is truely a cause of Joy & Consolation to me after so long an absence; & so many difficulties & disappointments, as I have experienced:—I will not enter into the causes of...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 23 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Proposals having been made by the Marquis de Lafayette for a Commercial Establishment between this Country and France; I beg Leave to recommend to your Excellency’s Patronage and good Offices Mr. Nathl. Barrett, the Gentleman to whose Care the Merchants here, Confiding in his Integrity and Judgment, have Committed the Negotiation. The Object, the admission of American Oil into France, for...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 22 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of your Letter of the 8th. February, and thank your Excellency for the information contained in it. The young Gentleman, who will do himself the honour of waiting upon you with this Letter, is Mr. Appleton, a Son of the Intendent of the United States loan office in this Town. He is in the mercantile line, and has conducted with reputation. The Father, a very worthy...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 7 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 27th. Ultimo: & I regret extremely that such has been the State of my health, as not to allow of my proceeding to Washington, to receive the pleasure of being more intimately known to you Sir, & to the Gentlemen assisting you in the heavy burdens of government; as well as to derive those advantages so justly suggested in your...
40To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 10 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately understood that Congress have under consideration a report of their Minister for foreign affairs, relative to the appointment of Consuls in several parts of Europe; and that the appointment is to be made by the Ministers Plenipotentiary from the United States: the power of each Minister in this respect to be exercised within a certain district; and that your Excellency’s district...
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 24 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I am personally unknown to you, it is not with the less pleasure, that I congratulate you upon the events of the late election, which introduce you to the chair of the United States. The contest has been an arduous one, & the triumph, which has succeeded it, I trust, will prove not less beneficial to our common country, than honourable to you. Be assured Sir, that neither my wishes,...
42To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 15 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour last to address you on the 20th Ulto., & altho’ I have nothing specially important to communicate, I think it my duty to apprize you, that there is no change taken place in the posture of our affairs, and that there is little reason to expect there will be any: the same apathy & indifference on the part of france, and the same obstinacy & perverseness on that of Spain continue...
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 9 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you from London on the 17th of feba. last, & to enclose you a copy of Mr. Baring’s late pamphlet; & also copies of a correspondence I then had with Davd. Williams Esqr. of Londo.: I have since acquainted the Secretary of State with my arrival here, and I should have sooner done myself the honour of writing to you, but having been quite unsettled & not in my own...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 20 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the honour last to address you, it has turned out, that the reputed Spanish agent, Mr. Isquierdo, has not had the appointment of his governmt. as was expected, and that whatever may have been the appearances of an approximating negociation & settlement of our affairs, they were grounded upon no substantial Basis. Who is to blame? Whether it is Spain, who may wish to gain time & to...
45To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 1 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honour, to address you under dates of the 1st of March, 20th of May, 3d of July, 22d of Augt., 20th of Octo. & 15th of nov. last, and as yet have not been favored with your Reply, nor do I know, whether my letters have reached you in Safety. Altho’ I am sensible, that you are not the regular channel of my official correspondence, & that I have in the above instances departed...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 7 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Having come here to embark for England on my return to the United States, I became extremely perplexed & embarrassed from an Embargo confined to this Port, in consequence of the intended sailing of a french frigate: The Embargo being laid by the Commissary of the marine, I obtained his permission to hire a vessel to be cleared per the United States, provided she should be put under the escort...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 1 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I shd. have written to you ‘ere this had I have had any thing to suggest to you, which I could think of any importance beyond those communications, which I have had the honour to transmit to you through the Secretary of State: By these letters you will doubtless have seen the line of conduct I have pursued in reference to my health, to my mission, & to the objects necessarily connected...
48To James Madison from James Bowdoin, 25 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour to write to you, & also to the President of the United States on the 1st of May l ast, since which, no alteration in the posture of our affairs, has taken place. I avail myself of ye. earliest opportunity of transmitting you, co pies of the treaties of Peace, concluded b etween the Emperors of France & Russia, and the king of Prussia, this day published by authority. I have...
49To James Madison from James Bowdoin, 2 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you a very important decree of the Emperor of France made at Berlin on the 21st. ulto. and this day published by authority at Paris. I have not time to offer any observations upon the subject of it: But shall content myself with forwarding a number of copies to the different sea ports in hopes that by some vessel which may be found ready to sail you will receive the...
50To James Madison from James Bowdoin, 9 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Since I had the honour of writing to you on the 26th. Ulto., I have had a return of my complaint, which has abundantly proved the prudence of not having undertaken the Journey to Washington, as I could have wished: my indisposition was however but short, & I consider myself at present, much better than I have been for these three months past. I am now more particularly to acquaint you, that my...