1John Brown Cutting to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
It may perhaps afford you satisfaction to learn that M r Adams and his secretary pro tempore arrived at the Crown Inn within the ramparts of this naval arsenal last evening before eight, after a journey as pleasant as coud be expected considering the unverdant aspect of far the greater portion of the country through which we travel’d. To speak candidly (excepting the farm at Cobham) I never...
2John Brown Cutting to Abigail Adams, 28 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Agreably to the intimation in the note I had the pleasure to address you from the Inn —we reached Harwich the next morning by eight, where Cap t Flynn soon recognized his Excellency and congratulated himself on the prospect of once more conveying him to Holland. Yet he did not forget politely to regret that M rs Adams was now absent and cou’d not therefore join in “his triumph nor partake the...
3To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 3 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by the Hon. William Smith Esquire one of the representaives in Congress from the State of South Carolina—whom I beg leave to introduce to you as a friend and a fellow citizen whose talents, integrity, fortune and connexions are respectable in the eyes of his constituents in the district which he represents, and whose family since the earliest settlement of...
4To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 14 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
By a vessel that sails for Boston tomorrow I inclose You the british king’s speech on the adjournment prior to the late dissolution of parliament—for which dissolution the next day a royal proclamation issued. From the tenor of this speech a general european war is expected. Meanwhile the most extensive naval armaments are preparing in the ports adjacent to all the great dockyards of this...
5To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 6 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
Before this reaches You I hope You will have authentic accounts of the late revolution in France. At such a distance from Paris it is difficult to asscertain the truth of such important transactions as have continually taken place since the 14 th of July, at court and in the capital. By Cap t Bond of the Washington I inclosed you a parcel of pamphlets and newspapers which afforded You I hope...
6To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 13 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
A croud of thanks to You for the pleasure and instruction I have received from your defence of the american constitutions. I have as yet read it but three times, because I wish to forget it a little before I read it a fourth; but I find that impossible: I shall therefore only wait till you give us the augmentation promised. Let me intreat You for the sake of mankind in general and the united...
7To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 22 January 1789 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here in six weeks from the Downs whence the ship in which I came took her departure on the 5 th of Nov r ; a day which all the whigs and many of the tories of Britain celebrated as the hundredth anniversary of the revolution— The party who oppose the administration in that country being about to seize so fair an occasion of canvassing for the next parliament the ministerial myrmidons...
8To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 12 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have now the honor to inclose you a copy of the southern whale fishery bill—which I cou’d not obtain early enough to send forward when I last wrote. I likewise subjoin additionally to what I have already written to you on the subject—the transcript of a line or two on the same topic to M r Jefferson. As I expect to embark for Charlestown in a very few days—probably by the 25 th of this...
9To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, [ante 25 August 1787] (Adams Papers)
M r Cutting presents respectful compliments to the American Minister and returning his warmest acknowledgments for the entertainment and invaluable instruction comprised in those sheets of his second Volume entitled a defence of the Constitution of Government of the United States of America (with which M r C. was lately favour’d and which having read rapidly once he is now again perusing with...
10To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 11 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
If ever there was a time when the volunteer exertions of a citizen of America became a duty incumbent upon him in a foreign realm—that period has existed here. For many weeks past I have not been absent a single day from the Admiralty—sundays only excepted. It is not for me to say how efficacious in resisting individual oppression or national mischief this un-intermitting attention has proved....
11To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 24 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
By a vessel that departs from hence in half an hour bound for the Potowmack I send you some authentic papers which contain details of the late revolution in the government of France. M r Jefferson’s last letter to me is dated on the 16 th. He confirms most of the facts contained in the printed letter of M. Nairac and in the “Extrait d’une lettre de Paris”—and concludes by remarking that tho’...
12To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 8 October 1788 (Adams Papers)
Many unexpected obstacles have concur’d to detain me man months longer than I either wish’d or meant to remain here. I have not however been idle or inactive. Nor have my exertions been altogether selfish. On the contrary I have attempted to discharge the duty of a good citizen—from the simple impulse of republican integrity—with an immediate reference to some of the great interests of our...
13To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 12 October 1788 (Adams Papers)
The following was the return of the Greenland Fishery on the 17 th of June last. made here London ships Number of Fish Whitby Ships Number of Fish Broderick 5 Ann & Elizabeth 2 John and Margaret 7 El Falconberg 2 Butterworth 3 Resolution
14To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 16 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I write this note just to inclose you a couple of newspapers. Such is the variable & distracted state of affairs at present here and all over Europe that it is impossible to form an opinion one day that events of the next will not overturn. The cabinet of St Jame’s having involved this nation in the fortunes of Prussia—it is next to impossible that a general war shou’d not ensue. France has...
15To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 5 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
There are so many rumours concerning the present state of the dispute between Spain and Britain and so many individuals interested to misrepresent it that it is with much diffidence that I venture to offer you any opinion on that subject. The british parliament the members of which are now chiefly elected will not be assembled before the middle of august. Till then very little that can be...
16To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 28 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
I made up a parcel (directed for you by the Commerce) on the evening of the 17 th ; but M r Prentice who was to forward the same to Gravesend cou’d not be found. He has since absented himself from his english creditors—who say that he owes them forty thousand pounds. Bankruptcies however are so frequent and fashionable here now that fresh ones occur every day and are mention’d as mere matters...
17To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 17 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
This moment I have been notified of the first opportunity I have known since your departure of writing to Boston. Altho it be past eleven at night I have dispatch’d a servant to M r Copley for such letters as he may have had deposited for you in George Street during the last six weeks:—to which when I have superadded a few recent newspapers and a very few words—I must close my parcel. In one...
18To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 17 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the opportunity afforded me by a vessel that sails to day for Philadelphia to send you some newspapers and to tell You that the condition of the american seamen here claims the immediate attention of the Government of the United States. In the absence of any person invested with consular or ministerial authority from Congress—I cou’d not endure to see my fellow citizens first...
19To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 3 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I inclosed You a few days ago a parcel of printed papers some of which I conceived might contain interesting intelligence especially if the dispute between Britain & Spain shoud terminate in hostilities, as in such an event the government of the United States woud at least be involved in discussions of considerable importance to our country with one or both of those nations. Among the rest you...
20Enclosure III: John Browne Cutting to J. Hunt, [18 August 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
I entreat the favor of you to return by the bearer that memorial and those papers, which, on behalf of Purdie and other impressed American mariners, I put into your hand on the 10th instant. I vainly flattered myself so far as to expect the indulgence of being heard five minutes by the Earl of Chatham himself in their behalf; especially as one of them is a young man well known to persons of...
21To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 15 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jarvis has been so long detained beyond the time which he at first proposed as the period when he meant to proceed for Paris, that my letters have accumulated on his hands. This evening however he assures me is the last previous to his departure. I have therefore devoted two or three hours in hunting at the several Coffee houses for recent intelligence from America, and more particularly...
22To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 30 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper contains some few articles of intelligence which perhaps may not have reached you by any other channel. When the last vessels quitted New York about the 8th of July, the convention of that State still continued to debate upon the great question of rejecting or adopting the national constitution and it is with concern I perceive that the probabilities against an immediate...
23To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 22 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 22 May 1789 . Is again in Europe after voyage of six weeks from South Carolina. Is rejoiced that TJ has not gone to New York. Hopes to be in Paris in a fortnight. Asks TJ to forward enclosed letters to Rutledge. Is exhausted with fatigue. If he can get baggage through customs early enough, will enclose a few newspapers by next post. Remains with “unabated attachment” and sends...
24To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 17 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Respecting the prohibition of american wheat here there is little to be learnt. The fact speaks for itself. The apprehension of introducing a pernicious insect into the future growth of wheat in this country is the pretext or ostensible ground of the measure. If there be truth in the rumour that american wheat is also prohibited in Hanover, fear of the insect may possibly be the real ground...
25To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 8 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heretofore had the honor to announce to you the accession of South Carolina, Maryland and New Hampshire to the new national System of government for the United States. But neither of those annunciations, not even the assent of the last (which made the ninth ) State legitimating a fresh union afforded me that degree of satisfaction which I feel in now communicating to you the...
26I. John Browne Cutting to the Secretary of State, [17? July 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The moment I had sealed the letter which I wrote you in such haste yesterday, I proceeded to the Admiralty with my pocket full of affidavits and memorials and smoothing my passage through the offices of the clerks by putting my hand into a smaller pocket (as all who are anxious for speedy success in any Admiralty-suit ought to do or they will repent the omission) I soon reached the upper...
27To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, [ca. 24 July 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last which Col. Trumbull had the goodness to inclose and superscribe I have been confined by severe indisposition; otherwise I shou’d have informed You by the last post that New Hampshire had adopted the new constitution by a large majority on the 24th of June. Altho I have not learned the particulars as to numbers &c. the fact may be relied upon. Beside the attestation of Capt....
28To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 4 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding Mr. Parker, who is soon to profit from the honor of a personal acquaintance with you in Paris, will smooth his passage to that intercourse by introductory letters both of Mr. Adams and Colonel Smith, the weight of those characters with Your Excellency compar’d with the levity of my claims to Your confidence must make every post-recommendation of him from me unrequisite as it is...
29To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 6 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Truth, lovely truth, obliges me to correct the intelligence transmitted in my two last concerning the purport of the proceedings in North Carolina. It is true that the Convention of that State have not ratified the new fœderal constitution. But it is not true either that they have absolutely abstracted the state from the Union or manifested a disposition to remain detached therefrom. Neither...
30To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 27 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
An unexpected opportunity to Bourdeaux affords me a chance of contributing to your entertainment by the inclosed papers. Time will not permit me nor my limited sources of intelligence, to enter into any satisfactory details of the affairs of this state or the union, much more to obtrude any opinions of my own. I am unaffectedly to thank You for the communications you have heretofore made to,...