1To John Adams from Richard Peters, 25 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 12th. roused all my Sympathies & recollections of the pleasures & pains of “ olden times ”. Little do the present generation know of our anxieties, labours, & vicissitudes. What was then feeling , has now become history ; & that distorted in many instances, & almost fabulous in others. The actors in the scenes which originated & ensured the present prosperity of this...
2To John Adams from Richard Peters, 6 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Understanding that the Judiciary Bill is likely to pass the Senate as it came up from the House of Representatives I beg to mention to you, without any formal Application in any official Capacity, the 25th. Section of that Law. It is in the Opinion of every legal Character here a most flagrant Violation of the Constitution; & must have been overlooked in this Point of View by the Gentlemen who...
3To John Adams from Richard Peters, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
From motives of humanity towards the objects of the act of Congress entitled “An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt,” I have, under several disagreeable circumstances, endeavored to carry that law into effect; but I find it deficient in many essential provisions. It is doubtful whether the district judge is vested with judicial powers, or those of a bankrupt commissioner. It...
4To John Adams from Richard Peters, 15 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 5 th. instant I thank you for your kind & polite Offers of Hospitality. Experience has convinced me of your Friendship on this Head— I find from the Reflexions occasioned by the just Observations in your Letter that I have expected too much & am therefore not entitled to the Right of complaining under Dissappointment. Tho’ placed in a new Situation, we are the...
5To John Adams from Richard Peters, 28 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Until I met with your Letter to Day I could not conceive I had been so remiss as not before this Time to have acknowledged the Favour of it. It lay in Town for some Days & I was mortified at not receiving it soon enough to pay the wished for Attention to M r Beal who left the Letter at a Friend’s House in the City & tho’ I made every Enquiry after that Gentleman I had not the Pleasure of...
6To John Adams from Richard Peters, 10 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
I should be wanting in those Evidences of my very sincere Respect & Esteem for you which I shall ever be happy in shewing, if I did not take the Oppertunity your Election to the honourable & respectable Station you now fill affords me of joining my Congratulations with those of the great Numbers of our Fellow Citizens who are gratified by your Appointment. I very truly wish you every...
MS not found. Printed from facsimile in WSS ’s hand in Magazine of American History, with Notes and Queries , [1879], 3:44–45; addressed: “His Excellency John Adams, &c., &c., &c., corner Brooks Street, Grosvenor Square.” The signatures were written in a circle and attached on a separate foldout page. The address was provided only in the Magazine article’s text. Published as “A Diplomatic...