11From John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 12 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Terror in the Minds of our Sailors, of the Barbary Rovers, is an immense Loss to our Country, in Insurance, and in Trade with Italy, Spain, Portugal France England Holland: indeed with all Parts of the World. The Question is whether it is better Policy to fight them or treat with them. To fight, with a possibility of any effectual Success will cost us a Million sterling a Year. To treat...
12From John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 15 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Pleasure to congratulate you, upon the provisional Arrangement of our Affairs with England. The Terms are as good as we could obtain, and much better, considering all the Difficulties and Dangers we were in, than could have been expected. The Fishery I think is so well secured, that we have no cause to complain, and as soon as Peace is concluded you may revive your long neglected...
13John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 17 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the Eighth contains Intelligence of an interesting Nature to the Public as well as to me, and my Family in particular.—The Small Pox is so terrible an Enemy that it is high Time to subdue it.—I am under the greatest Obligation to you, Sir, and Mrs. Smith for your kind Offer of the Accommodations of your House to Mrs. Adams and my Children. I shall be very, very anxious, untill I...
14From John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday made a Visit to your old Friend M r Boylston, and his Nephew at their Sugar House on Pauls Wharf, Upper Thames Street. They have a pretty Situation, and a good Room with a Bow Window, which shews them the whole Scæne of the River, upwards to Blackfryars Bridge and downwards a great Way. We are to have a View from this Window of the Lord Mayors Show. These gentlemen represent to me,...
15John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 26 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I must intreat You to write me, and persuade others to write by every Vessel to Spain and Holland. We have just received Clinton’s Letter. A Spanish Armament, 12. Ships of the Line, 5 Frigates &c. &c., 12,000 men sailed 28th. April. The Brest Armament of 8 Ships and 6000 Men sailed 2d. May. Walsingham and Graves are still in Port, for any thing We have heard. The maritime Powers have all...
16John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I duly received your Favour of December the 12, and thank you for your Attention to the Widows, whose Letters came safe by the same Conveyance. The Way of Spain is a very good one to send light Letters containing any interesting Intelligence, but large Packetts mount the Postage so high as to make it too heavy. The Method of cutting out from Newspapers interesting Paragraphs, and inclosing...