151To John Adams from James McHenry, 5 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to submit the reflexions which have occurred to me on the questions contained in your letter of the 14th ulto. With respect to your letter of the 15. I shall give it as early an answer as circumstances will permit, and intreat that you will ascribe the delay to the pressing business of the office and importance of the subject. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be...
152To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 5 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 6 of April. It is indeed a “grave prospect” which is now presented to this Country But I entertain hopes that a wise national conduct, may soon brighten the scene. The French have long been in a political delirium; but if the Americans exhibit upon this trying occasion that wise magnanimity which is worthy of their former character, I have...
153To John Adams from James McHenry, 5 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of War in conformity with the orders of the President has the honour to offer the following observations and suggestions relative to the objects of the Presidents letter of the 15th Ulto. With respect to the speech. It appears adviseable that it should be chiefly if not wholly confined to the foreign affairs of the country giving to these with France the primary and prominent...
154To John Adams from James Montgomery, 6 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
In Consequence of a Letter from Secretary Wollcott in which he informs me by your determination my Commission as Captain of the Revenue Cutter is annulled and that the Public Interest requires it should be done I beg leave to request an explanation of those Words as it imply’s a degree of Crimination of my Conduct that as a Man of Honour and a Citizen I am entitled to an explanation of I...
155To John Adams from Tench Coxe, 10 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The reasons, which induced me to the freedom of my communication concerning our affairs with France, have prompted me to that which I have now the honor respectfully to submit to your consideration in the same guarded & confidential manner. It appeared to me, in the month of Feby last, that some persons of weight and even in the auxiliary offices of the government itself, had adopted the...
156To John Adams from Jonathan James Maund, 10 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday receiv’d the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 13th. of March: My residence is almost equidistant from Fredericksburgh and Richmond your Letter bears the Post Mark of Richmond the 22d. of March and as I receiv’d it from Tappahannock by a private Hand this & the disagreement of the Post Master in that Place with his Deputies depriv’d me the pleasure of sooner acknowledging...
157To John Adams from Gustavus Scott, 11 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
We received by yesterdays Post a Letter from your Secretary enclosing sundry papers which had been transmitted to you by a Mr: Collin Williamson.— Sensible of the pressure of business which you are obliged to sustain it is with reluctance that we trouble you with the affairs of the City however important, and we are really sorry that this business should have been intruded upon you Agreeably...
158To John Adams from Thomas Mifflin, 12 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
By an Act of the General Assembly of this State, it has become my duty to purchase and import ten thousand stand of arms, for the use of the Militia; but I find that it will be impracticable, at present, to form an advantageous contract, unless I can promise the interference of the American Ministers in Europe, to obtain permission from the respective Governments, for exporting the arms,...
159To John Adams from Alexander Jardine, 16 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I cannot resist the desire of writing to you nor the joy of your being elected president of the US:—as I think and hope that much of the peace and happiness of the rest of the world may now come to depend on you and your friends there, who I flatter myself may be well chosen. In short the love of Peace ,—the knowledge of its importance of late predominant in your Counsels give hopes of its...
160To John Adams from John Eager Howard, 18 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday at your house, with some Ladies who had the honor of paying their respects to Mrs. Adams, where I observed a person, whose name is Samuel Monroe, in the capacity of a servant, and as I suppose you are not acquainted with his character, think it necessary to give you the following information.— He was formerly a drummer in the British Army, and has been a waiter in the City...