181To John Adams from John Dennis, 17 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of recommending as a circuit Judge for the Districts of Maryland & Virginia, Philip B. Key Esqr; than whom, I know of no Man in the State of Maryland, likely to accept the appointment, who stands higher in the public Estimation, for his legal reputation, or moral qualities or who will be likely to discharge with more Zeal or fidelity the Duties of so important an...
182To John Adams from James Montgomery, 15 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
As I have not as yet received any Answer to mine of May 6 and June 4th soliciting the return of my vouchers I once more take the Liberty of requesting of your Excellency an answer to them and at the same Time to request you will determine from your own Sense of Justice whether the unmerited attack upon my Character does not call for redress I wish to receive it from you but I must look on it...
183To John Adams from James Sullivan, 19 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Commissioners have agreed that the Scoodiac is the St Croix truly intended in the Treaty of peace. I am of opinion that Benson will accompany Barclay to a Pond near the Penobscott as the source of the river. Whether the Declaration of two Commissioners only is binding, is a question in which I can hereafter have no concern. But at present I am involved in it. The Commissioners are by the...
184To John Adams from Stephen Merrill, 7 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
To be assured, that was I possessed of a thousand dollars, a certain prospect of gaining a thousand more could not have induced me to have troubled him in this manner for a moment. But, keen and exquisite distress has done that, which no pecuniary consideration whatever could have forced me to, were I in a more eligible condition— After thus discovering the purport of this address, may I hope...
185To John Adams from Pseudonym: "A Friend of Justice", 8 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just read in the papers the death of Judge Iredall. That his place may be properly supplied is an important object with the Executive and the people. I as one of these take the liberty of recommending Major Francis T. Brooke of Fredericksburgh. The character of this gentleman is hardly to be surpassed as it combines great talents & learning with unshaken integrity & patriotism. Chs. Lee...
186To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 21 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
William Allen Esqr. who was a Major in the Rhode Island Regiment in the Revolutinary War, a Brave Officer and a worthy Citizen, solicits the Appointment of Stamp Master for the United States. He possesses a handsome property and has a Commission as a Brigadier in the Militia of this State. If it should be consistent with your other Arrangments your Appointing him to that Office will much...
187To John Adams from Alexander Brodie, 7 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
Considering myself as a person altogether unimportant, nothing grieves me more sensibly than the divisions which continue to exist among the people on my account. Were it possible in the nature of things that one so inconsiderable as I am could render essential services either to the Government or to the people of the United States, I might be persuaded to wait for a change in the public...
188To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 8 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully transmits to the President of the United States, a communication from the Commissioner of the Revenue, covering two Letters to him & from the Collector of Providence on the subject of a proposal made to the said Collector for fixing & maintaining the stakes and Buoys in Providence River. It is the opinion of the Secretary, that it is adviseable to...
189To John Adams from Thomas Dawes, 9 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have been informed in a respectful tho’ not official manner that the President of the United States had appointed me one of the Commissioners for Assessing the Direct Tax. Could any thing induce me to accept the appointment it would be the consideration of its coming from the most elevated citizen of my country and from a character whom I hope to be indulged in saying I have venerated for...
190To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose a Report on the proposals of Henry Dearborn for erecting two Light Houses in North Carolina. The distresses in the City increase; attempts are making to draw all the people possible from the scene of danger; about fifteen hundred of the most indigent are encamped on the Common;—another Camp for such as are able to support themselves is forming, which may contain...
191To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit a Letter from Otway Byrd Esquire, Collector of Norfolk, and Superintendant of the Revenue Cutter Virginia, advising of the resignation of Samuel Bright third mate of the said Cutter, and recommending Mr. Roe Latimer as a proper person to succeed him.—I have no reason to doubt of the propriety of the recommendation, and have enclosed a Commission for the...
192To John Adams from Nathan Beers, 5 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The office of Collector for this Port being vacant by the Death of David Austin Esqr. For myself and at the solicitation of a number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Town I am induced to address your Excellency with a request that I may be appointed to that Office. As early as Augt 1798 (when it was the general opinion here that the Office would become vacant, Mr Austin being very...
193To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully transmits to the President a Warrant for Three thousand Dollars, and requests that the President would be pleased to sign the Recd. on the back of the Warrant, in lieu of that signed by Cotton Tufts Esqr. for an equal amount paid by Genl. Lincoln, which it is proposed to leave in the Presidents hands. MHi : Adams Papers.
194To John Adams from Citizens of Stockbridge, 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a time when our Country is convulsed by different and opposite political opinions and views, when national Councils are divided and embarrassed, the efforts of patriotism retarded, and measures necessary for self-defence, and the protection of its property and independent rights fail of that promptitude which alone can insure, or promise, the best effects, it may justly be considered both...
195To John Adams from John Sinclair, 5 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
You will herewith recieve, the History of the Statistical Account of Scotland, in the appendix to which, I have taken the liberty of inserting the extract of a letter I had the pleasure of recieving from you, urging me to persevere in an Undertaking, which I have at last happily accomplished. I wish much to hear, that similar enquiries took place with you, and that a Board of Agriculture was...
196To John Adams from James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had not time yesterday, without losing the benefit of the mail, which you know closes at 12 o’clock A.M, to say any thing on the subject of Major Jacksons letter. I now take the liberty to observe, that the appointment of Mr. Pearson to be a Cadet by Capn. Gates, was altogether improper, and the attempt to draw pay for him, after my letter to Majr Jackson of the 27th Ulto. at least equally...
197To John Adams from George Washington, 13 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour on the evening of the 11th. instant to receive from the hands of the Secretary of War, your favour of the 7th. announcing, that you had with the advice and consent of the Senate appointed me “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the Armies raised, or to be raised, for the Service of the U.S” I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this New proof of public...
198To John Adams from James McHenry, 23 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received your note yesterday afternoon, inclosing a letter to you, from Wm. S Smith Lt. Colonel of the 12th Regiment of Infantry dated the 21st instant. You request my candid opinion upon the project contained in the letter inclosed. Whether his (Col. Smiths) request can be granted in whole or in part, consistent with military and political justice and propriety, without favour or affection....
199To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secy of the Treasy respectfully submits to the Prest. of the US. the following Report. On the 19th of August 1796 information was recd. by the Secretary, by a Letter dated July 26th 1796, from James Read Collector for the District of Wilmington in North Carolina that a French Privateer had arrived at Wilmington on the 14th. of July with two British Prizes with valuable Cargoes, consisting...
200To John Adams from John Marshall, 24 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been requested to make to you the application of Mr. DAmbrugeac to provide for him a passage to France. He says that he has not been furnishd with money by Genl. Toussaint for that object. I set out to wait on you but have been stopt til it is too late. As he wishes to set out tomorrow I communicate his request in writing. I do not pretend to express any opinion on the subject but think...
201To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honour to lay before the President the petition of Robert Fisher of Harford County, Maryland, committed to gaol in Baltimore for theft committed in the Island of Cuba , praying a Nolle prosequi may be entered. Governor Howard has just been here with the father of the young man who anxiously waits your decision. On the enquiries of the Secretary, two letters were...
202To John Adams from John Steele, 24 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor to call at your house this morning to request leave of absence from the seat of Government to enable me to accompany my family on a visit to their Friends in Carolina after the Offices are removed from Philadelphia. The journey will be near six hundred miles out, and about Four hundred returning, which I cannot perform with satisfaction before the 10th. or middle of...
203To John Adams from Denny McCobb, 25 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a moment So eventful & alarming as the present, when a great & imperious Nation whose aim is universal domination, is endeavouring to Sap the foundation of our political existence, it is the duty of every man to step forth & avow his Sentiments on Concerns so interesting to humanity—Replete with this Idea, We the field Officers & Commanders of the Companies of the 1st. Regiment 1st. Brigade...
204To John Adams from John Marshall, 27 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you some dispatches lately receivd from the Judge of the Kentucky district. I hope the resistance he mentions to the execution of the judgements of the court of the United States exists no longer. I inclose you also two letters from Mr. Yznardi & a copy of one to him from Don Urquijo. I can scarcely believe that our envoys have embarkd for the Hague. Mountflorence I shoud think must...
205To John Adams from James Vincent Ball, 10 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to address you on a subject which I hope will be viewed by you as of sufficient importance to authorize it—As rank is an object with every military character, we come into the army with the prospect of promotion in view, and thereby are prompted to acquire an ample Knowledge of the several duty’s annexed to the different grades—When once this prospect is distroyed, and the precedent...
206To John Adams from Jane Tunis, 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Petition of sundry female inhabitants of Philadelphia most respectfully shews, That it is with peculiar delicacy your petitioners have entered on the business hereafter detailed; that they know from its nature it is appropriated to men, and an interference of the other sex is usually esteemed an usurpation. But they have felt, and they hope without error, that the present is a case in...
207Charles Adams to John Adams, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your very kind letter of the 13 instant was very grateful to me. We have indeed suffered a double anxiety both for ourselves and our friends it is so natural for the latter absent from the City to be more apprehensive than we have been that I have been very much pained at their remonstrances against remaining in town Nor should I have remained had I not conceived it an indispensible duty. I...
208To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 25 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have complied with your direction by sending under cover to the Post Master of Philadelphia an anonimous Note with Five hundred Dollars in a Letter to Mr. Allen President of the Health Committee—This generous donation will relieve many a distressed person. The Warrant stands charged to the Presidents account in the Treays as recd. by me in the character of Agent to the President . I have the...
209Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Smith appeard so anxious and unhappy tho She Said nothing, that seeing it, I advised her to follow you, & sent Michial to Town hoping she would overtake you tomorrow. she appeard so rejoiced at the proposal, that in half an hour, she was gone. I hope She will overtake you by tomorrow night. I slept well last night & tho I feel very low spirited, I shall strive to be [co]ntent. I will...
210To John Adams from William Vans Murray, 1 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
The papers, some of which I have received as late as 8. May & one of 26. May, have after so long a pause of uncertainty thrown me into a tumult of feelings almost to tears. I see with a pride sustained by active domestic sources of greatness, the rising energies of America spreading over that surface of the public mind which reflection had matured into a mass of stability, fit to support all...