441To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 8 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
By the demise of Mr Innes, the Office of Commissioner for Liquidating the claims of British Citizens under the Treaty, has become vacant. My long acquaintance with the arbitration of Exchanges, and with the most complicated & difficult modes of Account keeping both in Europe and America, would, I presume, enable me to fill the place of the late Mr. Innes, with becoming ease and propriety—I beg...
442To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 19 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was intimated to me the last evening that You had expressed an intention of making a change in the present imperfect system of administration in regard to the federal City—if such is your intention, & you have no one in view whom you may deem more capable than myself, I would with pleasure undertake the guidance of that difficult & important trust; and hope I may not incur the charge of...
443To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor some months past of intimating to you my wishes to become usefull to my Country in some public capacity—a variety of unforeseen events have since occurred to bar my liberation from confinement, and of course my marking personally the respect I bear you—the late Supplementary Insolvent law passed by Congress, has fixed the 10th. proximo, as the ultimate period of my...
444To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 18 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am not without apprehension that I may commit an impropriety by the present mode of address—if I do, I trust to your well known indulgence for forgiveness— It is my fixed intention, Sir, after obtaining an honorable discharge from my present confinement, to quit Commercial pursuits, and turn my attention to Agriculture—unless an opportunity should immediately present for serving my Country...
445To John Adams from Robert Greenleaf, 2 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Although I feel myself not altogether a perfect stranger to your Person & greatness of Character, yet an idea formed in my mind that my person or character might not be within your recolection, (it being some years since you have seen me in person,) creates within my breast no considerable degree of diffidence as to addressing you by letter; I cannot but fear & entertain a supposition, that...
446To John Adams from Stephen Grellet, 24 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since late my mind has often been exercised on thy accompte, with a desire thou mayest rightly feel the place where the Lord has permited thee to be put into. “the fear of the Lord, it is said, is the begining of Wisdom.” wast thou possessed with that Holy fear, thou shouldst be endowed I have no doubt with Heavenly Wisdom, to govern the people over whom thou art apointed a Ruler; thou wouldst...
447To John Adams from David Grieve, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
As a friend, and benefactor to thy Country, I wish to inform thee, that I have constructed a Small Boat that will (by the force of the stream acting upon machinery attached to it) go up a River against the entire force of the current, thus much we know from actual experiment. And I verely believe that a Boat carrying from fifty to one hundred tons, and navigated with two or three men may be...
448To John Adams from Cyrus Griffin, 10 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
This being the first instance of capture and trial in my Court under the late Acts of Congress, I take the liberty to inform you that the Ship Niger, brought into this District by Capt. Nicholson of the Constitution, after long and very able arguments by the best Lawyers of this Country, was decreed by me to be restored to the Respondents, together with the ordinary Costs of defence.— It...
449To John Adams from Cyrus Griffin, 20 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
Understanding that an increase of Salary, will be solicited by some of the District Judges, and that the President of the United States would be written to upon the subject, if not improper I take the freedom to mention to you that my claim particularly rests upon a solid foundation: the District of Virginia is very large, the Business of the different Courts lengthy and laborious, almost...
450To John Adams from John Griffin, 18 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Permit me Sir, in conjunction with my grateful Father, to thank you most ardently for your late mark of beneficence to me; and the family. A mark unmerited on my part, but flowing solely from your extreme goodness. I have received the Commission of third Judge enclosed by the Secretary of State; and agreeable to the instruction of General Marshall, I will repair without loss of time to the...