961To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 14 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I trouble your Excellency at this Time to transcribe the following Letter “sent by Person of some Distinction at Paris to a Man not less so in London” the Copy of which I have just now receivd. “Nous ne donnons pas á Monsieur Ad: une Confiance bien aveuglé; et ce n’est pas sans cause quils ont mis autour de lui des Hommes, qui l’Observent, on le croit honnête; on le scait ardent; inflex ible...
962To John Adams from Nathaniel Barber Jr., 15 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
You being President of the board of War, I make bold to ask a favour of you. I have the care of all Military Stores under The Honble. General Ward, as you will se by my return of the 2d. Instant. My pay is not fixt, and I know of no better method to get it done than by making application to The Honble. board. I have not the Pleasure to be personaly acquainted with you, yet hope you’l excuse...
963To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 19 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
We have the honoúr to acknowledge the Receit of yoúr Excellency’s most esteemed favoúr of 27 th. May. wherein we Observe what yoúr Excell y. is pleased to Say about the Definitive Treaty. but as by all dispensed Accounts we have no great Reason to think of its being Soon Concluded, it may make yoúr Excell ys. Stay at Paris much Longer than yoúr Excell y. self can fooreseen; wherefore Should it...
964Enclosure: A List of Pamphlets and Newspapers, 25 April – 10 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Sent Apr. 25 a box markd Ɨ A . A Parcell of News Papers bound up 128 and 17 loose £1:15:9. Prior Documents 1 vol 5s 6—administration Desected 2s 6—Facts 2s—Burkes speech 1s 6—The Peoples barrier agt. Corruption 2s 6—2 Epistles to Washington 5s—Memorial to the Sovereigns of Europe 2s 6—Hartleys Letters to his Constituents 2s—Do. to the York Committee 6d—Considerations on the intended...
965Jacobus Nolet to John Adams: A Translation, 19 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
The merchants of this city, wishing to add their acclamation to those of the rest of the country regarding the public recognition of the independence of the United States of North America by our August sovereigns, have asked me to inquire of your Excellency as to the day, time and place that would be convenient for you to receive six deputies of this said group of merchants. These merchants,...
966To John Adams from Edward Rutledge, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
The State of South Carolina, desirous of protecting her Trade, with as little Burthen to the United States as possible, has voted a Sum of Money for the purpose of purchasing three Frigates, has appointed Mr. Gillon to the Command of them and sent him to France to procure them. Satisfied as I am that, you would chearfully shew any Civilities, and if necessary, yield your Protection, to a Man...
967John Adams’ Commission as Justice of the Peace in Suffolk County, 6 September 1775 (Adams Papers)
Watertown, 6 September 1775. Printed form with spaces filled in appropriately ( Adams Papers ); signed by Perez Morton, Deputy Secretary, and fifteen Council members; on the verso in an unidentified hand: “J. Adams Esq.”; docketed in later years by JA : “Commision.” This commission, listed in Council records under the date of 8 September, was approved at the same time as similar ones for John...
968To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It has been some Weeks since I have heard from you and indeed near a month since I wrote myself. You may easily suppose the cause, and that I had nothing material to communicate. In a former letter you mentiond to me your willingness to help Captains M——y or C——m to some pecuniary aid should they need it. The long confinement of these brave and unfortunate men makes every small donation...
969C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 26 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have nothing new to relate to you except that I just learned that several Amsterdam merchants will make a démarche to the British minister to send deputies to London to negotiate restitution for their belongings captured at St. Eustatius. Several good patriots, even though they also suffered losses, refused to participate in the deputation, headed by Mr. H——. Those from Rotterdam also...
970To John Adams from Jeremiah Allen, 7 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
This day your Esteem’d Favor of 2 d Instant came to hand— think myself Honor’d by the Communication, and wish a peace may take place soon, or the War be continu’d for one year with such success as to bring England to Reason— The Box in which, the triffles for M rs Adams are, shipt on board the Hety Capt. Roberts for Boston, to sail in 14 Days— an American Went Express & I paid his agent the 10...
971Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 24 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you last Week by Mr. Thos. Russell who was to set out for Philadelphia on Monday last. In it I gave you some Account of the Bill for regulating Prices &c. (entituled an Act to prevent Monopoly and Oppression) and the curious State we have been in since its Publication; it will not be long before I shall be able to give You a more particular Account of its Effects—something decisive...
972To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
By the bursting of the Lock of one of my trunks on the journey, I was so unfortunate as to lose the packet of M. Gerards Letters; among which was that you copied, and of which I must beg you to send me an authenticated Copy. Since my arrival here, I receivd a Packet from Congress which came by the Confederacy. In that is the Copy of one of the most false and wicked Papers I have read upon the...
973To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 23 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss de la Fayette did me the Honour to deliver me the Letter you kindly wrote by Him. As his arrival diffused a general Joy, every Expression of it was given here that circumstances would allow, and particular Respects were paid by the Government as well as the People at large to this prudent and gallant young Nobleman who keeps the Cause of America so warm at his Heart. In these...
974To John Adams from John Bondfield, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
By an Express which past this City on Sunday and by all the Letters by yesterdays post from Spain we are informd America has declared War against Portugal and Hostilities are commenct by the Capture of Six rich Brazil Ships which they name—Captain Paul Jones is said to be the Hero. The Portuguese Consul at Bayonne has sent orders to all Captains at this Port sailing under portuguese Colours to...
975To John Adams from Charles Guillaume de Woedteke, 10 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Votre Excellence pardonnerés l’hardiesse de Vous incommoder de mon Ecriture. Un certain Colonel Americain, qui a servi au Roi de Prusse comme Volontaire dans la derniere Guerre contre les Autrichiens a assuré a mon Frere le Major Prussien de Woedteke, que notre frere Frederic Guillaume de Woedteke ci-devant Capitain et Brigade Major au Services prussiennes étant mouru comme Colonel Americain a...
976To John Adams from William Lee, 20 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jenings having gone out of Town, has left in my care a packet for you that came to him last Monday by the Post; by the marks on it, I fancy it has come from Antwerp. You will please to direct, whether it shall be forwarded to you in Holland or kept here ’till your return. We have not any certain advices of Monsr. Ternay, but it appears that orders are already sent out to prosecute the War...
977To John Adams from Edward Dilly, 3 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have only One Moments opportunity of acknowledging your favor of the 30th of Decr and of informing you that the Packet inclosed was sent agreeable to direction. Every friend of Liberty and the English Constitution rejoice to hear of the Firmness and unanimity of our Brethren in America. By your own Virtue, Valor and Perseverance you are to expect a deliverance from the Yoke. Every attempt...
978To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 29 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is with the greatest pleasure, that I inform You of the late Arrangement of our foreign affairs, in which You are appointed to negotiate the Treaties with G Britain and our Friend Mr. Dana to be your Secretary. Mr. Jay is to negotiate with Spain, Mr. Carmichael to be his Secretary, and Colo. John Laurens, Son of the late president Laurens, to be Secretary to Doctor Franklin. I shall not be...
979To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 3 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
L’incluse vous apprendra tout ce qu’il y a de nouveau ici. Nos amis ne sont guere contents du Mémoire Russe. Pour moi, je ne trouve pas que la Russie Soit blamable de ne pas se presser de secourir la Rep., jusqu’à-ce qu’elle voie que celle-ci arme tout de bon: autrement on pourroit bien ici lui laisser tout le fardeau de la guerre maritime, en ne se tenant que sur la défensive. Tout ceci...
980To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 11 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received Letters from your Excellency of the 24 th & 28 th Ult. what accompanied the last will be published with other Matters of a like Nature & altogether will make an handsome & interesting Collection. The mischiefs, that might have ensued from the intended American Trade Bill are at length guessed at by many, and the Difficulty of drawing it up, to the Content of Selfishness, (which...
981Senés to John Adams: A Translation, 10 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I possess certain secret remedies that I consider as specific because they very rapidly cure collapses, old as well as new, even in subjects considered incurable, and for which I have 26 certificates of cure. Thanks to my secrets one could avoid sending officers and soldiers wounded in time of war to the waters and have them leave the hospitals, thus...
982Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I this day Received yours of the 20 of April accompanied with a Letter upon Goverment. Upon reading it I some how or other felt an uncommon affection for it; I could not help thinking it was a near relation of a very intimate Friend of mine. If I am mistaken in its descent, I know it has a near affinity to the Sentiments of that person, and tho I cannot pretend to be an adept in the art of...
983To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 23 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellent Letter of the 23d: of March, and one by Mr. Dana, are now before me. How any Mortal can entertain an Idea that Liberty, and Safety, can be secured without Independency, I have no Conception; this half Faced policy, may amuse Timid Statesmen, Treacherous Whiggs, and the Tools of Designing Scotchmen; but not one Honest, Sensible, determin’d American can be deceived by it; go on to...
984To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 5 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you my Copy of Capt. Jones’s Instructions. My opinion is that in quitting his Ship without our leave or orders was a breach of his duty—that his continuing here after receiving his orders is a still more flagrant breach of his duty—that we shall be justly blamd, if we do not give him immediate and peremptory orders to proceed to his duty and compel obedience to them. You will see by...
985C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 27 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since your departure from here, nothing has happened except that yesterday the province of Holland made a resolution to the Russian court refusing the peace proposal from London. The resolution was communicated to the states general yesterday, after which the states of Holland adjourned until next Wednesday. Here are several letters that were brought to me from the inn. I offered to pay the...
986To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
London 9 January 1781. RC Adams Papers . printed : Digges, Letters Letters of Thomas Attwood Digges , ed. Robert H. Elias and Eugene D. Finch, Columbia, S.C., 1982. , p. 348–349. This letter, written “Tuesday night late,” quoted verbatim an account of the French attack of 6 Jan. on the Island of Jersey that appeared in the London Gazette Extraordinary of Tuesday, 9 Jan., but see also a report...
987From John Jay to John Adams, 1 February 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r . Fitzherbert has just been with me— He will give passports for american merchantmen, on our doing the like for british ones. He informed me that Doct r . Franklin is preparing a number of these Passports, in his own name. As this Business appears to both ^ of ^ us to appertain rather to the american Commissioners for peace, than to the residentiary Minister at this or any other Court;...
988To John Adams from William Lee, 10 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 29th. Ultimo, since which the Enemy have furnish’d us with such intelligence relative to affairs at Chas. Town and New York as they choose to publish, but I understand in General, that they are very greatly alarm’d for the very defenceless State in which N. York has been left and the extreme doubtfulness of Clintons success in his attempt...
989To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 14 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 28th ultimo and 7th Instant came both to hand since mine of the 10th and I began from yesterday to forward the two news papers as directed. You need not apologise for any trouble given me of this sort, for I shall be always glad to serve You. The Books you request in both these last letters will be forwarded by a Ship to Amsterdam to sail in a few days; there are other...
990To John Adams from Hendrik Brouwer Chs. zoon, 31 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vergeeft Bid ik Uw dat ik vry genoeg ben U deese myne missieve te adresseeren, de Liefde voor myn Vaaderland, t’herdenken wat onse voor Ouders hebben gedaen, Sig Een vry Volk te maaken heeft in my en veele weldenkende Hollanders bevestigt dat t’Volk van America onse naeste Broederen in Deugd waaren, dus wierd het onse verschuldigde Pligt hun in hunnen Onderdrukkinge te helpen Onderschraagen,...