1681July 23. 1796. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Rode down to the Barley and Black grass at the Beach. The Barley is better than I hoped. The Clover has taken pretty well in general. Parts where the Tide has flowed are kill’d. Weeds very thick round the Margin of the Salt Meadow, or rather Black grass meadow. Twitch Grass scattering and thin. Billings sober, composed as ever. Bass and Brisler mowing with him. James the Coachman, enjoying the...
1682August 2. 1796 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Wrote to Mr. Sullivan by Dr. Tufts an Answer to his Inquiries concerning Mitchels Map and St. Croix River. My own Hands with Nathaniel Hayden only and my own oxen only, finished the great Wall upon Penn’s Hill. Mr. Benjamin Shaw and his Wife, (Charity Smith,) drank Tea with Us. He is a Clerk in the Branch Bank at 600 dollars a Year, and She is opening an Accademy of young Ladies for Painting...
1683John Adams, Deposition regarding Mitchell’s Map, 1796 (Adams Papers)
Deposition of President Adams—In answer to Interrogatories by the Agent on the part of the United States he deposed, “that Mitchell’s Map was the only Map or Plan which was used by the Commissioners at their public Conferences, tho’ other Maps were occasionally consulted by the American Commissioners at their Lodgings; the British Commissioners at first claimed to Piscataqua River, then to...
1684[Notes of Debates in the United States Senate] July 15. 1789. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Carrol. The Executive Power is commensurate with the Legislative and Judicial Powers. The Rule of Construction of Treaties, Statutes and deeds. The same Power which creates must annihilate.—This is true where the Power is simple, but when compound not. If a Minister is suspected to betray Secrets to an Ennemy, the Senate not sitting, cannot the President displace, nor suspend. The States...
1685[1790?] (Adams Papers)
Interest, Corruption, Prejudice, Error, Ignorance. Causes of wrong Judgments. Have not these Causes, as much Influence in one Assembly as in two? If either or all of these Causes should prevail, over Reason, Justice, and the public good in one Assembly, is not a Revision of the Subject in another a probable means of correcting the false decree? The notes or reflections which follow were...
1686July 25. 1796. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Dull Weather but no Rain. The Lathrops with the Team are going to the Swamp on Penns Hill for a Load of Wood that Trask has cutt. Rode up to the Swamp on Penns hill. Sullivan and Bass loaded up a Cord of Wood and Sullivan drove it home. Bass staid and cutt down and cutt up an old Walnut, murdered: by the Women and Children for their Dye Potts, cutt down and cutt up an old Appletree and a...
1687August 4. 1796 Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Of all the Summers of my Life, this has been the freest from Care, Anxiety and Vexation to me. The Sickness of Mrs. A. excepted. My Health has been better, the Season fruitful, my farm was conducted. Alas! what may happen to reverse all this? But it is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones. Went over to Weymouth with Mrs. A., visited Mr. Norton and dined with Dr....
1688July 27. 1796 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Billings and Sullivan making and liming an heap of Manure. They compounded it, of Earth carted in from the Ground opposite the Garden where the Ha! Ha Wall is to be built, of Salt Hay and Seaweed trodden by the Cattle in the Yard, of Horse dung from the Stable, and of Cow dung left by the Cows, over all this Composition they now and then sprinkle a layer of Lime. Bass and Thomas hoeing...
1689August 6. 1796. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Billings and Bass off by Day for Seaweed. Twin oxen sent to be shod. Omnium Rerum Domina, Virtus. Virtue is The Mistress of all Things. Virtue is The Master of all Things. Therefore a Nation that should never do wrong must necessarily govern the World. The Might of Virtue, The Power of Virtue is not a very common Topick, not so common as it should be. Bass and Billings brought another Load of...
1690July 31. 1796. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
A fine N.W. Wind, pure Air, clear Sky, and bright Sun. Reading the second Volume of Petrarchs Life. This singular Character had very wild Notions of the Right of the City of Rome to a Republican Government and the Empire of the World. It is strange that his Infatuation for Rienzi did not expose him to more Resentment and greater Danger. In the Absence of the Pope at Avignon, and the People...
1691August 10. 1796 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Billing and Bass collecting Compost. Brought up two Loads of Seaweed and carted several Loads of Earth from behind the Outhouse. Mr. Howell of Rhode Island came up to see me and conversed the whole Evening concerning St. Croix and his Commission for settling that Boundary. David Howell , a lawyer and a former member of the Continental Congress, was one of the commissioners appointed to...
1692John Adams’ Discourses on Davila, No. 33, [ca. 16 March 1791] (Adams Papers)
Discourses on Davila. N. 33. It seems by the Discourse of Boetius, that there was a strong Inclination, in some to destroy Monarchy and Aristocracy in France, as long ago as the rign of Charles the ninth and some of his Predecessors. had this been done, they must either have had no Government at all , would probably have adopted, a Government in one Center like the present national Assembly....
1693July 29. 1796. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Hot after Thunder, Lightening and an Hours Rain. The two Lathrops threshing. Billing and Bass carting Earth. Lathrops threshing. Billing and Bass brought up a third Load of Seaweed. They go on making the Heap of Compost with Lime, Seaweed, Earth, Horse Dung, Hogs dung &c. Still reading the Second Volume of Petrarchs Life.
1694[September 1789] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Elsworth informed me That Governor Randolph of Virginia, opened the Convention at Philadelphia, and offered a Project of a Constitution. After him several other Members proposed Plans, some in Writing, others verbally. A Committee was at length appointed to take them all into Consideration, the Virginia Scheme being the Ground Work. This Committee consisted of Governor Rutledge of S.C.,...
1695August 8. 1796. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Billing and Bass gone to mowing Salt Grass at the Beach Meadow. T. Lothrop unloading the Sea weed. No Negro but James, who shall be the last.—Agreed with Mr. Reed of Abington to plough for me next Monday &c. Trask half a day mowing bushes.
1696August 12. 1796. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Billing, Bass and Sullivan carting Salt Hay from the Beech Marsh. Tirell and Th. Lothrop threshing and winnowing Barley.
1697September 2. 1796. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
To work again on the high Ways. They have taxed me this Year between forty nine and fifty days Works on the Roads besides the other Farm in Quincy and the farm in Braintree. This is unjust, more than my Proportion, more than Mr. Black or Mr. Beale. Stumbled over a Wheelbarrow in the dark and hurt my Shin. Moses Black , an Irishman who had acquired the house and farm formerly owned by Col....
16981789 Septr. 16. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Elsworth informed me That Governor Randolph of Virginia, opened the Convention at Philadelphia, and offered a Project of a Constitution. After him several other Members proposed Plans, some in Writing, others verbally. A Committee was at length appointed to take them all into Consideration, the Virginia Scheme being the Ground Work. This Committee consisted of Governor Rutledge of S.C.,...
1699August 14. 1796. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
The Weather hot and dry. One great Advantage of the Christian Religion is that it brings the great Principle of the Law of Nature and Nations, Love your Neigh bour as yourself, and do to others as you would that others should do to you, to the Knowledge, Belief and Veneration of the whole People. Children, Servants, Women and Men are all Professors in the science of public as well as private...
1700September 4. 1796. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Fair. No Clergyman to day.
1701June 20 [1796]. (Adams Papers)
Sullivan Lathrop came for 6 Mo nths at 12 1/2. Here begins a brief revival of JA ’s Diary, extending through the summer of 1796 and comprising the only regular series of entries he made after his return from Europe in 1788. JA had come home from Philadelphia in mid-May, following the long and highly partisan struggle in Congress over Jay’s Treaty, and though there was to be a national election...
1702[Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued] Sept. 23. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Lee. Navigation of the Susquehannah. Mr. Grayson. Antwerp and the Scheld. Reasons of State have influenced the Pensilvanians to prevent the navigation from being opened. The limiting the Seat of Empire to the State of Pen. on the Delaware is a characteristic Mark of Partiality. The Union will think that Pen. governs the Union, and that the general Interest is sacrificed to that of one...
1703August 16. 1796. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Reed and Mr. Gurney with Billings ploughing below the lower Garden with 9 Cattle, and the small breaking up plough. It took a long time to fix the Plough with a Wheel &c. In the Afternoon ploughed upon Stony field Hill. Sullivan with one Yoke of oxen, the Steers and Mare gone to cart Salt Hay for my Tenants French and Vinton. Tirrell and Thomas still threshing. James and Prince, idle as usual.
1704Sept. 6. 1796. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Walked up to Trask mowing Bushes.
1705August 20. 1796. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Bracket and Vinton left me. We procured Captn. Baxters Oxen and William Field Junr. and went on with Eight Yoke including my red Steers, and ploughed as well as ever. Paid Reed £11. 2s. in full for the Weeks Work of two Men, three Yoke of Oxen and a Horse. The Men I allowed 6s. a day, tho I found them, being one Shilling more than the Agreement. The Oxen I allowed 7s. 6d. a Day, as they found...
1706September 10. 1796. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Walked, with my Brother to Mount Arrarat, and find upon Inquiry that Jo. Arnold’s Fence against the New Lane begins at the Road by the Nine mile Stone. My half is towards Neddy Curtis’s Land lately Wm. Fields. The Western Half of the Fence against Josiah Bass, or in other Words that Part nearest to Neddy Curtis’s is mine. Against Dr. Greenleaf my half is nearest to Josiah Bass’s Land. The...
1707August 18. 1796. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Ten Yoke of Oxen and ten Men ploughing in the Meadow below my House.
1708Septr. 8. 1796. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Sullivan gone for Seaweed. Bass and Thomas carting Manure from the Hill of Compost in the Yard. Billings and Prince laying Wall. Brisler and James picking Apples and making Cyder. Stetson widening the Brook. I think to christen my Place by the Name of Peace field, in commemoration of the Peace which I assisted in making in 1783, of the thirteen Years Peace and Neutrality which I have...
1709August 22. 1796 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Otis and Family went to Boston. Mr. C. Storer and Mr. Storrow breakfasted. Billings and Sullivan began the Wall against the Road opposite the Corner of the Garden. Very hot but the Wind springs up. Unwell.
1710Fryday. Nov. 11. 1791. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday a No. of the national Gazette was sent to me, by Phillip Freneau, printed by Childs and Swaine. Mr. Freneau, I am told is made Interpreter. The first number of the National Gazette , edited by the poet journalist Philip Freneau, was published in Philadelphia on 31 Oct. 1791. The aim of Jefferson and Madison in encouraging Freneau in this venture was to offset the influence of John...