1To John Adams from William MacCreery, 29 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the pleasure to write you from Burdeaux the begining of this Month, giving you what little information I had got, during the two Days that I had been there. Amongst other matters, I mentiond the Enimy’s having all their large Ships to the Amount of thirty and upwards Cruizing in the Channel and Bay of Biscay, but I have since learn’d, that their reason for sending them, was, that...
2To John Adams from William MacCreery, 10 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the Honour to write to you from Nantez the 29th ultimo and at the Same time forwarded Two News papers for you; I mentiond the Scarcity of Frigates in England but that they were fitting out Sixteen Gun Sloops, most of which I have Since Heard are Sheathing with Copper, so that you may Expect them on the coast of America this winter. They have lately fitted out Sloops which mount...
3To John Adams from William MacCreery, 25 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure lately to hear of your safe arrival at Paris, and that you were, on the 13th. Instant presented to his Majesty. Hope you have got safe thro’ the fateigues of ceremony attending Courts, which is so apt to be disagreeable to Republicans. It gives me great pleasure, and it will afford yourself not a little satisfaction, that you are not disposed to find fault with customs and...
4From John Adams to William MacCreery, 14 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 14 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:98–99 . Replying to MacCreery’s letters of 25 April (above) and 3 May ( Adams Family Correspondence Adams Family Correspondence , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963-. , 3:12, note 2), Adams thanked MacCreery for his...
5To John Adams from William MacCreery, 4 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Last night arrived here from Baltimore the Brigantine Saratoga, Captn. Murray, who has brought 2 Packets from Congress for the Honble. the Commissioners, and as many for Yourself. My Letters are of the 28th. May, at which time it was generaly understood there, that the Enemy were about embarking from Philadelphia with all haste, and that Genl. Washington was advanceing towards the City in...
6From John Adams to William MacCreery, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:155–156 . Adams discussed British reports of the evacuation of Philadelphia, congratulated MacCreery on the arrival of a ship in which he had an interest, and advised MacCreery that his description of the actions of Lafayette at...
7To John Adams from William MacCreery, 25 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of 10th. Instant did not reach me ’till this moment. I thank you kindly for your good wishes, and for the whole contents of it. There are three Vessels arrived here this Week from America two from Baltimore and one from Boston. Each have brought Letters &c. for each of our Honorable Plenipotentiaries all which have been deliverd to the Agent here. My latest Letters from Baltimore...
8From John Adams to William MacCreery, 31 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favours of 25 and 27. the last of which I recived this Moment. The Baltimore Paper of the 6th. of June I had before received, from the Printer who was kind enough to think of me, but I am not the less obliged to you. I wish you Joy of the News, this Moment received from Versailles, of a Battle between D’orvilliere and Keppel, in which the former, had the Honour, and the...
9To John Adams from William MacCreery, 9 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I this day received the Letter which you did me the Honor to Write me under the 31st. Ultimo. Your other Letter to me was still longer on the way —which I mention to shew you that from some cause of which you may be ignorant, they do not come in the regular course of the Post. I return you compliments of congratulation on the late Naval affair between the French and English Fleets—in my...
10From John Adams to William MacCreery, 19 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 8th. I believe my Letters to you, were carried faithfully enough. The secret is that I write my Letters, at the time they are dated, but they are frequently not copied and sent untill several days after. This arises from a Multiplicity of Business and of Pleasure, as it is called. It is unavoidable in our situation, but it is to me the most irksome Part of...
11To John Adams from William MacCreery, 30 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged to you for yours of 19th. Instant and am glad to find that there is a prospect of an end being speedily put to the troubles which arise to us in the Sea Ports of this Kingdom from our differences with Seamen, by the appointment of Consuls. I have not lost less than £100 Sterling by the People of one little Vessel. These People too, are renderd useless to our Vessels...
12From John Adams to William MacCreery, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 30 August I received two days ago, and forthwith laid it before both my Colleagues. You observe that Sea Men and Masters of Vessells escaped from England, complain of the Conduct of the Commissioners. Want of Money, and Want of Attention, you Say are their Complaints. Serious indeed! As to the first, I want to write a Volume, but will Spare you the Trouble, and content myself with a...
13To John Adams from William MacCreery, 12 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I Received the Letter which you did me the Honor to write me under the 7th. Instant, by todays Post and observe with concern, that your many efforts to effect an exchange of Prisoners, hath heretofore proved ineffectual. It gives me much concern to find that my suspiscions of our Public finances being low in this country, were so well founded. It must render the situation of yourself and...
14To John Adams from William MacCreery, 17 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I did my self the Honor to write you a few Lines from Nantes about 8 days ago, and left it on Monday last. On my arrival here the day before yesterday, I found several Letters from Baltimore for me—the latest dates were the 13th July. They contain nothing new but they—with some Virginia Papers down to the 17th. of the same Month give me much more pleasure and satisfaction than the Copy of a...
15From John Adams to William MacCreery, 25 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours from Bordeaux of the 17th I have received—and congratulate you on your agreable Accounts from America. My Accounts altho not quite so late as yours, are from unquestionable Authority and to the same Effect. The Letter you mention as intercepted and published in a London Paper, has every fretfull angry Symptom of Disappointment in visionary schemes of Gain. If every Man in the service of...
16To John Adams from William MacCreery, 9 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the pleasure to write you a few Lines just before my departure from Nantes, and afterwards on my arrival at this place. Two Small Vessels arrived here from Baltimore a few days ago. They had both long passages, the latest dates I had by them was the 16th. of August, and the only news contained in them, That a large Number of Vessels had got into Chesapeak Bay, which occasion’d a...
17To John Adams from William MacCreery, 5 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Meerly for want of something agreeable or interesting to communicate to you, It is now a very long time since I had the pleasure of paying you my respects. But as I have taken the liberty on a former occasion, to trouble you on the Subject of our Commercial Interests in this Country, I beg leave to mention to you some more particulars relating to it, which at this Port we find very irksome,...
18To John Adams from William MacCreery, 5 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you in January, I have not been favour’d with a line from you. Since I heard of the change which lately took place in the Administration of our Affairs at this Court, I took the liberty to address Doctor Franklin, on the Subject of my last Letter to you. Having a large Ship now here, which I want to ballast with Salt, but can not unless furnish’d with an order from the Minister...
19To John Adams from William MacCreery, 28 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of 14th Instant from Nantes reached me to Day only. It was but very lately that I heared of your having left the Metropolis, and but now of your intentions of going to America. I have written to Doctor Franklin on the Subject you allude to, and have had the pleasure of an Answer from him, by which I perceive that at Paris they are not well acquainted with the Duties and imposts...
20From John Adams to William MacCreery, 13 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never heard a Word of your Arrival, untill this Day. I sincerely congratulate you upon it, and hope the fine Cargo you have brought will Set you at your Ease. Pray how did you leave all Friends and all Things at Baltimore, and in the rest of America? What is become of my old Friends Johnson, Paca, Chase, and many others? Baltimore flourishes, it seems in trade, which I wish may be increased,...
21To John Adams from William MacCreery, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am not skill’d in writing introductory Letters—I must however write one to make you acquainted with a Gentleman whose conversation you will find, at least, very agreeable. In these intrigueing times, when Politicians are obliged to Speak with caution in all companies, look at all Men with a suspicious Eye, and speak to them with reserve, an introduction becomes very Necessary, as it is apt...
22To John Adams from William MacCreery, 11 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ it be the fate of persons high in power to be exposed to the importunity of the many, and they are obliged not only to suffer, but submit to it, I assure you I feel much repugnance in troubling you with this letter. The arrival of a Vessell here in the last summer with a number of German-passengers after a very tedious voyage, having communicated a contagious distemper to some of the...
23To John Adams from William MacCreery, 23 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
Previous to my departure from Baltimore for this place, I address’d a few lines to you at Philada. but learn’d afterwards that you had not then come forward from the Eastward. From the knowledge I had acquired from the commerce of this Country during the late War, I was fully perswaded that a commercial intercourse, to a much greater extent than has been carried on since the peace, might have...
24To John Adams from William MacCreery, 5 April 1793 (Adams Papers)
I address’d a few lines to you from Nantes in Februrary last, informing you the object of my present voyage & future intentions. The events which have since taken place in consquce. of the war becoming general in Europe, and a civil War kindled in this Country, renders the prosecution of my plan not only difficult, but dangerous—for altho’ I have not heard of the least violence offered to any...