301From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 6th & thank you for the intelligence from the Southward. The effervescence at Madrid as well as the news from Naples coincides with Mr. King’s letter & the news from Trieste confirms or rather favors the account that Buonaparte’s destination was the Adriatick not Egypt. But we must wait for further eclaireissement. Mr. Sullivans letter gives me apprehension that...
302From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I recd. your answer to the Address from Virginia, concinnate and consummate. My Secretary gave a hint of it to Mrs. Adams and She insisted upon his bringing it to her Bedside and reading it to her. She desires me to tell you, that weak and low as She is She has spirit enough left to be delighted with it. She says it is the best answer to an Address that ever was written and worth all that ever...
303To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to send herewith a packet & letter from Mr. Pitcairn, received yesterday morning, and to inclose the letter No. 128. and the document it refers to, from Mr. Adams at Berlin, which in my last I mentioned were in the act of being decyphered. Before this gets to hand you will find that General Pinckney arrived at New-York last Saturday afternoon: So I find it stated in a paper...
304From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The information contained in your letter of the 3d instant was highly grateful to me. Such communications are not only satisfactory to me, but are really useful; for while I hold myself in readiness to obey the call of my Country, it is expedient that I should have more authentic information than News Paper inconsistencies, of the approaching, or receding storm; that I may regulate my private...
305To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
This morning I saw a New-York paper announcing the arrival of General Pinckney, & that on account of the prevailing fever, he had landed at Paulus Hook: So I expect in two or three days to have the happiness to see him. The inclosed letter I received yesterday morning, with others by the mail from New-York. I have the honor to be with great respect sir your most obt servt ALS , DLC:GW . The...
306From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 5th. The letter for our minister at Berlin shall be forwarded as you desire & thank you for dispatching the instructions to the collectors & the commission to Mr. Bushrod Washington. There were two young gentlemen nephews to the president general who were at college, when my family was in Philadelphia, & sometimes visited us, who appeared to me to be...
307To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Last evening I received letters from Bourdeaux, by which it appears that General Pinckney embarked with his family, about the middle of August, for New–York. The letters came in the ship Franklin, arrived in the river Delaware. I inclose copies of these letters, being Mr. Shipwith’s to Mr. Fenwick, mentioning that on the 21st of August he had received an official copy of an Arret of the...
308To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I seize the first conveyance to inform you that General Pinckney is out of France. He embarked with his family, about the middle of August, in the ship Hope, Capt. Hendrick Hendrickson, for New-York, where we may daily expect to hear of his arrival. The letter giving me this information is from a Monsieur Hory, dated at Bourdeaux the 27th of August; it came to hand last evening from Chester...
309To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday morning Mr. C. Humphreys handed me your letters and the dispatches of Mr. Gerry & others. I have now the honor to inclose some copies of our order for requiring the departure of aliens, pursuant to the act of Congress passed the 25th of June last. If the form of the Order meets your approbation, I respectfully submit to your consideration whether during your absence from the seat of...
310To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
If it should appear to you neither lawful nor expedient to delegate to the joint deliberation of the Head of Departments, and to the determination of a majority of them, the case of Aliens deemed unsafe to the U. States, I conceive there can be little doubt of the propriety of requiring the departure of General Collot, and of Mr. Sweitzer who is described in Colo. Mentges letter herewith...
311From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letters are perfectly received last night from you inclosed in your letter of Oct 3d are perfectly unintelligible to me in all their parts. I pray you to return them to me decyphred as early as possible & to keep their contents in your own bosom With great esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
312From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Kings letters of July 28th. August 1 & 5 inclosed in yours of Oct 3d. received yesterday: These letters are very important & some of them should be made publick. With great esteem &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
313From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
It is time to turn our attention to the important question whether it will be safe for congress to meet in Philadelphia & to another what will be proper to say in the speech. I pray you to think upon these subjects & send me your sentiments as early as you conveniently can I have the honor to be with / great esteem &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
314From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Fosters Letter, and your answer, together with the Abby Lambins’ Letter to Mr. Foster and the Arrete inclosed. Your answer to Mr. Foster is wise and prudent. How ready is the Spider to dart along his invisible Line, upon a fly, that he thinks he sees off his guard? In this Case however it will appear I hope and believe, that the intended Prey, our good hearted friend, has been...
315To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 6 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received a letter from the American Consul at Naples. Unfortunately it is without date: the details of facts do however show that it was very lately written: an extract is inclosed.—Last evening I received a letter from the American Consul at Gibraltar dated August 10th, by which it appears that they had no news of the two fleets under Buonaparte & Nelson later than they had...
316To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
This morning I was honoured with your letters of the 28th, 29th & 30th ult. The instructions proposed to guard against abuses in granting licences to carry away French people, shall be conveyed to every Collector to whom a license shall in future be transmitted: I have kept two in suspense until I should receive your determination. Within two or three days past you will find that I sent a...
317To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
As the information contained in the inclosed letter from Theodore Foster esqr. may possibly become a subject of public speculation, I think it proper to lay it before you. My information of Gerbier’s enquiry of the Christian name of Mr. Foster comes from our consul at the Cape, who knew not the object of the enquiry. Mr. Foster’s letter explains it. I also have the honour to inclose a copy of...
318From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Duplicate of a Letter from Miranda with some Estimates. Read it and think of it. A number of questions and considerations over . We are Friends with Spain. If We were Ennemies, would the Project be usefull to us.—It will not be in for me to answer the Letter. Will any Notice of it, in any manner be proper. I shall send it by Mr. Humphreys, with Mr. Gerrys Papers. I am &c. MHi :...
319To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 3 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the duplicate of my letter of the 24th ulto. To John Q. Adams Esqr. our minister at Berlin, which, if approved, you will be pleased to seal and forward in some vessel from Boston bound to England or Hamburg: if to England, permit me to suggest the expediency of putting it under cover to Mr. King. The original will go this week from New York in the British packet. If you wish any...
320To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have to-day received some letters from Mr King dated in London July 28 August 1st & 5th. By them it appears there is more than ever a prospect of a new coalition against France: but a fact, and a very important one, stated by Mr King, has chiefly induced me to write. It is this. That Austria & Naples have entered into a defensive alliance for their mutual protection against France; and...
321From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will contain very little more than an acknowledgment of the receipts of your letters of the 13th & 18th of last month, which came safe to hand. The letter written by Mr Wolcott to the President of the United States, and the representation made by me to him, so soon as I received official information of the change intended, by him, in the relative Rank of the Major Generals, and of...
322From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 24th and have read carefully all the inclosures. Such as ought to remain in your office I return inclosed in this. There is nothing that require any remarks from me, because I think all is well considered, well done. It may not however be amiss to observe, to Mr. Adams, that he need not be solicitous about his success in making treaties with Prussia and Swedin...
323From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of Sept 20th and return you the comission for a judge of the supreme court, signed, leaving the name and date blank. You will fill the blank with the name of Marshall, if he will accept it, if not with that of Bushrod Washington. I cannot blame the former if he should decline, of the latter I have always heard the most agreeable accounts. I have also received your...
324From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 27 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
On the 27th I received your favors of the 22d The address from the volunteer company of riflemen of Christiania Hundred in the county of New Castle and state of Deleware, I shall transmit to the Secretary at war to be answered according to laws, rules and usages. The regulations proposed in your letter to Otway Bird, the collector at Norfolk, are prudent and judicious, and ought to be...
325From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of your letter of the 19th last night and have read the inclosures. Dr. Rushes letter gives me pleasure, because the number of dissappointed candidates is diminished by it by one. Mr. Sitgreaves letter is frank, candid and agreeable; but although this gentleman has merit and talents, held in high esteem by his country, as well as by me, I cannot help thinking that a few years...
326To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 24 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inclose two letters from Mr. Adams, one dated “Berlin June 18th. 1798;” the other on the 25th of the same month; the latter covering three papers of extracts from French news-papers with Mr. Adams’s remarks. In his letter of June 18th he refers to the propositions made by the Swedish minister, Baron d’Engerstrom, (now at Berlin) when he was minister in England in 1793, to...
327To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the copy of a letter I have just written to the Collector of Norfolk, on which I shall wait your orders. Perhaps another (and possibly a more effectual) condition may be required, on the issuing a permit to a vessel to carry off French persons—to wit, That the Collector shall previously ascertain that she is not a fast sailing vessel, and not calculated for being...
328To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed address and tender of services from the Volunteer riflemen of Christiana Hundred, county of New Castle, State of Delaware came to hand last evening. MHi : Adams Papers.
329From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 14th & 15th. The letter to Govenor Sumner, I will send to his Excellency. I feel very sensibly the obligations of the US to Mr Liston to his royal highness, Prince Edward & to Sir John Wentworth for their civility and kindness & shall accept the loan of the cannon and shot upon the terms you propose. Mr Stoddert will take the earliest opportunity to give...
330To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. Adams at Berlin a letter which I am decyphering: it is dated the 18th of June. If it appears necessary, I shall forward it in to-morrow’s mail. The three letters inclosed for Mrs. Adams, arrived last evening with the former. I have a letter from General Marshall, dated at Richmond the 15th. in which is the following passage:— “I have seldom seen more extraordinary...
331From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Last night Mr Amory & Mr Gardner came out to Quincy to shew me the original letters from the houses of Horsyth Smith & Co. and Hartshone & Boggs of Halifax, suggesting from Admiral Vandeput the idea of a convoy from Halifax in the fall, spring & midsummer. I pray you to consult with the other gentlemen especially the Secretary of the navy concerning the practicability utility & necessity &...
332To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment honoured with your letters of the 13th and 14th, and have directed a Commission to be made out for a judge of the Supreme Court, in the place of Judge Wilson deceased, leaving a blank for the name, and which I shall transmit to you in the mail of this evening. I shall also this day write to General Marshall to inform him that you have designated him to fill the vacant seat,...
333To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a sealed letter addressed to you—An address signed Stephen Moore, Brigadier General, from the officers & soldiers in the 6th brigade of the third division of North Carolina Militia, which came to hand last evening under cover to me—a letter from Dr Rush dated the 14th, mentioning that his brother would decline the appointment he had solicited for him in the former...
334To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since I had last the honor to address you, I have received from the Collector of Pennsylvania information of the arrival at Marcus Hook of a Frenchman named Giraud, appointed Consul for Boston. It struck me as one of the names presented last May by Mr. Létombe as Consul, for whom your exequatur was requested and refused. I turned to Létombe’s letter, & found it so, with the variation of the...
335To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a hasty letter on the 13th—Upon further consideration, we have judged it most advisable that a letter should be written by Mr Wolcott alone; in order that the strong point of view in which the facts and arguments in the case may be placed, may be presented by Reason only, to which the mind yields more willingly than to formal advice, in the semblance of official authority. This is...
336From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 17 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the Eleventh. I wish I understood, better than I do, the Conduct both of General Pinckney and Mr Gerry. I shall not be guilty of So much affectation of regard to Science, as to be very Willing to grant Passports to Dupont De Nemours or any other French Philosophers, in the present Situation of our Country. We have had too many French Philosophers already: and I...
337From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th. I wish I understood better than I do the conduct both of Gen. Pinckney & Mr. Gerry. I shall not be guilty of so much affectations of regard to science, as to be very willing to grant passports to Dupont De Nemours or any other French philosophers in the present situation of our Country. We have had too many French philosophers already; & I really begin...
338To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your letter of the 10th. and have handed to the Secretary of War the letter of lieut. Colo. Perkins, to be minuted & filed as you directed. Governor Sumner’s letter & inclosures of July 2d. I remembered to have packed up with other papers when the office was removing from Philadelphia; but I did not recollect where. This forenoon found them; and now have the honor...
339To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since I had last the honor to address you, I have received from the Collector of Pennsylvania information of the arrival at Marcus Hook of Frenchman named Giraud, appointed Consul for Boston. It struck in one of the names presented last May by Mr. Létombe as Consul, for your exequatur was requested and refused. I turned to the Létombe’s letter, & found it so, with the variation of the last...
340From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return Mrs Adams’s letter No 120 with its inclosure and Dr. Rushes letter of Sept the first, which I received in yours of the 7th of this month I am not all mortified at the delay of the treaties with Prussia, or Sweden, having no ardent desire of any treaties with Prussia till the crisis in Europe is more decided. Gen. Marshall or Bushrod Washington will succeed Judge Wilson, if you have...
341To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter received yesterday from Mr. Liston. The application he refers to I made at the request of Mr. Read, Senator from South-Carolina, who stated to me, that the King of Great Britain had formerly made a present to the then province of South-Carolina of a number of heavy cannon which had belonged to the French ship Foudroyant (captured in I think...
342From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 6th. with Judge Iredells Letter inclosed, informing of the Death of Judge Wilson. The Reasons urged by Judge Iredell for an early Appointment of a successor, are important. I am ready to appoint either General Marshall or Bushrod Washington. The former I suppose ought to have the Preference. If you think so send him a Commission—If you think any other Person...
343To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir Trenton [N.J.] Sept. 13 1798. I have this moment received your favour of the 9th. Since mine of the 1st the Secretary of War has received from the President a letter deciding the ranks of the three first General Officers in question—that they shall stand, Knox—Pinckney—Hamilton. This decisive act is the more surprizing, seeing but a fortnight before the President had written to...
344To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
By a letter from Mr. King dated the 14th of July, it appears that Mr. Gerry was in Paris on the 26th of June “waiting, according to private letters from persons about him, for the ultimatum of the Directory.” Genl. Pinckney was at Lyons the 13th of June, his daughter then much better; & he hoped to be at Bordeaux, & to embark by the 20th. of July. Dupont de Nemours and some other French...
345To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of August 14th and 29th we have seen in the hands of the Secretary of War. We are ever sorry when our views of men and things oblige us to entertain opinions different from yours; and we cannot without much pain express to you those opinions: but a sense of duty to you and to our country, supercedes all other considerations. In your letter of the 29th of August you seem to have...
346From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Lt. Col. Perkins who has commanded Castle William these dozen Years which after you have read it I pray you to give to the secretary at War to be minuted and filed among the applications for Appointments. I wish to be informed whether you have written an answer to His Excellency Governor Sumner, accepting the Offer of Castle Island and if you would have not, that you...
347From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 9th Septr 1798. Your private letter of the first instant came duly to hand, and I beg you to be persuaded that, no apology will ever be necessary for any confidential communications you may be disposed to entrust me with. In every public transaction of my life, my aim has been to do that, which appeared to me to be most conducive to its weal. Keeping this object...
348From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
One Bundle of the inclosed Papers belongs to your Department and the other to that of the Secretary of War. The original of the latter I have before sent on to Mr McHenry. I pray you to consult with him upon the subject of both: and write such answers to his Excellency Governor Jackson as shall be thought proper. Perhaps something should be written to Col. Humphrys, if not to Mr Yrujo, upon...
349To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 7 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received under your cover the address from the Hawkins volunteer troop of Horse and your answer, which are copying for publication: the answer will then be forwarded in the mail. I have the honor to inclose Mr. Adams’ letter No. 120. dated at Berlin the 8th of May, containing a letter from the Swedish minister there, the Baron d’Engerstrom, referred to in the dispatches of Mr....
350To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 6 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Last evening I received from Judge Iredell the inclosed letter mentioning the death of James Wilson Esqr. one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States; an event of which I embrace the earliest mail to give you information. I hope Mrs. Adams is recovering. I am with great respect / sir, your obedt. servant, MHi : Adams Papers.