1To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 12 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
My last informed you of my Intention to send you by the Messagerie a Case of old W. India Spirit, and at the same time I requested you to send a dozen to Mr. Alexander and a dozen to Dr. Bancroft. I have now to inform you that it left Nantes last Saturday accompanied with an acquit a Caution which I request you to return to me properly indorsed at the Bureau at Paris. I must beg your...
2To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 1 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I heartily congratulate you on your safe Return to Europe and thank you for your obliging Care of my Letters from my Friends, which I received last Post from Bilboa. I shall be greatly obliged to you if you will employ a leisure half Hour in giving me a little Sketch of our public Affairs in America, so far only as is prudent for you to communicate, and proper for me to know. Please to let me...
3To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 17 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
By the Tenor of your Favour of the 8th Instant I apprehend I have committed an Indiscretion. The Satisfaction I feel in contributing to your Pleasure was my only motive and I beg that may be considered as my excuse. The Rum cost me nothing, I cannot therefore fix a price, but Billy Franklin is my Banker in small affairs and you may settle it with him as you think proper. I am with great...
4To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 24 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry this Town has fewer Charms for you than a Ship of War,— You surely will have enough of the Sea on your Passage and methinks the Shore, now Nature is putting on her most agreeable Dress, is capable of giving you more pleasure. If you think the Situation of my House pleasant enough, you may be as compleatly Commander of it as you can be of any Frigate in the Service. You may remember...
5To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 9 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Capt. Charles Jenkins of the Brig Sally arrived here this morning to my address, he left Rhode Island on the 12 Jan and reports that affairs were in the same State, the English Fleet in Gardiners Bay and the French in Rhode Island and both armies in Winter Quarters. By this Vessell I received the inclosed Letter which I take the earliest Opportunity to forward. Were I to attempt to make an...
6To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 28 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have not written to you since your Departure because I have not before had anything to communicate, and now it is probable you will have already heard what I have to say. The last accounts from England inform us that Pondicherry and Chandanargor in the East Indies are taken by the English, after above two months Seige. The Papers say also that a french Man of War and a Frigate are lost on...
I am well informed that two Indorsements have been made on the Accounts I have had the Honour to present to the Commissioners, one of which contains Accusations as injurious to my Reputation as they are false and malignant. The first of these Indorsements is on my Account dated Sept. 10 1778 and is written in the following Words.— “N B The Order from B Franklin and John Adams Esqrs. to the...
8To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 20 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have just heard of your return from Philadelphia, and am exceeding sorry I had not the pleasure of seeing you as you passed thro’ Providence; I want very much to consult you Sir, about entering into the Practise of Law, and the favour you did me when an Opportunity offered for my going into Business at Portsmouth, encourages me to make this Application. I have for this some time past had a...
9To John Adams from Jonathan Williams III, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I arrived at Brest last Wednesday, in twenty five days Passage from Boston, and had the Pleasure of spending a day with Mrs. Adams the week before, at Braintree; She was then well and wrote the inclosed for my Care. Mrs. Adams had occasion for some solid Coin to answer some particular Purposes and I had it in my Power to afford her ten Guineas, for which She gave me the inclosed Bill; I know...
10To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 23 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your much esteemed Favour of the 14 Instant, and find by it that the Error about my departure for America is sett right: My Uncle is, if not already sailed, ready to depart from L’Orient, and I hope your Letters by him will arrive safe. I thank you very much for the news you give me and I wish I could in return say something decisive about Clinton, but my last Letters from...