2011To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 9 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
On the petition of Richard Graham, the Secretary of the Treasy. in obedience to the directions of the Presidt. of the U. S. respectfully submits the following Report. The petitioner Richard Graham, and Samuel Spring, both of the State of New York, but residing at Rehoboth in Massachusetts, were convicted, before the Circuit Court of the United States holden at Boston on the first day of June...
2012To John Adams from Turell Tufts, 8 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I think it proper to inform you personally that having recd. a Newspaper containing, an Account of the dismissal of Mr Pickering and the resignation of McHenry, as well as the nomination of Mr Marshall & Mr Dexter to fill their places I imagined it would be well with for me to communicate these important changes in Office to His Execley the Govr. and to Genl Magan. as the treatment of...
2013To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 19 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the direction of the President of the United States respectfully makes the following Report; That the Letter of Governor Mifflin to the President of the United States dated the 12th Instant contains the following requests. – 1st. That the President would direct the American Ministers in Europe to use their influence to obtain permissions from the...
2014To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 19 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit a letter from John Huges Esquire Commissioner for the first Division of South Carolina resigning his appointment—Jacob Read Esquire Senator of the State recommends Doctor Robert Pringle as a Gentleman well qualified—I take the liberty to submit his name, to be inserted, if the President pleases in the enclosed Commission. If the President will be pleased to direct...
2015To John Adams from Jacob Samsin, 23 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
AT this eventful period, when the dignity and independence of the United States are involved; at a time when a foreign nation has declared (among other enormous requisites) that money to an immense amount must be paid as a preliminary to an audience with the Directory, or their recognition of our envoys extraordinary to that nation; and at a time when a foreign nation attempts to degrade the...
2016To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully transmits to the President of the United States, a Letter from the Commissioner of the Revenue dated the 20th. instant covering a proposal made by a Theodore Lincoln for building a Light House upon Cape Cod in the State of Massachusetts. It is the opinion of the Secretary, that all circumstances considered, it will be for the Interest of the United...
2017To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 13 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
The motives which prompt me to this intrusion, will I hope apologise for it.— Regard to the welfare of an honest Man, & in his station a faithful officer, (who has served under my observation for six Years past, & suffered much in Constitution) induces me to take the Liberty, of, presenting the Bearer Mr. Saml Henly to your consideration, who goes on furlough to his native air of Boston, for...
2018To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 3 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr Horry who was presented to you in Philadelphia, came from newport principally with a view of paying his respects to you on the 30 October in Boston where he expected the honor of meeting you; and being disappointed he has remained in town, in the expectation that I would attend him to Quincy with the same view. This pleasurable duty I am expected by circumstances to postpone, and have asked...
2019To John Adams from Connecticut Legislature, 14 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
The legislature of the state of Connecticut is not in the habit of interfering in the administration of the general government, nor of obtruding opinions or advice upon the councils of the Union.—We have been accustomed to exhibit, as a fair and sufficient proof of our affection for the national constitution, an uniform obedience to the laws and an undeviating respect for the constituted...
2020To John Adams from Theodore Foster, 13 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Act to provide for the more convenient organization of the Courts of the United States, contemplating the appointment of judges of the Courts in the several circuits, we take the liberty of recommending to you Benjamin Bourn Esqr: the present district judge of Rhode Island as a proper character to fill the office of a judge of the circuit Court in the circuit with which that State is...
2021To John Adams from William Hunt, 11 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
Impressed with lively emotions of gratitude, for the nomination of my Son Charles as an Ensign in the Army of the United States; I could wish, if possible, to have him transposed to one of the perminent Regiments, if at any time the goverment should see fit to disband the new raised troops, that his remaining in service may be more sure, as he is desireous of the Army. I hope that I shall not...
2022To John Adams from John M. Pintard, 26 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Altho not officialy Announced Nevertheless from the last advices from America I think I can with Confidence address you as the Successor of our Late Beloved President and Congratulate my Countrymen on the choice they have made. The purport of this Letter is to Request that you will be pleased to grant me a favour that your Predecessor in office was Kind enough to oblige me in and I Beg that...
2023To John Adams from James McHenry, 29 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
Having maturely reflected upon the principal question, contained in your communication, dated yesterday, to the Heads of Departments, and Attorney General, and beleiving it of great importance to the honour, dignity and consistency of the Government, that a public Printer should be appointed by the President, I have respectfully to submit my opinion on the subject. The principal question I...
2024To John Adams from William Murray, 14 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
We have seen with the anxiety which is inseperable from the love of our Country the situation in which the United States are placed by the agressions committed by the French nation on our Commerce our rights and our National Sovereignty.— Whilst the prospect of peace was in practicable view we looked anxiously toward that event; but we expected peace upon equitable and honourable terms.—We...
2025To John Adams from Silas Talbot, 9 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The foregoing sheets contain exact copies (as I believe) of my Commission in the Navy the last War, an Official notice of my Appointment under the present form of Goverment, the letter of Suspension of my pay as Captain, and some Correspondence between the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy & myself on the subject of Seniority—But considerable conversation has taken place Between the...
2026To John Adams from J. Gibbon, 6 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Under the circumstance of your want of a personall knowledge of me (tho I am to hope not of my pretensions), it becomes proper that I should appologize to you for thus deviating from the usuall mode of application for appointt. I do it Sir under an impression, that you will not ascribe an improper motive to it, and that it is necessary that I make some appology for a very hasty letter...
2027To John Adams from Willis Alston, 14 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the passage of a law during the present session of Congress for organizing the courts of the united states the appointment of a circuit Judge in the state of North Carolina becomes necessary I therefore take the liberty of recommending to your consideration the character of the Honorable Samuel Johnston, at present a Judge of the Supreme court of said state, for the Honor of...
2028To John Adams from Roberts & Co. Davy, 1 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Davy, Roberts & Co. present Respects to the President & request his Acceptance of a Box of Spanish Segars, which they hope will be found of good Quality. MHi : Adams Papers.
2029To John Adams from Rev. William Walter, 6 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency’s obliging Observations upon your own Letters in defence of the American Constitutions have added to my former satisfactions. If your Defence has not been so extensively read as it ought nor produced those happy Effects which were intended it is not because the work had not an intrinsic Value, but because the Great Events which Time has been unfolding have thrown the Minds of...
2030To John Adams from James McHenry, 31 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the Proceedings of two General Courts Martial, one held at Detroit, on the 23rd. July last by order of Colonel Hamtramck on Sergeant Adams Steer; the other held at Fort Fayette, Pittsburg on the 10th. day of October instant, by order of J. F. Hamtramck Colonel Commanding the Western Army, on Cornelius McMahon a private Soldier, together with the letters of Major...
2031To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
On examining the alterations you have directed in the report on Mr. Gerry’s communications, one appears to me to leave unfounded and unconnected many of my observations, and on a very important point. Mr. Gerry in his letter of Oct. 1 has expressed an opinion of a most mischievous tendency. He says “Before the arrival of the dispatches of the Envoys, the Minister appeared to me sincere, and...
2032To John Adams from William Gillespie, 14 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The death of your illustrious Friend and Predecessor,—the Immortal Washington,—so much and so justly bewailed in America, has neither been unfelt nor unlamented in Britain. Here also the shock was felt. Here also the Friends of Patriotism and of Liberty mourned, and here the arts have ambitiously lent their aid to immortalize that Event, which can never be forgotten— Early interested by...
2033To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the honor of sending the copy of Mr. Gerry’s letter of May 13th: I now inclose a copy of his letter of May 12th referred to in the former; but have not been able yet to decypher his letter of April 20th. to M. Talleyrand: it shall be done and forwarded in the next mail. I also inclose a commission for the person you shall be pleased to appoint a Commissioner under the 6th...
2034To John Adams from James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter of the 5th on saturday last, inclosing a letter from General Smith, and that dated the 6th inst this morning. The General has not sufficiently examined the points he writes upon, or he would not suggest that Baltimore, has had too little allotted to her defence out of the appropriations, in particular he cannot have read my letters to the naval...
2035To John Adams from Richard Stockton, 2 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to return my grateful acknowledgements for your goodness in answering the letter I took leave to address to you on the 17th. of last month. This act of condescension affects me the more as it was altogether unexpected, and has been performed in such a manner as lays me under a w e ight of obligation that I want words to express. Whilst I tender you my most sincere thanks for this...
2036To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 7 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Some days before you left Philadelphia, I mentioned to you the petition of John Scotchlar, who had been convicted at a late Circuit court in Boston of a larceny, for which he had been sentenced to pay a fine and to be whipped; and that to avoid the indelible disgrace to himself and family of receiving the corporal punishment was the object of his petition. You were inclined to remit this...
2037To John Adams from James McHenry, 20 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received by yesterdays mail your dispatch of the 20 September Ult. Major Lovell sent it from Pittsburg and expected to be here in a few days. The Spaniards it seems have thought proper to make a new move on the Chessboard and fall down the Mississippi. I shall offer no opinion as to its object: It is enough that it serves to discredit them among the Northwestern Indians who will find some...
2038To John Adams from William Vans Murray, 7 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed is from Mr. Talleyrand to Mr. Pichon who left this place the 24th Sepr. for Paris. In many interviews which this gentleman sought with me, with much solicitude, I had repelled the idea that “the Assurances” declared by you Sir in your message in June, had been given in any of Mr. Talleyrand’s letters that I had seen; to this I added among many other remarks that nothing but a...
2039To John Adams from Robert Hare, 28 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Senate of Pennsylvania, sensible of your many arduous and important duties, would neither claim a portion of your time or attention, did they not consider it incumbent on them, at a crisis of our public affairs, so interesting as now presents itself, to express the sentiments they entertain respecting the conduct of the French government, and the consequent measures adopted during your...
2040To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State begs leave to inform the President of the United States, that the Georgia Commissioners are desirous of meeting those appointed by the United States, without delay, on the subject of the claims of Territory. As Mr. Sitgreaves is gone for London, the Secretary respectfully proposes that another Commissioner should be appointed in his place; and submits whether it would...