401John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 1 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you on the new Year and the new Century. Aspice venturo lætentur ut Omnia Sæclo. You may take Pennimans Island and Acre of Marsh at 27 £ or perhaps at 30 £ though fifteen is more than it is worth. The Island is mere Show. it lies however within me; and some one will Speculate upon me if I buy it not. Candlewood Hill is an unknown Country to me. I never heard the Name. But I...
402From John Adams to James McHenry, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of Aug 29 last night. I have recd nothing from the Secretary of State respecting the Castle which ought to be accepted, and the Convicts removed as soon as possible and a respectable officer and Garrison appointed. I perceive that Tousard is coming here I know not why, nor wherefore? General Hamilton recommends him to be Inspector of Artillery. I have no Reason to...
403From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed protest & certificates I received last night with the letter from Capt. Ebenezer Giles, late commander of the schooner Betsey. This gentleman made me a visit some weeks ago, to complain to me in person of the horrid treatment he received from the commander of the Ship Daphne, a British vessel of war. He has now sent me the papers & expects that government will espouse his cause. I...
404From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The combination of a very few ideas has been sufficient to excite apprehensions that the West India islands would soon become a scene of pyracy. The dissolution of all principles, of morals, government & religion the formed repeal of the ten commandments by which it is become as lawful by which it is become as lawful to covet, steal, kill as it is to profane the sabbath or commit adultery—the...
405From John Adams to John Murray Forbes, 6 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received in season, and with pleasure your Letter of the 12th of January I must avow that upon the first publication of Mr: Munroe’s Work, I was much hurt at that levity with which So many Americans, and among them some of respectable character, had taken an open part against the Executive authority of their own Country Government especially when that authority was exercised, by a Character...
406From John Adams to John Trumbull, 10 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 4th. Porcupines Gazette and Fenno’s Gazette, from the moment of the Mission to France, aided, countenanced and encouraged by Soidisant fœderalists in Boston New York and Phyladelphia, have done more to Shuffle the Cards into the hands of the Jacobin Leaders than all the Acts of Administration and all the Policy of opposition from the Commencement of the...
407From John Adams to David Payson, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your unanimous Address adopted at Wiscassett in the County of Lincoln at a Regimental Review on the fifteenth of October. A Spirit like yours Seems in a remarkable manner to animate the Militia throughout the Union and will be sufficient to discourage all disorganizing Factions and foreign Influence. Your Spirited Resolutions are not the last in point of time, nor are they...
408From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 20 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 9th. You ask, if it is true that Hamilton and Burr are on an easy and friendly footing? I have heard they are. But Hamilton has written several Letters to his Correspondents in this place, (one Gentleman of high Character told me he had seen three) earnestly dissuading from the Election of Burr, and exhorting the Election of Jefferson as the least of two...
409From John Adams to United States Congress, 20 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to law, I transmit to Congress my annual account of the contingent fund. Printed Source--A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897. 10 vols. (Washington, 1896-1899)..
410From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Frederick Butler of Weathersfield in Connecticutt requests a Patent for the Invention of a Tin Cook Stove the description of which is inclosed. He incloses the money necessary by Law. I pray your particular Attention to carry this Business through the offices and to send him a Patent. With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
411From John Adams to Daniel Jackson, 1 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Whenever you shall receive by the orders of the Gov. of this State the possession and command of castle Island you will observe the signals and salutes which have been heretofore used under the government of the State untill you shall receive instructions from the Secretary at War. I am Sir your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
412From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Israel Ludlow of the North Western territory to be register of the land office at Cincinnati. James Findlay of the said territory to be receiver of public monies for lands of the United States at Cincinnati. Thomas Worthington of the territory to be register of the land office at Chilocothe Samuel Findley of the territory to be receiver of public monies for lands of the United...
413From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Joseph Covachich at Barcelona requesting to be consul at Marseilles which you will please to file among other applications to be considered in due time I am Sir &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
414From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, Jr., 21 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to write me no letters to reach Quincy or Boston after the 29th. On next Monday sennight, I shall set out for Trenton and reach it at latest by the 15 of Oct. I also request that you would write to the Attorney Gen. & the American commissioners to meet us all at Trenton, at as early a day after the 15th as you shall judge proper. I also desire that all this may be kept as secret as...
415From John Adams to Virginia Militia, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since my arrival in this Place, I have received your address of the fourth of July 1798.—Your offers of service, I receive with Pleasure and have referred to the Secretary of War to be answerd and accepted according to those Rules prescribed by Law and generally adopted by Government.— The Motives of such base Americans as yet seem to be in disgust with their Country, and patronise the...
416From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 30 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received but last night your favor of the 19th. I return the warrant for the execution of the sentence of the Court marshall on Samuel Ewing signed. With great Esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
417From John Adams to United States Congress, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have now an Opportunity of transmitting to Congress, a Report of the Secretary of State with a Copy of an Act of the Legislature of the State of Kentucky, consenting to the Ratification of the Amendment of the Constitution of the United States proposed by Congress by in their Resolution of the Second day of December 1793, relative to the Suability of States. This Amendment, having been...
418From John Adams to United States Senate, 25 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Franklin Wharton of Pennsylvania to be a Lieutenant of Marines, in the Navy Joseph West to be a Surgeons Mate, in the ship Delaware DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
419From John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 1 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favr of the 28th Inst, and that of the 26th of March, and it is not for Want of Inclination, that the Letter has not been acknowledged before. I thank you for your kind Congratulations; but at my Age, and in the present and probable Circumstances of public affairs, I know not whether Condolences would not be more Natural. The Commissioners of the Federal City are Gentlemen...
420From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the commissions signed, which were inclosed in your favor of the 18th. I agree with you, that Mr Kemp ought to be appointed unless something more should appear, than is yet exibited in favor of Mr. Muse. I return all the recommendations. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
421From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return the Address of the county of Renselar with an answer which I pray you to forward. Perhaps they mean to offer themselves as a volunteer corps. If you understand them in that sense, you will please to give them the proper official answer. Your huml Servt MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
422From John Adams to New Jersey Legislature, 8 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I receive this Address from the Legislative Council and General Assembly of New Jersey with a just grateful Sense of the high honour it does me confers upon me As there is no People whose Attachment to the Principles of a free Representative Government has been more constant and consistent, than that of the Citizens of New Jersey, there is none with whom I could more heartily rejoice, that...
423From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
In the night of the 29, your favor of the 21st was left at my house. Mr Kings letter shall be soon considered. At present I shall confine myself to the dispatches from our Envoys in France. The impression, made upon me, by these communications, is the same with that, which they appear by your letter, to have made upon you. There is not sufficient grounds, on which to form any decisive opinion...
424From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter or memorial from Mr I Lewis late consul at the Isle of Enclosed is a letter from General Peleg Wadsworth. A memorial of the select men of Livermore—another of the Select men of Turner—a petition of a committee & an association of about 60 men. All those are amply sufficient to justify me in the appointment of the Turner & Livermore federal volunteer company of Cavalry & I...
425From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment favored with yours of this date, & thank you for the information it contains. It was proper to publish the news in Mr. Humphry’s letter. I return you Mr. Kings, as well as his. The assurances you propose to convey through Mr. King to the court of Denmark, that their consul will be cordially received are very agreeable to me.—I hope to meet you in Philadelphia on the course of...
426From John Adams to United States Congress, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I wish to know the pleasure of Congress and request their direction concerning the disposition of the property of the United States now in my possession; whether I shall deliver it into the hands of the heads of Departments, or of the commissioners of the city of Washington, or of a committee of Congress, or to any other persons Congress may appoint, to be delivered into the hands of my...
427From John Adams to Rev. John B. Sim, 17 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Poem in imitation of the manner of Ossian, on the Death of Washington and thank you very kindly for the Present. Among all the elegant Productions upon this mournful Event which I have Seen I know not that I have read any one with more pleasure. The Novelty and Singularity of the Idea adds much to the Merit of the beauty and Pathos of the Execution of it. I think that...
428From John Adams to United States Congress, 3 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
The whole of the Intelligence, which has for sometime past been received from abroad, The Correspondences between this Government and the Ministers of the belligerent Powers residing here, and the Advices from the Officers of the United States civil and military, upon the Frontiers, all conspire to shew, in a very strong Light the critical Situation of our Country. That Congress might be...
429From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just now, recd. your favour of the 6th. I am glad Mr. Winchester has accepted his Commission. I return your Sons Extract from Liancourts Travels. Who could have put into his head, falsehoods so absurd and so gross? It could not be Simcoe. Absurd as he often was he could not have been guilty of this folly which is almost too palpable for our own Jacobinical Prints. Why have We no Copy of...
430From John Adams to Seth Harding, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
On the 11th of this month I received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the fourth with a large number of certificates from gentlemen of great respectability. I am very sorry, Sir, that you have had the trouble of procuring these testimonials; but I am very happy to assure you, that they are entirely satisfactory to me, & have removed every unfavorable impression from my mind,...
431From John Adams to Volunteer Troop of Light Dragoons, 12 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
The earnest desire you profess, to serve your Country deserves its approbation and my Applause. I accept your Offer of service as a volunteer Troop of Light Dragoons, and will give Directions that Commissions to be presented to your Officers MiU-C : Cass Papers.
432From 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.
433From John Adams to John Sevier, 6 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, you did me the honour to write me, on the 6th of February last. It is very certain, I have never given any orders, that will warrant or justify any proceedure, despotic or inimical to the Liberties of our Citizens but on the Contrary was entirely uninformed, untill I received your Letter, that any transaction of the kind you describe, had been practised or...
434From John Adams to United States Senate, 31 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following Persons, for Officers to the Regiments directed to be raised, by a Law passed the Sixteenth day of July last. Cavalry Lieutenant Colonel John Watts................................. Virginia Majors. Solomon Van Rensselaer........New York John Tayloe................................ Virginia Captains. Richard Willing................. Pennsylvania Benjamin...
435From John Adams to Uzal Ogden, 17 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
As I received your favor of the eleventh in due season, I regret that I have not till now been able to find a time to acknowledge it.—I thank you, Sir, for your two discourses on the death of General Washington, & for your eulogium on his character. There are in it more particulars of the biography of the General, which were new to me than in any other composition I have seen upon the...
436From John Adams to United States Senate, 13 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Daniel Mc.Neal of Massachusetts to be a Captain in the Navy—to take rank from the 5th of June 1798 Thomas Williams of Virginia also to be a Captain in the Navy DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
437John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d yours of 24 th and thank you for your relation of our little domestic affairs at Quincy. Brisler did not arrive last night as you callculated. His Children may detain him longer than you expected.— some of the public Offices are about removing to Phyladelphia this Week. I can Send James with my Horses and Charriot to meet you at Hoebucken Ferry or Elizabeth Town or any other Place...
438From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return to you my answer to the volunteer corps of the Infantry at Lancaster. I pray you to communicate this to Mr. McHenry that he may send the commissions. I am &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
439From John Adams to United States Senate, 23 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate John Ellis and Adam Bingaman of Adams county—Alexander Montgomery & John Stampley of Pickering county & Flood McGrew of Washington County to be members of the legislative council in the Missisippi territory. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
440John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of 26 by Brisler and that of the 28 th. this Morning. Thomas is in Phyladelphia and Brisler with his Family are going off this morning in the Stage. He will write me this Evening or tomorrow.— I expect to hear from you when and where you intend to Set out, and where you intend to be.— The offices of Treasury & State are gone to Phyladelphia. War, Navy & Law remain here, for...
441John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letter from the sec. of state will go by the Way of England. In the paragraph quoted from me I wish you not to mistake. I dont mean that I have any aversion to a Treaty with Prussia or sweeden, upon Terms consistent with your Instructions. You may agree to such a Treaty as soon as you please. But in the present State of Things, if the Neutral Powers will not go to War with France...
442From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your private letter of the 11th, which contains matter of importance, but unnecessary to be considered & answered particularly by me, because I have in another letter, written this morning, referred the whole subject to your final decision. The manual exercise of writeing has become almost as painful to me, as a blow upon the elbow, or the knee, which induces me to spare almost...
443From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 19 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
In your late Letter you intimate that a certain Gentleman is not a Friend to the present Administration nor to those measures which will be necessary. I am anxious to be informed more particularly of the extent of your meaning. I always lived in friendship with him. He always visited me, till the British Treaty. Since that he has estranged himself. It can be nothing personal that I know of....
444From John Adams to James McHenry, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Col Loame Baldwin, a respectable character as I suppose you know, recommending Mr. Samuel Sargeant to be chaplain I approve of the notification, copy of which is inclosed in your favor of 2d of this month. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
445From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Thomas Ross of Pennsylvania to be Inspector of the Revenue for the first survey of Pennsylvania— DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
446From John Adams to James McHenry, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13th and am perfectly satisfied with the disposition you have made of Ensign David Fero & hope we shall have no father trouble about him. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
447John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 18 th. I thank you for your account of the proceedings of the Supreme court.— I really believe you are right & that I was erroneous, in what we have said about the influence of politicks at the bar in Pensylvania. Indeed any where affected politicks do a man no good. I did not mean to prejudice you against your Quakers friends, who I doubt not are...
448From John Adams to Samuel B. Malcom, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 19th. With much pleasure I learn that you were admitted to the bar on the 18th.—A man of integrity & humanity, master of the profession of the law may be & almost always is as independant useful & respectable a character as any in society. I wish you all the pleasure, all the profit and all the honor in the career before you, which you can reasonably...
449From John Adams to United States Congress, 22 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
Immediately after the adjournment of Congress, at their last session in Philadelphia, I gave directions, in compliance with the laws for the removal of the public offices, records and property. These directions have been executed and the public officers have since resided and conducted the ordinary business of the government in this place. I congratulate the people of the United States on the...
450From John Adams to United States Senate, 13 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
In conformity with your recommendation, expressed in your resolution of March, 6th 1798 I have entered into a friendly negotiation with the Bey and government of Tunis on the subject of the 14th article of the treaty of peace and friendship between the U.S. and that power The result of that negotiation I now lay before the Senate for their consideration Signed DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S....