691To John Adams from Jedediah Huntington, 9 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The collector’s office at New Haven being vacant, I beg leave to mention to you Mr. Nathan Beers of that city as one who I think will fill that place to satisfaction.—He served in our revolutionary war with reputation as an officer in the line & as paymaster.—he is at present Steward of Yale College.—His standing generally and connections are respectable— I am with the greatest / Esteem &...
692To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secy of the Treasy respectfully represents to the President of the United States. That Waterman Thomas Collector for the District of Waldoborough in the State of Massachusetts and Inspector of the Revenue for the said Port;—has neglected to comply with repeated instructions from the Offices of the Secy and Comptroller of the Treasy. requiring him to render his accounts, that no Weekly...
693To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 21 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr. Waldo, is the Gentleman whom I mentioned, in a letter which I had the honor to address you at paris, as an applicant for the office of Consul in some part of France. he is well known & was much respected at Paris, altho he was a zealous advocate for the rights of his Country. his character, in regard to abilities, honor, probity, & politeness, stands high with all who...
694To John Adams from S. Smith, 19 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
My Brother Robert Smith has requested me to mention him as desirous of filling the Post made Vacant by the Death of Judge Paca. If I did not believe him every way Competent to fill that Place with Utility to his Country & Honor to himself I would Certainly not solicit your Interest & Aid in his favor—His Character & Merit as a Lawyer & a Man you may be well Informed of by Major Stoddart—His...
695Enclosure: James McHenry to John Adams, 31 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of war respectfully takes the liberty to transmit to the President of the U. States, a statement of his recollection of the substance and incidents of the conversation which passed between them the evening preceding the resignation of his office, committed to writing immediately afterwards. He also transmits copies of sundry papers having reference to certain parts of that...
696To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to address you not long since (via Hamburg) acquainting you that, notwithstanding the best exertions of our Minister at London (agreably to the instructions of the Secy of State by your order) no chance whatever remains to me for the recovery of a large property which was condemned by the Admiralty Court of England about eighteen months past—on the principle & for reason that I...
697To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Mr. Liston’s note of the 8th. requesting the usual Exequatur for Thomas Barclay Esqr. and Benjamin Moodie Esqr. whom his Britannic Majesty has appointed—The former Consul General for the Eastern States, and the latter Consul for North & South Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Barclay is the gentleman who was the British Commissioner for settling the question of the St....
698To John Adams from John Gardner, 31 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
By so good an opportunity as the present, which offers by Mr. Welsh, I cannot omit repeating to you the assurances of my esteem, which I hope you have never doubted. It is some time since I have written you, and longer, much longer, since I have had the honor, and consolation of a line from you. I must presume that some of your letters have been lost on the way. The complection of our...
699To John Adams from William Alexander Humphrey Graham, 28 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have before Intimated to you that spent my Time since the first of August last in the state of Vermont & in that Western & Northern Country & have exerted the best of my Abilities to Auxillerate & Confirm your Modes & disappline of Government, & have Intimated that I had Propperty in Scotland & wished to go thither under direction more than three years since which you are sensible of If my...
700To John Adams from James McHenry, 6 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you a copy of a letter, and table therein referred to addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury and dated the 3rd instant. The object of this communication is, to apprise him of the sums of money which will be wanted in this department for the execution of the Laws; and, of the periods at which, in my opinion, they ought to be furnished. I shall make you...
701To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 13 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with my engagements, I have now the honour to inform the President that the following persons have become Candidates for the Office of Collector of the Customs for the district of Norfolk in Virginia, vacant by the decease of Colo. Otway Byrd, viz. William Davies, at present Collector of the Customs for the District of Richmond. James Gibbons, at present Surveyor of the Customs...
702From John Jay to John Adams (private), 10 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
Still pressed by public Business occasioned by the late Session, I take up my pen to write you a few Lines before the Mail closes. It very unexpectedly happened that the Antifœderal party succeeded at the last Election in the City of New York, and acquired a decided majority in the assembly. Well knowing their Views & Temper it was not adviseable that the Speech should contain any Matter...
703To John Adams from Francois de Navoni, 31 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
Le soussigné Consul Garant des Nations qu’ils n’ont point de Consul fixe dans tout ce Royaume de Sardaigne, par la presente tréz respectueuse se fait un vray devoir de s’addresser a la tréz Puissante Souveraineté, et protection de V.E. pour luy faire present, comme dans les dites Nations Etrangeres qu’ils me sont appuyées de ce Gouvernement pour les aider, proteger, et favoriser, y est compris...
704To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived home on Saturday evening with my family;—I did not arrive at New York so soon as was expected by one day, this rendered it impossible for me to pay my respects to the President without being detained on the Road till this week, which would have been very inconvenient, I am desired by Genl. McPherson to inform the President that the Troops of the City & vicinity are desirous of...
705To John Adams from James McHenry, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed plan, for connecting the different parts of our military system, in whatever regards the providing and issuing supplies for the army, has been reported to me by Major General Hamilton, and refered to the Secretary of the treasury who has verbally approved thereof. The plan appears to me a good one. It comprises such of the regulations as were found useful and necessary during the...
706To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 12 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Sensible how important every Moment of your time must be, I will rely upon the intention of my present Address to You as an Excuse for this Intrusion— You have been pleased to express a wish that I would give You any information that I judged worthy of Notice—Very few incidents in this quarter are so, especially relative to public Movements— If being impossible for You to be ascertained of the...
707To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 16 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit several applications and recommendations in favour of Miles King, Francis Taylor, W. H. Macon, Thomas Tinsley, James Gibbon, Abraham Archer, and W. Bentley, as Candidates for the Office of Collector of the district of Norfolk— I perceive nothing in these documents, which induces me to vary the representation which I had the honour to make on this subject, on the...
708To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter from Mr Forster of Providence, recommending Jonathan P. Heathcock—and Wm: H Williams—to be Midshipmen. I enclose also warrants in letters for these Young Gentl. which will require Your signature, if they meet your approbation. They are from a part of the Country, which has furnished but few Midshipmen. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / &...
709To John Adams from David Meriwether, 28 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
A meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Washington & County of Wilkes in the State of Georgia having delegated to us the power of addressing in their name the Chief executive Magistrate of the Union on the present situation of public Affairs as they relate to our connections with foreign nations; we embrace the earliest opportunity to discharge the Trust so reposed in us.— Whilst we cannot...
710To John Adams from Charles Chauncy, 27 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Should the present Judiciary Bill, under Consideration of Congress, pass into a Law; and an appointment of a Judge or Judges, be made, if in this State, Permit me Sir, to ask to be considered as a Candidate, if not inconsistent with other arrangments; and, if my Qualifications & Character, shall be found suitable to the important Betrustment, to be indebted to Your Goodness, for A Nomination,...
711To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
At the request of Richard Soderstrom Esqr. Consul Genl. of Sweden & charged with the management of Consular business for the Danish Govr. I have the honour to transmit a second representative on behalf of Wm. Smith who is confined in Gaol at Baltimore. I take the liberty to observe that the Collector has been requested to see that the Prisoner receives every degree of relief & comfort which...
712To John Adams from James McHenry, 11 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a copy of the last letter which I have received from Brigadier General Macpherson dated the 8th. instant, with a list of persons made prisoners or who had voluntarily surrendered to Justice. I also enclose an original letter to the Attorney General from a Mr. B. Reeder, dated near Morgan Town 22nd. March ultimo. I request the latter may be returned.— With the...
713To John Adams from Charles Lee, 13 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Attorney General of the United States most respectfully reports to the President his opinion that the President may reprieve for offences against the United States in all cases except in cases of impeachment. MHi : Adams Papers.
714To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 9 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
Hearing Daniel W. Coxe, brother of Tench Coxe Esqr. had returned from New-Orleans, I wished to obtain what information he had collected in that quarter relative to the affairs of the United States. On the 6th instant I recd. from Tench Coxe an extract of a letter from his brother of which a copy is now inclosed.—On account of the commercial affairs of D. W. Coxe at New-Orleans, the...
715To 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...
716To John Adams from James McHenry, 15 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the request of the President the Secry. of War respectfully submits the following observations, on the subject of his reference of the 24th of Jany. ulto. It is an undoubted fact, that there is a very general indisposition to war in the minds of the people of the Untied States, and that there is a considerable part of them still peculiarly averse to a war with the French...
717To John Adams from Charles Lee, 18 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Agreeably to your direction I have taken into consideration the memorial of Joseph Barrell Marston Watson and Benjamin Joy Directors of the New England Missisipi Land Company bearing date the 30th October last together with the several documents which accompany it. It does not appear proper that the President should express any opinion upon the merits of the claim or defer on this account the...
718To John Adams from William Linn, 30 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I ask leave to present you with a discourse delivered on the late fast day. It would have appeared in a more perfect shape, if at all, had it not been for the reasons given in the preface. The mention which I have made of you, in two places, has nothing to recommend it but sincerity, & the good intention of opposing that spirit of detraction so disgraceful & ruinous to our nation. As the first...
719To John Adams from Joseph Story, 31 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
The interest, you are pleased to take in an event, which has clothed our country in gloom, precludes the necessity of a formal apology, for offering the attendant eulogy for your inspection. Though young, permit me to declare, that I have lived long enough to admire and venerate in common with my fellow citizens the integrity of your patriotism, and the wisdom of your conduct. And I cannot but...
720Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I cannot give you any account of Thomas I have sought for him by capt Jenkins. the Barbara which saild at the same time was a better vessel, well armd. mr smith thought it probable he would prefer her, as she was for Boston. I joind him in the same opinion, and was not a little distresst in the storm on saturday Evening to hear that she had been cast away on saturday morning near Salem, but at...
721To John Adams from James McHenry, 31 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
In conformity with the request contained in your letter of the 30th relative to an augmentation of artillery & cavalry and arrangements for a provisional army, I have the honour to subjoin the following observations and statements. In order to have a fair view of the subject it may be proper to premise what is the force on the present establishment, and the how it is distributed. It may...
722To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 19 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter was recd. last night—it is yet too early to receive an official confirmation of the intelligence it contains—but as I hope, & believe it to be true, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of forwarding it to you in its present state. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect & / esteem, sir yr. most Obed / servt MHi : Adams Papers.
723To John Adams from Henry Downes, 26 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a meeting of a number of respectable citizens of Caroline County in the State of Maryland at Denton in the said County on the twenty sixth day of June Seventeen hundred and ninety eight, Henry Downes Esquire was unanimously appointed Chairman and Joseph Richardson Secretary, when the following resolutions were proposed and agreed to. First, Resolved, that it is the opinion of this meeting...
724To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
There has been much noise made by the presses and persons devoted to France, about some letters of Mr. Liston to the Governors of the Canadas. Mr. Liston has handed me his original draughts of the letters referred to, which are copying, and which copies I will transmit to you to-morrow: you will see that they are quite harmless; and therefore, notwithstanding the threat of publishing them, the...
725Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 25 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I hope before this Time M rs. Adams has arriv’d at Philadelphia and recovered from the Fatigues of her Journey; of her Health & yours I am solicitous to hear— Since M rs. Adams’s Departure I have been busily employed in adjusting your Farming Concerns, M r. Porter, who has the Care of your Homestead, appears to me from what little Experience I have had of Him, to be well disposed, diligent &...
726To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 29 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Officers are now all at this place, & not badly accomodated. Will you Sir, pardon the liberty I take, not in my official, but private Character, in expressing a wish, that it may not be inconvenient for you to Join them here, before our Ministers depart for France. It may happen, that a knowledge of recent events in Europe, may be acquired Just before the sailing of the Ministers, which...
727To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 20 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave just to call to yr recollection my having informed you (when I had the honor to see you last summer at New york) that I had suffered in the loss of a large property by the verdict of the Court of Admiralty of England—founded on the circumstance of my being an Inhabitant of this Country—you seemed to be of opinion that being in a public capacity my residence here could not be...
728To John Adams from Richard Dobbs Spaight, 18 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The “Act to provide for the more convenient organization of the Courts of the United States,” having passed into a law, I beg leave to recommend to you, to fill one of the appointments of Circuit Court Judge for the fifth Circuit, John Sitgreaves Esqr, the present Judge for the District of North Carolina, which appointment he has held for ten years past, with a fair and unblemished Character....
729To John Adams from Charles Lee, 28 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of the 17th. but not having been present at the trial of Fries it was not in my power to give you a minute of Mr. Lewis’s reasons for the opinion that the crime of Fries was not treason, without applying to Mr. Rawle on the subject who has given me a short note of which a copy is enclosed. The reasons were thought by the court insufficient and so they...
730To John Adams from Nathaniel Spooner, 26 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Box received from Mr. OBrion of Santandor; shall be forwarded to Boston or Elswhere aggreeable to your Direction by Your / Obdt Humb. Sert MHi : Adams Papers.
731To John Adams from David Grieve, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
As a friend, and benefactor to thy Country, I wish to inform thee, that I have constructed a Small Boat that will (by the force of the stream acting upon machinery attached to it) go up a River against the entire force of the current, thus much we know from actual experiment. And I verely believe that a Boat carrying from fifty to one hundred tons, and navigated with two or three men may be...
732To John Adams from John Barry, 17 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
As your judicious administration is generally approved of in this City; it then becomes every honest and faithful Citizen to the federal Government to support the same: In consequence thereof I thought it my duty to report to your Excellency from good Authority that the greater part of the millicia Officers in this City are avowed enemies to the federal Government: which report I make known as...
733To John Adams from John Griffin, 18 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Permit me Sir, in conjunction with my grateful Father, to thank you most ardently for your late mark of beneficence to me; and the family. A mark unmerited on my part, but flowing solely from your extreme goodness. I have received the Commission of third Judge enclosed by the Secretary of State; and agreeable to the instruction of General Marshall, I will repair without loss of time to the...
734To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 1 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
For several month’s past, I have been prevented from writing by a violent inflammation in my Eyes, which was probably, rendered more lasting and serious, for want of a little prudence at an early stage of the complaint. This is my first attempt to use a Pen since the second attack—I cannot do it, with more Propriety, or with more Satisfaction to myself, than in paying to You, Sir, my most...
735To John Adams from Jacob Read, 28 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
The communications you thought proper to make in your speech to both Houses of Congress, on the opening of their present session, afford additional proofs of the attention, integrity, and firmness, which have always marked your official character. We cannot but approve of the measures you had taken to ascertain the state and decline of the contagious sickness, which has so lately afflicted the...
736To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is the name to which the decyphered letters which I returned to you last week had reference. MHi : Adams Papers.
737To John Adams from Commissioners of Washington City, 18 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The commissioners were informed by a letter from Mr. White of the 11th of March last, “that the President was of opinion that the executive offices ought to be erected as near the Capitol as a convenient site could be found for them, as well for the accommodation of the members of the Legislature, who have frequent occasion to recur to those offices, as a means of collecting the inhabitants to...
738To John Adams from Stephen Grellet, 24 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since late my mind has often been exercised on thy accompte, with a desire thou mayest rightly feel the place where the Lord has permited thee to be put into. “the fear of the Lord, it is said, is the begining of Wisdom.” wast thou possessed with that Holy fear, thou shouldst be endowed I have no doubt with Heavenly Wisdom, to govern the people over whom thou art apointed a Ruler; thou wouldst...
739Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
From the 6 th. of May to the 23 d. We had hot dry Weather with scarce any Rain, Our Pastures & mowing Lands began to suffer, Barley & other Grain which before lookd promising began to wither, from the 23 d of May to the 9 th. Instant the Rains were great, not more than Two or Three fair Days— At present Your Grass Lands Wear a fine Appearance, Pastures also, Your Barns will be too small for...
740To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 11 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor, to enclose a Letter from Mr. Jones, Chairman of the Committee for building a Frigate at Boston, recommending William Wild and Nathaniel Clift for Lieutenants to that Ship; and also a Letter to Mr. Jones, containing Commissions for these Gentlemen, which will require your signature, should you think proper that the Appointments should be made. I have the honor to be /...