931To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 21 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Capt Barry & Capt Murray, both sailed from Hampton roads on the 13th. Inst—the former on a short cruise on the coast—the latter on the cruise mentioned in my letter of the 14. Inst. Capt Talbott had not then arrived at Norfolk, tho’ he had been out 16 only Days—but this is not surprizing, considering the Winds which have prevailed. I sent a fast sailing Pilot boat from hence on the 2nd. of...
932To John Adams from Oliver Whipple, 11 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
This bein y for the Choice of President of the once united States I can not but view it as an eventfull Period: May that guardian Providence (which has hitherto protected this brave and once happy People ) secure to them, in your Person, as chief Majestrate, that Union, Safety and Protection, which is your Wish to cultivate, and Desire to give. I must, respected Sr, whatever is the Event, give...
933To John Adams from Thomas Hall, 5 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
Having read a pamphlet published here in the Italian language, giving an account of the conduct of the Romans in Greece, under Titus Quintus Flaminius, I was struck with a variety of remarks which may be of use to my Country-men, if translated into English: My particular friends Consuls Appleton & Willis have requested me to under take it; & also another motive stimulates me, however unequal...
934To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Navy, has the honor to submit, for the consideration of the President, the following observations. No express provision was made by Congress, for establishing Navy Yards, for building the first six Frigates directed by Law; but as Vessels so large could not be built without first erecting Wharves, or extending Wharves before erected, both these things were done—and in...
935To John Adams from David Payson, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Although possibly the last to declare, yet be assured, that we the Second Regiment, in first Brigade & eighth Division of the Militia of Massachusetts, & the Companies of Cavalry & Artilery Commanded by Silas Lee & David Silvester, will not be the last, to prove our attachment to our Country, & happy Government : if to Strengthen the hands of the hand of the Supreme Executive, by declaring our...
936To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 24 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose my Ideas on a few of the points proper to be noticed in the Speech to Congress. I have said nothing about the Penna. insurrection, the begining of that business being better understood by Col Pickering, & the conclusion, by Mr McHenry, than by me. I have forborne any observations about spiolations by British Cruisers, & the extraordinary lengths to which the...
937To John Adams from Henry Guest, 5 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
Altho it is With Some reluctance that The Subscriber Wishes to take up a Moment of your other most ardorous time—Yet he hopes to be Excused when The following Subject is honestly Laid before your Excelency for the Good As he takes it to your Administration— A Mr. Cooper has brought forward a proposition and Congress and Senate have Come into it to purchase a tract of Land from the Natives...
938To John Adams from John Henry, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
In presuming to lay before Your Excellency, the work that accompanies this letter, I presuppose more than even my vanity will reconcile,—namely, that it will not be altogether unacceptable to You. If it possesses no merit that can recommend it to Your patronage; it has at least novelty to attract Your notice. And when with great deference, I request You to allow Your name to sanction the...
939To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the petition of Robert Worrall, a prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, convicted of a misdemeanor, in offering a bribe to Tench Coxe the late Commissioner of the Revenue. I formerly mentioned his case to you, in consequence of the application of two respectable citizens of Philadelphia, whose information greatly extenuated the offence, and satisfied me that Worrall...
940To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received this morning a letter from the Secretary of the Northwestern Territory, informing that the reports propagated in the news-papers of Indian depredations in the two western counties of the Territory & in Shelby county in Kentuckey, are utterly destitute of foundation. I inclose a letter which came to hand yesterday under a cover from a Christopher McPherson at Norfolk. A letter...
941To John Adams from David Sewall, 8 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
By the desire of the Grand Jury for the district Court of Main at this Term, of whom Mark Langdon Hill Esqr. of Bath was Foreman, the inclosed Address is respectfully forwarded / by Your Obedient / Humble Servant September 4th 1798 To John Adams, President of the United States. The Grand Jury at the District Court now holden at Pownalborough in the District of Maine, haveing with the Utmost...
942To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 9 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor, to enclose a Letter to Mr Moses M Bates, covering his Warrant as a Midshipman in the Navy, which will require your signature, should you approve the appointment. He has been well recommended by Mr. Lyman—He is intended for the Frigate Congress, Capt. Sever. I have the honor to be, / with the greatest respect & esteem, / sir, / Your most obed. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
943From John Jay to John Adams, 2 January 1801 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 19 th . ult: informing me that I had been nominated to fill the office of Chief Justice of the united States; and Yesterday I rec d . the Commission— this nomination so strongly manifests your Esteem, that it affords me particular Satisfaction— Such was the Temper of the Times, that the Act to establish the judicial courts of the U.S. was in some...
944To John Adams from William Vans Murray, 3 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you a Duplicate & to inform you that the same language has been held to me Since—& that this government have assured me of their conviction that the letter enclosed in the Leyden paper marked X may be considered as evidence of an amicable Disposition, as they say they have taken pains to ascertain that point from motives of self-interest—These motives I believe Sir...
945To John Adams from James McHenry, 10 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter from the Quarter Master General dated the 21st ulto, and a copy of a letter from Brigadier General Wilkinson dated the 25th of July ulto. I have the honour to be with due respect Sir / your ob & hbe St. MHi : Adams Papers.
946To John Adams from Joseph G. Wright, May 1798 (Adams Papers)
We the Inhabitants of the Town of Wilmington in the State of North Carolina legally convened together, feel it to be our incumbent duty to address you at this very important crisis of the affairs of the United States in relation to the French Republic. Permit us to assure you that we view with intire approbation the advances made by the Executive authority of our own Government to that of...
947To John Adams from Timothy Dwight, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Mr. John Punderson Austin , Son of David Austin Esq. the present Collector, wishes me to write to you in his behalf. He has for a number of years done the business in the Office of his Father, who as Collector of this port; &, as appears by a certificate, signed by several of the most respectable merchants of this town, and now lying before me, has done it much to their satisfaction. His...
948To John Adams from Alexander Adams, 15 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will pardon the Trouble I give you in thus Adressing you: But a Reliance on your good Nature, from your exalted Situation in Life and publick Caractar, with the Nature of this Address, will: I hope plead my Excuse— I have been informed that my Wifes Brother Samuel Miller, a Cabinet maker or House Carpenter; Died in Philadelphia sometime past; And whether he made a will or not I...
949To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 5 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter from Capt Nicholson of the 26 & 27 Septr—which I had the mortification to receive last evening. There seems to be no calculating the evils of his first false step. His letter of the 12th. exhibitted a very strong disposition to remain in port, to secure at all events, his prize—rut the Return into port of the Vessel which he Idly supposed had been sent out...
950To John Adams from Mr. Ross, 23 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Ross presents his most Respectful compliments to the Secretary of State and begs leave to recall to his recollection the name and character of Colo. John Steel of Richmond in Virginia, who lost his place in the council of that state on account of his Federalism, and who is every way well qualified for an Indian Commission—Mr. Ross can also assure the Secretary that Colo. Steel will accept...
951To John Adams from James McHenry, 24 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit, to your consideration and disposal, a Report relative to certain alterations, in the military establishment, which to me appear, to be necessary, and proper. I am Sir / with the greatest Respect / your most obedient / and very humble servant MHi : Adams Papers.
952To John Adams from James Wood, 1 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
If we are late in declaring our confidence in a Government, established by the deliberate will of the people, and directed continually by their influence, in every department of which they act by their constitutional Representatives; it is because we thought it unnecessary. To doubt the confidence of the American people in their Government, might happen to foreigners, who, in their search...
953To John Adams from Stevens Thomson Mason, 7 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your card of invitation for thursday next. The last Session I declined a similar invitation in terms which tho’ guarded against giving offence, would I thought have saved me the unpleasant necessity of being more explicit. I am now constrained to say that it is, and will in future be, out of my power to accept such civilities from you. Having read your answer to an address...
954To John Adams from Patrick Henry, 16 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 26th ultimo did not reach me till two days ago. I have been confined for several weeks by a severe indisposition, and am still so sick as scarcely to be able to write this. My advanced age and increasing debility compel me to abandon every idea of serving my country, where the scene of operation is so far distant, and her interests call for incessant and long-continued...
955To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 18 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The long Friendship which has subsisted between us, & your kind expressions of regret at the failure of an intended arrangement, induce me to close my short official Career by a narrative of the commencement, and progress of my connection with the War Department: This is a Duty I owe to my Character, and cannot, I trust, be displeasing to you. Early in 1798, The Secretary of War requested me...
956Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letters of Dec br 31 & Jan’ry the 1 st I am sorry that it should fall to your Lot to nominate Col smith again, and that to a lower Grade than, as a soldier he merrits. I think however that he was placed in a difficult situation. if he had rejected the offer, those who have stiled him a Jacobin, would have attributed it to motives unfriendly to his Country, but as a Man...
957To John Adams from James McHenry, 13 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your several letters of the 28th & 31st of May, one of the 2d and two of the 5th of June inst. The proceedings of the court Martial in the case of Richard Hunt, being with you, and having no copy thereof, I cannot have recourse to and do not recollect the names of the officers composing it. I think it probable however, that some of them at least, were of the 12 new...
958Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 15 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 12 th: instant came to hand this morning, and I am greatly obliged by the kind invitation it contains to join you & my cousin at Trenton, which it would give me great pleasure to do immediately, but for the desire I feel of procuring an office in to which I may enter immediately on my return to the City. The inhabitants are daily flocking to town, but I have not thought it...
959To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the President of the United States the following Report. That by an Act of Congress passed on the 16th. day of July 1798, entitled “An Act to enable the President of the United States to borrow money for the public service,” authority is given to the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding five Millions of Dollars,...
960To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
With reluctance I Should interrupt your Excellency’s occupations, in the persuasion, that my correspondence can not atone for your devoting to it one Single moment of your pretious time, did duty not oblige me, to consider you now as a Father, whose inestimable loss maÿ be only by them be appreciated, whose heart and hopes can be compared with yours. What can I Saÿ, afflicted Father! to...