1401John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have this day been obliged to take a serious and painful measure in the removal of the Collector of Newyork, and I wish you to give me your opinion concerning a successor— The office is important and lucrative, Walker has been named to me. What think you of him? I must and will have a good Federalist, one who will not prostitute his office, to a Foreign faction, or a domestic one,— I am &c a...
1402John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 31. of March made me unhappy because it convinced me that you were so. I Attribute the Cause of it all however, to the dangerous illness of Cousin Polly Smith which I am very sorry to her. The Deaths and dangerous sicknesses of your near Relations and intimate friends always affect your tender and benevolent heart with very deep and affectionate Impressions. I hope she may...
1403John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. to day your favour of March 29 th. I write you every Post day and send my Letter to the office. If they do not come regularly to you it must be owing to the office. It would hurt me to refuse the request of my Nephew Elisha Adams: but you gave him and his Mother all the Answer in your Power. If D r Tufts has any Money of mine in his hands, I should be glad if he would Supply my Nephew...
1404From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 6 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
your favor of the 27th Ult. gave me great pleasure. The proposal of appointing the V.P. to go as Envoy Extraordinary to Paris, has arrived from so many quarters that I presume the thought is a natural one. I will tell you a secret But I wish you to keep it a Secret in your own Breast—I was so impressed with the idea, myself that on the 3d of March, I had a conversation with mr. Jefferson in...
1405From John Adams to Joseph Ward, 6 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 27th of March for which I thank you. The strain of Joy at a late event, and of Panegyrick on the subject of it, serve, among some other Instances to Convince me, that old friendships, when they are well preserved become very strong. The friends of my youth are generally gone The friends of my early political life are chiefly departed—Of the few that...
1406Questions About French Grounds for Dissatisfaction, 5 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Questions concerning the possible grounds of dissatisfaction on the part of France against the United States.— I May not the French conceive that by the 13th article of the British treaty, we made an arrangement with one of the belligerant parties for buying and carrying to market her East India produce and manufactures to the great support and aid of the British East India dominions in the...
1407From John Adams to Moses Gill, 4 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 27th of March and Very Kindly thank you, for both the Letter and the generous Present, of a Cheese from Princeton, I know very well the Value that is to be attached to Princeton and its inhabitants and Productions, Its Cheese in particular I know to be Excellent, and I shall prize it the higher for the place of its growth, I Shall Show it, and boast of it, and...
1408John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Monday Morning, the most agreable in the Week because it brings me Letters from you, has not failed me to day. I have yours of 23 and 25 March. The Correspondence with Plymouth amused me much— The Answer is Superiour to the Letter both in Delicacy, and keenness.— You might have told her, if Chance decides in Elections, it is no better than Descent. But she knows not what she wants. The Letter...
1409John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 31 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
M r Murray of Maryland, your old Friend, with whom you form’d your first acquaintance at the Hague is to Succeed you. That Gentleman has been So long a Member of Congress and has given Such Proofs of Talents, amiable dispositions, and patriotic Sentiments, as qualify him to do honour to the Mission, as well as to his Predecessor. It would have been enough to have Said that he is well chosen to...
1410John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 31 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned, least you as well as your Brother, should think hard of me, for neglecting so long to write to you, but the multiplied Cares and engagements of Life added to indifferent health must plead my Excuse M r: Murray is to take the place of your Brother, and M r. Dandridge is to be his private Secretary, your brother will go to Lisbon, and you I hope will return to...
1411From John Adams to Henry Knox, 30 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received with much pleasure your favor of the 19th. If I Should meet with any “roses” in my Path, I Shall thank you for your Congratulations, and when I set my foot on “Thorns” as I Certainly shall, I shall thank you Equally for your Condolence, But when you assure me that you “feel a Confidence in the Safety of our Political Bark” you give me much Comfort, and I pray you may not be...
1412From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 30 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received with much Pleasure your favour of the 19th. If I should meet with any “Roses,” in my Path, I shall thank you for your congratulations, and when I set my foot on “thorns” as I certainly shall, I will thank you equally for your condolence. But when you assure me that you “feel a confidence in the safety of our political Bark,” you give me much comfort, and I pray you may not be...
1413From John Adams to Commissioners of Washington City, 28 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me, the honour to write me on the 22d. of this month. your congratulations, “on the preference given” by my Fellow Citizens, in the Choice of the first Magistrate of the Union, and the Expressions of your Confidence are very obliging. I am not apprized of any reasonable objection to the measure Suggested, of offering Scites for houses to the Ministers of...
1414John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
You will See by the Proclamation in the Public Papers that I have been obliged to convene Congress on the 15 th of May, and as it is probable they will Sitt till the Middle of July, this measure must make an entire change in all our Arrangements There are so many Things to do in furnishing the House in which I want your Advice, and on so many other Accounts it is improper We should live in a...
1415John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Last night for the first time I slept in our new House.— But what a Scene! The Furniture belonging to the Publick is in the most deplorable Condition— There is not a Chair fit to sit in. The Beds and Bedding are in a woeful Pickle. This House has been a scene of the most scandalous Drunkenness and Disorder among the servants, that ever I heard of. I would not have one of them for any...
1416From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, Jr., 20 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests The Secretary of State and the Attorney General to take into their Consideration the 3.ss of the 2d Article of the Constitution of the United States. “He (the President) shall from time to time give for Congress, information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration, such measures as he shall judge necessary and Expedient. He may...
1417From John Adams to Commissioners of Washington City, 20 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, you did me the honour to write me, on the 22d of this month. Your congratulations “on the preference given” by my fellow Citizens, in the Choice of the first Magistrate of the Union, and the Expressions of your Confidence are Very obliging. I am not apprized of any reasonable objection to the Measure Suggested, of offering Scites for houses to the Ministers of...
1418Notes on Pinckney Case, 19 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
There are 3 Cases which may now be supposed. 1. Mr Pinckney may be recd and in a fair and honourable Train of Negotiation. 2. Mr Pinckney may be neither recd nor rejected, but kept in suspence. 3. Mr Pinckney may be rejected, with Circumstances of Indignity Insult and Hostility + Which will render it at least questionable whether any other diplomatic Measures can be adopted. 4. Mr Pinckney may...
1419John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of the 6 th. by the Post of this day. I have proposed to Brisler to give him 300 dollars and pay the Expences of his Wife and Children to this Place and back again to Quincy, when they return— And He and his Wife and Children are to live in the Family. This is pretty well— I must and will have him. I am peremptorily for excluding all blacks and Molattoes. I hope to get into the...
1420From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 17 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received with Pleasure your polite Letter of the 5th. and thank you for your kind Compliments. I am very much disposed to believe, that you have been misinformed concerning “Some very leading Characters in the State of N. york.” If they have been “disappointed” it has been in the Election of the V.P. not in mine: and that by no means on the Ground of “the known Independence of my mind”....
1421From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, requests the Secretary at War to take into his consideration the following Questions and make report of his opinion in Writing. 1. Whether the Refusal to receive Mr. Pinckney and the rude orders to quit Paris, and the Territory of the Republick, with such Circumstances of Indignity, Insult and Hostility as We have been inform’d of, are bar’s to all further...
1422From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests the Secretary of State to take into his Consideration, the following Questions, and make report of his Opinion in writing. 1. Whether the refusal to receive Mr. Pinckney, and the rude orders to quit Paris, and the Territory of the Republic, with Such circumstances of Indignity, Insult and Hostility, as we have been informed of are Bars to all further...
1423John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am So constantly engaged in Business most of which is new to me, that it Seems as if it was impossible to find time to write even to you— Yet I believe I write every Post. It proves to be a tedious Business to clear the Presidents house for me. I am now told it will not be ready this Week. You will See by the Gazette how the new Pensilvania House is disposed of. The Weather is bad— I have a...
1424From John Adams to Pierre Auguste Adet, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me, the honour to write me this morning informing me, that you have important Things to communicate to me, and requesting an hour for an interview;—Tomorrow morning at ten OClock I shall be glad to receive you; meantime I have the honour to be with great consideration / your most Obedient and most humble / Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1425From John Adams to Jonathan James Maund, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago I received your obliging Letter of the 13th of February— It would be a greater pleasure to me, than any that I shall enjoy, unless the times should be better, than my apprehensions to Cultivate the Oats, you have been So polite to send me, But the four Acres of Cincinnatus must be this year unplouged, if some other person will not attend to them. If I am not mistaken you...
1426John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday only I rec d yours of March 1.— am surprized you should have rec d none from me from 11. Feb. I have written never less than once a Week, seldom less than twice and 9 Weeks out of 10, three times, ever Since I left you. The Roads or some irregularity of the Post must have occasioned your disappointment. I hope you will obtain Mr Mears, but I must leave every Thing to you— The Load of...
1427John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have no Letter this Week and begin to fear that your Respect to our late P. has laid a foundation for a Sick Spring and Summer. Sometimes too I am jealous of unfair Play in the Post office to prevent me from hearing from you at the most critical Period of my Life. The public Papers must give you an Account of Proceedings, which I am wholly unable to describe. What Judgment is form’d of my...
1428Memorandum, 8 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
drew an order for 2000 Dollars Warrant issud Same day. I indorsed it the 9th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1429John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
your dearest Friend never had a more trying day than Yesterday. A Solenm Scene it was indeed and it was made more affecting to me, by the Presence of the General, whose Countenance was as serene and unclouded as the day. He Seem’d to me to enjoy a Tryumph over me. Methought I heard him think Ay! I am fairly out and you fairly in! see which of Us will be happiest. When the Ceremony was over he...
1430Inaugural Address, 4 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
When, in early times it was first perceived; in early times that no middle course remained for America remained; between unlimited submission to a foreign Legislature, and a total Independence of its claims: men of reflection, were less apprehensive of danger, from the formidable Power of fleets and Armies they must determine to resist; than from those Contests and dissentions, which would...