51To 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...
52From 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...
53To 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...
54To John Adams from John Steele, 16 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the directions of the President of Saturday last, I abstracted from the lists of recommendations, and have the honor herewith to transmit the names of such persons as appear upon the information possessed at the Treasury to be best qualified to perform the duties of Commissioners under an Act of Congress passed in the present session to provide for the valuation of lands and...
55To John Adams from John Steele, 12 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed address came to my hand yesterday and I avail myself of the oppty of forwarding it by the first post after its arrival. The county of Chowan includes the Town of Edenton near the sea coast of North Carolina, a part of the country which has lately elected Judge Stone a very sensible & worthy man to succeed Demsey Burges . Viewing their late election in connection with this address...
56To John Adams from John Brown, 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In the expectation that you will think it expedient to appoint a Judge for the sixth Circuit from among the Citizens of Kentucky I take the liberty to recommend to your notice Buckner Thruston Esqr., long a resident of that State as a Gentleman who in my opinion is well qualified to fill that Office. Mr Thruston is now of middle age, has had the advantage of a good education, & possesses an...
57To John Adams from John Ewing, 30 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the Honor of waiting on you, I find that my son in Law Mr. John Hall—has made application to you to be appointed as Marshal of the District of Pennsylvania, which place I have heard, is now vacant. Permit me to say, that if no more eligible character apply for the office, I have known him from his Infancy. He is young & active, in full health and intrepid, was an officer in the...
58To John Adams from John Brown, 7 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I take the Libberty to Recommend Genl. Wm. Allin of Providence State of Rhode Island as a Suteable Gentlemon to Conduct the Stamp Office at the seat of Government, he is an Active Accurate Man and Attentive to his Undertakeings and his morrel Carecter Stands Unimpeached, You’l please to Obsearve what he ses, in his Inclosed Letter to me on the Subject together with Genl. Schuylers Letter to him...
59To John Adams from John Singleton Copley, 4 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
Engaged as you are in directing the concerns of a great People may I presume to hope that I continue to possess a place in your recollection, and that I shall not be thought to intrude too much, If I beg leave for a few minutes to call your attention to the Arts; I have been for a long time, waiting for an opportunity of making an Engraving from the portrait, I painted for you when you were in...
60To John Adams from John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd your several letters of the 4th. & 5th. inst. It is certainly wise to contemplate the event of our envoys returning without a treaty, but it will very much depend on the inteligence & assurances they may bring, what course sound policy will direct the United States to pursue. I am greatly disposd to think that the present government is much inclind to correct, at least in part,...
61To John Adams from John Marshall, 16 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have transmited to Major Hopkins a commission as Marshal for the district of Maryland. This step was taken with reluctance because your preference seem’d to be in favor of Mr. Chace. The petition of Isaac Williams with the accompanying documents was, in conformity with your direction laid before the heads of departments & by their unanimous opinion the fines are remited. I have inclosd his...
62To John Adams from John Devereux De Lacy, 21 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
The declining state of my health together with the advice of my physicians having determined me to go to a southern climate, and being bred to the Law in the practice of which I am now setting out; I take the liberty of humbly soliciting to be appointed by your excellency to the office of Attorney General of the Mississippi Territory. The various duties of which office (should your excellency...
63To John Adams from John Marshall, 24 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receivd to day your letter of the 20th inst & immediately transmitted to the secretary of the treasury a commission for Mr. Smith. After considering Mr. Kings letter of the 7th. of April it appears to me most adviseable still to press an amicable explanation of the 6th. article of our treaty with Britain. Whatever the present temper of the cabinet may be a moment may present itself in the...
64To John Adams from John Marshall, 30 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosd communication was transmitted to this department in a letter dated the 14th of Jany. last. In a letter receivd from Mr. Adams dated the 7th. of April at Berlin he says that the negotiations between France & Austria were not supposd to be entirely broken off. The points of difference were that France claimd the Rhine as a boundary & that Austria insisted positively on the total...
65To John Adams from John Searson, 14 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to say, I thought my self happy when I waited on you personally (previous to the Publication of my Poems in Philadelphia) when I thought I had your Countenance of approbation for Encouraging Literature, and your Benevolent disposition, this was previous to your appointment to the Presidency. But alas! A few days previous to your leaving, Philadelphia when I wish’d to have...
66To John Adams from John Eager Howard, 18 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday at your house, with some Ladies who had the honor of paying their respects to Mrs. Adams, where I observed a person, whose name is Samuel Monroe, in the capacity of a servant, and as I suppose you are not acquainted with his character, think it necessary to give you the following information.— He was formerly a drummer in the British Army, and has been a waiter in the City...
67To 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...
68To John Adams from John Steele, 31 July 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 12th. instant covering two proposals made to the Collector of Boston, one by Asa Killam and the other by Solomon Blake for building a Light House on Bakers Island near Salem. As Blake’s terms are by far the most favorable, the Secretary is of...
69To John Adams from John Myer, 9 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Agreeable to Notification by Advertisement to the Freemen of the Town of Hamburg and its Vicinity Composing the Third Regiment of Berks County Militia in the State of Pennsylvania a Meeting of the Same Assembled at the House of Jesse Evans on Saturday June the 9th: AD 1798 And Appointed John Myer Esqr Chairman Joseph Old Secretary The Chairman having taken his Seat & the Meeting being Opened...
70To John Adams from John Trumbull, 4 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been absent on a Journey to Newhaven, or I should sooner have acknowleged the receipt of your letter of the 12th: Ult. As I never doubted that the reports concerning the conversation in question, originated chiefly from that Spirit mentioned in your Postscript, I was gratified by the account you gave me, principally as it enabled me positively to contradict many unfounded assertions...
71To John Adams from John Jay, 2 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 19th. ult: informing me that I had been nominated to fill the office of Chief Justice of the united States; and Yesterday I recd. 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...
72To John Adams from John Faucheraud Grimké, 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
It is with very sincere pleasure that we forward the presentments made by the Grand Jury of this City and district, at the late Court of Oyer and Jerminer; &c, which commenced its session on the 19th. Instant; and the more especially, as the Grand Inquest have in our opinion, spoken the language of the Citizens of this country, in favor of the late judicious and dicisive measures of the...
73To John Adams from John Baptiste Rapine, 14 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I went on board a french Merchant Ship in Havannah bound to Nante as passenger on the eighteenth day we took an American Brigg bound to Newport the Capt: put six men with the prise Master on board of her I being a passenger had liberty likewise to go on board of the Brigg. The French Capt: ordred the prise Master on board to run in to the first French or Spanish port that he could with...
74To John Adams from John Steward, 19 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
Hounred Sir I your pitisioner John Steward A man that have had the houner to Serve the United States with my waggon and hourses for three years and six month during the Late War and I Never have Recived any thing for my past Labour And as the Lord have pleased to Aflick my with is holey Hand as I ham nott hable to help my Selfe out of the Bed with out help with Induse me to Lay my Compleant be...
75From John Jay to John Adams, 21 August 1798, enclosing Address of the New York State Legislature to John Adams, 17–20 … (Jay Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to You, herewith enclosed, an address from the Senate and assembly of this State which passed and was agreed to by both Houses unanimously— It gives me pleasure to reflect that from this and the numerous other Expressions of the public Sentiment, relative to the reprehensible conduct of France towards this Country, you may rely on the decided co-operation of...
76To John Adams from John Marshall, 8 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I herewith transmit to you a letter from Mr. King, which I only receivd yesterday, accompanying a complaint made by the Swedish Charge des affaires against two American Captains for an injury done a swedish vessel & an insult offerd to their flag. I have written to day to the collector of Charleston South Carolina at which port the two persons complaind of were commissioned requesting him to...
77To John Adams from John Marshall, 23 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receivd by yesterdays mail your two letters of the 11th inst. & that which coverd the duplicates of the letter to the Prince Regent of Portugal which will be sent by the first opportunity. Instructions to Mr. King respecting an agreement for a sum in gross in compensation for the claims of British Creditors under the 6th. article of our treaty of amity with Britain are prepard & will if...
78To John Adams from John Rowlett, 12 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
Be pleased to pardon the means I adopt to introduce my subject, for I should be proud to approach you sir with all the deference due to your exalted station and character As you have ever been considered a patron to industry and to useful performances, I take the liberty to solicit your subscription to an arduous and expensive undertaking which has already received the unanimous sanction of...
79To John Adams from John Goulding, 24 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Propelled by a cause equally serious and urgent; and encouraged by a Name , whose wise, benevolent & noble exertions, have regularly accompanied the dignity, and encreasing influence, which it maintains, in society.—Such is my apology for this intrusion. Shipwrecked as it were, and bereaved of my little all;—yet thank Heaven still possessed of Health, active and willing, my utmost efforts have...
80To John Adams from John Jay, 10 November 1800 (Adams 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 antifederal party succeeded at the last Election in the City of New York, and acquired a decided Majority in the assembly. Well knowing their Veiws and Temper it was not adviseable that the Speech should contain any Matter...
81To John Adams from John Avery, Jr., 8 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received a Letter from my Son this day, dated the 30th. of May who was then in France and concluding the intelligence, he has given me, would be pleasing to your Excellency; I have taken the Liberty to give you an Extract from it.—“The Manly and spirited Letter of Mr. Pickering to Mr. Pinckney is considered by the first advocates in Paris as a Master peice and unanswerable. It has been...
82To John Adams from John Fitzgerald, 27 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The citizens of Alexandria viewing with the liveliest apprehensions, the alarming situation of our political differences with the republick of France, as detailed in the communications of our Envoys at Paris to the secretary of State, and desirous of evincing their attachment to the Government of their country, and a virtuous indignation at any attempt to infringe its national sovereignty,...
83To John Adams from John Marshall, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receivd a few days past: a letter from the chevallier de Yrujo complaining that the Marshal for the district of New York, says he has no authority to deliver up the vessel capturd by Capt. Talbot in the Puerto Plata. I have taken measures which will I presume occasion the delivery of this vessel, unless, under the idea that the government has no right to interpose, so far as the captors are...
84To John Adams from John Lathrop, 14 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Several members of the Academy were so pleased with the oration upon citizen Socrates, delivered by Professor Luzac, that they wished to see it translated, & printed in our own Country.—The Revd Mr Bentley of Salem was requested to make a translation; but after it was done, some members of the Academy expressed doubts with respect to printing, and nothing farther has been done. Mr Bentley now...
85To John Adams from John Vaughan, 26 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
M Vaughan presents his respectful Compts to the President of the United States; & informs him that upon reexamining the Packet, he has found inside of one of the letters, a line from a Mr Robson dated Charleston who informs that he receivd the letters in Porto Rico—Mr Mason was passenger in the Ellis from London &, taken into that Port—Several letters of Introduction for N York were enclosed...
86To John Adams from John Marshall, 25 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
When I forwarded the last dispatches from our envoys in Paris I omited unintentionally to transmit with them the decrees which accompanied them & which I now enclose. The state of the negotiation on the 17th. of May, considerd in connection with the subsequent military operations of the Armies, & with the impression which will probably be made by the New York election, gives the appearance of...
87To John Adams from John Jay, 21 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to You, herewith enclosed, an address from the Senate and assembly of this State, which passed and was agreed to by both Houses unanimously — It gives me pleasure to reflect that from this and the numerous other Expressions of the public Sentiment, relative to the reprehensible Conduct of France towards this country, you may rely on the decided Co-operation of...
88To John Adams from John Conway, 28 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
You will, I fear, be surprised at seeing yourself addrest by a person unknown to you, but the subsequent lines, I hope will apologize for the intrusion! I am well informed, Sir, that Mr. John Halstead, Collector of the Customs for the District of Perth-Amboy, will resign his Commission in a short time; and I am advised by several of my friends to apply for that office:—I have also been...
89To John Adams from John Avery, 24 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
We the under Signd did on or about the 30th of October last pay into the Treasury of the United States thirty four Dollars for the obtainment of a Patent right of a Machine for Cuting and Heading Nales and likewise the moddle and drawings requisit in Such Casses With an asureance from the Seccretary of a Patent if attainable delivered at the Post office in Norwich (Connecticut) in a Short time...
90To John Adams from John Marshall, 8 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The papers from Govr. St. Clair have been read by the heads of departments & are now returnd. On receiving your letter respecting the consulate in the island of Madeira I wrote to Mr. Bayard who I found had on a former occasion recommended in very strong terms for a different consulate, a Mr. Leonard, & have receivd an answer from him which I now transmit to you. I transmit with it a...
91To John Adams from John Marshall, 29 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I receivd last night your letter of the 21st. inclosing one from Genl. Forrest & one from Mr. Wilmer which I return to you. As the applicants for the office of Marshal for this district are almost entirely unknown to me I thought it most proper to consult Mr. Stoddart on the subject. He says that Mr. Chase is, he beleives, qualified for the office, but that in his opinion it woud be...
92To John Adams from John Bird, 18 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
That your Memorialist and Petitioner came from London to America early in the Year 1794 to endeavour to recover Debts due to him at that time to the Amount of upward of Five Thousand Pounds—and that he has not been able (by all his exertions) to recover 5 per Ct. in real value, but has been obliged to labour hard for a very scanty Living, since he was upwards of 50 Years of Age (tho’ not ever...
93To John Adams from John M. Pintard, 27 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I intended this Morning to have waited on you to Know if you had any Commands for Cadiz, for which Place I am under the necessity of Setting off by way of New London (tomorrow Morning) having protracted my stay to the Last moment. I have apply’d to the Secretary of State to be heard before those Gentn. to whom you Referred my papers and altho it is ten days Since I have Received no...
94To John Adams from John Cosens Ogden, 20 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I send a news-paper printed and handed into the prison house, this morning. Two or three days after I entered this place, I gave through the hands of Mr Brinsmade, a lawyer, federalist, and son of a Congregational minister in Washington, in this State, to the printer, a written statement of the injury done to Madam Wooster, lately in the State of New York, as to General Wooster’s military...
95To John Adams from John Sinclair, 5 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
You will herewith receive, Copies of a Publication, in which I am persuaded you will feel yourself deeply interested, & which, I trust, will be viewed by the People of America in General, in a favourable light; I mean the letters of your illustrious Countryman General Washington, on Agricultural and other interesting topics. It is the only work, hitherto published, in any Age or Country, where...
96To John Adams from John M. Gill, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
The address and memorial of Sundry Inhabitants of the Town and County of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania Respectfully Sheweth That we sincerely regret that any circumstances should have given any foreign government ground to believe that when the safety of the government, liberty independance or prosperity of the United States is menaced there can be a division of opinion among the...
97To John Adams from John Sevier, 6 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
In a letter of this day from the Honorable David Campbell esquire, one of the Judges of the Superior courts of law and equity in this state, he complains that on the third Instant about ten O Clock at night, on his own premises, and not within the indian line, he was arrested by two of Colonel Butlers Officers, and conducted a prisoner to his cantonment there detained until the next day before...
98To John Adams from John Allen, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
Judge Miller, of Connecticut, and a Gentleman in whose information entire confidence may be placed, arrived here within a few days from the Natchez which he left about the middle of Novr. In conversation with me and others last evening he mentioned that Lieut. Pope’s detachment of troops in that quarter were extremely destitute of cloathing, & that a year’s pay was due them— That Lieut. Pope...
99To John Adams from John Neilson, 8 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Inhabitants of the City of New Brunswick and its vicinity, are highly gratified with this opportunity of expressing to you their Affectionate Esteem.— Happy in a Government of Laws, and happy in the Administration of it under the great & good Washington, we could not but sincerely rejoice, when the voice of our Country, upon his retirement, gave us, for a Chief Majestrate, a person whose...
100To John Adams from John Punderson Austin, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
My Father, who now holds the Office of Collector of the Customs, for the District of New Haven, being apparently very near the close of life, I take the liberty to make known to you the desire I have to succeed him in that Office. I have been his Deputy and Assistant in the Office ever since I finished my collegiate course of studies, which is now five years past; during this period he has...