1From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 24, I can only say that I have referred the Papers relative to extra Services to the Secretary of the Treasury who has not yet reported. That I cannot determine any Thing on Major Tousard’s Claim nor Mr. Dinsmores till some general rule is settled,—Major Tousard however and Mr Dinsmore will have Justice done them. If you approve of the Measure you may send a...
2From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of 23 of this month relative to Col. Smith’s Letter: your letter of this 26th relative to appointments for Major Tousard: Your letter of this date. I shall omit appointing any officer in the Artillery at present excepting Mr: Robins Chamberlain. Your Letter also of this date inclosing a Petition from Robert Gilmore, Esqr: Chairman of the Committee, &ca. All these...
3From John Adams to James McHenry, 24 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read and considered your report of yesterday & concur with you & the other gentlemen at the heads of department in the propriety of appointing a qualified person to visit & examine into the actual state of the garrisons—Indian trading houses or factories & other public property in the North Western territory on the Missisippi & on the frontiers of Tennesee & Georgia. It has been...
4From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your note of this date & have read all the papers. This whole business is so entirely new to me, that I have read the documents with great surprize. I highly approve of the proposed enquiry & of your letter to Messrs Shepherd Parks & Ely I am Sir with great esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
5From John Adams to James McHenry, 22 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President requests the candid opinion of the Secretary of War, upon the project in the inclosed letter of Col Smith. Whether his request can be granted in whole or in part consistent, with military & political justice & propriety without favor or affection. The P. prays Mr. McHenry to return Smith’s letter. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
6From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I request you to transmit copies of the law for reducing the twelve regiments which passed yesterday to Major Generals Hamilton & Pinckney & also to the commandant of brigades with orders to the Major Generals to make immediate arrangements, for reducing those regiments on the fourteenth day of June I pray you also in concert with the Secretary of the Treasury to make seasonable preparations...
7From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the sixth day of this month, & consider the requests contained in it as very reasonable. They are readily agreed. I as Sir with much esteem / your most obedient & humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
8From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read with attention, and duly considered, your letter of the 1st. of this month, and all the papers inclosed with it, and am of opinion that the public interest, and service requires that the proposed site and Ore be purchased at the best terms, which can be obtained, and a National Foundry for casting Cannon, shot and shells established, and I authorize you, in conjunction with the...
9From John Adams to James McHenry, 10 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed resolution of the Senate of the 9th of this month is referred by the President of the United States to the Secretary of War, who is requested to report to the President, to be laid before the Senate, conformably to their request as early as possible. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
10From John Adams to James McHenry, 31 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, requests the Secretary of War to send him without delay a list of the officers of the army who were appointed during the last recess of the Senate of the United States, that the President may be enabled to make their nominations as the constitution requires. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
11From John Adams to James McHenry, 31 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests of the Secretary of War, immediate information, whether the commissions have been sent to all the officers of the army or not, and if not, how many remain to be sent. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
12From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, Jr., 29 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States refers the inclosed law of Tennessee, and letter from the Govenor, laid before him, by the Senators and Representatives of that state this day, to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, & requests their examination into the subject & a report of their opinion, what is in the power of the President to do for the accommodation of the people of...
13From John Adams to James McHenry, 9 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President requests the Secretary at War to have an Extract made from the Precis des Evenemens militaires, translated into our Language and printed, which of all those Parts which relate to the House Artillery, and to consider whether this System cannot be introduced into our military System and especially into a Militia Law or Volunteer Corps’s. When printed in Sufficient Numbers, the...
14From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
As a few Weeks only intervene between Us and the Meeting of Congress I request the favour of you to turn your Thoughts to the subject of Communications both of Information and Advice necessary to be made to that Body at the opening of the session and in particular to prepare a summary of the Rise Progress , declension and suppression of the Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Every Thing in the Indian...
15From John Adams to James McHenry, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Daniel Morrow I pray you to consider & if possible gratify the parents by accepting a substitute. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
16From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 11, & have read the sentence of the court martial against Lieutenant Jacob Kreemer of the first regiment of infantry & have no hesitation in confirming the sentence that he be dismissed from the service of the US MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
17From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have ruminated so long, upon the case of Andrew Anderson, that I am under some apprehensions that my feelings have grown too strong, & produced a result, that will not appear to you perfectly right. I consider Cox & his associates, as very artful men & being probably considered as men of great consequence in that country, they had the influence to seduce a poor soldier to a crime, for which...
18From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your favor of the 7th. I consent with pleasure to the appointment of Thomas Pinckney Jun. a lieutenant in the 1st regiment of Artillerists & Engineers. Gen. Pinckneys letter I return. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
19From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am out of patience with some body, I know not whom. Your letter of the 4th of August, reached but last night. It had been certainly to Cape Cod, and what other travels it had made I know not. I readily consent to the appointment of Mr Pierre Gaillard upon the recommendation of Gen. Pinckney MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
20From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
If you can extract any meaning from the inclosed letter from Chilacautha, on Sioto, you will be welcome to it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
21From John Adams to James McHenry, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have no objection to the promotions or appointments proposed in your list, inclosed in your favor of 31st August. I return you all the papers. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
22From 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.
23From John Adams to James McHenry, 2 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from fourteen of the most respectable gentlemen in Rhode island, recommending Dr Isaac Sentor to be surgeon and physician of a naval hospital at New–port. You will please to preserve it & consider it with all others on a like subject. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
24From John Adams to James McHenry, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Regretting with you on every account, public & private, the prevalence of the fever, I cannot but approve of the removal of the public offices to Trenton. Inclosed is a letter from Hugh McAlister, complaining of Mr Simmons & incloseing a certificate from Capt Irvine & another from Mr. Simmons himself. You will please to enquire & satisfy yourself, that justice is done. The original certificate...
25From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have read all the papers inclosed in yours of the 14th & now return them as I received them. The conduct of Col. Hawkins appears in an agreeable point of light & you may express to him if you please, my satisfaction in the conduct & issue of the business. Inclosed is a duplicate from Mr. De Grasse. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
26From John Adams to James McHenry, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I consent to the appointment of Mr. William Hosack to be lieutenant in the first regiment of Artillery as recommended by Major Gen. Hamilton & by you in your letter of the 14 & that you should signify the appointment to the vacancy made by the resignation of Dr Hall as surgeon of the 10th regiment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
27From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Augustus de Grasse. I know not why his pay is withheld I pray you to make some inquiry into this gentlemans affair, & let me know the result. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
28From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are is a letter from Judge Bourne of Rhode Island recommending Dr Benjamin Mason to be a surgeon & physician. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
29From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr Strong recommending Job Strong Jun. to be an ensign & another from Joseph Hosmer recommending many for places in the eventual army. Mr. Strong recommendation, you know to be very respectable, not meaning any disparagement to Mr. Hosmer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
30From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Freeport volunteers are so well recommended, that I pray you to send their officers commissions. Their application & recommendations are all inclosed. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
31From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter of Mr. Thatcher recommending George Barrell to be a midshipman & I know of no reason why a warrant should not be given him. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
32From John Adams to James McHenry, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I will not object to the surgeons & mates selected by Col Rice & Col Hunnewell for their regiments. But I am not fully satisfied with the appointment of Dr Blake. He would do very well as a mate but his age does not entitle him I fear to the preeminence, if his learning is sufficient. I wish we had a system digested & Hospital surgeons appointed who might give us better information. MHi :...
33From John Adams to James McHenry, 10 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed certificates from a clergyman & two surgeons of good authority were brought to me yesterday by the gentlemen recommended. Dr. David King, whose countenance, figure, dress & conversation, certified in favor of his certificates. I pray you to place his name among the candidates to be a surgeon or a mate, & his papers among the files. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
34From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Col. Hawkins of 23 of May inclosed in yours of 29. July and am happy to find that all accounts agree in holding out expectations of a continuance of Peace with the Indians. Inclosed is a letter to me from Gen. S. Smith of Baltimore, dated 24 July with an address to the Citizens of Baltimore from the Marine Committee, in a slip of a Newspaper. I wish that Justice may be done to...
35From John Adams to James McHenry, 6 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favor of 31st July. Upon looking over the list of candidates for surgeons & surgeons mate & all the other papers, I find no letters from Lt Col Rice nor Lt Col. Hunnewell selecting such as they wish. Lt. Col. Rice called on me a few days ago and told me had recommended Charles Blake for surgeon & Ebenezer Lawrence for mate. I know personally few of the candidates but...
36From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Col. Hawkins’s Letter of 23 of May inclosed in yours of 29. July and am happy to find that all Accounts Agree in holding out Expectations of a continuance of Peace with the Indians. Inclosed is a Letter to me from Gen. S. Smith of Baltimore, dated 24 July with an Address to the Citizens of Baltimore from the Marine Committee in a Slip of a Newspaper. I wish that Justice may be...
37From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter & petition of the officers of a company of Artillery at North Hampton, William Edwards, Jonathan Breck & David Hunt, requesting the loan of two brass field pieces at Springfield, a petition which I pray you to grant, on the conditions they offer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
38From John Adams to James McHenry, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The talk of Methlogee & the answer of Mr Seagrove, copies of which were inclosed in your favors of the 22d had been before transmitted to me by the Secretary of State, & returned to him with some of my sentiments upon them. Mr. Seagrove’s answer is so unanswerable, that the Indians unless determined on War at all events, must be satisfied with it. The French officer in the Spanish service, who...
39From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 20th. and have no Objection to the plan you propose of raising a Company of Cavalry.—“Our means”! I never think of our means without shuddering! All the Declamations as well as Demonstrations of Trenchard & Gordon, Bolingbroke Bernard & Walpole, Hume, Burgh and Burke, rush upon my Memory and frighten me out of my Witts. The system of Debts and Taxes is levelling...
40From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter of Gen. Hamilton, inclosed in yours of 22 July, which I return as you desire. I see no material or reasonable objection against the appointment of Mr Thomas Y How to be a second lieutenant in the eleventh regiment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
41From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter is from a very respectable Senator of our State, to a gentleman, whom you know to be as respectable as any of our best federalists. Application has been made to me by Dr. Hunt, another of our Senators and a man of the most worthy & independent character. Our North Hampton is the very reverse of its namesake in Pensylvania. It has produced some of our very best characters &...
42From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am so continually entertained with applications to be chaplains & surgeons, that I pray you to give me some idea of your designs upon this important subject. Inclosed is a letter from Dr. Blake. Be so good as to send me a list of the twelve candidates to be Surgeons of Col Rice’s regiment. Are we to appoint regimental surgeons or only hospital surgeons? MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
43From John Adams to James McHenry, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the recommendations inclosed in your letter of 18th, received last night & agree to the list of appointments. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
44From John Adams to James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday Dr. Waterhouse made me a visit & introduced Dr Lyman Spalding whose appearance justifys the character given him in the inclosed letter. I believe we shall not find a more proper appointment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
45From 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.
46From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you, in your opinion expressed in your favour of the 12th, that both an Army and Navy Establishment is essential to the present and future Interests & Greatness of the United States and that We must run the Risks which other Nations have run. It appeared to me that Offices were created and salaries made necessary in the Plan for supplying the Army, which would require the...
47From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 12th, & have considered the opinions of the heads of departments. I wish that courts martial may be advised to be as cautious as possible, in all their proceedings, especially in cases of life, because the discipline of the army will depend much upon this habit. But the crime of Richard Hunt is of so deep a die, that I have not seen my way clear to avoid the...
48From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 8th of this month, & have read the letter from Major General Hamilton & the proceedings of the court martial in the case of Joseph Perkins. All circumstances considered I think this instance the least capable of a pardon of any, which has been laid before me. I have thought, it my duty to sign the warrant for his execution, & return it inclosed with all the...
49From John Adams to James McHenry, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6th & have examined the list of officers & read all the recommendations. In the fourteenth regiment I think John Hastings must be appointed Capt and if he refuses Beale. I am glad to find the gentlemen on the list have so good recommendations. I own however I have some doubts whether, Beale and Shaw have not superior pretensions to Mackay, notwithstanding the...
50From John Adams to James McHenry, 7 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
As It is an excellent Principle for every Man in public Life, to magnify his office and make it honourable I admire the Dexterity with which you dignify yours by representing an Army and means adequate to its Support as the first thing necessary to make the nation respected. Genius in a General is oftener, an Instrument of divine Vengeance, than a Guardian Angell. Stoddert I warrant you,...