1William Stephens Smith to John and Abigail Adams, 8 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
We were pleased by the receipt of yours of the 5th. inst. from Harwich, to find that your jaunt to that period and place had proved so agreable, you have our earnest wishes for its continuance. But we have been apprehensive since, that the fine Sun and fair Brieze which invited you on board in the morning, forsook you before, you had crossed the Channel. At this place, the after part of the...
2Mary McCann to John Adams and Abigail Adams, 2 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Having humbly presumed to wait on you to solicit the honor of serving your Excellency’s Family with Cream and Milk, and had the honor to give you at the Hotel last Fryday, a Recommendation from his Excellency the Spanish Ambassador’s Steward, you was pleased to order me to wait at your House in Grosvenor Square Yesterday Morning with Cream and Milk, which I accordingly did; but may it please...
3Eliphalet Brush to John Adams, 4 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
Count de Montauto Governor of this City has informed me of the Commissioners having made propositions to the Court of Tuscany respecting a Treaty of Commerce between this Country and America: The Governor requests me to inform the Commissioners, that he has lately received instructions from the Grand Duke relative thereto, which leaves him no doubt but a commercial Treaty may be formed to the...
4To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 3 February 1789 (Adams Papers)
Uncertain whither Mrs. Adams has yet returned from her excursion to N-York I enclose to you: though I do not mean this introduction as an apology for addressing a Gentleman who has received so many marks of unlimited Confidence. I hope never to feel as if anything of the kind was necessary nor do I think I shall unless your continued silence should lay some on my peril. I think one...
5To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with Your favour By Mr̃ Joy to Whom I Will Readily Render Every Service in My power, and am also to thank You for the Valuable Books You took the trouble to Collect for me—in the Cause of My Black Brethren I feel Myself Warmly interested, and Most decidedly Side, so far as Respects them, Against the White part of Mankind— Whatever Be the Complexion of the Enslaved, it does...
6From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 7 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
This will accompany a joint letter inclosing the draught of a treaty, and my private letter of June 22, which has waited so long for a private conveiance. We daily expect from the Baron Thulemeyer the French column for our treaty with his sovereign. In the mean while two copies are preparing with the English column which Doctr. Franklin wishes to sign before his departure, which will be within...
7To John Adams from Henry Remsen, Jr., 14 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jay having been, and still continuing too much indisposed to attend to Business, has directed me to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letters of 10th. 22d. & 23d. September last, together with the Papers mentioned in them; which I have now the Honor of doing; and of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, the printed Journals of Congress from 26th. September to 30th. Octr. 1787, and a Packet...
8Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since Mrs. Adams’s Departure I have revolved within myself, whether you would not have an Inclination to purchase the piece of Land on Pens Hill (belonging to the Estate of the Honle. James Verchild late of St. Kitts deceased) which you have for some years past improved. His Heirs, I am informed, are now in England, that the Estate in the West Indies is under Mortgage, But that part of it...
9To John Adams from Jonathan Jackson, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter from Paris of the 18 th. March just before I embarked from Ireland for America— but had not the pleasure till my Arrival here of being informed that you were appointed Minister to the Court of London where we are told that you are removed with your Family & where I expect this to meet you Since my Arrival which was in May I have postponed writing to...
10From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words, Viz “It is confidently reported, propagated, and believed by some among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that...
11John Swanwick to John Adams, 18 Jul. 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Lines which you will find under this Cover from his Excell y. Benjamin Franklin Esquire President of the State of Pennsylvania will introduce to your Acquaintance the Writer of this Letter, to whose Lot it falls on the Threshold of his Acquaintance with your Excellency to have a favor to request of you, which I know not how far it may be right for you to grant or me to ask it , but I...
12To John Adams from William Gordon, 13 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yours by your son was a very agreeable letter. I rec d it last wednesday while at the President’s, where I had the pleasure of viewing your living picture. You have confirmed me in my suspicion, that tho’ there were many pictures abroad there was little likeness. I shall do my best, & it may be well for one who is not a writer of the first talents, nor been employed thirty years in making my...
13To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
V. E. Verra par les copies ci-jointes, qu’il ne s’est agi que de rendre à ces Messieurs d’Amsterdam un service, qu’ils me demandoient instam̃ent, & auquel j’ai cru, & devois croire, ne pouvoir honnêtement me soustraire, quand même vous ne m’auriez pas recom̃andé le soin de vos Livres: ce qu’ils ignoroient quand ils m’écrivirent la premiere de ces Lettres. Je viens de recevoir l’honorée vôtre du...
14John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 3 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Church proposes to embark on board the british Packet, which is to sail to-morrow. He has offered to take my Letters, and I suppose, he will be the bearer of dispatches from Congress.—Our Passage, though it was not a stormy one, was very tedious. Of eight weeks, that we were at Sea, we had at least four of such calm weather as not to proceed more than 8 or 10 leagues a day. As we were...
15Jonathan Jackson to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
To the care of Doct r Parker who I am told will be a safe conveyance, & who has promised to deliver ’em himself, I inclose you two Letters from America—one of which particularly from M r S Adams I was desired to keep ’till I could see you or trust it only in safe hands—the other is from M r Dalton— I heard upon my first arrival in Ireland which was in Feb y that you were in England, & hoped to...
16Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Two days only are wanting to campleat six years since my dearest Friend first crost the Atlantick. But three months of the Six Years have been Spent in America. The airy delusive phantom Hope, how has she eluded my prospects. And my expectations of your return from month to month, have vanished “like the baseless Fabrick of a vision.” You invite me to you, you call me to follow you, the most...
17To John Adams from Christopher Gadsden, 24 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to You for your kind remembrance of me, & the very acceptable present You sent me, by Mr. Gibbes, Your Defense of our Constitutions, wch. I read, with the greatest Attention & as much pleasure, & am glad to hear by a Friend of mine at the Convention that it’s much read there, he sent me a Copy printed at Philada. but Yours came to hand a few days before. In another State I...
18To John Adams from Sir Charles Blagden, 25 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
Pursuant to your obliging offer, commd. by the Revd. Dr Price, I take the liberty of troubling you with a parcel, wch. conts. the presents of & Greenwich obsery. ordered by the R. S. for the American & Acad & Cambridge College. Every volume in the parcel is directed to the learned Body for wch it is intended. Wishing you a pleasant voyage & safe arrival in America, I have the honour to be, yr...
19David Rittenhouse to John Adams, 26 Jun. 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer D r. Benj n. Barton will deliver to you two Copies of the Second Volume of Transactions of our Philosophical Society, One of which I beg you, Sir, to accept of, the other you will please to forward to M r. Jefferson the American Minister at Paris. Give me leave to recommend to your Notice the Bearer, he is my Nephew and a worthy Young Gentleman. His Abilities and great application...
20To John Adams from Isaac Smith Jr., 19 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
The papers having announced y r. public appearance in this kingdom, I take the liberty of Congratulating you on y r. arrival in England, & on the success of y r. negociations in behalf of the United states of America. After much anxiety & toil, to see y r. wishes realized, to find the uncertainties of war ended, & the great object of it fully established & secured, must give you an high degree...
21Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We postponed to answer the honour of your Excellency’s favour of 5 febr, in hope to be able to mention Something definitif to you, but it would be disagreable to you to enumerate the objections and difficulties, since hitherto we have not yet the answers of all the undertakers, whilst we are continually Endeavouring to Settle the matter, of wh ch. the Success is yet too incertain, to give your...
22To John Adams from John Jay, 31 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you of the 4th. Instant I have been honored with yours of the 8th. 14th. & 23d. of May last, which have been communicated to Congress.— I have now the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed certified copies of sundry Acts of Congress, Vizt. of the 21st. March and 13th. April last relative to our Treaty with Britain; also an Act of the 20th. July Instant containing...
23To John Adams from Thomas Coutts, 28 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thomas Coutts, Banker in the Strand, has the honour to deliver this by desire of the Author of the Book, who is his Friend, and a gentleman of eminent Character & Fortune. DNA : Papers of the Continental Congress.
24John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am now much more at my disposal, with respect to my Time, than I was at Haverhill, and can devote more of it to writing, though, it is said, this Quarter, that is, the last of the Junior Sophister year, is most important, and busy, than any other in the four years. Mr: Williams’s Lectures on natural Philosophy, render it so; his Course consists of 24 Lectures, 13 of which we have already...
25Samuel Osgood to John Adams, 14 Nov. 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the Liberty to enclose to you several Papers relative to some private Business I have to request that you will take the Trouble to examine them, & if the Money can be obtained to receive it in Part of your Salary on Account of the united States; for which I shall be able to obtain Payment here I have written to Robert Barclay (who has the Accounts & a Power of Attorney from Mary...
26To John Adams from the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 26 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Vous nous avez fait, notre cher ami, un veritable plaisir en nous donnant de vos nouvelles; nous avons Souvent prié M. Jefferson de vous faire parvenir nos Compliments et de vous temoigner tous nos regrets sur votre absence, il n’a surement pas manqué de remplir Cette Commission. Si nous ne consultions que l’amitié que nous avons pour vous, nous ferions le voyage de Londres nous avons tant et...
27Richard Cranch to John Adams, 19 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the within Letters, and as I hear Capt. Young is to sail tomorrow I take the liberty of inclosing them to you. By Capt. Cushing who sailed a few Weeks ago I sent you the News-Papers from last May, and by Capt. Young I have sent the Papers since and a Register for 1786. I have also sent a little Bundle for Sister Adams. I wrote you largely by Capt. Cushing, and have wrote...
28John Jay to John Adams, 2 Jan. 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed a Copy of a Letter of the 21 st. December from M r: Temple to me, which I laid before Congress. They have been pleased to direct that you communicate it to His Britannic Majesty—That you inform him, that the Complaint stated in it, being in general Terms, and unsupported by any particular Facts, or Evidence, they do not think it...
29Baron Franz von Reischach to John Adams, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Cest bien malgré moi, que je n’ay pu repondre tout de Suitte à Votre lettre de ce matin, mais mon peu de Coñoissance de la langue Angloise m’at obligé d’attendre à cet effet la rentré d’un de mes Secretaires pour en Coñoitre la Substance; et Satisfaire à vos intentions. Il apert par la traduction qu’on m’a faite que vous Suposés et vous doutés que c’est à Bruxelles, que l’Exprès qui vous...
30Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
This will be handed you by young Monsieur de Tronchin son to a gentleman of that name here who is minister for the republic of Geneva, resident at this court. the son is now in England as a traveller. he is personally unknown to me; but what I hear of him from others, together with my acquaintance with, & respect for, his father, induces me to recommend him to your notice. I do this the rather...
31From John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. At present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. None of their more important...
32Christian Lotter to John Adams, 30 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The orders I have lately reicived from Your Son M r: J: Q: Adams for packing up his goods, on purpose to be Shipped to another End of the World, gave me very great concern, I rather like to unpack, then to pack up, especially for Such for whom I maintain the greatest Esteem and am proud to Serve; I am in this point alike the Hollander, all under een dak van’t huÿs, but changes will and must...
33To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 10 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
J’apprends dans l’instant par l’une de nos Gazettes Hollandoises que Votre Excellence est actuellement à la Haye; & je m’empresse de vous faire passer le renouvellement du respect & de la venération que j’ai toujours eus & invariablement fait éclater pour votre Personne & vos vertus. La confiance & l’amitié dont vous avez bien voulu m’honorer dans les tems de votre Residence dans ce Pays-ci,...
34To John Adams from Charles William Frederic Dumas, 19 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
L’incluse, que Votre Excellence voudra bien acheminer après l’avoir lue, me dispense d’entrer dans le détail de ce que nous souffrons ici—Je n’entends rien de L.H.P., ni sur mes notes, ni sur la Lettre de V.E. à leurs Président & Greffier. Je me remets donc à votre sagesse pour me préscrire & aviser ce qui pourroit être omis ou à faire ultérieurement, pour maintenir le respect dû par le Droit...
35Charles Storer to John Adams, 16 Sep. 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wish you would finish your business in London & return home—We want you here more than a little—Every thing seems to be going wrong, and there is great reason to fear that we soon shall be in a state of anarchy & confusion—When Government has not energy eno: to enforce the laws, what is to be done? When our executive Officers have not power to supress Mobs, Riots & armed associations, what...
36To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on the 7 th: of last Month, and also on the 18 th: of this enclosing some Papers respecting an american Vessel seized at Barbadoes by a british Man of War. I have been honored with yours of 16 th. 25 th. and 28 th. May and 6 th. June last, which with the Papers accompanying them were immediately laid before Congress.— The Situation in which the Want of an adequate Representation...
37Isaac Stephens to John Adams, 15 Apr. 1786 (Adams Papers)
Sir, I take the Liberty to enclose a line to you as we receivd one from you, by the hand of M r. Lambe which came here to make peace for America & to redeam the Americans in slavery But not power to do either as the price was so high as six thousand Dollars for a Master and four ditto for a mate and fifteen hundred for sailors the King will not bate one sixpence and will not have any thing to...
38Charles Storer to John Adams, 26 Sep. 1786 (Adams Papers)
M r: Martin , who will deliver you this, is a Kinsman of ours & therefore I take the liberty of begging your notice of him: assuring you I shall think myself equally obliged by any attentions he may receive— Since writing the within there has been an insurrection in the State of New-Hampshire—President Sullivan & the Court were sitting at Exeter: an armed mob, ab t: 500, surrounded the House &...
39To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 29 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Je dois réponse aux honorées vôtres des 1 er. & 10 du cour t. J’écris ce fois à Mr. Cerisier afin de savoir pourquoi l’insertion n’a pas encore été faite de la piece que j’ai envoyée il y a 12 à 15 jours à Mr. Luzac, & pour le presser de me renvoyer l’original & sa traduction imprimée, pour pouvoir vous retourner le tout selon vos ordres. J’ai fait grand plaisir Aux Amis, en leur lisant les...
40Isaiah Doane to John Adams, 16 Feb. 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency’s goodness will excuse my Troubling you at this time, (I am certain) when you Consider the Consequence it is to me. I Refer to the Cause of the Brig t Mentor, the Papers of which M r S. Brown and my self sent you last Spring through the hands of my Friends Mess rs Land Son & Fraser, and have not since ben Honourd with any Account of the same, the Cause is of very great...
41To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 21 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your esteemed Letter of the 5 th March last, and congratulate You on your appointment to that Court, where it was so much for the interest of these States to have a Minister— In my last letters of the 11 th & 19 th April, I attempted to give You some account of the Spirit of the People in this part of the Continent, on account of the unequal trade between the U States and G...
42Paul R. Randall to John Adams, 17 Feb. 1786 (Adams Papers)
I should have paid the highest Respect to your Excellency’s Injunction of writing by every safe Opportunity—but that I conceived such Information as I could have communicated hitherto, would have been only a Reiteration of M r Carmichaels Letters. At present,—as M r. Lamb does not write, nor has directed me thereto, I think it my Duty to manifest an early Disposition of complying in every...
43David Griffith et al. to John Adams, 28 Jun. 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Condescension your Excellency has shewn in delivering to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury a Copy of a former Address of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church & in transmitting the Answer to it, added to your great Candor & Liberality in so stating y[thorn sign] e Laws & Constitutions of the United States on the Subject of it as will be for ever remembered with Gratitude...
44From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 27 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed I have the Honour of sending to your Excellency Copies of Papers contain’d in a Dispatch just receiv’d from Congress. The Affair of the Free Ports recommended to us, has been sometime settled: They are Dunkirk, L’Orient, Bayonne & Marseilles.— I wonder much that we hear nothing from Congress of their foreign Arrangements. This short Line from the...
45Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 19 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have the pleasure to advice your Excellency that the Loan is So far advanced, that all the drafts will be payed, and we hope in course of time to compleat the whole sum of 2 millions. M rs. de Neufville & Son have applyed to us for the payment of coupons of the loan opened at their House formerly consisting in 7 coupons of Sept r. 1782 at ƒ25 ƒ175 — 7 dito March 1783 175 — ƒ350: — postage...
46To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 4 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to congratulate you on your happy arrival in your native Country; & on the respectable reception that has attended it. I beg the favor of you to present my congratulations on the same account to Mrs. Adams. Thou I am not an Admirer of the new Constitution, yet as you approve of it & as a great many wise and good men expect much honor & advantage to our Country from the adoption...
47To John Adams from Robert Morris, 20 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s favors of the fifth tenth and eleventh of July— I have taken the Liberty to make some Extracts from the two latter which are transmitted in a Letter to the Governor of Massachusetts Copy whereof is enclosed— Permit me Sir to give my feeble Approbation and Applause to those Sentiments of Wisdom and Integrity which are as happily expressed as they...
48To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
While in the silent watches of the Last night I was Contemplating the Vicissitudes of Life, the Fickleness of Mankind & the Instability of human Friendships.— I determined to take up my pen in the morning & inquire if it was possible that M r Adams should never have directed one line to his frends at Milton since he held the Rank of Minister at the Court of Britain. I have been always...
49To John Adams from John Churchman, 6 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of writing on a subject, which as it is interesting to Society I hope will require but little apology. & yet, I must be ingenious enough to confess that in my pursuits of this subject, I have not been without a view to my own emolument, in which I have done nothing more than to accept of the invitation held out by many Governments of Europe to engage in the public service...
50To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have read over most part of your book with no less satisfaction than pleasure and gained much information. In conversation the other day you advanced a doctrine which appears to me new & extraordinary. neither are the consequences so evident as to prevent me thinking otherwise and that facts make against the Idea. attention to stile would ruin America. The practice of all ages has been...