2951From John Adams to John Jebb, 21 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
As I had the misfortune the other day not to agree fully with you in opinion concerning the 36 th article of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, I beg Leave to state to you my objections against it, and then to ask you if there is not some weight in them my first objection is that it is not intelligible, it is impossible to discover what is meant by “offices of Profit” Does it means that there...
2952To John Adams from the Count Frederik von Reventlow, 22 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
C’est avec bien de la reconnoissance que j’ai reçû la communication que Vous avés bien voulu me faire, de la maniére dont les Etats unis d’Amérique, ont accueilli la decision du Roi mon Maitre, de la question proposée par Vous, Monsieur, il ÿ a quelque tems au Ministre du Roi, alors à la Haÿe, M r. de S t. Saphorin, par rapport à la reception de Candidats Américains dans les Ordres saints de...
2953From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
last night, I received your Favour of the 17.— if both Governments are possessed of the Contents of my letter of the 7 th. by opening it in the Post Office, much good may those Contents do them. They both know they have deserved it. I hope it will convince them of their Error, and induce them to adopt more liberal Principles towards Us. I am for answering their Utmost Generosity with equal and...
2954From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 23 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favours of the 8. &. 10, and although I am Sorry you did not find every Thing to your Satisfaction in America, I congratulate You on your Safe Arrival in Europe and wish you Success in your Views. If by giving a proper Consistency to our Confederation you mean, the making of Congress Souvereign and Supream in the Negotiation of Treaties of Commerce, and in Regulating the...
2955To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 23 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
En réponse aux ordres dont vous m’avez honoré, conjointément avec Son Exc e. Mr. Jepherson, en date de Londres Août 5 e. , Nous avons vaqué tout de suite à la Commission en question. Mr. Short est occupé à rendre un compte à V V. E E. de ce qui a été fait & de ce qui reste à faire, auquel je suis persuadé d’avance que je n’aurai rien à ajouter, que l’assurance de ma juste sensibilité à la...
2956To John Adams from William Short, 23 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
After waiting on m r. Dumas we went two Days ago, by Appointment to the Baron de Thulemeier’s. A simple Matter of Etiquette as you will see, prevented the Business on which we were, from being completed. On my producing the two Originals of the Treaty & explaining the Intention of them, the Baron de Thulemeier told us he was instructed only to receive the Copy which should be sent & to...
2957From John Adams to John Jay, 25 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I had a long Conference with M r Pitt for the first time.— He never had proposed any Interview with me, and I had delayed to request him to appoint any Time, after the first ceremonial Visit, for two Reasons; because that while Parliament was Sitting his Time and Mind were so engaged that it was impossible he Should attend in earnest to the Affairs of the United States, and because...
2958From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 26 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
You will have Seen by my Public Dispatches what Prospects We have of any Sudden Arrangement with this Country. I may be more free, in a Letter to you, than I have been, in the Public Letters to M r Jay.— There is a mysterious Reserve among the Ministers which indicates either a Want of Unanimity among them, or a Dissatisfaction towards Us, or a Timidity arising from the Prejudices and Passions...
2959From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 26 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
This letter will be delivered you by M r: C. S. of Boston, who has lived much in my family & done me much service as a private Seretary, and that without any other reward than the opinion that he was doing service to his Country.— The time was approaching when the K. of Prussia was to make the annual review of his Army, & the month of August is so disagreable & unwholesome in London that all...
2960To John Adams from Richard O’Bryen, Isaac Stephens, and Zaccheus Coffin, 27 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
We The Subjects of the United States having the misfortune of Being taken by the Cruisers of Algires and has Been made Slaves of take the Liberty of Informing you of oure present Situation the Severities of which is Beyond youre Immaginition— The Honourble Charles Logie Esq r. British Couns l. Has taken three masters of Vessells of us Out & c. keep us at his house paying to The King of This...
2961From John Adams to John Jay, 28 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to inclose to Congress the Statute of 25. G. 3. c. 81. for the better securing the Duties payable on Tobacco. and another Statute of the 25. G. 3. c. 67. to prohibit the Exportation to foreign Parts, of Tools and Utensils made Use of in the Iron and Steel Manufactures of this Kingdom: and to prevent the Seducing of Artificers or Workmen, employed in those Manufactures,...
2962From John Adams to John Jay, 29 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The United States began their Career upon the most liberal System of Policy Commerce: France met them with a liberal System too, or rather with an Artfull Appearance of it. Her Practice during the War was more liberal than the Treaty. Since the Peace She has contracted it a little, as She had a Right to do, by excluding Some of her Produce and Some of our Ships from her West India Islands; and...
2963From John Adams to John Jay, 30 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The more I consider what I See and hear every day the more I am inclined to think We Shall be obliged to imitate the Utopians who as Sir Thomas More informs “As to their Exportation, thought it better to manage that themselves, than to let Foreigners come and deal in it; for, by this means, as they understand the State of the Neighbouring Countries better, So they keep up the Art of...
2964From John Adams to William Short, 30 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 23. and I hope e’er this time the Baron has received Orders to Sign in both Languages. This is a favourite Point with me; but yet I would not make it a Sine qua non. I would urge it with decency, but give it up at last if it could not be [avoid]ed. Our Treaty with France is in English and French. That with [Ho]lland is in English and Dutch, and neither made...
2965To John Adams from Christian Lotter, 30 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
A Surprize, nourished from the contents of the inclosed from Mess rs: Willink & Comp:, obliges me to an immediate address to Your Excellency, as those contents are quite the contrary to Your Excellency’s written and verbal promisses, to Stay in the Service, and that Your Excel y: would graciously condescend to favour me with a recommendation to Your Successor. Your Excellency will graciously...
2966To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 30 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have received in due Time your Favor of the 19 th. and observe what you say relative to M r. Parkers proposals. We would not venture to act in a Business of so much importance in opposition to your advice, and less so, because we have properly no Power for the Purpose. Notwithstanding this your Excellency will be so kind to excuse us, that we dare differ from your Ideas, and that it is our...
2967From John Adams to John Jay, 31 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Marquis of Carmarthen told me a Story of an Italian Ambassador who resided at this Court some Years ago, which was very humerous. It was his Excellencys Practice to take all the Newspapers, every Morning, and make up his Dispatches by transcribing Paragraphs from them. He began very gravely “Ho penetrato,” and went on from those Words to translate whatever he found which could amuse or...
2968To John Adams from William Wenman Seward, 1 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Having perused the ordinance of the United states dated 20 th. May last, concerning the disposal of lands in the Western Territory; and finding that the money arising from the sale thereof is to be applied to the discharge of the Debt incurr’d by that Country during the late War: I feel the strongest desire of contributing my mite, toward the benefit of a People, who deserve so much from every...
2969From John Adams to John Hancock, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
This letter will be delivered you by M r: S. —a Gen t: who has lived sometime in my family at the Hague, in Paris & in London. He will inform you in what manner the late Navigation-Act of the Mass a: has been rec d. here— Some say it is a measure taken in a passion, & not well-weighed in the scales of reason—that we are ruining ourselves—that an act of Parliament will be passed to retaliate...
2970From John Adams to John Jay, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Temple is gone out as Consul General: whether he will be received or not in that Character, before a Treaty of Commerce is made, I know not. if he Should not and Should not be provided with Credentials as Minister he will probably wait for farther Instructions. I have not made any Proposition to the Ministry, as is customary, to Send a Minister Plenipotentiary to America, and I Shall not...
2971From John Adams to William Wenman Seward, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to Write me yesterday, and observe with pleasure your Friendly Sentiments towards my Country. America is growing more & more interesting every day to mankind, and your Countrymen have greater cause to expect a cordial welcome in it than any other. I doubt not you may lay out your money there to advantage, but some Skill and discretion will be...
2972From John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday made a Visit to your old Friend M r Boylston, and his Nephew at their Sugar House on Pauls Wharf, Upper Thames Street. They have a pretty Situation, and a good Room with a Bow Window, which shews them the whole Scæne of the River, upwards to Blackfryars Bridge and downwards a great Way. We are to have a View from this Window of the Lord Mayors Show. These gentlemen represent to me,...
2973To John Adams from William Carmichael, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the honor to address you the 18 th. Ult o. I have received an Answer from his Ex cy. the C t. de Florida Blanca to the application I made in favor of M r Watson. That Minister writes me “that it being necessary to have precise information of the nature of the Case The proper orders are given for this purpose by the Kings direction who is disposed to manifest on this occasion all...
2974From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received three Letter of the Tenor and Date of the within— I cannot find in any Gazetteer or geographical Dictionary any Such Place as Roscoff, and I can make nothing of the Story. I hope you have more Skill in Divination. I have no Letters from Congress, nor any Answer from the Ministry. Pray what are the Sentiments in France upon the American Acts of Navigation? and what has been the...
2975From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d. your letter of the 30 th. of August, & will transmit your letter to the Treasury-board by M r: Storer, who is to sail this week; but I must repeat my determination to give no Countenance to the speculations in M r: Parker’s papers, untill you shall receive the orders of that Board. I have rec d. the inclosed letter fm. M r: Lotter— I have found him so faithfull a servant that I...
2976To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
On receipt of your favors of Aug. 18. & 23. I conferred with mr̃ Barclay on the measures necessary to be taken to set our treaty with the pyratical states into motion through his agency. supposing that we should begin with the emperor of Marocco, a letter to the emperor & instructions to mr̃ Barclay seemed necessary. I have therefore sketched such outlines for these as appear to me to be...
2977To John Adams from William Wenman Seward, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to return you my sincere thanks, for your obliging information in Answer to what I before took the liberty of Addressing to you.— it now falls to my lot (pursuant to direction) to communicate to you certain inclosed resolutions enter’d into since, at a meeting of associated Irish Gentlemen, in this City, (principaly Merchants), who have done me the honour of nominateing me their...
2978To John Adams from James Warren, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
When I used to be in Company with the Prophets, & the Dreamers of Dreams, I could hardly realize, that I should ever have the Honour, & Pleasure of corresponding with an Ambassador at the Courts of Versailles, or London, & yet this Event among many other strange Ones, has taken Place.— I receiv’d a few Days ago by the Hand of your Amiable Son, Yours dated Auteuil April 26 th: & know no Reason,...
2979To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, ca. 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The account of your sons arrival you will have from Himself.— the pleasure his Friends receive from his return you will not doubt, and in Every instance where my advice or attention may be Either useful or pleasing be assured I shall treat him as my own, not only from that long Friendship I have felt for his parents Backed by their perticuler request, but from the affection I dare say his...
2980To John Adams from Thomas Barclay, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer Lieu t. Col: Franks waits upon You with some Dispatches from M r. Jefferson on the subject of which I need Not say much, but as M. Jefferson wishes Me to add any thing that occurs relative to the funds Necessary to accomplish the object, I shall just remark, that My Opinion is, the Presents ought Not to be Compleatly prepared untill we have a Certainty that the Treaty may be...
2981To John Adams from the Board of Treasury, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 2 d. July last has been received by me in the absence of my Colleague M r. Osgood, who has gone for a few days to Boston. I laid it immediately before Congress and adopted those measures for securing the Interest of the United States, which are suggested in your Letter.— You will oblige the Board in transmitting all the information you can obtain as to the Connection which...
2982To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The much esteemed favour you did me the honor to write me the 23 d. ult o. , by M r. Smith, was delivered to me by our noble friend M r. Jefferson. You need not ask me, Sir, what I think of the Massachussets’s Act of navigation; you Know my way of thinking well enough, I hope, & of consequence you can easily conceive how my heart rejoiced in reading it. As you do me the honor to ask my...
2983To John Adams from William Short, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 30 th arrived here on Saturday so that tomorrow’s Post is the first by which it is possible to inclose what you desire— I had been decieved in supposing that you had only had a Copy of the English Part of the Treaty taken, & for that Reason did not send you a List of the Errata with my first Letter— They are at present forwarded Sir & I have only to regret that you do not...
2984To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing you from Harwich and Amsterdam— we have been very unfortunate as to roads & weather and were not able to reach Bresleau, time enough for the Review there— those of this place and at Potsdam will be finished about the 20 th. when I shall attempt a rapid passage to London by the way of Paris, I shudder at the Idea of tresspassing too far upon your indulgence—...
2985From John Adams to John Jay, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the two Letters You did me the Honour to write me on the 3. of August. The Instructions shall be obeyed as soon as possible. As to a Letter of Credence to the Queen, I believe it will now be unnecessary: but, when you Send me a Letter of Recall to the King, it may be proper to send another to the Queen: and, when You Send a new Minister, to give him a Letter of Credence to...
2986From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your Favour of 27. July. and wish it were in my Power to relieve your Anxiety by giving you any comfortable Hopes from this Country. The national Sense and public Voice is decidedly against Us in the Whale Trade and Ship trade, and there are as yet but feeble Parties for Us in the West India Trade and Colony Trade. I may Say to you that, if Ireland had not escaped from the...
2987From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honour of receiving your Letter of the first of August, and I pray you to accept of my Thanks for your kind Attention and obliging Civilities to my son. It was the first News We had of him Since he Sail’d from L’Orient. I hope that, after remaining in N. York long enough to pay his Respects where they were due, he made haste to Boston. Your Reasoning, Sir, both upon the...
2988To John Adams from John Jay, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
My last to you was of the 26 th: Ultimo, in which I mentioned the Dates of the Letters with which you had honored me, and the Receipt of which then remained unacknowledged—none from you have since arrived.— I have now the Honor of transmitting to You herewith enclosed a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 18 th: Ultimo— it contains a Correspondence between the Governor of Massachusetts and Cap...
2989From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 8 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have this day rec d. the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 27 th. of July, and, as I had rec d. but a few days ago an instruction from Congress, relative to some other’s of our fellow-Citizens in the same unhappy predicament with M r: Low, I shall present to the Ministry a requisition for him & all the rest at the same, & will endeavor to make enquiries concerning the ballance...
2990From John Adams to William Paca, 9 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. soon after my arrival in London the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 29 th. of April, with the enclosed copy of a letter from M r: Chace to the Minister— Your Excellency & the Council may depend upon every assistance I can give to the Cause. The Agent & Solicitor of Maryland have been with me several times, & the last time to request that I would speak to the Minister...
2991From John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 9 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
It gives me great Pleasure to see that good Men are so much in Fashion in the Massachusetts. M r Bowdoin in the Chair, and D r Tufts with such a Superabundant Majority of Votes in the Senate and M r Cranch too; it looks as if Sterling would get the better of Tinsel. it is high time. Our Merchants I believe are wholly occupied with their Entertainments, their Variety of Wheel Carriages their...
2992To John Adams from the Baron von Thulemeier, 9 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Je satisfais aujourd’hui, Monsieur, à la demande que vous m’avez faite il y a quelque temps, touchant la probabilité de la consommation qui se fait dans les Etats du Roi, du tabac de Virginie, de l’indigo & de l’huile de Spermaceti. Voici ce qu’on m’a répondu. Quant au premier article, c’est à dire au tabac de Virginie, il est certain que cet objet mérite une attention particulière, & que les...
2993From John Adams to John Jebb, 10 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
It is a Wise Maxim that Every Freeman ought to have some Profession Calling Trade or Farm, whereby he may honnestly subsist, but it by no means follows as a Consequence that there can be no necessity for, nor use in Establishing offices of profit, if we mean by these, offices with moderate, decent and stated, sallaries sufficient for the comfortable support of the officers and their Families....
2994From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas and William Short, 11 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d. from M r: Jefferson a copy of his letter to you of the 1 st. ins t: & agree fully with him in sentiment that we should agree to consider the french column as the Original, if the Baron thinks himself bound to insist upon it; but if the practice of his Court will admit of the execution in the two languages, each to be considered as equally original, it would be very agreable to...
2995From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 11 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
This Letter will be delivered you by my Friend M r Storer by whom I may write more confidentially, than I usually do, even to you. I wish I had as much publick Cause as I have private to Speak respectfully of the present Ministry. They have treated me, and I Suppose advised their Master to treat me, with all the personal Respect, and all the Regard to my public Character, which I can desire. I...
2996To John Adams from William Short, 11 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
My last informed you that I had not recieved a Letter from M r Jefferson. Since that it has arrived.— A little before I had written to you the Secretary of the Prussian Embassy was with me & told me as from the Baron de Thulemeier that the King of Prussia did not admit of the Exchange of the Treaty in the two Languages. My last to you mentioned this Circumstance as well as my Apprehensions...
2997I. The American Commissioners’ Draft of Thomas Barclay’s Letter of Credence to the Emperor of Morocco, 12 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America, heretofore connected in Government with Great Britain, have found it necessary for their Happiness to Seperate from her, and to assume an independant Station. consisting of a number of Seperate States, they have confederated together, and placed the Sovereignty of the whole, in matters relating to foreign nations, in an body an Assembly consisting of Delegates...
2998II. The American Commissioners’ Heads of Enquiry for Thomas Barclay in Negotiations with Morocco, 12 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Heads of enquiry for M r Barclay as to Morocco, Algiers, Tunis & c — 1 Commerce. What are the articles of their export & import? what articles of American produce might find a market in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli & c. and at what prices? whether rice, flour, tobacco, furs, ready built ships, fish, oil, tar, turpintine, ship timber & c. and whether any of these articles would hereafter be...
2999III. The American Commissioners’ Draft Letter to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 12 September … (Adams Papers)
We have the honor to inform you that we have rec d. fm. the U: States of America, in Congress, full power & instructions to form treaties with the Emperor of Morocco & the Regencies of Algiers, Tunis & Tripoli, and we enclose you a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 14 th. February 1785. impowering us to apply so much of the money borrowed in Holland to that use as we may deem necessary, not...
3000IV. The American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 – 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, & of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust We recommend him & Col o. Franks who goes with him to your attention & assistance, and...