691From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 28 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
The Letter that accompanies this, is from a Character so respectable, that I beg leave to recommend it to your particular Attention. The Correspondent will be found worthy of you.— I have taken Leave, and shall embark, as soon as the Equinoxial and its roughest Blusters are past. The Emperors Declaration of War announces louder Storms in Europe: but I hope to escape them all in a peaceful...
To William Stephens Smith Esquire Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America to the Court of Great Britain— The Secretary of the United States of America for the department of foreign affaires, His Excellency John Jay to whom was referred a letter to him from the Honourable John Adams of the 27 th. of June last, informing that the Queen of Portugal had ordered her squadron in...
693From John Adams to Christian Lotter, 10 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry to have given M r: or Mad e: Dumas any trouble about my little affairs at the Hotel. Their friendship for me would have induced them to take the trouble upon them; but, as it is not necessary, I am sorry I ever hinted to M r: Dumas any thing about overseeing the packing of my books & c: & c: — But I have written to him & M r: Willinks that you are to come over with the things. M r....
694From John Adams to the Comte de Sarsfield, 11 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured with your two friendly Letters from Rennes, and altho’ a multiplicity of Affairs have hitherto prevented me from answering them, be assured I have not forgotten you. I am much pleased to find that I have been instrumental of employing your thoughts upon another subject, & I promise myself much Entertainment & Instruction in reading it. I am in no danger of losing the...
695John Adams to Franklin and Jefferson, 29 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Secretary of State for foreign affairs, in a Letter of 13. Ap. informs me, that he wrote Us a Letter by Capt. Lamb dated 11. March, inclosing a Variety of Papers respecting the Treaties we are directed to negotiate and conclude with the Barbary Powers. Inclosed is a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 14. February 1785, inclosed to me, in the Secretary’s Letter. I know nothing of Capt....
696From John Adams to Edward Augustus Holyoke, 3 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I now do myself the Honour of inclosing to you, as President of the Medical Society, the original Letters of Monsieur De Lassone Monsieur Geoffroy and Monsieur Vicq D’Azyr Copies of which I Suppose have been before rec d. — The Vote of the Royal Society of Medicine in Parchment authenticated by its Officers is also inclosed, and a Journal. I received in due Season your Letter, inclosing a Vote...
697From John Adams to the President of Congress, 14 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I beg Leave to introduce to your Civilities M r: Thaxter, who goes home with the definitive Treaty of Peace, and the original Treaty with Holland. M r: Thaxter will present you a Medal, a Present to Congress, from the Province of Friesland, he will also present another to your Excellency of which I beg your acceptance. These were sent as Presents to me and I have no more, otherwise I should...
698John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 3 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have accepted two Bills drawn by my Wife to be paid at the House of Mess rs Willinks and Shall accept two more to be paid by Mess rs Fullers in London. Please to charge these and all the Monies I Shall draw in London at the Same House to the United States as part of my Salary Tomorrow I go to London, and thence directly to Paris with my Family, to meet M r Jefferson who is joined with M r...
699From John Adams to James Warren, 26 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I See by the publick Papers that M r Hancock has resigned, and I Suppose you have just passed through the Bustle of a new Election. it is a question here among Us Americans Who? General Warren M r Bowdoin M r Cushing and General Lincoln are in nomination. But We cannot elect you know and therefore nobody Says who he would vote for. We all agree that there is danger of less Unanimity than in...
700From 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...
701From John Adams to William Gordon, 27 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am like other Debtors, afraid to look into my Affairs lest I should find the balance against me. it is so with you, I very much Suspect. You may not be sorry to be uninterrupted, for I suppose you are busy in writing your History. I should be glad to see it, because it is time there should be some sketch or full Draught in which there may be some Resemblance, when there are so many abroad...
702From 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...
703John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter with the Copy inclosed, which has affected me too tenderly, to write any other Answer at present than this, that I have ever vindicated your Character as far as lay in my Power, from the Suspicion of having written that anonimous Libel the only case that I have ever heard of, in which it was endangered: and that I Shall ever continue to vindicate it, because I...
704To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Coll. Franks arrived Yesterday afternoon, with your Favour of Septr. 24.—I have signed all the Papers as you sent them, not perceiving any Alteration necessary. I am afraid, that our Agent to Algiers going without any military Power will not succeed; as the Danger of having their Town bombarded, or their Vessells taken, is the Principal Argument which the Dey has to use with the People, to...
705From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned that an absence in the Country should have So long delayed My Answer to your Letter of the tenth of July. There is no Act of Congress which authorizes me expressly, to order the Payment of your Salary,: But the Representation in your Letter Supported by the Extract from that of M r Jefferson to you of the 14. of June last, Show Such an Absolute necessity of it that I...
706[July 1786] (Adams Papers)
Last night, Coll. Smith and his Lady, took their Leave of Us, and went to their House in Wimpole Street. Yesterday visited Desenfans’s Collection of Pictures. A Port in Italy by Claude Lorraine, is the best Piece that remains. A Sampson sleeping in the Lap of Dalilah, while the Philistines cutt of his Locks, is said to be by Rubens, but Mr. Copely who was present doubts it. Supposes it to be...
707From John Adams to John Jay, 6 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
If the Facts, which I have had the Honour to state to you in my preceeding Letters, are credited, I think it will appear, that the Connections of these Kingdoms with foreign Powers, every Idea of the Ballance of Europe; the Dominions of Great Britain in Asia And America, and all the Interests Considerations of Posterity, are Sacrificed, to a momentary Tranquility and Credit. From which...
708From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, M r: Boudinot called upon me, with Dispatches from the President of Congress, his Brother. There were two Letters addressed to the “Ministers” and these I opened but found little or Nothing but Duplicates of Dispatches, receiv’d by you before I left Auteuil. There are two letters, and one large Packet addressed to you, which I have the Honour to transmit by M r:...
709From John Adams to Elizabeth Brown, 10 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your favour of the 8 th of this month, inclosed a Letter from your unkle Warren of the 30 th of August which is returned to you here inclosed. I sent off your former Letter with my first dispatches to New York, there not being any Vessell at that time bound to Boston.— you ask my advice Madame, and I hold myself bound by every obligation to give it you according to...
710To John Jay from John Adams, 26 March 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have only Time to introduce to you and M rs Jay, my Daughter Smith and to recommend her to your Patronage and M rs Jays Friendship. I Shall embark in Six or Eight days. I am just returned from a cold Journey to the Hague and Amsterdam, where I met M r Jefferson very unexpectedly. He has persuaded me, to open another Loan, which he will transmit to Congress. I am very anxious least it Should...
711John Adams to John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am extreamly Sorry, to read in your Letter of the 8 th. that you think of embarking for America. Let me beg of you to reconsider that Project. if you persist in it, I shall repent of having written for my Family and wish I had it in my Power to go there too. The Committee to whom, the Dispatches by Thaxter were referred have reported that a Commission be sent to the 3 named in the Resolution...
712Contract for the Third Dutch Loan to the United States, 1 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
On the first day of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, appeared before me Pietre Galenus van Hole Notary of Amsterdam, admitted by the hon b [. . .] Court of Holland— His Excellency, The hon ble: John Adams Esq e. Minister plenipotentiary on the part of the United States of America &c: &c: in quality as especially empowered and authorised by the abovementioned States...
713John Adams to James Lovell, 12 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to confess that your Letter of the 5. of July is unanswered. But my dear Sir, I have been So roughly handled by various Climates, Voyages Journeys, Scurveys and Fevers, and So tossed about from Post to Pillar, by the Business assigned me from time to time, and amidst all this, So overloaded with Business, that I have for Sometime past, been constrained to prefer Indolence and Ease...
714John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
on the 5 th , I received your Favour which came by Coll Herman, and another long Letter with it.— You have obliged me very much. in the Six Years that I have passed in Europe, I never received So much Information, concerning the Spirit of the Times in Congress. I very early Saw the Necessity of forming Connections with European Powers, and the Facility of doing it, but I saw equally early the...
715To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Last night I received your obliging Favour of the fifth of this Month. Your Excellencys Sentiment, “that the Foundation of Credit abroad must be laid at Home” is perfectly just, and accords with the General Sentiment of the Money Lenders, Undertakers and Brokers in this Country, whose Universal Cry is “We should choose to see Some certain Method...
716John Adams to the president of Congress, 10 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I had Scarcely finished my Dispatches, to go by M r Thaxter with the definitive Treaty, when I was taken down with a Fever at Paris, and reduced so low as to be totally unable to attend to any Business for a long time. When I grew so much better, as to be able to ride, I was advised to go to England.— As I had nothing to do at Paris, and an Attempt to reside in Holland, would probably have...
717From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 19 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Letter in which this is inclosed, I received yesterday—open for my Inspection— The Bill of Exchange drawn by Mr. Morris for 144.000 florins, will I hope be some relief to you Our Secretary of State for foreign affairs informs me on the 7 th. of April that twelve of the States had granted the Impost new York only remained to come in— and it is not likely the Legislature of that State will...
718From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 26 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Adams has the Honour to acquaint the Right Honourable the Marquis of Caermarthen, that he is just arrived in Town with Credentials from the United States of America, and desires to be informed at what Hour, he may have the Honour of paying his Respects to his Lordship. RC ( British Library, London :Leeds Papers); endorsed: “May. 26. 1785. / M r. Adams.” FC ( Adams Papers ). LbC ( Adams...
719From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 20 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 13 is received. I did approve of Mess rs Pullers paying the Account of M r Baker, the Broker, amounting to £105. 13s: 6d s t. — The Account appeared to me very high. But I could not do any otherwise than Submit it to the Judgment of Mess rs Pullers, who thought it could not be done for less. I have drawn an order, besides, within a few days upon Messieurs Pullers, for Seventy five...
720From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 26 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your Directions, I do myself the honor to inclose to you, a List of all the Draughts of money, which have been made by me, whether on a public or private account since the first day of August 1785. Sometime ago, I transmitted to M r. Barclay according to the Resolutions of Congress, all my Accounts up to that Day, —after the Examination he made a settlement of them and...