791From 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...
792From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have desired Colonel Smith to go Express to Paris, to intreat you to come here without loss of Time. The Portuguese Minister has received his Instructions from his Court, and We may here together conduct and finish the Negotiation with him, I suppose in three Weeks. But there is another Motive more Important. There is here a Tripolitan Ambassador with whom I have had three Conferences. the...
793John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 8 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
It was with very great Pleasure, that I learn’d your Return to Congress, and Election to the Chair. indeed So many names that are familiar to me make me wish myself with you. a Congress So respectable as the present must have great Weight both at home and abroad. it is only by Sending to that Assembly, the best Men and most respectable Characters, that the People can expect to have their Union...
794From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
By D r Gibbon a young Gentleman of Philadelphia whom I beg Leave introduce to you, I have the Honour to send you a few more Copies of the Prussian Treaty: and to inclose in this, a Resolution of Congress of september 26. annulling M r Lambs Commission & Instructions. M r Jay desires me to transmit it to him, and although I hope M r Lamb is on his Passage to New York or already arrived there,...
7951787. August 7 [i.e. 6?] (Adams Papers)
At Kin gsbridge, the southerly Point of the County of Devonshire, the birth Place of my Brother Cranch. Wen t Y ester day to Church in the Morning, dined with Mr. Burnell, went to the Presbyterian Meeting afternoon, drank Tea with Mr. Trathan, and went to the Baptist Meeting in the Evening.—Lord Petre is the Lord of this mannor.—The Nephew of my Brother Cranch possesses the Family Estate,...
796From John Adams to James Warren, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of October 6. I rec d but Yesterday.— I had before written very fully to M r Jay, a recommendation of your son to be Consull at Lisbon, and desired him to communicate it to the Members of Congress. I will write also to M r Jefferson, and wish very heartily that he may be appointed. He is a modest and ingenious Man, and independently of the Merits of his Family, which are equal to...
797From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 15 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. your letter by Mons r: de le Tombe yesterday: Every line from your hand gives me pleasure. The Embarassments thrown in the way of our trade will at least have one good effect: they will break a few deceitfull bubbles. They ought to do greater good by curing the People at large of a dangerous distemper brought upon them by the war—the itch of extravagance.— It is melancholy that no...
798From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
It was but last Week that I received your Letter of the 14 th. of July.— With regard to the Money borrowed by me, and applid to the discharge of M r Morris’s Draughts, My Bankers in Amsterdam have as they inform me, transmitted their Accounts both to the Board of Treasury and M r Barclay.— By them it will appear that Several Millions of Livres I mean were remitted to Le Couteulx at Paris, and...
799John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 23 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Pleasure of your Letter of the 18. The Bills you mention, which were only accepted by me, and were paid by Fizeau & Co in Behalf of D r Franklin, or M r Ferdinand Grand, are the proper Vouchers of those Gentlemen, and will Speak for themselves. They are the Vouchers which M r Grand must produce to you, in Support of his Account. I have no right to demand them, and...
800Grosvenor Square Westminster March 27. 1786. (Adams Papers)
March 26. Sunday, dined in Bolton Street Piccadilly, at the Bishop of St. Asaphs. Mr. and Mrs. Sloper, the Son in Law and Daughter of the Bishop; Mrs. and Miss Shipley the Wife and Daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan, Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Williams, Mr. Richard Peters and myself, were the Company. In the Evening other Company came in, according to the Fashion, in this Country. Mrs. Shipley at...
801John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 1 st. of June, has not, I fear been answered. I have indeed been very happy ever Since I received it. I live here, on a kind of Pens Hill. It is a Village, remarkable for the Residence of Dauguesseau, Boileau, Molliere and Helvetius, and for nothing else. I choose it merely for my Health, as my Constitution is not able to Sustain, the nauseous Air of a great City. Amsterdam...
802From John Adams to Thomas Wren, 25 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 22 d. , and pray you to advance the three Pence per day, as you propose, on Account of the United States and I will honour your, Draught for this and any other neccessary Expence, when you please I am fully of opinion with Sir John Carter, that it will be most prudent to release Muir on his own Recognizance. and pray you to receive into your Possession all...
803John Adams to William Knox, 15 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your kind Letter of the 7. and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. M r Jackson and M r Tracy will take all our Letters and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyance by Captain Young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards. It is hazardous...
804From John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 20 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
After my Letter to you of the tenth, I thought it might be more respectfull to the Lords the States General, to write to them and accordingly I drew a Memorial to their High Mightinesses and inclosed it, in a Letter which I did myself the Honour of writing to you, on the thirteenth. On the Eighteenth I received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me on the fourteenth which...
805John Adams to Henry Laurens, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received yours of the third of this Month, accompanied with the Packet, put into your Hands by M r Reed, I have also received, as I Suppose the two or three Letters which went to Bath and were returned to M r stockdales, and am obliged to you for your Care of them. Upon my Arrival at the Hague, from London, one of the first Things I did, was to look for the Letters you demand. I...
806From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 20 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Before I left Paris I wrote you, at the Desire of the Abby De Mably, on the Subject of his Letters to me, concerning our American Constitutions,. I have heard nothing more about them. Pray be So good as to let me know what Progress you make in printing them. address your Letters to me, under Cover to M r Joshua Johnson, on great Tower Hill, or to M r John Stockdale, opposite Burlington House...
807John Adams to John Jay, 13 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d a Letter from M r Gerry, at Phil a. 23 Nov. Thaxter arrived there the night before. I presume he has written by M r Reed, and that his Letter is gone to You, as he probably addressed his Letter to Us all. M r Morris has drawn afresh by this Vessell. Let me beg of you and the D r , to advise him to Stop his Hand. If I can possibly, save those already drawn, which however I still...
808From John Adams to Samuel Austin, 25 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received your of Dec r. 23 d. & have since received from M r. Jay our secretary of State for foreign affairs, the papers you refer to, with particular instructions from Congress, which I shall carefully attend to— Your demand as you state it is a Debt contracted before the peace— But you know there is a great misunderstanding between the two Countries, concerning such debts & in my...
809From John Adams to John Jay, 3 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote a few Days Since by Col Franks who embarks in the French Packet from Havre De Grace, with the Morocco Treaty. There is no further Intelligence of the Portugal Business, nor any better Prospect, or more agreable Disposition in this Country, whatever Artifices may be employed in America to keep up delusive hopes. Parliament opened with an uncommon Gloom, and has been Sitting in a...
810John Adams to Joseph Palmer, 26 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received with great Pleasure your friendly Letter of the 16. of June by my dear M rs: Adams, who with our daughter and eldest Son, are happily settled with me at this Place, about three miles from the City, and very near the great Forrest of Boulogne, which is my Park without any Expence I am very sorry to learn from your Letter that your private affairs have been embarassed and I wish you...
811From John Adams to John Jebb, 25 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am happy to find we agree in the opinion that the Principles of Morals and Politicks and religion are the same. with a certainty that we Should cease to think forever when we cease to Live, I should detest my own existance, and care nothing for any other, self Love and social would cease together. without a Prospect of a better Life. I should think that this deserved little Pains for myself...
812From John Adams to John Jay, 29 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I was obliged to a Letter from the Duke of Dorsett, to the Custom House at Dover, as I Suppose for the respect with which my Baggage was allowed to pass without a Visit, and arrived in Westminster on the 25, at Evening. I wrote, late at night to the Marquis of Carmarthen, that I was arrived and desired to be informed at what hour I should call upon his Lordship. the next Morning I had an...
813John Adams to Charles Storer, 28 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter dated this month. your Letters always give me Pleasure, although the circumstances of the times have forbidden me, to enter into any particular Details with you or any one else, upon public affairs.— I am joined with others, and have doubts both of Delicacy and Prudence, if not of right, whether I may communicate Opinions, Reasonings or even Facts...
814From John Adams to the Baron Lynden van Blitterswyck, 8 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I take this Opportunity by M r Bingham whom you once Saw at my House at the Hague to congratulate you on your agreable Situation in England as I entertain a pleasing Remembrance of those Social Hours We have heretofore passed together in Paris and the Hague, I cannot but cherrish a Hope of meeting you again in some Part of the World. Two months ago I thought it possible it might be in London...
815From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
M r Daniel Parker will have the Honour to deliver you this. He is an intelligent American, and well informed as any Man you will see from hence. I beg leave to introduce him to you. Let me thank you for your late Letter and the important State Papers inclosed with it.— I have ordered to your Address, a dozen Copies of my Boudoir for the Marquis, who desired M r Appleton and M r Paine to have...
816[To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ London, 6 Dec. 1787. Recorded in SJL as received 17 Dec. 1787, “recommending of Cerisier.” Not found. Antoine-Marie Cerisier, French historian and diplomat, was attached to the French embassy in Holland, where Adams met him in 1780 (Didot, Nouvelle biographie générale; Adams, Works , I , 330; vii , 492).]
817From John Adams to De la Lande & Fynje, 24 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Letter and Sincerely Sympathize with you under your Misfortunes. I have transmitted your Letter to N. York and had before written to the Treasury Board, as much in your Favour, as you could reasonably desire: but it has been Since hinted in Conversation here that you have entered into some Covenant with an House here to the partial Advantage of that House and its Connections...
818London July 21. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Maj. Langbourne dined with Us again. He was lamenting the difference of Character between Virginia and N. England. I offered to give him a Receipt for making a New England in Virginia. He desired it and I recommended to him Town meetings, Training Days, Town Schools, and Ministers, giving him a short Explanation of each Article. The Meeting house, and Schoolhouse and Training Field are the...
819To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 11 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In Answer to your Favour of September 4. I am sorry to inform you that I have not received one line from the Commissioners of the Treasury, nor from Congress, nor any of their Ministers, respecting the Interest due in France. It is possible Messieurs Willinks and Van Staphorsts may, or possibly the orders may have been suspended to be sent by the Minister to the Hague, when they can find one...
8201783. Octr. 22. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Went to Calais. Dined at Boulogne sur mer. Put up at Mr. Dessins. “When we arrived at Calais, as soon as we had set down in our Chamber, up comes the master of the House, and with a low bow says, Messieurs je suis vôtre trés humble serviteur; Je suis Dessein (Yorick’s man) et je viens vous rendre mes devoirs; savoir si vous voulez de Vargent &c.” ( JQA to Peter Jay Munro, 19 Nov. 1783, NNMC )....
821The Hide July 28 [i.e. 27.] 1786. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Went with Mrs. Adams to Braintree about Eighteen miles from the Hide. As our Objects were fresh Air, Exercise and the Gratification of Curiosity, I thought We ought to make a little Excursion to the Town after which the Town in New England where I was born and shall die was originally named. The Country between Chelmsford and Braintree, is pleasant and fertile, tho less magnificent in...
822To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Baron de Reishack, has several times said to me that his Court expected that Congress would announce formally their Independence, and asked me, if any Step of that Sort had been taken. That I may be able to give him an Answer, I must request of your Excellency to inform me whether you have made the annunciation directed in the first Article of the...
823From John Adams to Patrick Miller, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received the elegant volume you did me the honor to address to me, and shall take the first favorable opportunity to transmit it to Congress at New York, in conformity to your desire. Improvements in Naval Architecture are interesting to all men, and to none more than to the United States of America; where your inventions Sir, in this kind, will meet with both Scientific and experienced...
824To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 6. Aug. with the Notes and Project inclosed. How can we send another Person? We have not in our Full Power authority to Substitute. Will not the Emperor and the Regencies feel their Dignity offended if a Person appears without a Commission from Congress? Do you mean that he should only agree upon the Terms and transmit them to Us to be signed? If you think...
825John Adams to Richard Cranch, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received with very great Pleasure, your favours of June 26 and July 18. If my Townsmen of Marblehead, Salem, Cape Anne, Plymouth &c. are pleased with the Peace, I am very glad: But We have yet to Secure, if We can, the Right to carry Some of their Fish to market. This and other Things is like to detain me longer here than I expected. I do not regret this, on Account of what you Say is...
826John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 March 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d yours of the 7. th — I have written you on every Post day. M r Jefferson is so anxious to obtain Money here to enable him to discharge some of the Most urgent demands upon the United States and preserve their Credit from Bankruptcy for two Years longer after which he thinks the new Gov’t will have Money in their Treasury from Taxes; that he has prevailed upon me to open a new...
827From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 18 th. did not reach me, till last night.— I am glad the D r has arrived Safe and in so good health, and would fain hope he may contribute to compose the jarring Parties in Pensilvania, as well as assist in improving the Union of the States.— M rs Rucker has a Letter from her Sister at New York, which mentions the Arrival of M r Otto, So that I think Madame la Comtess de...
828John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 25 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am at length, Sit down once more to Business, at Auteuil, a Village near Paris, where I have taken a convenient House, with a pleasant Garden in a fine Situation near the Forrest of Boulogne, Sufficiently elevated above the River Seine and the low Grounds as well as far enough distant from the putrid Streets of Paris, to afford me a reasonable Hope of preserving my Health, during the Time...
829From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 29 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Appointment of a Secretary of foreign Affairs, interrupts the Official Correspondence, with your Excellency, and I know too well the constant Employment of the Time of the President of Congress to flatter myself with hopes of many private Letters. I may not however Suffer my son to return home, as he must go by the Way of New York without a Letter of Introduction to the President...
830From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 21 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to inclose to your Lordship a Resolution of Congress of the fifth day of October last, by which I am permitted to return to America, at anytime after the Twenty fourth Day of February 1788. As it is my Intention to embark on board the Ship Lucretia John Calahan Commander, I must request of your Lordship to obtain the neccessary orders that the Same Priviledges be granted...
831From John Adams to Rufus King, 29 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
The tumultuous Conduct of many People in New England which is mentioned in your obliging Letter of the 3 d of October, does not I hope arise from any Competitions for the Government. If the People who wish for Hancock, or those who prefer Bowdoin, those who vote for Sullivan—or such as desire Langden, are Capable of exciting such kinds of Discontent, and Convulsions in order to keep out—or to...
832From John Adams to John Jay, 10 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of a Letter from the Portugese Minister, to me of the 7. of September and my Answer of this day the tenth. This is So pointed a Proposition, that Congress will undoubtedly Send an Answer either in the affirmative or Negative. The Regard of Sovereigns to one another, renders this indispensable. and I am not able to See how a Complyance with so civil a request can well be...
833From John Adams to John Jay, 27 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
At the last Conferences, as they call here what is understood in Paris by Ambassadors Days the Marquis of Carmarthen was pleased to make an Apology for not having yet answered the Memorial requiring the Evacuation of the Posts. “It would Sound oddly to Say that he had delayed his Answer, to prevent Delays, but it was true. He had drawn up his answer, but as he was obliged to Say Something,...
834John Adams to Charles Sigourney, 17 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of 21 Dec r. and congratulate you on your arrival, My health which you are so obliging as to inquire after is so much better than it has generally been for the four last years, that I begin to hope I Shall get the better of those obstinate Disorders with which you saw me tormented in Holland. My family, is I thank God in perfect Health we have no commercial Treaty...
835John Adams to Charles Adams, 10 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved with pleasure your letter of the 22d. of octr. and agree with you that the times are such as to make it difficult for a young Gentleman, to determine upon a Profession, yet there is no reason to be discouraged, The Prospect will brighten. I have so well grounded a Veneration for the Law, that I shall never discourage any of my sons from pursuing the study of it, if their Genius...
836To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Gordon who is about publishing his Proposals for printing his History desires a Letter to you.—I told him that he might depend upon your good offices without any Letter, but as no harm will be done by complying with his Desire I beg Leave to introduce him, and to recommend his History to your Patronage in France. With equal affection, Esteem and respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir your...
837From John Adams to James Sullivan, 16 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your favor of June. 7 th. and the day before I received from Boston the Navigation-Act of Massachusetts. It is probable that our People flatter themselves that this act, and other measures tending to the same end in other States will intimidate the English Nation & force them into an advantageous treaty of Commerce. If such are their views they will be disappointed, as far...
838From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 30 th. Ult o. and thank you for the extract enclosed— The Commerce of new England will follow their oil, wherever it may go and therefore I think it good Policy, in the Controller General to take of the duty— But there is another object of Importance I mean the sperma Cæti Chandles— Will you be so good as to inform me whether these are prohibited in france?...
839From John Adams to Robert Murdoch, 4 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am no stranger to the case of the unfortunate Alexander Grosse in whose favour You did me the honor to write me your Letter from Dunkirk of the 30 th. June, I lately received from His Excellency James Bowdoin Esq r Governor of the Massachusetts an Application from the friends of M r. Grosse, which as I was desired, I communicated to the Comte D’Adhemar, who has transmitted it to the Comte De...
840London Thursday March 30. (Adams Papers)
Presented Mr. Hamilton to the Queen at the Drawing Room. Dined at Mr. Paradices. Count Warranzow Woronzow and his Gentleman and Chaplain, M. Sodorini the Venetian Minister, Mr. Jefferson, Dr. Bancroft, Coll. Smith and my Family. Went at Nine O Clock to the French Ambassadors Ball, where were two or three hundred People, chiefly Ladies. Here I met the Marquis of Landsdown and the Earl of...