1[Parents and Boyhood] (Adams Papers)
My Father married Susanna Boylston in October 1734, and on the 19th of October 1735 I was born. As my Parents were both fond of reading, and my father had destined his first born, long before his birth to a public Education I was very early taught to read at home and at a School of Mrs. Belcher the Mother of Deacon Moses Belcher, who lived in the next house on the opposite side of the Road. I...
2[Harvard College, 1751–1755] (Adams Papers)
Continued November 30. 1804. In my own class at Collidge, there were several others, for whom I had a strong affection—Wentworth, Brown, Livingston, Sewall and Dalton all of whom have been eminent in Life, excepting Livingston an amiable and ingenious Youth who died within a Year or two after his first degree. In the Class before me I had several Friends, Treadwell the greatest Schollar, of my...
All that part of Creation that lies within our observation is liable to Change. Even mighty States and kingdoms, are not exempted. If we look into History we shall find some nations rising from contemp tible beginnings, and spreading their influence, ’till the whole Globe is subjected to their sway. When they have reach’d the summit of Grandeur, some minute and unsuspected Cause commonly...
4Travels, and Negotiations. (Adams Papers)
Quincy December 1. 1806. When I asked Leave of Congress to make a Visit to my Constituents and my Family in November 1777, it was my intention to decline the next Election, and return to my practice at the Bar. I had been four Years in Congress, left my Accounts in a very loose condition, my Debtors were failing, the paper Money was depreciating, I was daily loosing the fruits of seventeen...
5To John Adams from James Chambers, 1797 to 1801 (Adams Papers)
At a Crisses so Alarming as the present—when our Independance is threatened by a haughty foreign power—I think it a duty I ow my Native Country to offer Your Excelency my Services—And I now take the liberty to inform you Sir —that I had the honour to Command the first Company in the first Regiment Ever raised by Congress in the Year 1775—Commanded by Colonel William Thompson—and was at the...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Michael Welsh, [1798–1804] (Hamilton Papers)
New York [ 1798–1804 ]. “A Series of misfortunes which have pursued me from infancy … make me apply to you for a Small Sum to relieve me from present embarrassment. The portrait that accompanies this letter is not offered to you in barter for the sum required. No Sir, it is my request that you would honor it with some corner in your house.… It is Sir the portrait of the Countess of Serang,...
7Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Cooper, and David A. Ogden to Thomas FitzSimons, Joseph Higbee, and Robert Morris, Junior … (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November, 1800. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “deals with legal matters.” Letter not found. ] LS , sold by Goodspeed’s Bookstore, Boston, February, 1942. For background to this letter, see H, Cooper, and Ogden to FitzSimons, Herman LeRoy, William Tilghman, and Matthew Pearce, October 17, 1800, note 1 ; November 17, 1800 . FitzSimons, Higbee, and...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Madame Caradeux Lecaye, November [1800–1803] (Hamilton Papers)
This is the fifth letter, Madam, that ⟨I shall⟩ have written to you, without yet having had ⟨the pleasure⟩ of knowing that one has reached your hands. This ⟨situation⟩ is matter of no small regret to us, and it would be still more perplexing and painful did we not understand th⟨at⟩ others of your friends are in a like situation. Being a common misfortune, we cannot impute it to any...
9John Jay Curriculum Vitae, 1745–1801, [c. 1801 or after] (Jay Papers)
12 Dec r . 1745 Was born in the City of NYork 1753 Sent to latin School to the Rev d . Peter Stoupe at New Rochelle 1756 Put under the Tuition of M r George Murray, a private Tutor at Home at Rye 1760 Entered Kings College— 1764— Took the Degree of B.A.— 1764 Went to study the Law with Benj a
10To John Adams from John Marshall, 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosd is the answer of the secretary of the Senate to a request that he woud furnish the department of state with the names of the Senators. There being no official certainty of the Senators newly elected to serve after the 3d. of March may produce some doubt respecting the propriety of a summons addressd to them individually. There is not to be found on the files of this department any copy...