91From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, in his famous pamphlet, page 23, says, “the conduct pursued bore sufficient marks of courage and elevation to raise the national character to an exalted height throughout Europe.” “Much it is to be deplored that we should have been precipitated from this proud eminence, without necessity, without temptation.” It is the habitual practice of our parties, to affirm or deny, as they...
92From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 17 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
Another of my crimes, according to my great accuser, page 28, was nominating Mr. Murray, without previous consultation with any of my ministers. To this charge I shall say but little at present. In England the first magistrate is responsible for nothing; his ministers for every thing: Here according to the practice, if not the constitution, the ministers are responsible for nothing; the...
93From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 8 September 1809 (Adams Papers)
1780, Dec. 30—wrote to Congress: “The Province of Zealand having been opposed to the other Provinces in so many instances, and having lately protested against the resolutions of the States General, which begin to be thought spirited, it may be useful to explain to Congress the causes which influence that Province to a conduct which is generally thought to be opposite to the true interests of...
94From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 16 September 1809 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, January 14th, 1781—wrote to Congress: “In an excursion which I have lately made through the principal cities of this province, that is, Haerlem, Leyden, the Hague, Delph and Rotterdam, I have had an opportunity of perceiving, that there is a spirit of resentment against the English, very general among the people—Notwithstanding this, every thing is so artfully retarded; The...
95From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 28 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, September 12, 1782—wrote to Mr. Livingston: “Your letters express a desire that I should endeavor to form an acquaintance with the representatives of crowned heads, and you seem to be of opinion that much may be learned from their conversation. It is very true, that hints may be dropped, sometimes, which deserve to be attended to, and I shall not fail to avail myself of every...
96From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 27 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I shall now proceed with that obnoxious Journal:— Monday, Nov. 11, 1782. Mr. Whiteford, the Secretary of Mr. Oswald, came a second time; not having found me at home yesterday, when he left a card with a copy of Mr. Oswald’s commission, attested by himself, (Mr. Oswald.) He delivered the copy, and said Mr. Oswald was ready to compare it to the original with me. I said Mr. Oswald’s Attestation...
97From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 27 July 1809 (Adams Papers)
HAVING laid together the negociations with the Comte De Vergennes, relative to that sublime machine for demolishing our independence, the mediation of the two Imperial Courts and the congress at Vienna, I shall now go back to my first arrival in Holland. Mr. Laurens had been long appointed agent to borrow money, and I expected to meet him in Holland, and consult with him on every thing...
98From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 18 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, January 16, 1782, wrote to congress—“The following verbal insinuation made by the baron de Nolken, Enjoy of Sweeden at London, to my lord Stormont, the 31st of August, 1781, is of importance to shew the intentions of the maritime confederacy. “The king has no occasion at this time to declare the principles which have determined his conduct from the time when he ascended the throne...
99From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 22 September 1809 (Adams Papers)
ALL the gentlemen in Holland who were the most friendly to the American cause, were excessively prone to have their spirits cast down into deep despondency, and absolute despair of our final success by any sudden news of unfortunate events: In one of these dispositions, the Baron Vander Capellen wrote me a letter, full of these causes of his own and others anxiety, to which I wrote him the...
100From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 7 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, September 17, 1782—Wrote to secretary Livingston—“You will naturally inquire, whether the neutral powers will continue their neutrality? or whether the neutral confederacy will be broken? No certain answer can be given to those questions. We must content ourselves with probabilities, which are indeed strong for the continuance of the neutrality.—Who indeed should break it? The...
101From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 14 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter was at last dispatched with all our letters and papers; and in due time we received from him the following letter: To the ministers plenipotentiary of America for making peace. L’Orient 20th Sept. 1783. Gentlemen—I have the honor to acquaint you that I arrived here in the morning of the 18th inst. and had the mortification of finding that the packet in which I was to have taken...
102From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 24 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, February 10, 1782, wrote again to Secretary Livingston—“On the 14th instant I had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your duplicate of the 23d of October. I congratulate you, sir, on the glorious news contained in these dispatches; but I cannot be of your opinion, that, great as it is, it will defeat every hope, that Britain entertains of conquering a country, so defended....
103From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, September 23, 1782—wrote to Mr. Secretary Livingston: “As this is a moment of great expectation; news of the greatest importance from the East Indies, the West Indies and North America, from Gibraltar, from Lord Howe’s fleet, and the combined fleets being hourly looked for, I take this opportunity to return to the Spanish Minister Comte Llano, a visit which I owed him. The Comte...
104From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 17 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I was not long at the Adelphi, but soon removed to private lodgings, which by the way were ten times more public, and took apartments at Mr. Stokdale’s, in Piccadilly, where Mr. Laurens had lately lodged before me.Here I had a great opportunity of learning, for Dr. Bret was at the next door, the state of the current literature of London. I will not enlarge upon this subject at present, if...
105From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 30 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, July 13, 1781—transmitted to congress; “The following is an extract from the registry of the resolutions of their high mightinesses the states general of the United Provinces: Thursday, June 28, 1781. Heard the report of Messrs. de Linden, de Hemmen and other deputies of their high mightinesses for maritime affairs, having in consequence, and to obey their commissorial resolution of...
106From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 3 August 1809 (Adams Papers)
ON the 12th of September, 1780, wrote to Mr. Dana, at Paris. “This will be delivered you by Mr. Samuel Hartley, who is recommended to me by Mr. Diggs and Mr. David Hartley. I should be obliged to you for any civilities you may show him. Mr. Diggs recommends him as an open friend to the American cause. There is no news here but what you will see in the Leyden Gazette, which is my vehicle for...
107From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 2 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, Feb. 24, 1782—wrote to Mr. Dumas: “Your favor of the 23d is just come to hand. Thank you for your care and skill in the purchase of the house; and will do honour to your bills whenever they appear, by paying the cash. Madame La Comtesse de Wickrad, according to your relation, made me and our state a most elegant compliment, for which you will be so good if you please to make my...
108From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 16 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Journal proceeds—1783, May 22, Thursday. This morning I drew the following letters too be laid before the ministers this evening. Paris, May 22, 1783. Sir—We have received the letter you did us the honor to write us on the day of this month, containing a brief state of the of the United States in your hands. We see the difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our...
109From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 7 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, March 1st, 1782.—wrote to the duke De La Vauguion “As Friesland has taken the provincial resolution to acknowledge the Independence of America, it seems to be high time for me to prepare for the execution of my instructions from Congress of the 16th of August, which I had the honor to communicate to your Excellency, on the 25th of November, and which had been previously communicated...
110From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 21 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
The journal of the 22d of May 1783, proceeds— Mr. Hartley’s observations and propositions left with the American ministers, the 21st of May 1783: A proposition having been offered of the American ministers for the consideration of his Britannic majesty’s ministers, and of the British nation, for an entire and reciprocal freedom of intercourse and commerce between Great-Britain and the American...
111From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 6 October 1809 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 15, 1781—wrote to Dr. Franklin: “This morning the house of Botereau & Co. of this city, presented to me sixty-six bills of exchange drawn by Congress, on the 26th day of October last, in favor of Nathaniel Tracy, of Newburyport, amounting to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterling, payable at ninety days sight. I was obliged to ask the favor of the house to wait until I could...
112From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 1 March 1810 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, August 25, 1781—wrote to Dr. Franklin: “Last evening I received your excellency’s letter of the 16th of this month, accompanied with a letter from the president of congress containing the commission you mention. (That is, the commission of the 15th of June, printed in my last letter.) You desire to know what steps have already been taken in this business. There has been no step...
113From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 8 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, May 27, 1781—wrote to Congress: “In the assembly of the States General, the following report has lately been made: Messrs. De Linden, De Hemmen, and other deputies of their High Mightinesses, for maritime affairs, have in consequence of the commissional resolution of the twenty seventh of last month, examined a letter of the directors named in commission by the respective chambers,...
114From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 16 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Journal proceeds—November 18, 1782.—Returned Mr. Oswald’s Visit. He says Mr. Strachy, who sat out the 5th, did not reach London until the 10th. Couriers are three, four, or five days in going, according as the winds are. We went over the old ground, concerning the tories. He began to use arguments with me, to relax. I told him he must not think of that, but must bend all his thoughts to...
115From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 7 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
In page 26, Mr. Hamilton says, that the mission “could hardly fail to injure our interests with other countries.” This is another of those phantoms which he had conjured up to terrify minds and nerves as weak as his own. It was a common place theme of discourse, which, no doubt, the British faction very efficaciously assisted him in propagating. I know it made impression on some, from whose...
116From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 21 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, March 5, 1782—wrote to Mr. Bergsma: “Sir, I have received from the hand of Mr. Menkema, the resolution of the states of Friesland of the 26th of February. I beg you would accept of my best thanks for the honor you have done me, in communicating to me, so early, this important measure—a resolution which does so much honor to that spirit of liberty, which distinguishes your province;...
117From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 10 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
The institution of an Embassy to France in 1799, was made upon principle, and in conformity to a system of foreign affairs, formed upon long deliberation, established in my mind, and amply opened, explained and supported in Congress, that is a system of eternal Neutrality, if possible, in all the wars of Europe, at least eighteen years before President Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality...
118From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 20 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, June 5, 1781, wrote to congress. “The deputies of Middleburg in the assembly of the states of the province of Zealand, on the 14th of May, consented to the petition, for granting larger bounties to those who shall engage in the service of the republic by sea. This advice has been given in this manner. The gentlemen, the deputies of Middleburg, have said, that they were authorized by...
119From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 23 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
“Sirs—The Journal proceeds—1782—November 21, Thursday—Paid a visit to Mr. Brantzen, and then to the Comte de Linden. Spent two hours with him. He says the king of Sweden has overwhelmed him with his goodness; is perpetually writing to his ministers to compliment and applaud him, for the part he has acted in refusing to go to Vienna, and for the reason he gave for it. Says the revolution in...
120From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 10 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
IN page 29. Mr. Hamilton says, "when an ordinary man dreams himself to be a Frederick," &c. To this I shall make but a short answer. When a Miss of the street shall print a pamphlet in London, and call the Queen of England an ordinary woman, who dreams herself a Catharine of Russia, no Englishman will have the less esteem for his queen for that impudent libel. There is something in the 24th...