1711John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received Information that so many of our Letters have been thrown overboard, that I fear you will not have heard so often from me, as both of us wish. I have written often. But my Letters have not been worth so much as other Things which I have sent you. I sent you a small Present by Captain Niles. But he is taken by a Jersey Privateer. I sent you also, some other Things by Captain...
1712From John Adams to James Warren, 1 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
This Morning I received your kind Favours of the 11th. and 19th. Ultimo—with the Enclosures. Drapers Paper is a great Curiosity and you will oblige me by Sending it as often as posible. The Foreign News you mention, is all a Delusion my Friend. You may depend upon it, every Measure is preparing by the Ministry to destroy Us if they can, and that a Sottish Nation is Supporting them. Heaven...
1713From John Adams to Richard Lee, 4 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 18 May, inclosing the momentous Resolution of your wise and patriotic Convention, together with the American Crisis came duely to Hand, and yesterday, I had the Pleasure of receiving the Proceedings of the House of Burgesses. I thank you, sir for both these esteemed Favours. Is it not a little remarkable that this Congress and your Convention should come to Resolutions so nearly...
1714From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 1 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Upon my Arrival here I found your Letter of the 30th. of June. Copy of which had been sent along to me by Mr. Thaxter to Paris, but by some unaccountable means sent back without being delivered to me. Many Bills had been presented in my Absence, and at first I was at a loss whether to accept them, until further Advice from You. But considering they had lain here near a Month, and that...
1715From John Adams to James Lovell, 26 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of May 16 and 25 by Captain Barnes reached me Yesterday. These with those by Niles from Connecticut and those by the Saratoga from Baltimore are all that I have received from you or from any Body at Congress, which gives me Pain, because your other Letters must have miscarried, and I hold your Letters in so high Esteem that I cannot be willing to loose one. The Robbery of Folgiers...
1716From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 16 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 9 th. We remain here in the Same State of Indecision, which We have been in these Three Months, uninformed of every Thing in America uncertain of the System in England and unable to See one day before Us. My Situation is as pleasant as it has been for a long Course of Years Sure that whatever may be well done will be ascribed to other People, and that whatever...
1717From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of 22, with the Letter, which I return, unable to comprehend the meaning of it. I am informed by Mr Jay and Mr Charmichael both, that Sir John Dalrymple is at Madrid, with his Lady, travelling from Portugal, thro Spain and France for her Health, as is given out. He had a Passport from the Spanish minister. He has seen the Imperial Ambassador, the Duke of Alva, and Some...
1718From John Adams to John Winthrop, 2 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour of writing you, a very few Lines, just for the Sake of introducing to you, the Gentlemen who compose a Committee of this Congress, who are to consult with your Honorable Board, about a Plan for continuing the Army. I conjecture that the Reduction of the Pay of the private Soldiers, and the Introduction of Some Gentlemen from other Colonies, into the Service as officers...
1719From John Adams to the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 15 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had this Moment the Honour of receiving the Order of the Honourable the House of Representatives of the 14th. instant directing the Gentlemen who the last Year represented this State in Congress, and are now in this State, to lay before the Honourable House an Account of their Expences, while in that service. In Obedience to this order, sir, I herewith transmit, all the Account, which it is...
1720The Hague October 5. 1782. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
In conference with the G rand Pen sionary Bleiswick. He told me, it was determined to sign the Treaty of Commerce, on Monday next at Noon. That I should not find the Greffier Fagel for that being Saturday, he would spend it at his Country Seat and not come to Town. That the Revolution in the Crimea and the commotions among the Tartars would probably find Employment enough for Russia. That...
1721[Fryday September 13. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Fryday September 13. 1776. The Committee appointed to confer with Lord Howe, having returned made a verbal Report. Ordered that they make a report in Writing as soon as conveniently they can.
1722John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Prices with you are much more moderate than here. Yesterday I was obliged to give Forty shillings Pen. Cur. Thirty two L.M. for one Gallon of Rum. In my station here, I have Business with many Gentlemen who have occasion to visit me, and I am reduced to the Necessity of treating them with plain Toddy and Rum and Water—a Glass of Wine, once in a while to a great stranger, of uncommon...
1723From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
In the letter which you did me the honour to write me the 24th. of February your Excellency proposed that the principal object of my Mission shou’d be inserted in the Gazette of France, when it shou’d make mention of my presentation to the King and Royal Family. In the answer to this letter which I had the honour write on the 25th. of February, I informed your Excellency that I shou’d not...
17241777. Feby. 9. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Allison. In the Evening walked to Fells Point, the Place where the Ships lie, a kind of Peninsula which runs out, into the Bason which lies before Baltimore Town. This Bason 30 Years ago was deep enough for large Tobacco ships, but since then has fill’d up, ten feet. Between the Town and the Point, We pass a Bridge over a little Brook which is the only Stream which runs into the...
1725From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 75, 1 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 1 June 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 86–88). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “NB. Nos. 74 & 75 were delivered Como. J. P. Jones on the first of June 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:750–751. In this letter,...
1726From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 13 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your two Letters both without Date and one without a Name. My Respects and Thanks to Mr Carmichael &c. I have Some of the Resolutions of Congress touching that department but cannot Say whether I have all. I have had last Evening an agreable Interview with the two worthy Gentlemen you mention. They are both of opinion, that it is better to wait and See what will be proposed by the...
1727From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 11 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Gadsden of South Carolina whose Fame you must have heard, was in his younger Years, an officer, on board the Navy, and is well acquainted with the Fleet. He has Several Times taken Pains to convince me that this Fleet is not so formidable to America, as we fear. He Says, We can easily take their sloops, Schooners, and Cutters, on board of whom are all their best Seamen, and with these We...
1728From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 26, 14 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am every day accepting the Bills of Exchange, which were drawn upon Mr. Laurens: but I have no prospect of obtaining Money to discharge them, from any other Person, than Dr. Franklin. For some Years before I came to Holland, every Person I saw from this Place assured me, that in his Opinion Money might be borrowed, provided Application was made, with proper Powers directly from Congress to...
1729[Monday September 16. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Monday September 16. 1776. A Letter of the 14th. from General Washington, One of the 9th. from General Schuyler, inclosing a copy of one from General Gates, dated the 6th., and one of the 2d, from General Gates with sundry Papers inclosed, were read, and referred to the Board of War. A Committee of the whole, on a report of the Board of War. Mr. Nelson reported sundry Amendments and Congress...
1730John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening We arrived safe in this Town after the longest Journey, and through the worst Roads and the worst Weather, that I have ever experienced. My Horses performed extreamly well. Baltimore is a very pretty Town, situated on Petapsco River, which empties itself into the great Bay of Cheasapeak. The Inhabitants are all good Whiggs, having sometime ago banished all the Tories from among...
1731[March 28. Saturday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
March 28. Saturday. 1778. Last night and this morning We were in the thoroughfare of all the Ships from Bourdeaux. A great number of them were always in Sight. By Observation to day our Latitude was forty six degrees three minutes north, about seven minutes South of the middle of the Isle of Rea. We were therefore about twenty leagues from the Tower of Cordovan. We had no Wind, but a very...
1732From John Adams to George Washington, 19 June 1775; 20 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
In Complyance with your Request, I have considered of what you proposed, and am obliged to give you my Sentiments, very briefly, and in great Haste. In general, Sir, there will be three Committees, either of a Congress, or of an House of Representatives, which are and will be composed of our best Men, Such, whose Judgment and Integrity may be most relyed on. I mean the Committee on the State...
1733[Fryday May 10. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Fryday May 10. 1776. Congress resumed the Consideration of the Resolution reported from the Committee of the whole, and the same was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective Assemblies and Conventions of the United Colonies, where no Government sufficient to the Exigencies of their Affairs, hath been hitherto established, to adopt such Government as shall in the...
1734[1779 December 19. Sunday.] (Adams Papers)
1779 December 19. Sunday. Dined with Monsieur De Tournelle, with all my Family. The Regent, or President of the Souvereign Court of the Kingdom of Gallicia, The Attorney General, the Administrator of the Kings Revenue of Tobacco, the Commandant of the Artillery, Mr. Lagoanere and others were there. The Entertainment was very sumptuous in all respects, but there was the greatest Profusion and...
1735From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Nov r. 14/25 I recieved the night before last, & went out with it yesterday to Passy. D r. Franklin & I agreed to desire M r. Grand to give Orders to the Banker his Correspondent at S t. Petersbourg to furnish You with the Sum of Money You may have occasion for, so that your Treaty may be made as soon as You please. I should not be surprized, if the English Minister to the...
1736From John Adams to François AdriaanVan der Kemp,, 24 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your agreable favour of the fifth of this Month, Commodore Gillon was absent, when your Letter came to hand, and for many days after. As soon as he returned, I took the first Opportunity to Speak with him, on the subject of your Friend the Clergyman. The Commodore has no Chaplain and his Crew is composed of People of various Religions, the greatest Part however are Frenchmen...
1737[March 31. Tuesday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
March 31. Tuesday. 1778. Captain Palmes was sent to Blaye, in the Pinnace, to the Officer at the Castle, in order to produce our Commission, and procure an Entry and Pass to Bourdeaux. Palmes returned full of the Compliments of the Officer to the Captain and to me. I shall not repeat the Compliments to me. But the earnest request to Captain Tucker was that he would salute the Fort with...
1738From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 15 January 1782. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, III, f. 458–459). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:111. In this letter, JA provided the English text of a note presented by the Russian minister, Prince Gallitzin, to Hendrik Fagel, secretary...
1739From John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 23 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
In Pursuance of the Instructions of Congress, Signified by M r Morris their Superintendant of Finances, I have the Honour to inclose to you, an Account of the Bills of Exchange, accepted by me, in Holland in the Years 1780. 1781. 1782. & 1783. The Account of the Purchase of the Hotel des Etats Unis at the Hague, and of the Sums of Money, I have received, on Account of my Salary, which are all...
1740[Wednesday May 15. 1776] (Adams Papers)
On Wednesday May 15. 1776 reported the following which was agreed to Whereas his Britannic Majesty, in conjunction with the Lords and Commons of Great Britain, has, by a late Act of Parliament, excluded the Inhabitants of these united Colonies from the Protection of his Crown; and whereas no Answer whatever to the humble Petitions of the Colonies for redress of Grievances and reconciliation...