611776. Jany. 25. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
About 10 Mr. Gerry called me, and we rode to Framingham, where We dined. Coll. Buckminster after Dinner shewed us, the Train of Artillery brought down from Ticonderoga, by Coll. Knox. It consists of Iron—9 Eighteen Pounders, 10 Twelves, 6. six, four nine Pounders, Three 13. Inch Mortars, Two Ten Inch Mortars, one Eight Inch, and one six and an half. Howitz, one Eight Inch and an half and one...
621776 Jany 26. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Stopped at Sternes’s Stearns’s in Worcester, and dined with Mr. Lincoln at Mr. Jonathan Williams’s. In Putnams Office where I formerly trimm’d the Midnight Lamp, Mr. Williams keeps Laws Works and Jacob Behmens, with whose Mistical Reveries he is much captivated. This Jonathan Williams (d. 1780), Harvard 1772 , had been a law clerk in JA ’s office. He was a cousin of the better-known Jonathan...
631776. Sunday. Jany. 28. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Upham informs that this Town of Brookfield abounds with a Stone, out of which Allum, Coperas and Sulphur are made. Out of one Bushell of this Stone, he made five Pounds of Coperas. He put the Stone into a Tub, poured Water on it, let it Stand 2 or 3 days, then drew it off, and boiled the Liquor away—let it stand and it shot into a Kind of Christals. Adding Chamberly and Alkaline Salts to...
641776 Monday. Jan. 29. (Adams Papers)
Rode to Springfield, dined at Scotts. Heard that the Cannon at Kingsbridge in N. York were spiked up. That dry Goods, English Goods were sent round to N. York from Boston, and from N. York sold all over N.E. and sent down to Camp. That Tryon has issued Writs for the Choice of a new Assembly, and that the Writs were likely to be obeyed, and the Tories were likely to carry a Majority of Members.
65[February 1776] (Adams Papers)
Cant we oblige B. to keep a Navy on foot the Expence of which will be double to what they will take from Us. I have heard of Bullion Sp anish Flotas being stoppd least they should be taken—But perishable Commodities never were stopped. Open your Ports to Foreigners. Your Trade will become of so much Consequence, that Foreigners will protect you. Wilson. A Gentleman from Mass, thinks that a...
66[Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress] 1776. Feb.[16] (Adams Papers)
Cant we oblige B. to keep a Navy on foot the Expence of which will be double to what they will take from Us. I have heard of Bullion Sp anish Flotas being stoppd least they should be taken—But perishable Commodities never were stopped. Open your Ports to Foreigners. Your Trade will become of so much Consequence, that Foreigners will protect you. Wilson. A Gentleman from Mass, thinks that a...
67[Memorandum of Measures to Be Pursued in Congress, February? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Mem. The Confederation to be taken up in Paragraphs. An Alliance to be formed with France and Spain. Embassadors to be sent to both Courts. Government to be assumed in every Colony. Coin and Currencies to be regulated. Forces to be raised and maintained in Canada and New York. St. Lawrence and Hudsons Rivers to be secured. Hemp to be encouraged and the Manufacture of Duck. Powder Mills to be...
68[Draft Resolves Concerning the Secret Committee of Correspondence and a Plan of Confederation, February? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Resolved that the Committee of Secret Correspondence be directed to lay their Letters before this Congress. Resolved that be a Committee to prepare a Draught of firm Confederation, to be reported as soon as may be to this Congress, to be considered and digested and recommended to the several Assemblies and Conventions of these united Colonies, to be by them adopted, ratified and confirmed. It...
69[February? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
3. Jer. 12. Go proclaim these Words towards the North. Return thou backsliding Israel and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful and will not be angry forever. On 17 Feb. Congress “ Resolved , That a committee of three be chosen to prepare instructions for the committee appointed to go to Canada”; and the members chosen were JA , Wythe, and Sherman ( JCC Worthington C....
70[February? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Any Goods or Commodities, except Staves for Sale, may be exported, from the united Colonies to any other Part of the World, not subject to the Crown of G.B. Written on an otherwise blank front leaf in D/JA/26, this is evidently tentative phrasing for an article in the report of the committee of the whole on American trade. From 16 Feb. on, this committee discussed from time to time the opening...
71[Draft Resolutions for Encouraging Agriculture and Manufactures, February–March 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, Councils of Safety and Committees of Correspondence and Inspection, that they use their utmost Endeavours, by all reasonable Means to promote die Culture of Flax, Hemp, and Cotton and the Growth of Wool in these united Colonies. Resolved That it be recommended to the Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, that...
72[March 1776] (Adams Papers)
How is the Interest of France and Spain affected, by the dispute between B. and the C olonies ? Is it the Interest of France to stand neuter, to join with B. or to join with the C. Is it not her Interest, to dismember the B. Empire? Will her Dominions be safe, if B. and A merica remain connected? Can she preserve her Possessions in the W.I. She has in the W.I. Martinico, Guadaloupe, and one...
731776 March 1. (Adams Papers)
How is the Interest of France and Spain affected, by the dispute between B. and the C olonies ? Is it the Interest of France to stand neuter, to join with B. or to join with the C. Is it not her Interest, to dismember the B. Empire? Will her Dominions be safe, if B. and A merica remain connected? Can she preserve her Possessions in the W.I. She has in the W.I. Martinico, Guadaloupe, and one...
74Monday March 4. 1776. (Adams Papers)
Resentment is a Passion, implanted by Nature for the Preservation of the Individual. Injury is the Object which excites it. Injustice, Wrong, Injury excites the Feeling of Resentment, as naturally and necessarily as Frost and Ice excite the feeling of cold, as fire excites heat, and as both excite Pain. A Man may have the Faculty of concealing his Resentment, or suppressing it, but he must and...
75[Notes on Relations with France, March—April 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Is any Assistance attainable from F.? What Connection may We safely form with her? 1 st. No Political Connection. Submit to none of her Authority—receive no Governors, or officers from her. 2d. No military Connection. Receive no Troops from her. 3d. Only a Commercial Connection, i.e. make a Treaty, to receive her Ships into our Ports. Let her engage to receive our Ships into her Ports—furnish...
Whereas, the present State of America, and the cruel Efforts of our Enemies, render the most perfect and cordial Union of the Colonies and the utmost Exertions of their Strength, necessary for the Preservation and establishment of their Liberties, therefore Resolved. That it be recommended to the several Assemblies and Conventions of these united Colonies, who have limited the Powers of their...
77[April 1776] (Adams Papers)
Coll. Whipple lodges at Mrs. in Walnut Street. Mr. Hancock, Messrs. Adams’s, Paine and Gerry at Mrs. Yards in 2d Street. Mr. Hopkins at Mr. Sherman, Coll. Wolcott and Coll. Huntington at Mr. Duncans in 3d. Mr. Duane at the Collectors in Markett Street, next door to Coll. Reads. Gen. Livingston, Mr. De Hart in Second Street. Mr. Serjeant at Dr. Ewing’s. Mr. Moreton at Mr. Wilson at Mr. Johnson...
78[Residences of Delegates in Philadelphia, April? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Coll. Whipple lodges at Mrs. in Walnut Street. Mr. Hancock, Messrs. Adams’s, Paine and Gerry at Mrs. Yards in 2d Street. Mr. Hopkins at Mr. Sherman, Coll. Wolcott and Coll. Huntington at Mr. Duncans in 3d. Mr. Duane at the Collectors in Markett Street, next door to Coll. Reads. Gen. Livingston, Mr. De Hart in Second Street. Mr. Serjeant at Dr. Ewing’s. Mr. Moreton at Mr. Wilson at Mr. Johnson...
79[May 1776] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Duane moves that the Delegation from N. York might be read. When We were invited by Mass. Bay to the first Congress an Objection was made to binding ourselves by Votes of Congress. Congress ought not to determine a Point of this Sort, about instituting Government. What is it to Congress, how Justice is administered. You have no Right to pass the Resolution—any more than Parliament has. How...
80[Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress, 13–15 May 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Duane moves that the Delegation from N. York might be read. When We were invited by Mass. Bay to the first Congress an Objection was made to binding ourselves by Votes of Congress. Congress ought not to determine a Point of this Sort, about instituting Government. What is it to Congress, how Justice is administered. You have no Right to pass the Resolution—any more than Parliament has. How...
81[July 1776] (Adams Papers)
Terms in this Article, equivocal and indefinite. Jefferson. The Limits of the Southern Colonies are fixed.... Moves an Amendment, that all Purchases of Lands, not within the Boundaries of any Colony shall be made by Congress, of the Indians in a great Council.— Sherman seconds the Motion.... Chase. The Intention of this Article is very obvious, and plain. The Article appears to me to be right,...
82[Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress on the Articles of Confederation] July 25. 1776. (Adams Papers)
Terms in this Article, equivocal and indefinite. Jefferson. The Limits of the Southern Colonies are fixed.... Moves an Amendment, that all Purchases of Lands, not within the Boundaries of any Colony shall be made by Congress, of the Indians in a great Council.— Sherman seconds the Motion.... Chase. The Intention of this Article is very obvious, and plain. The Article appears to me to be right,...
Rutledge and Linch oppose giving the Power of regulating the Trade and managing all Affairs of the Indians, to Congress. The Trade is profitable they say. Gwinnett is in favour of Congress having such Power. Braxton is for excepting such Indians as are tributary to any State. Several Nations are tributary to Virginia. Jefferson explains it to mean the Indians who live in the Colony. These are...
Dr. Franklin. Let the smaller Colonies give equal Money and Men, and then have an equal Vote. But if they have an equal Vote, without bearing equal Burthens, a Confederation upon such iniquitous Principles, will never last long. Dr. Witherspoon. We all agree that there must and shall be a Confederation, for this War. It will diminish the Glory of our Object, and depreciate our Hope. It will...
85[August 1776] (Adams Papers)
Hooper. N.C. is a striking Exception to the general Rule that was laid down Yesterday, that the Riches of a Country are in Proportion to the Numbers of Inhabitants. A Gentleman of 3 or 400 Negroes, dont raise more corn than feeds them. A Labourer cant be hired for less than £24 a Year in Mass. Bay. The neat profit of a Negro is not more than 5 or 6£ pr. An num . I wish to see the day that...
Hooper. N.C. is a striking Exception to the general Rule that was laid down Yesterday, that the Riches of a Country are in Proportion to the Numbers of Inhabitants. A Gentleman of 3 or 400 Negroes, dont raise more corn than feeds them. A Labourer cant be hired for less than £24 a Year in Mass. Bay. The neat profit of a Negro is not more than 5 or 6£ pr. An num . I wish to see the day that...
Limiting the Bounds of States which by Charter &c. extend to the South Sea. Sherman thinks the Bounds ought to be settled. A Majority of States have no Claim to the South Sea. Moves this Amendment, to be substituted in Place of this Clause and also instead of the 15th Article— No Lands to be seperated from any State, which are already settled, or become private Property. Chase denys that any...
88[September 1776] (Adams Papers)
Took with me to N.Y. 51 dollars and 5s. 8d. Pen. Currency in Change. An isolated entry in D/JA/25; an identical entry appears in D/JA/27 and is the last in that booklet. This is the only allusion in JA ’s Diary to his journey from Philadelphia to Staten Island and back, in company with Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge, a committee appointed by Congress on 6 Sept. to confer with Admiral...
89Sept. 10. (Adams Papers)
Took with me to N.Y. 51 dollars and 5s. 8d. Pen. Currency in Change. An isolated entry in D/JA/25; an identical entry appears in D/JA/27 and is the last in that booklet. This is the only allusion in JA ’s Diary to his journey from Philadelphia to Staten Island and back, in company with Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge, a committee appointed by Congress on 6 Sept. to confer with Admiral...
90[October 1776] (Adams Papers)
Sat out from Phyladelphia towards Boston, oated at the Red Lyon, dined at Bristol, crossed Trenton ferry, long before Sun set, drank Coffee at the Ferry House on the East Side of Delaware, where I putt up—partly to avoid riding in the Evening Air, and partly because 30 miles is enough for the first day, as my Tendons are delicate, not having been once on Horse back since the Eighth day of last...