781John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 3 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Pleasure of yours of the 5th. of August, for which I am much obliged to you. It is a great Satisfaction to me to be informed, of the Particulars which are enumerated in your Letter, upon which the Happiness of the People and their Exertions in the Cause so much depend. I am not able to inform you of any News, except what the News Papers contain. Those inclosed, contain some Things...
782From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 14 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Have just received yours of the 9th and I thank you. Waynes Agreement is thus explained. Gen. Arnold—Com. Jones, and many other officers of the American Army and Navy, have all along made it a maxim that the whiggish young Gentlemen ought to convert the Tory young Ladies. Accordingly the genteelest Part of the officers of Boston and Philadelphia used to keep up an Acquaintance with several...
783From John Adams to Jacobus Nolet, 20 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received, to day the Letter you did me the honor to write to me yesterday, and am exceedingly obliged to you for your cordial congratulations, on the great Event which was yesterday finally concluded by their High Mightinesses. The Favour of Providence, has been remarkably manifested in the progress of this Negociation, hitherto, that I very sincerely join with you in imploring its...
784From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 20 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
The more I reflect upon the late Revolution in the British Ministry the more I am Struck, with the Conduct of Mr Fox. I am become, upon certain Conditions his Admirer, and almost wish to be his Friend! . The Conditions are two 1. That his Conduct has been the Result of Deliberation and Judgment, not of mere Jealousy Ambition, or Resentment. 2. That he has Patience and Fortitude enough to...
785[April 6. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
April 6. 1776. Congress resumed the consideration of the Report, from the Committee of the whole, and the same being twice read, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to. These Resolutions are on the Journal, and amount to something. They opened the Ports and sett our Commerce at Liberty: But they were far short of what had been moved by Members from Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia. There...
786John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
I send you, all the News. When I do not write I suffer more Pain than you do, when you dont receive a Line. I have no greater Pleasure than in Writing to you, but I have not Time. When I shall come home I dont know. But this you may depend on, I can come when I will. The Communication is open and will remain so. It cannot be cutt off. The General Court have not appointed any one in my stead. I...
787John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of yours of from Boston, and am happy to find that you have been able to do so well, amidst all your Difficulties.—There is but one Course for Us to take and that is to renounce the Use of all foreign Commodities. For my own Part I never lived in my whole Life, so meanly and poorly as I do now, and yet my Constituents will growl at my Extravagance. Happy should I...
7881779. May 9. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
The Pilot came on Board this Morning from St. Nazare, and pronounced it unsafe to go out, with this Wind. F. this Morning, fell to talking.— “Above half the Gentlemen of Paris are Atheists, and the other half Deists. No Body goes to Church but the common People. I wish I could find one honest Man among their Merchants and Tradesmen” &c. &c. Mr. F., says I, let me be so free as to request of...
789From John Adams to James Warren, 21 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
It is not easy to penetrate the Designs of the Enemy. What Object they have in View, cannot certainly be determined. Philadelphia, most probably and Albany. They have near Ten thousand Men in the Jersies, at Brunswick, Amboy, Bonamtown, and Piscataqua: the two last Posts, are very near their main Body. I think, but may be mistaken, that they will not hazard, an Attempt upon this City, or...
790Feb. 20. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
In the Morning nothing to be seen, but soon after another Sail discovered ahead, which is supposed to be the same. Tucker, Log ( MH ), 20 Feb.: “This 24 hours begins Very Pleasant the Ship Still in Chase. I being Poorly mand dare not attactk her and many other Principal Reasons. Att 2 P.M. Satt fore and main topmast stearing Sails found I Left the Ship att 6 P.M. It being dark Lost sight of...
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...
792From John Adams to Engelbert François van Berckel, 23 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. this morning the Letter which You did me the honor to write me yesterday. All that You say about Madam D’Hogendorp, and the “Inconnu” is a Mystery to me, never having had a Visit or Application from either, to my Knowledge. It would give me pleasure however to be of any Service to this Person upon your Recommendation, if it were in my power: but I have not only no Authority to...
793John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Had a Declaration of Independency been made seven Months ago, it would have been attended with many great and glorious Effects. . . . We might before this Hour, have formed Alliances with foreign States.—We should have mastered Quebec and been in Possession of Canada. . . . You will perhaps wonder, how such a Declaration would have influenced our Affairs, in Canada, but if I could write with...
794From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 4 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had this Moment the Honour of yours of the 15. Ultimo and I thank you for your Kindness to Mr. Thaxter of whom I had not before heard, Since he left this Place. The Act of Congress inclosed in your Letter, I will take with me to Europe, for which Country I hope to embark in five Days in the Boston Frigate, not without Regret at having been delayed So long. I shall make out Six Copies of the...
Since my Arrival in Europe I have had the Mortification to see in the public Papers a Series of little Successes which our Enemies have had in the prosecution of the War. The first was a very exaggerated Account in the English Court Gazette of their Successes against the Spaniards in South America. The next was the History of the Repulse of General Lincoln and the Comte D’Estaing at Savannah...
796John Adams: A Translation, 11 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Articles to Serve, as a Foundation of the negotiation, for the Re-establishment of Peace. There shall be a Treaty, between Great Britain, and the American Colonies, concerning the Re-establishment of Peace, in America; but without the Intervention of any of the other belligerent Parties, nor even that of the two Imperial Courts, at least unless their mediation Should be formally ask demanded...
797From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I see in the London Courant, which arrived to day, an advertisement of a translation into English of the address to the People of the Netherlands: so that this work is likely to be translated into all Languages and read by all the World, notwithstanding the Placards against it. I have before sent that of Utrecht. That of Holland is as follows: “The States of Holland and of West Friesland, to...
798From John Adams to Gertruy Roskam van Berckel, 19 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams is very sensible of the honor done him in the polite Card of Madam Van Berkel of this day’s date; but has the Mortification to be conscious that he is not the anonymous Person alluded to, and therefore has no Title to the genteel Acknowledgments for the Present or the Billet. The happy Auspices of a future Connection between the two Nations, which appear at this time in the City, are...
799Feb. 27. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A Calm. As soft and warm as Summer. A Species of black Fish, which our officers call Beneaters, appeared about the Ship. One Source of the Disorders in this Ship, is the Irregularity of Meals. There ought to be a well digested System, for Eating, Drinking and sleeping. At Six, all Hands should be called up. At Eight, all Hands should breakfast. At one all Hands should dine. At Eight again all...
800To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Yesterday was presented to me another Bill of Exchange for 1100 Guilders, drawn on Mr Laurens 25th. Feby. 1780. I have, as usual, asked time to write to your Excellency, to know if You can be responsible for the payment: if not, they must be protested, for there is no Money to be had here. Indeed if there was a...
801March 9 [i.e. 8]. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Passy, the Spanish Ambassador, the Comte de Rochambeau, the Chevalier de Chatelux Chastellux , Mr. Jay &c. present. Chatelux said to the Abby Morlaix that I was the Author of the Massachusetts Constitution, and that it was the best of em all, and that the People were very contented with it.
802[Monday September 30. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Monday September 30. 1776. Resolved that the Board of War be impowered and directed, on requisition of the General, or commanding Officers in the several departments, to send such Articles of Military Stores, and other necessaries, which they may have in their Possession, or can procure. Resolved that the Board of War be directed to order the three Virginia Battalions, now on their March to...
803To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had, Yesterday, the Honour of yours of the 24th. inclosing a Letter from his Excellency M. de Sartine, expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance Should be retained here a little longer. As my Baggage was on board, and every Appearance promised that We should be under Sail in three or four days for America, in a fine ship and the best Month in the...
804From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had last night the honour of your Letter of the 22d and I most heartily congratulate the French Court and Nation, on the acquisition of a Dauphin. The Ships which the South Carolina, was to have taken under her Convoy, are Still here. I am told, that the Ships are the best that are to be had: that they are to be sold at a reasonable Rate, so reasonable that the difference, between the...
805March 2. Monday. (Adams Papers)
A fine Wind still and a pleasant Morning. The Colour of the Water which is green, not blue as it has been for many Days past, the Appearance of large Flocks of Gulls, and various other Birds, convinced the knowing ones, to say that We were not far from the Grand Bank of N. Foundland. The Captain however thinks it 35 Leagues to the N. West of Us.—Our Mast was Yesterday repaired with two large...
806From John Adams to Samuel Chase, 9 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 5th came to me the 8th. You will see by this Post, that the River is past and the Bridge cutt away. The Declaration was yesterday published and proclaimed from that awfull Stage, in the State house Yard, by whom do you think? By the Committee of Safety,! the Committee of Inspection, and a great Crowd of People. Three cheers rended the Welkin. The Battallions paraded on the common,...
807From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 9 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed N o. 121 of the Politique Hollandais, having translated a few Sentences of mine, and the Author intending to insert more, as he has already inserted a good deal of the Same Correspondence, I think it proper to transmit You, a Short Relation of it. In 1780, at Paris, a Number of Pamphlets of M r Galloway were sent me from England. I wrote to a Friend an Answer to them. He Sent it...
8081775. Decr. 9th. (Adams Papers)
Having Yesterday as ked and obtained Leave of Congress to go home, this Morning I mounted, with my own Servant only, about twelve O Clock, and reached the red Lyon about two where I dine. The Roads very miry and dirty, the Weather pleasant, and not cold. This is the first regular entry since 29 Oct. in JA ’s Diary. Why he failed to keep a record of either personal or congressional affairs...
809From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 22 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received this day the letter which your Excellency did me the honour to write me on the Twenty first Day of this Month. I thank your Excellency for the Confidence, which induced you to communicate this letter to me, and the continuance of which I shall ever study to deserve. When your Excellency says that his Majesty’s Minister at Congress, has already received Orders to make...
810I. To Le politique hollandais, 22 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Mistakes of Gazettes and fugitive Pamphlets, may pass unnoticed, because they are not expected to be correct, are not read by many and are Soon forgotten: but the Inaccuracies of a Writer, so distinguished by his Genius and Eloquence as the abby Raynal, in a work embellished with ornaments to captivate every Man of Taste and Letters, and enriched with Such a Variety of usefull knowledge,...