941Jan Wynzouw to John Adams: A Translation, 26 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Jan Wynzouw, citizen and native to this province, presently schoolmaster here, formerly in trade, informs you that he, having a good knowledge of draperies and fabrics, as well as of bookkeeping and a precise sort of accounting, both in French and English goods, but who can speak nothing but the Dutch language, because of which I have not been able to succeed in any business, now really would...
942To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
We duely receiv’d the Letter with which your Excellency pleased to favour us the 19 th. of Novemb r. past, by which we observe Mess s. Le Couteulx and M r. Grand Call’d upon Yoúr Excellency, to Conferr, about the Subject on Which we beg’d yoúr approbation. The Opinion of Yoúr Excellency, tho given as a private Citisen is of more Consideration to ús, then that we Should go forward by...
943To John Adams from Isaac Smith Sr., 16 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 4t. Instant, I have received which I received by Via Watertown but As the post is most certain would not have you be affraid of writing that way On Account of the postage. I Observe what you say about liberty of going to foreign ports which, there has been no Obstruction As to going in ballast. You say trade, you expect, will be Open very soon. We have little or nothing in this...
944To John Adams from Thomas Vinton, 20 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to Acquant you that I am Now Confined in this Prison I was taken the 10th of June Last by the Queen Charlotte Priveteer Belonging to London and was Striped of all my Cloaths And Left Nothing only what I had on. Excuse my Freedom in Writeing to you for alitle Cash to Supply my Pesent Wants as I Reayly Stand in Great Need for it and if it should be my Lot to Come to france I make no...
945To John Adams from William MacCreery, 12 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I Received the Letter which you did me the Honor to write me under the 7th. Instant, by todays Post and observe with concern, that your many efforts to effect an exchange of Prisoners, hath heretofore proved ineffectual. It gives me much concern to find that my suspiscions of our Public finances being low in this country, were so well founded. It must render the situation of yourself and...
946To John Adams from Philippe Jean Joseph Lagau, 4 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre dont Votre Excellence a bien voulû m’honorer le 21 du mois passé. La présente lui sera remise par Monsieur Hardouin negociant au Havre de Grace qui a eu l’honneur de faire la Coñoissance de Monsieur votre fils en cette ville et qui est en état de vous en donner de bonnes nouvelles. Il m’a prié de Le recommender à vos bontés, et comme Il part de ce païs y regretté de tous...
947To John Adams from James Lovell, 2 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor of Sepr. 20th. reached me at Christmas. I inclose you a Resolve but am not able to give you a Copy of what I officially wrote to cover it by Col. Palfrey and by Way of Boston. You will oblige me by returning a Copy of that Letter which ought to appear in the Books of the Committee for foreign Affairs, those Books being soon I hope to be placed in some regularly established Office....
948To John Adams from Bidé de Chavagnes, 12 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
D’après lespece de certitude que m’avoit donné monsieur allaine que j aurois Ihonneur et le plaisir de vous voir jeudy et de diner chez luy avec vous ce qui en grande partie m’a fait remercier monsieur déné a cambridge pour le même jour. Je me flattois de pouvoir prendre avec vous les arrangements qui vous eussent convenus pour votre embarquement qui reglera avec les vents notre depart. J...
949To John Adams from Benjamin Hichborn, 28 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
If tears of blood were to follow my pen, they wou’d but faintly marke the distressing anxiety I have suffered for near three months past, to be betrayed into a situation which equally exposed me to the Insults of my Enemies and the Suspicions or Contempt of my Friends, by a Scoundrel whose base duplicity, I coud neither expose or counteract, excited feelings, which often proved too severe a...
950Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours 30 of July reachd me by Saturdays post, and found me with Johnny and Tommy quite Recoverd from the small Pox. When I first came to Town I was made to believe that the small pox was a very light disorder, and one might pass through it with little or no complaints. Some such instances no doubt there are, and Light it is in comparison of the Natural way, or what it formerly was. As I never...
951Abigail Adams to John Adams, 17 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Altho I know not of a single opportunity by which I can convey to You my constant anxiety and solicitude for your Health; or obtain from you any knowledge of your present situation, yet I cannot refrain writing my sentiments upon the knowledge I have been able to obtain concerning you here. There has been a motion in C ongre ss to recall all their M inisters and s ecretaries except at V...
Madame d’Hogendorp, who currently lives at The Hague, and her husband, councilor of Rotterdam, who is presently in the East Indies, are strongly urging me to intercede on behalf of an unknown, introduced to your excellency by the young M. d’Hogendorp, son of the aforementioned. According to what I hear, it seems your excellency would have given him some addresses in America, but not a letter...
953To John Adams from Nathaniel Nazro, November 1781 (Adams Papers)
As a Citizen, of the Commonwealth, of Massachusetts Bay, and an individual, of the United States of America (in Captivity) I beg leave to address your Excellency being flatterd, with a hope, of meeting, your countenance and favour, in consequence of your Known goodness towards the distressd of mankind in General, Particularly those whose merit, and distinguish’d Services in the Cause of our...
954To John Adams from Hendrik van Blomberg, 26 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I Waited Yesterday for a Second him time on Messr. Van Vollenhoven after the recpt of your favour. The affair in question is to Extended to decide it by letters, for Which reason I beg the favour of You to do me the honour to Cale on me this Evening at 6 o’Clock, When I shall take Care to have a Person With me, witt wohm we Can speak in Confidence. I am With great regard Sir! Your Most ob....
955To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 7 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
We received at three ô clock the honour of your Excellencies Esteemed favour of 5 inst, in consequence of wh ch. we assure M r. Grand to provide him in a Month time with one Million and a half Livres on acc t. of the United States in consequence of the respected orders of his Excellency R. Morris Esq r Super Intendant of Finance, part of wh ch. will remit him the first mail the 10 inst. and we...
956To John Adams from the President of the Congress, 3 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
The 28th. Ultimo I had the honour of writing to you by the Messenger Frederick Weare and of transmitting a Vote of Congress by which you are appointed a Commissioner at the Court of France. Inclosed under this Cover you will find a Commission executed agreeable to the Order of Congress. You have no doubt heard or will hear before this can reach you of the little affair which happened last Week...
957From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Having concluded to provide for the Payment of the Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens in favour of Mr Ross, which were presented to you last Year, this is to request that you would examine and accept the said Bills, and keep an Account of them. I have ordered Money into the Hands of Messrs Fizeaux and Grand for the Payment of those that...
958Enclosure No. 2: Account of the Dark Day in May 1780 (Adams Papers)
May 19. It thunderd early this Morning and raind about 7 or 8. About 9 a Darkness came on gradually encreasing at 11. I could neither read nor write without a Candle which soon became necessary for Family Business and continued untill past 3 P.M. A Heavy black Cloud hung at the Westward and Northward, a Thin Vapour Smoak or Fog rising up now and then and almost covering it at Times streaming...
959Credentials of the Massachusetts Delegates, 10 December 1776 (Adams Papers)
Whereas, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Francis Dana, and James Lovell Esqrs. have been chosen by joint Ballot of the two Houses of Assembly to represent the State of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in the American Congress until the first day of January Anno Domini 1778. Resolved, That they, or any three or more of them are hereby fully...
960To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 18 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday’s advices from England inform us, that Gen. Lincoln was collecting an Army in S. Carolina to meet the Invaders, and that Prévot was to be re-inforcd from N. York; so that it looks as if the War woud be transferd to the Southward. The English loan rises rapidly in its value, as appears by the Omnium, which in a few days mounted from 4 PCt. to 6½. Besides this our Enemies will...
961C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 14 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letter of the 5th, and wholly agree with you on the appropriateness of a policy focused on protecting French and Spanish commerce and destroying the enemy’s, and wish that such a policy be adopted and pursued. On the other hand, it should be noted that the English have experienced an astonishing run of good luck, while the others have seen only continued misfortunes....
962To John Adams from William Jackson, 12 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Could I have supposed that Your Excellency would have returned to Amsterdam before the Ship sailed, I should certainly have done myself the honor and agreeable satisfaction of waiting upon you before I left this Country—but this pleasure is denied me—and I am scarce allowed time by Mr. Thaxter’s immediate departure to bid Your Excellency farewell in this abrupt manner —but I lean with...
963Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
In this Beautifull month when Nature wears her gayest garb, and animal and vegetable life is diffused on every side, when the Chearfull hand of industery is laying a foundation for a plentifull Harvest who can forbear to rejoice in the Season, or refrain looking “through Nature up to Nature’s God?” While my Heart expands, it sighing seeks its associate and joins its first parent in that...
964To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Une petite absence de chez moi durant la plus grande partie de la journée d’hier, a retardé les incluses; J’espere que leur retard est sans conséquence. Elles sont arrivées toutes deux d’Amsterdam, et notamment le cachet de l’une dans l’état ou vous le verrez. J’ai une Lettre de Mr. Carmichael, qui me dit entre autres —“I wish Mr. Adams all the success he can desire. You will please to inform...
965To John Adams from the Second Congregational Church of Newport, Rhode Island, 26 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
Permit us the Comm̃ee of the Second Congregational Church in Newport to call your attention for a few moments from the weighty affairs of politics, in which you are so honorably and so usefully engaged to a matter which respects a religious society to whose constitution we consider you as a Friend. The early and active part which our congregation took in the opposition to the arbitrary and...
966To John Adams from John Jay, 4 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a Destinction between Ceremony and Attention which is not always observed tho often useful. I Of the latter former I hope there will be little of V between us, of the latter much. Public as well as personal Considerations dictate this Conduct, on my Part, and I am happy to find by your favor of the 15 Inst. Ultimo, that you approve it in the same Light mean not to be punctilious. The...
967To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 30 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 22. de ce mois concernant la resolution du Congrès du 18. mars dernier. Je vous ai déja prévenu que mon intention n’étoit aucunement d’analiser cette resolution en tant qu’elle est relative aux Citoïens des Etats unis, ni d’examiner si les circonstances en légitiment ou non les dispositions. En vous écrivant avec la...
968Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
I designd to have wrote you by the last Post, but have been so unwell for the week past that I have not been able. We have had very Hot weather which you know never agrees well with me, and greatly distresses me under my present circumstances. I loose my rest a nights, which makes me more unable to bear the Heat of the day. I look forward to the middle of july with more anxiety than I can...
969To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am obligd to You for a letter the 14th Instant. My writing to You is from the motive of making You acquainted from time to time with any material movement or particular news from this quarter, which may be interesting or serving in any way the business you are engagd in; Your particular situation must put it out of your power to write when even you may wish to do so, and I by no means expect...
970To John Adams from Thomas Cushing, 21 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I embrace this Oppertunity by the Brigantine Saturn Rene Maillett Master (which I have dispatched for Nantes) to Acquaint you that your Family are well. I have lately, in Company with Mrs. Adams and a few Other Freinds, been to Visit Count D Estaing and his Fleet at Nantaskett, where we were Agreably and politely entertained. The Count has met with a series of Disappointments since his...