101To John Adams from Charles Carroll, 29 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
Our Legislature did not rise till late in the night on the 26 th instant. I have been obliged to attend the whole Session; constant attendance & application have injured my health; it is now so precarious, & delicate, that I am fearful of undertaking a journey to New York at this inclement Season of the year. If my attendance, for want of a Sufficient number of members to compose a Senate, can...
102To John Adams from Richard and Charles Puller, 6 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
We are duly favoured with Your Letter of the 27 th September last which We take the opportunity of the first Packet to answer & to acquaint You what We thought You must have known before this Time, that Soon after Your departure Sir Clement Cotterell paid us agreable to Your directions the Sum of three Hundred Pounds being the usual present deducting fifteen pC t. as the Customary allowance to...
103To John Adams from John Jeffries, 7 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I lately received a pacquet from D r Bancroft, containing the inclosed for you.— By the date &c of the Doctor’s to me, it appears, that it was designed for me at Rathbone place, London; but not being seasonably to meet me there, has been forwarded by a friend, the latter end of October last.— The Doctor likewise mentions two Volumes said to accompany it;— but these, the friend who forwarded...
104To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
Long before I read your Excell̃: defence of the Constitutions &c I saw their Criticism bÿ the Reviewers, which enlarged my desire of perusing itself, flattering mÿ with the idea, that I should acquire a fair opportunity of Sending Some Strictures upon it to Mr. Adams; because the first announcing a fear of a to ardent Love for Democracÿ, and the following declaration, that those fears were...
105To John Adams from Pierce Butler, 9 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I feel very sensibly the impropriety of Your Address to me in senate yesterday— As it was a very indellicate departure from the line of Your Official duty, I did expect that You woud, while in the Chair, have made at least the same Apology You did out of it—namely, that You meant me no offence.— The strong desire I have of promoting and preserving harmony in that branch of the Legislature...
106To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am pleased to find that the President in his late Speech to both Houses of the American Parliament has specifically called their attention to foreign Affairs and to those necessary provisions, preliminary to his nominations in that Department The rising consequence of this Country in the scale of Nations will doubtless be a subject of much political & commercial speculation in the European...
107To John Adams from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 17 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
your Excellency will be pleased to observe that the provision that had been made By the City for to defray the Expenditure of the building did not comprehended any thing Beyond such movables as were of most immediate necessity for to Furnish & decorate the tow Grand Room’s ([viz] that of the Senat & that of the house of Representatives) and that it had been understood that any articles as...
108To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 18 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
We may at Length congratulate each other on well founded Expectations of a speedy Adoption of the Constitution by this State. Agreably to the Information in my last, Our Gen l. Assembly sat at Providence the last Week. The Opposers were to a Man upon the Ground except one sick. The Town of Warwick having four Members, had heretofore a heavy Majority against Us, and had instructed against a...
109To John Adams from Thomas McKean, 20 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
This will be handed to you by M r; Francis Bailey, printer of the Freemans Journal in this city. I esteem him as an intelligent, ingenious & honest man. He has lately invented a simple method of making ornaments, devices and even types for securities, certificates and other public papers, which cannot possibly be counterfeited. As soon as his invention shall be made known, it can be used by...
110To John Adams from Richard Cranch, 22 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
This will be delivered to you by my esteemed Friend M r. Nathan Reed, who was a very worthy Tutor to your eldest Son, and to mine, when at the University. He is a Gentleman whose acquaintance with the Principles of Natural Philosophy and the Mathematicks is very extensive, and he is more particularly well versed in the application of those Principles to the purposes of constructing usefull...
111To John Adams from William Cranch, 24 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you some time ago, & desired Mr Lovell, who told me he should see Mr Ames before he left Dedham, to forward it by him. Your Son Tom writes me that you have not recieved it. I shall enquire of Lovell what he did with it. It contained several letters, one to Mrs Smith, one for Louisa, one or more for my Aunt, one for Tom & one for Charles. Our Legislature is now sitting. A question has...
112To John Adams from George Walton, 28 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
Being on a circuit of our Superior Courts, & finding a Vessel ready to sail for New-York, I embrace the occasion of congratulating your zeal on the effectual opperation of the federal Government. Its quick progress to its present stage is a phenomonen in the history of mankind. But in such new and perplexed concerns a perfect combination of the various parts cannot be expected; and it is a...
113To John Adams from Richard Price, 1 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
This comes to you with a Discourse which has been much talked of here; and which, I hope, you will accept as a Small testimony of my gratitude and respect. It is an effusion of zeal in the cause of human liberty and virtue; and, ’tho a Subject of censure with many in this country, I can be confident that you will approve the Spirit of it, and the general Sentiments it contains. I thought...
114To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 1 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
We beg leave to refer to our last respects of 8 dec̃:, since wh ch. time we continue without your agreable favors, we are now paying the intrest due on the 4 PC. Obt: and request Your Sending us the Coupons of yours & to dispose of Said amount; it is highly agreable to us to see the American Credit on a respectable footing, in consequence the 5 PC: Obt: are advanced at 99 1/2 PC: and the 4 PC:...
115To John Adams from Charles Dilly, 3 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I sh d. not have troubled you with a Letter—but upon the peculiar instance of having received a Letter from Mess rs; Wilhem of Amsterdam, a few Months ago; in which he states in consequence of the receipt of a Letter from you—he has made Enquiry about your Volumes of the Defence of the American states &c—but cannot find any of the Second Volume— I immediatly returned for answer—Fifty Copies of...
116To John Adams from John Trumbull, 6 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your letter found me on my return from the session of our Superior Court at Haddam—since which, I have attended a three weeks session of our County Court here. So that I have had little leisure to prepare for my defence in a capital Trial. To your charge of reading myself to death , I now propose to plead double by leave of the Court. My first Plea is that I am yet alive. Lord Hale advises...
117To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 9 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
At the Request of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, I have the Honour of presenting to your Excellency the enclosed Petition, which I beg leave to recommend to your favourable Notice. Some further Particulars respecting it, requested by the Society, will appear in their Letter to me, of which I enclose a Copy, and have the Honor to be, / Sir, / Your Excellency’s / most...
118To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 12 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Ever since the last week in Octo r I have been engaged in composing & delivering a new Course of lectures on the theory & practice of medicine in the College of this city. This arduous business has employed me so closely that it has seperated me from my friends,—detatched me from all Other pursuits—and—what I regret most of all, has deprived me for a while of the pleasure of your...
119To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 15 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I doubt not but You have been inform’d that our Gen l Assembly have order’d a Convention to be called to meet a South-Kingston the first Monday of March. the Delegates were Chosen the 8 th. of this Month and from the Returns we Count Thirty Two Federals and Thirty Eight Antis—so that the Battle will go hard against us if some methods cannot be hit upon to affoard us some help. as I hinted in a...
120To John Adams from Charles Storer, 23 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
From the friendship you have always expressed for me I am led to acquaint you with some circumstances in which I am interested & to request your advice & assistance— Pardon me this liberty, which I should not have taken, had not my situation required it, & but from a reliance on the same good nature to which I am already so much indebted.— The speculation I am upon here does answer my...
121To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 24 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your remarks upon the Conduct of the tories, and the “young fry” who are now crouding into the Councils of our Country, perfectly accord with my own Observations. The present convention & assembly of Pennsylvania, and the present Corporation of Philad a: are all filled chiefly with men who were either unknown in 1776, or known only for timidity or disaffection. Your old friends have mingled...
122To John Adams from Stephen Higginson, 1 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Since I had last the honour of writing to you, the vacancies in our supreme Court have been filled up; & the event has proved, that you knew better the character of our Chief than many of Us did, who expected different persons from those who have been appointed. there was however, We are told, a severe struggle between his inclinations & his fears. certain it is, that one person of the...
123To John Adams from William Ellery, [ca. 6] March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Engaged as you are in public business, and this State not having shown a disposition to join the Union I did not wonder, although I could not but regret, that my letter should remain so long unanswered.— I wish that our affairs now afforded a prospect of a speedy accession.— Before you receive this letter you will have heard of the proceedings of our Convention.— They met, framed a bill of...
124To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 7 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
It is mortifying to be beat in a good Cause, without Sense or Argument, but merely by Self-Will and vile Principles— Our Convention sat all the last Week— Our News-Papers I suppose will give You the particulars— It was with Difficulty I could get a Motion for the main Question upon the Journalls— And Adjournment was determined upon by the Anties before they met Us, in their private...
125To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 9 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 27 th. ult o. came safe to hand yesterday. I attended the Convention last week and after choosing a President &c we heard the Constitution Read by paragraps with the objections which were verry few and of no great importance, and were fully answered a Committe was then appointed to draw a Bill of Rights with such Amendments as they tho’t necessary. which they Reported and...
126To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 10 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
By your indulgence in permitting me to ask you any questions, I am emboldened to send you one of my circular letters; by which you may see that I intend to leave no practicable source of information unexplored. If it should be in your power to suggest any thing relative to either of the topics mentioned, I should be happy in receiving the communication. There is another point about which I...
127To John Adams from John Trumbull, 14 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of yours of the 9 th. instant, & am happy to find that you are not displeased at the frankness of my communications. There are very few Persons to whom I would have written with equal freedom— Half the world are of the temper of the Italian Cardinal, described in the Spectator, who kicked his Spy down stairs for telling him what the world said against him—but with such I...
128To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
After your Excellency’s advice, for which I am much obliged, I wrote, by this Sloop to his Excellencÿ the President, State the affair, and requested his interference, so far, as He maÿ think proper, and I flatter mÿself, that it wil be promoted bÿ you in the Same manner. But this occasion Sir! is to favourable, not to make use of it in enlarging—for a moment upon a particular article of your...
129John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 19 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of two Letters from you, of the 9 th. and of the 19 th: of last month; the former of which I received, about three weeks ago, while I was at Boston, attending upon the Session of our Supreme Court; and the latter came to hand, but two days since. I hope I shall ever feel suitably grateful, for the tender solicitude, which you express with respect to my future...
130To John Adams from James Lovell, 20 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
You will have a Visit from your old Friend Gen l. Warren who supposed I could certify some Intentions of the former Congress greatly to his Advantage— Your Namesake has done it; but I found it impossible for me upon a strict Review of the Case. As you were absent part of the Time I think it my Duty to save you the Toil of searching those Journals wherein this Business is scattered. The Sketch...
131To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 24 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
The Gentleman, by whom this will be delivered to you, is Nathaniel Appleton esq r the Commissioner of the Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts. At the first institution of the Office in the Year 1776 he was appointed to it, and has been continued in it by the Several Boards of Treasury to the present time. Besides the approbation of those, to whom he was immediately accountable, his...
132To John Adams from Stephen Higginson, 24 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging letter of the 14 instant I have received, & thank you for the friendly intentions you therein express. I did not mean to request any activity on your part, in the case alluded to; nor was I aware, that any expression I used would convey an Idea of that kind—the intention you intimate, is all I wish for, or should have tho’t would have been proper for me to ask.— It is cheering to...
133To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 29 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
I ought to have acknowledged the receipt of your favour before this but indeed it is not easy to get letters conveyd to you. if by private hands they often miscarry & the publick conveyance I do not much like.— The National assembly have regulated the post only one sou for a sheet of paper by this means intellects are not taxed & the produce not applied to support pride & Luxury but a free...
134To John Adams from John Trumbull, 30 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
You may easily conceive how much I was pleased, & flattered by your very friendly & confidential letter of the 6 th instant. At the beginning of the war, he who could advance principles the most agreable to popular pride, & the most destructive to all energetic government, was the best Whig & the greatest Patriot. Many of these, who rose into high rank at that time, were not superior as...
135To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 5 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have more than once mentioned to you, the state of retirement from political conversation in which I live, and the restraints which I am endeavouring to lay upon a disposition inclining perhaps with too much ardor, to feel interested in public occurrences. But it sometimes happens that I am accidentally witness to conversations upon these subjects; from which I collect some trifling...
136To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 13 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your last letter is a treasure.— Every Sentence in it is full of instruction. I have often contemplated that passion in mankind to concentrate all their homage and Admiration in One Man , in all the revolutions which advance knowledge or happiness.— Cicero Observed it, and deplored it in the fame and power of Pompey. I have thought at last that I had discovered in this weakness in human...
137To John Adams from William Brown and John Hopkins, [ante 14 April 1790] (Adams Papers)
To the Honourable John Adams Vice President of the United States of America The Petition of W m: Brown & Jam̃. Hopkins with advice of the Honourable John Jay most humbly sheweth that they being now in Confinement in the new Goal of this City suffering under the greatest cruelty that can be inflicted on any human Person & from the Noble Character that Yr. Honour bears induces them to apply for...
138To John Adams from John Hurd, 17 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s Favor of the 5 th. Curr t. & acknowledge myself extremely oblig’d by the kind & friendly manner in which you have receivd & reply’d to my Letter— I was apprehensive that it might not be so directly in the Line of your Office to nominate, or recommend any persons to Appointments under Congress— yet fully perswaded in my Mind that a Word from you...
139To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
Encroachments being made on the Eastern limits of the United States by Settlers under the British Government, pretending that it is the Western and not the Eastern River of the Bay of Passamaquoddy which was designated by the name of S t. Croix in the Treaty of Peace with that nation, I have to beg the favour of you to communicate any facts which your memory or papers may enable you to...
140To John Adams from William Smith, 24 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
It is sometime since I had the pleasure of addressing you but as I know it will not be displeasing to know the sentiments of your countrymen, on the determination of Congress not to assume the State Debts, I wou’d mention them.— the State Creditors think they are equally entitl’d to the benefits of the Gen l. Government with the Continental Creditors. their property or services were advanc’d...
141To John Adams from Oliver Whipple, 26 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
The Length of Time, Since I had the Honour of a personal Interview, and the Vicisitudes of our public Affairs, perhaps have almost obliterated my Name from your Rememberance; but you will pardon my epïstolary Introduction, when I tell you I am ambitious of your Notice, and claim a kind of Right to your favorable Attention: I reflect with emense Pleasure, that my first Efforts to tread the...
142To John Adams from Amicus, 29 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have ever considered the Assumption of the State Debts by Congress, as a measure necessarily flowing from the Adoption of the Constitution of the United States: That on it, the Stability, the Respect, if not the Existence of the Government, would essentially depend.— Little did I suppose, that the Gentlemen composing the house of Representatives of Congress, would determine this Subject,...
143To John Adams from Eliphalet Fitch, 10 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
Since writing you, on the 7 h. Instant, by this Conveyance I have delivered to Capt n. Peters, of the Marianne, a Barrell of Sugar and a Barrell containing One dozen of old Rum and Two dozen of old Madeira Wine.— The Sugar and Rum were made on my Estate and the Wine is from my Cellar— Let me therefore present them to you.— I have requested my Mother to Send you a Packet with Some Papers...
144To John Adams from Joseph Hague, 13 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will pardon me for my presunption to you, but the Subject being so Interesting to the Public, I take the liberty to Write you. I had the Honour to dine with you in Grosvenors square about Four Years ago, and then some conversation passed about the Manufactorys of America. I acquainted you that I imported some Machiens for Carding and Spinning of Wool and Cotton, and had left them in...
145To John Adams from Thomas Crafts, Jr., 17 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
I recieved yours of april 4 th and should have wrote sooner but thought it best to wait sometime that I might answer your Queries with more certainty. I thank you for Your Polite & unremitted attention to my Application in favour of M r Martin B Sohier, Have waited with some degree of impatiance for the result of the Secretary of War’s determination on that subject, Cannot doubt from what you...
146To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 28 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
Having an opportunity of writing by M r Rutledge I embrace it with great pleasure to convey to you a few lines & some tracts & to convince you that you are often in my memory & could I find conveyances easy you would hear often from me being interested in the progress that Novi homines new men make in virtue & knowledge. The state of the publick in general is astonishingly changed since we...
147To John Adams from Bartholomew Burges, 29 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
Sir, You did me the honor the winter before last to subscribe to a little Astronomical essay of mine and on my presenting the work I was honor’d by your invitation at Braintree, which gain’d me access to your Excellency: when on your understanding that I had been some many years in the East Indies, Your Excellency was pleas’d to intimate that you would present to your friends in Congress a...
148To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 29 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
’tis done,—’tis done— The Constitution this Day was adopted by Our State Convention, by a Majority of two— Never were Days of more anxiety, Labor and Assiduity, Hope and Fear, than the last six— It is a happy Circumstance that the Convention was adjourned to this Town, where we had the largest fœderal Interest, and little Influence of the Country Anties— The late Act passed by the Senate of...
149To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 3 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I inclosed You a few days ago a parcel of printed papers some of which I conceived might contain interesting intelligence especially if the dispute between Britain & Spain shoud terminate in hostilities, as in such an event the government of the United States woud at least be involved in discussions of considerable importance to our country with one or both of those nations. Among the rest you...
150To John Adams from John Trumbull, 5 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the honor of receiving yours of April 25 th. , my time has been wholly taken up in attending on our Supreme Court of Errors, & the Session of our General Assembly, which with us is a kind of extrajudicial Court for the trial of private causes on Petition— I had also to conduct an application from the Mercantile Interest for the Repeal of our Excise-Laws—in which by influencing the...