151From Richard Claiborne to John Adams, 29 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Memorial of Richard Claiborne Respectfully Sheweth That Your memorialist conceiving that very great benefit will result to the United States by encouraging the introduction of the useful arts from abroad—and perceiving, that, according to the present patent Law, inventions or discoveries, are confined to Citizens of the United States only—Your memorialist respectfully prays that Congress...
152Abigail Adams to John Adams, [28] February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Thursday is My Red Letter Day. then I usually get your favours, and a package of papers. the last thursday was particularly so. I received yours of the 10 13 15 & 17 th of Feb ry , and two Letters from our Dear Sons one dated Helveotsluice Nov br 7 th from the Minister, the other of the 9 th from the Hague. the wind had been contrary for near three weeks, and he poor fellow cooped up in a...
153Abigail Adams to John Adams, 28 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
You left directions that Mr Pratt was to cut the Trees upon the plane for Timber to build a Barn this he has Done and our Teams have Drawn it, but upon inquiry I found that there would not be half enough for the Building. I inquired of Dr Tufts what conversation You had with him upon the subject, and of Pratt what You had Said to him. the Dr recollected that You talkd of building an addition...
154To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I am to thank you, my dear Sir, for forwarding M. D’Ivernois’ book on the French revolution. I receive every thing with respect which comes from him, but it is on politics, a subject I never loved, & now hate. I will not promise therefore to read it thoroughly. I fear the oligarchical executive of the French will not do. we have always seen a small council get into cabals & quarrels, the more...
155From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 28 February 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you, my dear Sir, for forwarding M. D’Ivernois’ book on the French revolution. I recieve every thing with respect which comes from him. But it is on politics, a subject I never loved, and now hate. I will not promise therefore to read it thoroughly. I fear the oligarchical executive of the French will not do. We have always seen a small council get into cabals and quarrels, the...
156To John Adams from Samuel Meredith, 26 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
February 26th: 1796 My Treasury Account of expenditures in the quarter ending the 31st. of December last having passed the offices, permit me, through you, to lay it before the honorable the Senate, and to assure you. I am Sir / with Respect / Your very humble Servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
157To John Adams from James Gunn, 24 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter to our friend Judge Walton, will give you the State of things in the State of Georgia for the present year. It is a private communication from a very respectable Gentl.—I will thank you to return it in the morning.— I am Dr. Sir / with great respect & Esteem / your Obd. Svt. MHi : Adams Papers.
158Abigail Adams to John Adams, 22 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr Quincy and Mr Copley made me a visit this afternoon. mr Copley arrived from England about 2 Months Since and is going to spend a year in America. he is the only son of our Friend. I believe you may recollect him. he talk of visiting Philadelphia. if he does I shall give him a Letter to you. mr Quincy seems much pleas’d with his Tour, and Speaks with much gratitude of the kindness and...
159Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I believe I must devote this page to the History of Farming. our people have carried up the Hill all the manure which they suppose will be necessary and which can be spaired from the corn ground. they have carried up Burrels quantity which will be necessary for the Land which is to be broke up upon pens Hill, and they are now getting Down the stones for the Wall on Quincys Medow. No crossing...
160Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 6 8 th and 10 th came to me by the last Post. I too sometimes get dissapointed but I always lay the Charge to the post where I know it ought to fall, but not usually writing untill after thursday post arrives here. I have not the advantage of the office here unless I wait for the next Week, and a storm will sometimes, as last week, prevent my getting my letters to Town, but my...
161To John Adams from Thomas Welsh, 15 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your Favors of Jany 23 and the second Instant I have received. I have requested, Mr Joseph Cooledge to take charge of this Letter who with his Friend Mr Saml: Parkman will be in Philadelphia who are probably both known to you being both Gentlemen of extensive Business here and with whom I have the Pleasure of an Acquaintance of long standing. In your Letter of 23d Ulto you appeared uncertain...
162Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last mail the Letters of two, so that I fare as you do, and the Stormy Weather last post Day prevented my getting Letters to Boston tho I had one ready. I cannot think the loss very great, for I have very little either interesting, or amuseing to entertain You with. yet you are pleasd to express so much pleasure at receiving them, Such as they are, that I ought not, and do...
163To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 10 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Hall arrived a few days ago, and delivered to me a few days ago your favours of Novr: 17. and Decr: 12. The first acknowledges the receipt of my N. 11. July 27. But I feel somewhat concerned lest my next number to that, written very soon after it may have miscarried, as it should regularly have reached you before the date of your last. Mr. Randolph’s pamphlet had arrived before Mr. Hall,...
164Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I suppose some obstruction of Ice in the North river, prevented the southern post from arriving last wednesday, which prevented me from getting any Letters from you, of a later Date than Jan ry 20 th the receipt of Which I have already acknowledged. I hope to receive a large packet tomorrow. You will learn before this Letter reaches you I presume, the Fate of Jarvis & the Virginna resolutions....
165Charles Adams to John Adams, 7 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Our Legislature have been some time occupied in debating upon what are called The Virginia resolutions which you have doubtless seen and which have been so industriously forwarded to the different States for their concurrence though our good Sister has not been treated quite so cavalierly by New York as she was by Massachusetts yet I beleive they both concur in thinking her a very whimsical...
166To John Adams from Jabez Bingham, 6 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
have you heard any thing from your Son John—and shall I be the barrer of Agreeable, or disagreeable News—if I tell you he is alive, and in good Helth, (my Story must be my Appollogy for writing this letter), some time in April 1793, I was at the Natchees, on the Missicippia—and one Afternoon, while I lay in the Harber, your Son came on board, and soon let me know he was from New England, and...
167To John Adams from Samuel Meredith, 5 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
My Account of Receipts and Expenditures in the War Department for the quarter ending the 31st. of Decemr. last, having passed the Offices, permit me through you to lay it before the Honorable the Senate.— My Treasury account of the same date is now ready for Settlement. When compleated, I shall take the earliest Opportunity of laying it also before you. I am sir / Your very humble Servant DNA...
168Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Jan’ ry 20 th reachd me the last post. there appears a universal pause. We do not get any thing from abroad, and the State Legislature are so federal that no warmth or altercation is to be heard or seen Congress are lying upon their oars, not hatching mischief I hope. the Chronical & Aurora join issue, and go on With their Mad rant, which is totally disregarded. the people have in...
169To John Adams from John Jay, 2 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I was this morning favored with your obliging Letter of the 31 ult.—D’Ivernois is very industrious.—I hear no more of his plan of transplanting the University of Geneva into the united States. He is a sensible diligent man, and I suspect that his Correspondence with Mr Gallatin has done no Harm— It gives me pleasure to find that in your opinion no great mischief will be done by the combustable...
170To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Senate were pleased, on the 22d. of December, to direct a statement to be laid before them of the military force actually employed against the insurgents in the four Western Counties of Pennsylvania, and an account of the expenditures in that expedition. I have now the honour to inform the Senate, that the expenditures were of various kinds, none of which, except merely for the pay of the...
171To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Pinckney has returned, and of course my business here ceases. I am yet waiting however for orders enabling me to return to the Hague. I expect them with a little impatience, having many reasons to wish myself away from hence. The newspapers sent herewith contain intelligence of two important Events. The armistice concluded between the french and Austrian armies on the Rhine; and the return...
172To John Adams from Thomas Welsh, 25 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I do not take the Chronicle, but as it contains the Answer of the two Houses to the Governors speech I thought I would enclose it to you. Mr. Sprague was the Chairman of the Committee and would have red it but leave of Absence it devolved on Dr Jarvis to read it. The Governor made a very submissive, short and extemporaneous reply "that he did mean to be understood to intend to dictate to the...
173To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 25 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith a Letter from the Commissioner of the Revenue dated the 23d instant, with the Statement of the Exports of the United States therein mentioned. I have the honor to be / with perfect respect / Sir / Your Obedient Servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
174Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
a Memorable Day in the Annals of France; God forgive them, I would say. yet upon recuring to My Heart, I had a Doubt whether the petition was sincere the Scripture tells us that we must pray for our Enemies, but it does not say that we must pray, that they may not be punished according to their Deserts. The post of this Day brought Me the Letters of two posts viz Yours of Jan’ ry 2 d 5 th 7 th...
175To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 21 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your acquaintance the Bearer of this, Mr. Wm: Langworthy, Author of a much approved work entitled "an Attempt to promote the Commercial interest of Great Britain,” a Copy of which, I believe he presented you with he is a Gent. of Science and abilities, who has been invited to this Country, as a proper theatre for the exercise of his talents and who lately...
176To John Adams from Thomas Lee Shippen, 18 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Thomas Lee Shippen presents his most respectful compliments to the Vice President, and is very sorry that he cannot immediately comply with the request contained in his note of yesterday. As soon as Mr: S. can either go into the Country where all his books are at present, or send a servant there who can be trusted in his library, the Vice President may be assured Mr: S. will not Fail to...
177To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 16 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Portland , in the District of Maine .—The works consist of a fort, a citadel, a battery for ten pieces of cannon, an artillery store, a guard house, an air furnace for heating shot, and a covered way from the fort to the battery. The works are substantially executed, excepting the covered way; to complete this, the earth on the spot being of a bad quality, with the necessary supports of stones...
178Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Thursday post did not bring me one Single Letter from you; tis true I had no reason to complain on the Score of inattention, as the week before I had four Letters but I suppose that I had Letters, and that the blundering Blockhead of a post, either left them in Town, or has carried them to Barnestable as he Did once before; We have got a new Post, one of your under bidders, who can not read...
179Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post Your Letters of the following Dates 21 inclosing the post Note, 24 28 & 30 th for all of which accept my thanks; we have been so unfortunate I presume as to lose Letters by a Melancholy ship wreck the last week. a vessel belonging to mr Lamb on Board of which was a Brother of Mr Lambs by whom I wrote to our sons, in comeing in last week, was in one of our winter...
180To John Adams from Samuel Meredith, 8 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
My Specie Account for the quarter ending the 30th: September 1795 having passed the Offices permit me, through you, to lay it before the Honorable the Senate, and to assure you that / I am Sir / Your very humble servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
181To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 8 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the order of the Senate, of the 23d. of December 1795, I have now the honour to transmit, a” return marked (A) of the Exports of the United States, Supplemental to that transmitted on the 26th. of February 1795, which compleats the returns of Exports to the 30th of September 1794.”—A similar Return for the year ending September 30th. 1795 is preparing, and will be transmitted...
182To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 7 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have a few papers to send you, and cannot omit the occasion to say a few words, though I have but very few to say. Our own affairs are at a stand. Mr: Pinckney will be here in the course of this week, and I have not chosen to do any thing conclusive before his return.—I believe there are people here, who like Publicola much better than they think of its reputed author. You have long known,...
183Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I will try to write tho it is with much difficulty I hold My pen, oweing to a very painfull Soar which gatherd at the Root of one of My nails on My Right Hand. it has been so painfull as to allarm me for several Days least it Must be opend to the Bone, and to deprive me of rest. it has begun to discharge, & tho yet painfull, is less so since. I have not been free from my old Rhuemactick...
184To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you so copiously, a few days since, that I can embrace the present opportunity only to offer the tribute of my duty and affection on the commencement of the new year, and to enclose a few papers and a review which may perhaps afford an hour of amusement. No news of importance has transpired since the date of my last Letter. The communication between the Continent and this island is at...
185To John Adams from George Taylor, Jr., 31 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Geo. Taylor Jr. presents his respectful compliments to the Vice President of the United States.—In perusing some late London papers which were received at the Department of State this morning, G .T. Jr. found a paragraph relative to Dr. Kippis’s having “said that the American Congress issued orders to their cruisers to seize Capt. Cook, if they had an opportunity of doing so.” He read it with...
186To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 29 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Since the date of my last number, I have twice enclosed to you a packet of newspapers, with a line of excuse for not writing by the same opportunities. In the interval I have received your favour of Septr: 19. The pleasure I receive from every new testimony of your approbation, is pure as it is exquisite, nor can there I think belong to the lot of humanity, a sensation more delicious than that...
187Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter dated the 9 th the blundering Post carried with him to Barnestable, so that I did not get it till the next week. Yours of the 13 th came duly to Hand. the extracts with which You have favourd me, are curious, and prove a Weak Head. of the Heart, I shall say nothing. it does not appear that Fauchett, as has been reported went to Randolph to complain of British influence, but...
188Charles Adams to John Adams, 26 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 13 th and 24 th I have received the latter containing the Post note for Dol s 100 and I return you my thanks for it. The Vindication of M r Randolph’s Resignation is read with the greatest avidity. I think there are many things contained in it quite foreign to the subject and which it was unnecessary to disclose. That good will come of it I do not doubt, not to him but to...
189To John Adams from Isaac Shelby, 23 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
A Resolution of the Legislature of this State, passed on the 21 Inst. directs, “that the Governor shall transmit to the Senate of the United States, a Memorial Respecting Humphrey Marshall, a Senator from this State, in the Congress of the United States.” I now have the honor of complying with that Resolution by inclosing the said Memorial, together with those Numbers of the Kentucky Gazette...
190To John Adams from Hezekiah Balch, 21 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Learning in our country has been hitherto sadly neglected—Those of us who wish to promote it, are very poor—Providence has inclined the hearts of a number to help us—I intend to wait on the members of Congress with our subscription— We have understood, that you, Sir, are very friendly to the promotion of learning— Your name at our subscription, would be of unbounded service— I am, Sir, with...
191Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
The Day I wrote you last, I received Your Letter written at Nyork. neither of my Neighbours Black or Beals went yesterday to Town, so that if any Letters came by saturdays post, I must wait till Thursday for them which I do not so well like. I should like You to write me by the Wednesday post, then I should get my Letters of a thursday. The account you gave me of Charles situation, and...
192To John Adams from Richard Harrison, 16 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
According to an Opinion of the Attorney General, taken some time since, your Salary, as Vice-President of the United States, is to commence from the day on which you left home for the Seat of Government, after your first Election— Being now about to state your Accot. to the 30th. Sept: last I take the liberty of requesting information, from you when that day was, no record of it appearing in...
193To John Adams from Samuel Meredith, 16 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
My Specie accounts ending the 31st. Decemr. 1794 31st. March and 30th. June 1795 and the War Department accounts ending 31st. March 30th. June and 30th. September 1795, having passed the Office permit me thro you to lay them before the Senate. My Specie account for the last quarter ending the 30th September, will in a few days pass the Treasury as Soon as it is Compleated I Shall likewise take...
194Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
This is the Sixteenth Day since you left me, and I have not yet heard a word from You. I hope tomorrows post will bring me a Letter. I wrote you on the 10 th . the Day before yesterday Was the first Winter Weather We have had, a pretty severe snow storm lasted through the Day. it fell moist & the rain the Day before renders it bad for wheels & worse for a Sled. the Weather is so moderate to...
195Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 14 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I owe you a volume, & the certainty that I have not time to compile it at present is more terrifying to me than the weight of the debt. Your two kind letters of June 29 & August 25. though some time since received have never before been acknowledged; but my gratitude for these precious testimonials of Parental affection has not I trust diminished in force by having remained thus long in...
196To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
By the direction of the President of the United States, I have the honour to present herewith—No. 1. A Statement of the present military force of the United States; No. 2. A report of the measures which have been pursued to obtain proper sites for Arsenals; & No. 3. A report of the measures which have been taken to replenish the magazines with military stores; No. 4. A report of the measures...
197From John Blanck to John Adams, 12 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
That your Petitioner John Blanck after much study, pains & expence hath found out & Invented a New Hydrostatic Pump, or Engine that will be found superior to any other ever before made or Invented, as it will discharge double the Quantity than any other, hitherto known, in the same given space of time, of the same Diameter & length of Stroke. Your Petitioner humbly begs leave to state the...
198To John Adams from Charles William Frederic Dumas, 11 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Grace au Roi des Siecles (le seul que je revere & que j’aime, parce qu’il est le seul sage & le seul bon), ce qui a constamment fait ma consolation au milieu des persécutions, fait maintenant mon triomphe: les hauts & puissants ψευδόμενοι qui ont voulu me honir & flétrir par leur résolution du 23e. 7br. 1788, sont flétris, par une autre du 14e. Août 1795; & je suis déclaré le μακάριος de...
199To John Adams from Jean Luzac, 11 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Le départ de mon Beau-Frère Govert—Jean van Persyn pour l’Amérique-Unie me met enfin dans le cas de remplir un devoir, que les circonstances du tems, ma vie extrémement occupée, & l’effet que cet ensemble a produit sur mon esprit, m’ont trop longtems fait négliger. Il y a deux ans sur-tout, que, placé à mon tour à la tête de notre Université, & ce tour tombant au milieu des tems de la plus...
200Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have rejoiced in the fine weather which has attended you through your journey, and the good Roads if you have had them as good as we have. Some cold Days but not enough so, to freeze or prevent our People from accomplishing the plowing at the corn Feilds. the Shelter for the young cattle is compleated & coverd with Sea weed. one Day more will cover the clover with manure, and to Day they...