51To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 18 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
It was a very singular pleasure to me to receive a Line from you approving the discourse which I did myself the honor to send to you; the good opinion of such a Gentleman as M r Adams & the very great honor w ch he has done me will not easily be effaced from my remembrance. Not till this Week have I met with the political annals of George Chalmers printed in London 1780 in one Vol 4 to. From...
52To John Adams from Samuel Mather, 19 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
My Friend Robert Young Esq r. of Warwick Court Holborn having lately published an Essay on the Powers and Mechanism of Nature, in which he has advanced some new and important Doctrines, which he wishes may be investigated by the Philosophers of America, has desired me to distribute a few of them to the Persons, whom I know to be the most eminent for their Learning and love of the Sciences—and...
53To John Adams from Edmund Randolph, 19 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly answer to the letter, which I took the liberty of addressing to you in favor of Col o. Heath, has increased the attachment, which your civility to me in 1775, and your public conduct since, first produced My application in that gentleman’s behalf being founded on a conviction of his worth, I conceived, that it might not be improper to make that worth known to all those, who might...
54To John Adams from Robert Montgomery, 20 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
The honour I had of an Aquaintance with your Excellency Shortly after your arrival at the Court of Varsailles; and some friendly letters you was pleased to write me after my return to Alicante, together with my affection for the United States to which you have rendered so many signal services, Impel me to take the liberty of addressing you at this time with my Sincerest Congratulations on your...
55To John Adams from Roger Sherman, 20 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I was honored with your letters of the 17 th. & 18 Inst. And am much obliged to you for the observations they contain— The Subject of Government is an important one, and necessary to be well understood, by the citizens & especially by the legislators of these States. I Shall be happy to receive further light on the Subject, and to have any errors that I may have entertained corrected. I find...
56To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
From an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances, I find myself under the influence of the same difficult command in corresponding with the Vice President of the United states, which the King of Syria gave to the Captains of his chariots.— “Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the King of Israel.”— The subjects upon which we differ are monarchy — titles —& the latin & greek...
57To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 22 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured with your favour of the 18 th. of June for which I return you my Thanks, and was happy to hear of the safe arival of M rs Adams and family. our Rulers continue as obstinately opposed to the Federal Government as ever, and I have no Idea that they ever intend to call a Convention; they are striving to alienate the minds of the people at large by exagerating the amount of the...
58To John Adams from James Sullivan, 23 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the honor of receiving your Letter dated the 14th July. as to the subject respecting an opposition to the constitution of the united states, there are no doubt men in every society whose desperate Fortunes render them alike Enemies to all Government, but the people with very few exceptions, and these by no means important consider the Government of the united states as...
59To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 24 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
By a vessel that departs from hence in half an hour bound for the Potowmack I send you some authentic papers which contain details of the late revolution in the government of France. M r Jefferson’s last letter to me is dated on the 16 th. He confirms most of the facts contained in the printed letter of M. Nairac and in the “Extrait d’une lettre de Paris”—and concludes by remarking that tho’...
60To John Adams from James Lovell, 26 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I had often considered your Situation, before the Receipt of your Letter of the 16 th , and I had hoped you would “Possess yourself in Patience. ” If you already draw a Picture Teste di legno and talk of sharpening an Ax for Decapitation, what am I to look for in the Run of a Twelvemonth? I do not like your diminutive italien Idea. You who are said to be more than half british ought to have...
61To John Adams from Roger Sherman, [27] July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of the 20th Inst. I had in mine of the Same date communicated to you my Ideas on that part of the constitution, limiting the Presidents power of negativing the acts of the legislature.— And just hinted some thoughts on the propriety, of the provision made for the appointment to offices, which I esteem to be a power nearly as important as legislation. If that was vested...
62To John Adams from William Tudor, 27 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
Our Citizens here disapprobate the Compensations, as they are called, which have passed the lower House of Congress. They generally think that the Salary of the Vice President should have been Ten thousand Dollars, A Guinea Per Diem for the Representatives, & six Dollars for a Senator. As it now stands, the first Sum is a Disgrace to the Government; & is here considered as arising from Party...
63To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your very obliging favour of the 10 th: inst: till yesterday, when I returned from the eastern Circuit. I have heard that the Judicial bill has been passed in the Senate without any alterations respecting the general plan of the judicial system. But you seem to think great changes may be made in it in the house of Representatives—that the district Judges may be annihilated...
64To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 6 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
Before this reaches You I hope You will have authentic accounts of the late revolution in France. At such a distance from Paris it is difficult to asscertain the truth of such important transactions as have continually taken place since the 14 th of July, at court and in the capital. By Cap t Bond of the Washington I inclosed you a parcel of pamphlets and newspapers which afforded You I hope...
65To John Adams from John Lowell, 7 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
Although I have had frequent Occassions to sollicit in Favour of my Friends, (or such other Charecters) as I have thought might be usefully employed in public Business, my early Habits, which in all Cases influence our Sentiments, have been such that I have never conversed or written on any such Subject when immediately affecting myself, ’thõ I have been of Opinion that Custom, & the...
66To John Adams from John Bondfield, 8 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
A ship Sailing in the morning as it interests you to know the state of the Nation. I have the pleasure to advice you that the appearances promises perfect accomplishment of the Revolution, All the Chiefs in opossion are fled. the National assembly proceed, and are advanct in the Ground Work of the Constition, the most Liberal that to this has been held out to any Social Body, not Excepting...
67To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
As it is the duty of every good citizen to counteract, as far as he can, any measures that may operate injuriously to the Public, I am constrained to inform you of a plan, which if successful, will have that operation in the important department of the Administration of Justice in this Commonwealth. We have a perfect Confidence, and are therefore happy, in the Gentlemen, who now constitute our...
68To John Adams from Stephen Higginson, 10 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
I never yet have had occasion to solicit an appointment either for myself or my friends, nor do I love to interest myself in matters of the kind; but, when there is an appearance of danger from any proposed appointment, it seems to me to be the duty of every good Citizen, to give such information as appears to be material. upon this ground only I shall now take the liberty of stating to you,...
69To John Adams from Stephen Hall, 15 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
Permit me overwhelmed with grief & chagrined at disappointment to beg your kind attention for a minute. I am grieved, because my pretensions to the Office I sollicited were certainly far better grounded than his, who holds the Appointment: I am chagrined, because my expectations were with reason high. I think it not vanity to say I have some degree of personal merit; and some publick Seals of...
70To John Adams from Roger Sherman, 16 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
M r. Sherman returns his respectful compliments to the Vice-President, and would have done himself the honor of Waiting on him to Dine on Thursday next but he was previously engaged. RC ( MHi :Adams-Hull Coll.); docketed by JA : “Card.” By early August, JA and AA had oriented themselves to the social responsibilities that came with the vice presidency. Owing to the city’s summer heat and a...
71To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 18 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
It gives me sensible pain to be under the necessity of troubling you further with my personal Concerns amid the weight of your public Cares: but entertaining the fond hope that you are not totally disinterested in my welfare, I am prompted to observe to you, that upon my arrival here I found M r Keith had been pushing all possible force for the Marshalship of this District a place which I...
72To John Adams from William Cushing, 22 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will excuse my indolence as to writing; but I ought before now to have expressed my thanks for your favor of the Second volume Hollandois, which has afforded me a great fund of entertainment & instruction: you accomplished a great work and of a variety of thoughts arising upon the occasion, this is one—that the minister of a mighty monarch appears to make but a small Figure before a...
73To John Adams from John Brown, 24 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
The Federalest of this State are very much Alarmed that the Tunnage Act should be as is generly Supposed to be put in force Immediately on all Vessells of this State, tho the produce of the State may go Free of Impost, the Federalests are allso further Agreaved by a Law of this State which makes them First pay a Contenentell Impost hear in Spetia, which will not Exempt them from the payment,...
74To John Adams from Edward Bancroft, 29 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
As D r. Jeffries is about to return to America, I have desired him to take charge of a Letter from, & of two Volumes lately Published by, Major Jardine of the British Artillery, an acquaintance of mine to whom I lent your three Volumes on the Science of Government, with which he has been greatly pleased. D r. Jeffries has at last determined to fix his residence in the United States a...
75To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 29 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 18 th. just came to hand— M r. Jackson was in town some time past— I was attending a Court in the Country and lost the Pleasure of seeing Him— He left word with a Friend of mine that He wished to see me as he had a verbal Message from You to me— I learn the Heat has been excessive at the Southward and fatal to many— Your confined Situation requires an Attention to your Health,...
76To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 31 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
By the operation of the Commercial Regulations of the United States, those that have been friends, and for adopting the New Constitution in this State, are like to be exceedingly oppressed as well as Mortify’d. your Laws say that the productions & Manufactures of the Country shall be imported Duty Free by this the Farmers (who compose the Anti federal party) are highly favour’d, the Collecter...
77To John Adams from William Maclay, 1 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
M r Maclay’s Compliments wait on the Vice President of the united States, begs leave to inform him, That he is in so ill a State of Health, That he cannot have the honor of dining, with him on Friday next— RC ( MHi :Adams-Hull Coll.); addressed: “Honble Vice President of the / United States—”; docketed by JA : “Card / 1789.” Suffering from ill health, William Maclay of Pennsylvania requested a...
78To John Adams from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured by the due Receipt of your obliging fav r. of Aug t 30 th for which you have my Cordial thanks— I am fully sensible of the justness of your Observations, relative to the Presidents nominations, and doubt not, they will be all made free from any partial biass whatever, and on the principles of humanity, Wisdom, & justice to his Country, whose best interests, have been his uniform...
79To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst & Nicolaas Hubbard, 14 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
On the 26 th: last Month only, we received your respected favor of 2 Decbr to our Predecessors, accompanying the Second and Third Volumes of Your Defence of the American Constitutions, to compleat the Setts presented us; For which Mark of your Friendship and Remembrance, Please accept our hearty Thanks.— Your departure from Europe, has been followed by Events of infinite importance indeed;...
80To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 19 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your last favor of the 24 th July should not have been so long without a reply had I not supposed that your attention must be so employed by the great national business as to leave You no leisure for a Correspondence with me— Indeed had the Occasion been pressing I might have taken advantage of your very obliging offer, to propose Questions to you; but as another time would do as well for me I...
81To John Adams from Pierre Deschamps, 29 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Il m’a été informé que je dois m’adressér a Vr̃e Excellençe; Je le fais avéc confiançe. C’est au Sujet de deux balles de Lainages qui furent chargées a Londres pour mon compte sous la marque PSD N o 1 & 2. Sur le n re La Concorde, qui Fut pris par un de vos Corsaires dans sa traversée venant içy: ce n re était neutre, ainsi que moi etant Français; attestation que Je remis du consul de ma...
82To John Adams from William Tudor, 30 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of 18 th. I received last Evening & it was particularly acceptable as I had experienced much Uneasiness from the Time which had intervened since your last Favour. Notwithstanding your kind Hint at the Close of it, I was chagrined, greatly so, by reading the Paper of this Morning. Not, because I was not named as a Judge, for I think the Judges from this State are well selected & I...
83To John Adams from James Sullivan, 2 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have to aknowledge the honor of receiving yours of the 17 th & 21 st. instant In my Letter of the 18th of agust, I suggested to your consideration, the idea of encreasing the circulating medium of the united states, by some kind of paper Credit. I hinted that I beleived, the duties, and Impost, Established, would call for more cash than is in circulation within the union, and that there was...
84Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your kind favour dated at Fairfield and am happy to find that you had advanced thus far with no greater inconvenience than Rocky Roads & a Blundering Servant I will take better care of his Horses than he appears to have done of his master, for the old Proverb was never more verified, what is every bodys buisness, is nobodys buisness, than in Roberts going of without your...
85Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
I presume you have reachd Braintree before this day I hope the sight of your Friends and of your Farm has restored your Health and spirits. you did well to flee before the very sickly period Mr Maddison lies very ill at Philadelphia, & it is reported that the Speaker of the House died last week by the Bursting a Blood vessel in this Epidemick cold, which scarcly one escapes. I hope however the...
86Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I did not write to you by the last post. I was in hopes to have received a Letter from your and to have known from under your own Hand how your Health was. Tommy wrote me by your direction; and I heard by other Hands of your safe arrival and the News papers inform us that by desire of his Honour the Leiu t Govenour you was in the procession to accompany the President to his Residence. there is...
87To John Adams from George Walton, 7 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
You have my thanks for the letter which you did me the favor to write to me on the 25 th. of september last; and while I express some small disappointment on the subject of it, I beg leave to give you the assurance of a chearful acquiescence. I know that disappointment has often been the cause of opposition and faction: but I trust that I have made a better estimate of men, and of the...
88Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
Tis more than a month since you left Home, and except the few lines from Fairfield, I have not received a single Letter from you. I have written to you every week, and should have been very happy to have learnt from your own Hand that you was benefitted by your journey and that you was conveniently accommodated. I get only one Boston paper, so that I am in the dark with regard to the politicks...
89Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of Nov br 4. on thursday last. Brisler and his Family got here the same Day & are waiting the arrival of Barnard to go into their House. the President got home on fryday last, looks much fatigued with his jouney, and has beat out all his Horses. Brisler says the Roads are getting very bad, and that you will find it very tedious travelling in a few weeks pray take care that...
90To John Adams from C.W.F. Dumas, 15 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
Après avoir présenté à Votre Excellence, dans une précédente, l’expression de mes sentimens sur son élevation au Poste éminent qu’Elle occupe, permettez, Monsieur, qu’en les confirmant j’y ajoute aujourd’hui de nouvelles félicitations sur les dignes Coopérateurs au bien public, qu’Elle vient d’acquérir par la nomination aux Postes éminents de Secretaire d’Etat, Chef de Justice, & Trésorier gen...
91To John Adams from John Bondfield, 20 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am this day honor’d with your favor of the 16 September I am happy to find that the affairs of America are in a state to fix a permanent line of Reimburssment, becoming thereby truely independant. Notwithstanding the weight of Opossion against the leading Members of the National Assembly, the steddy perseverance of the few and the effectual support of the Marquis de La fayette in whose hands...
92To John Adams from Mary Palmer, 25 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that Princes Chronology is now in the office, unless the same fairy who bro’t it has carried it away again— Since you left us I have repeatedly search’d for it to no purpose & had given it over, but chancing to go in yesterday this Book Struck me as one I had not seen & was quite sure was not on the shelf the day before, taking it up I found it to be the very one you...
93To John Adams from Hendrik Fagel, 30 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
La lettre, dont voús m’avés honoré le 26 de Maÿ m’est bien parvenúe dans son temps, avec le second, et troisieme tome de Votre Oúvrage, qué je desirois beaucoúp d’avoir, a caúse de son contenú interessant. La maniere, dont voús avés developpé vos principes sur̃ la meilleúre forme de gouvernement ne peut etre qu’approuveé generalement, et il seroit a soúhaiter, qu’il pút etre súivi par toút,...
94To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 8 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
Shortly after we had the pleasure of paying you our respects under date of the 30 April, we were honor’d with your Letter of 2 Decem r: A.P.; for it’s contents we pray you to be assured of our Sincere thanks, & to do us the Justice to believe that we shall with pleasure embrace every opportunity that may present for cultivating our private Correspondence, that you express such a desire of...
95To John Adams from William Smith, 14 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
By direction of the Boston Marine Society, I have the honor to forward you by the Hon ble. M r. Otis a Certificate of your admission as a Member of that Society the 6 th of November 1768.— I am with Respect / Y r H Ser t. RC ( Adams Papers ); internal address: “His Ex y. John Adams Esq r. ” Boston merchant William Smith’s enclosure has not been found. Established in June 1742 and incorporated...
96To John Adams from James Lovell, 19 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
Though I know your extreme Delicacy as to any Interference in the executive Affairs of the U.S s. yet to you I must apply; for, Heaven & Secretary Jackson know I may be chagrined in an Attempt to address the President. I am in Dread least an Action should take Place which will renew the Vigour of the Opponents & damp the Spirit of the Friends of Government: And, it will be out of Time to await...
97To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 19 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 17 th. of Sep r. I have been honored with.— I truly esteem myself so by every Mark of Your Attention— Your unexpected Visit to Boston prevented an Answer sooner— My Concern as a Friend to my Country is awakened at the Account You give of some disagreable Symptoms attending Your Breast upon close attention, and in publick speaking. How we can spare You from the first I scarce can...
98To John Adams from John Paul Jones, 20 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
The within documents, from my Friend the Count de Segur Minister Plenipotentiary of France at S t. Petersburg, will shew you in some degree my Reasons for leaving Russia, and the danger to which I have been exposed by the mean subterfuges and dark Intrigues of Asiatic Jealousy and Malice.— Your former Friendship for me, which I remember with particular pleasure and have always been ambitious...
99To John Adams from Stephen Higginson, 21 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
I intended myself the honour of a little conversation with you, before you went to Congress, as to the trade of this State. We are suffering very much for want of a proper inspection of Our exports. that We now have, under the State Laws, is, as to most Articles, worse than none—it serves to conceal & encourage frauds of every kind in preparing Our exports for market. We surely can supplant...
100To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 28 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate you on the accession of N o. Carolina to the general Government. our Antis are Thunderstruck at the News more especially as the Majority was so large. I have waited several Days to find out what they intend to do wheather to agree to Call a Convention, or stand out longer; in hopes that something would Turn up to perplex the New-Government. They are not well agreed among...