951To John Adams from Oliver Ellsworth, 3 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Ellsworth wishes to be informed by the Vice President whether when he has been quallified as such, any other oath has been administered to him than the general one vizt. “J. A—I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States—”? And if any other what has it been, and by what law prescribed? MHi : Adams Papers.
952To John Adams from Thomas Mifflin, 3 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
In the year 1791, the Legislature of Pennsylvania directed a House to be built, for the accommodation of the President of the United States, and empowered the Governor to lease the premises. As the building will be completed in the course of a few weeks, permit me to tender it for your accommodation; and to inform you, that, although I regret the necessity of making any stipulation, on the...
953From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [5 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform the Vice President of the United States and to request him to cause an intimation to be given to the Honoble The Members of the Senate that at one oClock to day, an oration will be delivered at St Pauls Church in commemoration of the declaration of Independence by a Member of the Society of the Cincinnati and that seats are provided for his and their accommodation....
954From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [4 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to enclose to the Vice President of the United States the letter of the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, with that of Captain Lyde. These papers were duly transmitted to the President of the United States, but could not be attended with any favorable consequences to Captain Lyde, as a commander for the Cutter on the Massachusetts Station had...
955From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [21 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the Vice President and sends him the report of The Trustees of the Sinking Fund with the Documents referred to in it, in Triplicates according to the direction of the Board. He begs leave to remind The Vice President that this is the last day; of course it is necessary it should be presented to day. He is sorry that it could not have been...
956From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 9 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received a letter from Mr. Short which I wish to submit, in order to certain measures being taken upon it, to yourself and the heads of the executive departments, in pursuance of the President’s letter of the 4th. instant, which I take it for granted has been communicated to you by the Secretary of State. I request therefore that you will please to name a time and place for the...
957From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [23 June 1791–1794] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton will have the honor of Dineing with the Vice President on the 30th. of June agreeably to his Obliging invitation. D , in unidentified handwriting, Hull Collection, Smithsonian Institution.
958From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 3 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I have issued a warrant for the sum of five thousand two hundred and fifty six dollars in favor of the Secretary of the Senate (Samuel A. Otis Esq.) for the purpose of discharging the compensations due to the members of that body, grounded upon a pay roll certified by you to the 30th. ultimo inclusive. I take the liberty of communicating to the Senate that...
959From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [20 March 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his respectful Compliments to the Vice President. He may have heared that the Treasurer was in the Market last night and may be at a loss concerning his authority. The ground of the operation is an Act of the Board of the 15th of August last appropriating a sum between three & four hundred Thousand Dollars, which Mr. Hamilton considers as any sum short of 400.000 Dollars;...
960From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 25 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find enclosed your account, which I take the liberty to send, lest by not adverting to the state of it, some inconvenience might insue. You are I presume aware, that Mr. Clinton is to be your Competitor at the next election. I trust he could not have succeeded in any event, but the issue of his late election will not help his cause. Alas! Alas! If you have seen some of the last...
961From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 16 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 4th Instant. A warrant for 1000 dollars in your favour has issued. If any authorisation from you had been sent to your son or any one else, your signature on the warrant would have been unnecessary. But as it is, it will be indispensable. Perhaps however the Treasurer may pay in expectation of it. The Question when the Vice President entered...
962From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 9 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I trust you are sufficiently convinced of my respect for and attachment to you to render an apology for the liberty, I am going to take unnecessary. I learnt with pain that you may not probably be here ’till late in the session. I fear that this will give some handle to your enemies to misrepresent—and though I am persuaded you are very indifferent personally to the event of a certain...
963From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 24 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
An order of yesterday from the House of Representatives renders it necessary that I should have recourse to the Treasury Bank Books and the Accounts of the several Offices of Discount and Deposit which were lately transmitted to the Senate. I request that the Senate will be pleased to cause them to be returned. After the purpose has been answered they will be sent again to the Senate for such...
964From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 6 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Having made the necessary examination into the means possessed by the Treasury for complying with a late order of the Senate and of the time which would be requisite for preparing them, I have the honor now to communicate the result. Several Custom-house returns of Exports amounting to a large sum having been rendered for a term longer than a quarter; it is found impossible to make up that...
965From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 22 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a late order of the Senate on the subject of a Petition of Arthur Hughes. Diligent search has been made for such a Petition, and it has not been found. Neither have I now a distinct recollection of ever having seen it. Whether therefore it may not have originally failed in the transmission to me, or may have become mislaid by a temporary displacement of the papers of my...
966From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [2 April 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
⟨The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to⟩ the Vice-President—sends him a memoir which is the work of a Mr. La Rocque a French Gentleman who is said to be charged with exploring the ground for extensive speculations in our vacant lands &c and which the Author is desirous of having placed under the eye of the Senate. How this can be done the Vice President can best judge or...
967From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 16 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave through you to inform the Senate that pursuant to the second Section of the Act establishing the Treasury Department which expressly makes it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury “to digest and prepare plans for the improvement and management of the Revenue and for the Support of public Credit ” I have digested and prepared a plan, on the basis of the actual revenues , for the...
968From George Washington to John Adams, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States wishes to avail himself of your sentiments on the following points. 1st Whether a line of conduct, equally distant from an association with all kinds of company on the one hand and from a total seclusion from Society on the other, ought to be adopted by him? and, in that case, how is it to be done? 2d What will be the least exceptionable method of bringing...
969From George Washington to John Adams, 14 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States and Mrs Washington request the pleasure of the Vice-Presidents and Mrs Adams’s company to dinner on Thursday next at four o’clock, an answer is desired. L , MHi : Adams Family Papers. No reply to this invitation has been found, nor is there a record of the dinner in GW’s diary, since he did not resume making entries until 24 June. Social relations between the...
970David Humphreys to John Adams, 8 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday next, the President proposes to go, with Mrs Washington and his family, to view the remains of the the old fortifications near Kingsbridge. He has understood from Mrs Washington that Mrs Adams was desirous of gratifying her curiosity on the same subject. If you should find it convenient to make the ride, with Mrs Adams and your family, he will be happy in the pleasure of all your...
971From George Washington to John Adams, 27 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Being very desireous of obtaining such aids and information as will enable me to form a just opinion upon the subject of the enclosed paper, in case the events therein mentioned should take place; I have taken the liberty to submit it to you for your consideration, requesting that you will favor me with an opinion thereon. With very great esteem & regard I am Sir, Your most Obedt Hbe Servt LS...
972Enclosure: To John Adams, 27 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Secret United States [New York] August 27th 1790 Provided the dispute between Great Britain and Spain should come to the decision of Arms, from a variety of circumstances (individually unimportant and inconclusive, but very much the reverse when compared and combined) there is no doubt in my mind, that New Orleans and the Spanish Posts above it on the Mississippi will be among the first...
973From George Washington to John Adams, 28 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Resolution of the Board for the Reduction of the Public Debt of the 27th of August 1790, which has been submitted to me meets my ideas fully on the subject, and is now enclosed with my approbation. With very great esteem & regard I am Sir, Yr most Obet Hbe St Df , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . Section 2 of the 12 Aug. 1790 “Act making Provision for the Reduction of the...
974From George Washington to John Adams, 1 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Certain matters touching the public good requiring that the Senate shall be convened on Friday the 4th Instant, I have desired their Attendance, as I do yours by these Presents, at the Senate Chamber in Philadelphia on that day, then and there to receive and deliberate on such Communications as shall be made to you on my part. LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Senate...
975From George Washington to John Adams, 8 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I would thank you for giving the papers herewith sent a perusal—and for the result of it. I am now deliberating on the measure proper & necessary to be taken with respect to Mr G——t and wish for aid in so doing; the critical state of things making me more than usually anxious to decide right in the present case. None but the heads of departments are privy to these papers, which I pray may be...
976From George Washington to John Adams, 15 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have not been able to give the papers herewith enclosed more than a hasty reading; returning them, without delay, that you may offer the perusal of them to whomsoever you shall think proper. The picture drawn in them, of the Genevese, is realy interesting & affecting. The proposition of transplanting the members, entire, of the University of that place, to America, with the requisition of...
977From George Washington to John Adams, 3 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Certain matters touching the public good, requiring that the Senate shall be convened on Monday the 8th of June next; you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber in Philadelphia on that day, then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as shall be made to you on my part. LS , MHi: Adams Papers ; LS (duplicate), owned (1995) by Joseph Maddelana of Beverly Hills, Calif.;...
978From George Washington to John Adams, 20 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 10th instt with its enclosures. They contain a great deal of interesting matter; and No. 9 discloses much important information, and political foresight. For this proof of your kindness, and confidence, I pray you to accept my best, & most cordial thanks. Mr J. Adams, your son, must not think of retiring from the walk he is now in: his prospects, if he...
979From George Washington to John Adams, 23 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed. The details are interesting. The Picture is well drawn; and, it is to be feared, too well founded in facts. With very sincere esteem and regard I am Your Obedt & Affecte ALS , NjP : De Coppet Collection. GW evidently was returning John Quincy Adams’s letter to John Adams of 17 Nov. 1795. On 25 March, John Adams wrote to his son in part: “I...
980From George Washington to John Adams, 16 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Compliments to the Vice-President. Enclosed is the curious and Insulting Letter mentioned yesterday Evening. AL , MHi : Adams Papers. The date is taken from the docket, which reads: “16 Feb. 1797”. GW enclosed a copy of Thomas Paine’s letter to him of 20 Sept. 1795 . In that letter, Paine denounced GW’s alleged indifference and inaction vis-à-vis his imprisonment in France, and accused GW of...
981From George Washington to John Adams, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed. The sentiments do honor to the head & heart of the writer; and if my wishes would be of any avail, they shd go to you in a strong hope , that you will not withhold merited promotion from Mr Jno. Adams because he is your son. For without intending to compliment the father or the mother, or to censure any others, I give it as my decided...
982From John Jay to John Adams, 10 January 1792 (Jay Papers)
I cannot easily tell you how much I am pleased & obliged by your friendly Letter of the 4 th . Inst:— were I to pursue my Inclinations, I should without Hesitation accept your kind Invitation— but our Inclinations even in things innocent must not always be gratified. My Visits to Philadelphia have ceased to be occasional, or I should certainly avail myself of those opportunities which your...
983From John Jay to John Adams, 21 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
From the Day of my appointment to this mission, my Attention has been much withdrawn from my Friends, and confined to the Business which brought me here; & which has at last been terminated by a Treaty. In future I shall have more Leisure to attend to my Friends, and to my own affairs— Both your Sons arrived here in good Health— I wrote to my friend John lately, but as yet have not had a...
984From John Jay to John Adams, 24 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines last Week— This Morning I was favored with two Letters from your Son of the 14 & 20 th . of this Month— Parents are gratified by hearing of or from their children— The former Letter was Dated at the Hague— the latter at Amsterdam— He had been rec d . and acknowledged by the States General, and on the 14 th had “a gracious audience of the Stadtholder”.— In his last...
985From James Madison to John Adams, 3 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
I have been induced to this delay in acknowledging your letter of the 23d, inclosing one to you from Mr. Belknap of the 2d. Ulto. by a desire to obtain from my memory all the information it might have ever possessed in relation to the error in Docr. Kippis’ life of Capt: Cook. I was not a member of Congress till March 1780. It is probable therefore that, if his directions to American...
986From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 10 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine of Jan. 14. yours of Jan. 2. and Mar. 1. have been handed to me; the former by Mr. Jones, whom I am glad to know on your recommendation and to make him the channel of evidencing to you how much I esteem whatever comes from you.—The internal agitations of this country and the inactivity to which England is reduced by the state of imbecillity in which the madness of the king has...
987From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 26 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
From a letter received from the President Mr. Lear is satisfied he cannot be here to-day and doubts even the possibility of his arrival tomorrow. Of course our expedition of to-day would be certainly fruitless, and is therefore laid aside agreeably to a message I have received from Genl. Knox and the attorney General. Your’s affectionately & respectfully, RC ( MHi : AM ); addressed: “The...
988VIII. Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a dozen times taken up my pen to write to you and as often laid it down again, suspended between opposing considerations. I determine however to write from a conviction that truth, between candid minds, can never do harm. The first of Paine’s pamphlets on the Rights of man, which came to hand here, belonged to Mr. Beckley. He lent it to Mr. Madison who lent it to me; and while I was...
989XII. Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 30 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago your favor of July 29. and was happy to find that you saw in it’s true point of view the way in which I had been drawn into the scene which must have been so disagreeable to you. The importance which you still seem to allow to my note, and the effect you suppose it to have had tho unintentional in me, induce me to shew you that it really had no effect. Paine’s...
990From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 26 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Supposing that the first Consular convention agreed on with France, and not ratified by Congress, may explain as well as account for some articles in that which was last agreed on and ratified, I take the liberty of inclosing, for the members of the Senate, copies of the two conventions as they were printed side by side, to shew where they differed. These differences are not as great as were...
991From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 9 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed information relative to ransom and peace with the Algerines, being newly come to hand, I take the liberty of communicating it to you, and through you to the Senate. It concurs in some facts and opinions with what we had before learnt thro other channels, and differs in some others, so as, on the whole, to leave us still in considerable uncertainty as to interesting points.—I have...
992From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of the information I received from you on the first Wednesday in January that the list of votes for President and Vice President were received at the seat of government from all the states except that of Kentuckey, I sent a special messenger to the District judge of Kentuckey for the list of the votes of that state lodged in his custody, and by the return of the messenger...
993From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 25 April 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you for the book you were so good as to transmit me, as well as the letter covering it, and your felicitations on my present quiet. The difference of my present and past situation is such as to leave me nothing to regret but that my retirement has been postponed four years too long. The principles on which I calculate the value of life are entirely in favor of my present course....
994From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 6 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
The time which has intervened between the receipt of your favor , covering D’Ivernois’ letter, and this answer, needs apology. But this will be found in the state of the case. I had received from him a letter similar to that you inclosed. As the adoption of his plan depended on our legislature, and it was then in session, I immediately inclosed it to a member with a request that he would sound...
995From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 May 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from our friend D’ Ivernois according to his request expressed in it. Our geographical distance is insensible still to foreigners. They consider America of the size of a garden of which Massachusets is one square and Virginia another. I know not what may have been your sentiments or measures respecting the transplantation of the science of Geneva to this country. If not...
996From 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...
997I. To John Adams, 28 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
The public and the public papers have been much occupied lately in placing us in a point of opposition to each other. I trust with confidence that less of it has been felt by ourselves personally. In the retired canton where I am, I learn little of what is passing: pamphlets I see never; papers but a few; and the fewer the happier. Our latest intelligence from Philadelphia at present is of the...