1To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 28 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Being here on a few days visit with Mrs. Gerry to her aged parents, & having left six small children, the eldest of whom has the care of the rest and of the domesticks, I am deprived of the honor of paying my personal respects to you at this time. When I wrote to Mr. Monroe, I supposed he was in Philadelphia: it being so announced in the news papers, his conduct in making an inmate of Paris...
2Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 14 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
This will be delivered by Mr Jarvis lately of Boston, but formerly of this City, Son in Law to Mr Broom, whom You probably know. I have but two of your Letters unanswered; one of the 27 th of June last, the Objects of which have I think been fully complied with, & the other of Nov r 4, in which I find no Mention of a Letter I wrote You from philadelphia in July last. Congress met in November...
3Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 24 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
I informed You a few Days since, that Yourself, M r Chancellor Levingston, & M r J Rutledge, were in Nomination for the Court of London, since which many Attempts have been made to determine the Choice, & this Morning it was effected & devolves on Yourself. I am happy to give You this Information, both on publick Consideration, & on the Score of Friendship, the former however being on every...
4Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts Delegates, 20 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I Received the Letters, with which you were pleased to favor me per Mr. Fessenden on Saturday last being the 18th Instant, at a Critical Time for the Army posted at Cambridge. The Evening preceeding Orders were Issued in Consequence of a Consultation between the General Officers and Committee of Safety to take possession of Dorchester Hill and Bunkers hill in Charlestown which I must confess...
5To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 16 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Whilst the late envoys were in Paris, they recommended Mr William Lee, in a letter to Mr Pickering, as a suitable character for a Consul; & it was expected, he would apply for the consulate of Bourdeaux, which it was then supposed would be vacant: & he now proposes to renew his application. being informed of this circumstance, & having, after the fullest enquiry, & conviction of his merit,...
6To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 12 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
A few Days since, I rec d your Letter of the 13 th of Decr last, without either of the Arrets therein referred to. from the Cover of the Letter, which is inclosed for your Inspection, I suspect it has been opened, previously to my receiving it; if so, I should be well pleased to know who the person is that is so very curious as to loose his Sense of Honor in this Matter. When I left New York,...
7To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I addressed a line to you yesterday, with a bound collection of Edes’ Gazettes printed in 1775 & 6, to the care of Mr. Marston. I now am honored by yours of the 2d & 9th instant, & am much obliged to you, for their impressive & instruct i ve contents. You are the only friend, & almost the only person of the United States, who is capable of giving full information on the subject of our...
8Elbridge Gerry to Samuel and John Adams, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote You from New York, I have spent most of my Time in endeavouring to get Information of the true State of Things in the eastern Colonies. With Respect to the Levies for New York and the northern Department they are nearly compleated. I have wrote to the president giving an Account of them and proposing an order of Congress for reinforcing the Army at New York with one of the...
9To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
Having transmitted to Mr Pickering, additional documents, numbered from 36 to 50 inclusively, you will probably peruse them. The first, contained a copy of a motion, I made to the other Envoys; to put an end, as early as the 21st of October 1797, to the disgraceful communications of X & Y. at the bottom of the original, is a note in the handwriting of General Pinckney, which shews, that it was...
10To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Since my last of the 3 d of August I am favoured with yours of the 26 th of June, 6 th of July, 26 th of August & 11 th of September, & am much obliged to You for the papers inclosed in the July Letter, as well as for the useful Information contained in all of them. The Conduct of the Court of London, clearly indicates, & convinces Us on this Side the Atlantic that they have an unfriendly...
11To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your confidential letter of the 30th of Decer, & am sorry that any event should render it uncertain, whether you shall appoint Consuls to France. that Mr Lee, amidst the interfering applications of so many candidates, should be represented to the President as a Jacobin, is not to my mind, in this epoch of intrigue, slander, injustice, unexpected or extraordinary. but I am...
12Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 16 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Here I am after a six Months Session at Annapolis, on my Way to Massachusetts, & altho my Opposition to the same System in America, which you have opposed in Europe, has perhaps rendered me equally obnoxious here to the aristocratic Party, yet I assure You the Pleasure resulting from a Reflection on the Measures adopted by Congress, overballances every trifling Consideration of the loss of...
13To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 20 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that there has lately been published in the Boston Gazettes, a letter signed “Timothy Pickering”, addressed “to P Johnston Esqr of Prince Edward County, (Virginia,) dated the 29th of September last; wherein Mr Pickering, speaking of the dispatches of the Envoys, says, “that Mr. Tallyrand affects an utter ignorance of the person, designated in the dispatches, by...
14To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 14 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letters of the 7th and 8th instant. The satisfaction which you are pleased to express at my acceptance of the mission, is the most flattering circumstance of my political concerns. I have taken passage in the ship Union for Rotterdam, & expect to sail in ten days; having notified Mr Pinckney by two vessels which are to sail this day & tomorrow, of this circumstance, & of...
15To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 4 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of the 5th of Novr and the Enquiries relative to Vessels suitable to be armed, Commanders and Seamen to man the same, secure places for building new Vessels of Force &c. are important in their Nature, and to have the same effectually answered I propose to submit them as soon as may be to the Court that a Committee may be raised for obtaining the Facts from the Maritime...
16To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 18 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Gerry presents his best respects to the President of the United States, & sends by the bearer ten pair of squabs, of which he requests his acceptance. They have been learnt to feed in indian dough, & when put into the pigeon House, must be supplyed daily with water & gravel, & confined to the house untill they have young—The house should be locked and under the care of one person, as they...
17To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 21 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr. Waldo, is the Gentleman whom I mentioned, in a letter which I had the honor to address you at paris, as an applicant for the office of Consul in some part of France. he is well known & was much respected at Paris, altho he was a zealous advocate for the rights of his Country. his character, in regard to abilities, honor, probity, & politeness, stands high with all who...
18To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Since my last the Situation of the Camp has prevented the Committee of Congress from transacting the Business of their Appointment. The Enemy, the Evening after the Date of my letter, marched out with their whole Force, which is said to consist of twelve thousand five hundred Effectives. We received Information of their preparations, a Day or two before, by persons who left the City; and the...
19To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 17 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since my arrival here, I have not had the honor to address you: the want of health part of the time, the particular details of our official letters, the uncertainty of our residence for a week & sometimes for a day, & the painful situation in which I have been, have combined to produce a suspension of my correspondence untill I could communicate to you something agreable, but that period I am...
20To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 6 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of the 11th of February has given me great pleasure. I regretted exceedingly that the incidents of the day, at our last interview, deprived me of the pleasure you then proposed, of conversing fully & freely on the subject of the Navy. I have this day written to Captain Selman (Commodore Broughton being no more) & have requested of him every information, & a copy of every document...
21To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 29 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is with the greatest pleasure, that I inform You of the late Arrangement of our foreign affairs, in which You are appointed to negotiate the Treaties with G Britain and our Friend Mr. Dana to be your Secretary. Mr. Jay is to negotiate with Spain, Mr. Carmichael to be his Secretary, and Colo. John Laurens, Son of the late president Laurens, to be Secretary to Doctor Franklin. I shall not be...
22Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 5 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
Since my last, informing You of the Circumstances of your Appointment to the Court of London, Congress have elected Col o Smith of this State, Secretary to the Legation. several Candidates were presented to Congress, & my Friend & Collegue, M r King of Newbury port (whom I shall hereafter speak of, & whom I wish to introduce to your Confidence & Friendship) was of Opinion with myself, that it...
23To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
In June last I returned to this State, and have since been favoured with your several Letters of the 23d. and 29th. of Feby., 19th. of March, 28th. of April, 23d. of May and 24th. of June, with the pamphlet by the Baron de Arundl, whom I have not had the Pleasure of seeing. Mr. Dalton informed me in July last that notwithstanding the Friendship of yourself and Doctor Franklin, in the Affair of...
24To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 23 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letter of the 17th, & sincerely thank you for the information it contains. Nothing is more essential to a public officer, than to be apprized of the imputations against him; for if well founded, he will thus have a fair opportunity of correcting his errors, & if unfounded, he will by the same means be better prepared for self defence. in addition to the great difficulties...
25To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
The subject of this letter, is the celebration of the 4th of July at Lexington; a fete which I hope will be honored by your company. The crisis appears to require every measure for animating the friends of our Independence. In this quarter they are sensible of it, & are making every exertion for honoring the day. Your ideas on this subject, as communicated by accident, always struck my mind...
26To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 25 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured my dear sir by the last post with yours of the 9 th of september & 12 th of December, since the Date of Which some Arrangements which I communicated in my last, & which You are probably e’er this officially informed of, correspond with your Wishes— I feel the Force of your observations respecting the Salaries of our Ministers; but Congress in point of œconomy, are very different...
27To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 11 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I received a Letter from the honorable Committee of Congress for collecting “a just and well authenticated Account of the Hostilities committed by the ministerial Troops and Navy in America since last March,” and beg leave to inform You that Colo. Palmer, Mr. Cooper and Colo. Thomson are appointed a Committee to subserve the purpose in this Colony in the Recess of the Court, which is this Day...
28To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the remarks, which I proposed to make, when I had the honor of paying my last respects to you. The delay has been owing, in a great measure, to sickness in my family, but it cannot be attended with any ill consequences. I shall wait on you soon, with the information for explaining such parts of the curious Journal of General Martial, relating to myself, as you was pleased to...
29To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
By the request of Mr Wyer, lately appointed a Consul of the U States to Riga, I have the pleasure of introducing you to this Gentleman, who proposes soon to embark for Russia. Mr Wyer is governed by those principles of integrity & honor, & is possessed of such liberality & candor as cannot fail to meet your approbation & friendship. Permit me, With Mrs Gerry & my family, to express, in terms...
30To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 14 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have lately returned to this City after four Months Absence, & am favoured with your several Letters of the 31 st Jany 9 th of March & 13 th of April, in neither of which is any Mention of several Letters I wrote to You in Jan y Feb y & March last— You wish to be informed when “You are to be one of Us”? the Answer is easy, when You please. I have enquired of my Friend King whether any Order...
31To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 12 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. Lowell your Accounts and Vouchers, and shall deliver them to the Board of Treasury; how far they will be able to comply with the proposition of returning the latter, which is contrary to their usual Practice, I am unable to say, but will use my best Endeavours to accomplish it. Having lately explained to You some Matters, relative to our internal political Manoeuvres,...
32To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 3 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
The newspaper, which you did me the honor to inclose, containing Mr Pickering’s letter to Mr Pinkney on the subject of Mr Adets letter to the former, I have carefully perused; but, a further examination of it, with the documents & Mr Adet’s letter, is necessary to obtain a clear idea of the subject. That part of it which discusses the claim of gratitude made by France, I consider in a certain...
33To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 4 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor, this morning of paying my respects to your Lady, & the pleasure of finding her & the family in excellent health: happy should I be, if this was the case with Mrs Gerry, who is slowly recovering from a long & dangerous illness. being informed that you are by this time in Washington, I take the liberty to suggest, that since your departure, last fall from Quincy, I have received...
34To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Gerry presents his respectful compliments to the President of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Massachusetts & incloses him a letter from Mr. Carmichael Chargé des Affairs at the Court of Madrid, part of which was by him intended to be communicated to the Academy. MHi : Adams Papers.
35To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are two letters marked A,B, & four documents numbered from 1 to 4 inclusively, which Capt Selman agreably to my request, on the subject of our first naval enterprizes, has transmitted to me for your perusal. They are intended as records for your files of application. I have also received & included in this packet, a letter from B Austin Esq in regard to the same subject. I shall be...
36To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 27 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
A social friend, but not one whose politicks have been much in unison with mine, has suggested to me the policy of your sending Mr Jefferson, at the present crisis, as a minister to France. at first blush, the measure struck me forcibly: Mr Jefferson being much in the confidence of France, & of her officers & adherents in the United States; the antipode of her enemies amongst us; possessed of...
37To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I propose to embark for the United States this day, & have only a moment to inform you that Mr Skipwith will transmit you from Paris the letters which passed between the minister of foreign affairs & myself, just before my departure from that city— The aspect of affairs between the two republicks is very pacific at present on this side the Atlantick; God grant it may be so on my arrival the...
38To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 18 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday from Mr Lee, the letter enclosed, & being fully convinced, that he is an object of persecution, as well on account of his open & manly disapprobation of the measures of a certain party, as well as of his uniform and warm attachment to your administration, an indispensable requisite in my opinion for every candidate of office, I feel myself under an obligation of justice to...
39To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 9 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have deferred an answer to the letter, which you did me the honor of addressing on the 28th of Jany, ’till I could see Capt John Delman of Marblehead; who has refreshed my memory with the following statement, which he made in a short interview, as the facts then were presented to his recollection. “That in the fall of the year 1775, General Washington commissioned Nicolas Broughton &...
40To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 5 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
It gave me great Pleasure to learn by Your Letter of the 11th. Decr. that You had safely arrived, and had met with so agreable a Reception in Spain: and I hope soon to have the Satisfaction of hearing from You at Paris. Mr. Lovell informs me that he shall transmit You the Journals of Congress and News Papers by the latter of which You will perceive that the Enemy have invested Charlestown, and...
41To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 28 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The sailing of the Packet on which we are to go to New Port, being unexpectedly deferred till this afternoon, gives me an opportunity of inclosing a copy of No 3, & of adding a few words. I know that your ideas now are the same which they were in 1776 respecting a vigorous executive: I then & for several years afterwards tho’t the necessity for one so powerful would not exist within half a...
42To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Benjn Austin Esqr, for your perusal, a collection of News papers, printed by Benjn Edes of Watertown, between the 5th June 1775 & the 9th of Decr 1776; & have committed them to the care of Mr Marston. The privateering act which I formerly mentioned, is printed in the Gazette of the 13th of Novr 1775. I shall probably be absent at the time you may wish to return this book...
43To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 14 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
The definitive Treaty is this Day ratified by Congress, & I have but a few Moments, by Colonel Hermer, who is charged with the Delivery thereof, to inform You that M r Dana is arrived & requested to attend Congress. I have suggested to some of my Friends the good policy of appointing him to a Seat in Congress, & to him the Advantages to be at this Time expected from the Measure; & I flatter...
44To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 3 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
The information communicated by the Secretary of State, of my appointment to the office of an envoy extraordinary & minister plenipotentiary to the French republick, afforded me the highest gratification: inasmuch as it manifested the confidence of that political character, for whom, from my first acquaintance, I have ever had the highest respect. judge then, Sir, of my feelings when I inform...
45To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 7 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letters of the 13th & 20th of Feby, the former of which, being an answer to my last, shall be first attended to. After I had sent that letter to the post office, it occurred to me, that what I had viewed as a studied neglect might have been intended as good policy; & being convinced it was so, by reflecting on the subject, I was highly gratified by the explanation with...
46To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 23 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r Thaxter arrived here last Evening, by the Way of New York, with the definative Treaty, having narrowly escaped a severe storm by reaching that Port on Wednesday Evening— your Favours by him I have received with great Pleasure, as I was in Want of the Information they contain, as well as of your Sentiments on several important Subjects— Governor Reed will probably deliver You this, & my...
47To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 25 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have attended to your Sentiments on the Subject of Money and am equally unhappy with You “to see Injustice, both to the publick and Individuals so frequent”; but how to remedy it, “hic Labor, hoc Opus est.” The Mode proposed by an Act allowing Depreciation or Appreciation on Specialties may releive a few, but I fear, that it would not have a general good Effect. The comparative Value of...
48To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
If an answer to the letter, which Your Excellency proposed to write to Mr Pickering on my concerns, is received, I will do myself the honor of waiting on You at any time which may best suit your convenience. Mrs Gerry unites with me in best respects to yourself & Lady, & be assured I remain, Dear Sir, with every sentiment / of attachment, Your / most obedt & very / huml Sert. MHi : Adams Papers.
49To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 21 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I must apologize my dear Sir, for the troublesome request which I made; & for your ready compliance with it on the 2d of April in your letter which I had the honor of receiving, I must request your acceptance of my cordial Thanks. I recollect the epoch of 1789, & that about that period I gave mortal offence to the Count Mouchet, for declaring in Congress, that the French nation was indebted to...
50To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Remarks on General Marshalls letter of the 12th of Nov, & Mr Pickerings of the 10th of December 1798 to Mr Gerry: respectfully submitted by the latter to the President of the United States of America. 1st. In regard to the source of the information (relative to the renewal of one or both the money propositions) which General Marshall thinks, I must have supposed to be him; I had not the means...