1William Stephens Smith to John and Abigail Adams, 8 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
We were pleased by the receipt of yours of the 5th. inst. from Harwich, to find that your jaunt to that period and place had proved so agreable, you have our earnest wishes for its continuance. But we have been apprehensive since, that the fine Sun and fair Brieze which invited you on board in the morning, forsook you before, you had crossed the Channel. At this place, the after part of the...
2Mary McCann to John Adams and Abigail Adams, 2 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Having humbly presumed to wait on you to solicit the honor of serving your Excellency’s Family with Cream and Milk, and had the honor to give you at the Hotel last Fryday, a Recommendation from his Excellency the Spanish Ambassador’s Steward, you was pleased to order me to wait at your House in Grosvenor Square Yesterday Morning with Cream and Milk, which I accordingly did; but may it please...
3Eliphalet Brush to John Adams, 4 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
Count de Montauto Governor of this City has informed me of the Commissioners having made propositions to the Court of Tuscany respecting a Treaty of Commerce between this Country and America: The Governor requests me to inform the Commissioners, that he has lately received instructions from the Grand Duke relative thereto, which leaves him no doubt but a commercial Treaty may be formed to the...
4To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with Your favour By Mr̃ Joy to Whom I Will Readily Render Every Service in My power, and am also to thank You for the Valuable Books You took the trouble to Collect for me—in the Cause of My Black Brethren I feel Myself Warmly interested, and Most decidedly Side, so far as Respects them, Against the White part of Mankind— Whatever Be the Complexion of the Enslaved, it does...
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 7 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
This will accompany a joint letter inclosing the draught of a treaty, and my private letter of June 22, which has waited so long for a private conveiance. We daily expect from the Baron Thulemeyer the French column for our treaty with his sovereign. In the mean while two copies are preparing with the English column which Doctr. Franklin wishes to sign before his departure, which will be within...
6Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since Mrs. Adams’s Departure I have revolved within myself, whether you would not have an Inclination to purchase the piece of Land on Pens Hill (belonging to the Estate of the Honle. James Verchild late of St. Kitts deceased) which you have for some years past improved. His Heirs, I am informed, are now in England, that the Estate in the West Indies is under Mortgage, But that part of it...
7To John Adams from Jonathan Jackson, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter from Paris of the 18 th. March just before I embarked from Ireland for America— but had not the pleasure till my Arrival here of being informed that you were appointed Minister to the Court of London where we are told that you are removed with your Family & where I expect this to meet you Since my Arrival which was in May I have postponed writing to...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words, Viz “It is confidently reported, propagated, and believed by some among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that...
9To John Adams from William Gordon, 13 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yours by your son was a very agreeable letter. I rec d it last wednesday while at the President’s, where I had the pleasure of viewing your living picture. You have confirmed me in my suspicion, that tho’ there were many pictures abroad there was little likeness. I shall do my best, & it may be well for one who is not a writer of the first talents, nor been employed thirty years in making my...
10To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
V. E. Verra par les copies ci-jointes, qu’il ne s’est agi que de rendre à ces Messieurs d’Amsterdam un service, qu’ils me demandoient instam̃ent, & auquel j’ai cru, & devois croire, ne pouvoir honnêtement me soustraire, quand même vous ne m’auriez pas recom̃andé le soin de vos Livres: ce qu’ils ignoroient quand ils m’écrivirent la premiere de ces Lettres. Je viens de recevoir l’honorée vôtre du...
11John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 3 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Church proposes to embark on board the british Packet, which is to sail to-morrow. He has offered to take my Letters, and I suppose, he will be the bearer of dispatches from Congress.—Our Passage, though it was not a stormy one, was very tedious. Of eight weeks, that we were at Sea, we had at least four of such calm weather as not to proceed more than 8 or 10 leagues a day. As we were...
12Jonathan Jackson to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
To the care of Doct r Parker who I am told will be a safe conveyance, & who has promised to deliver ’em himself, I inclose you two Letters from America—one of which particularly from M r S Adams I was desired to keep ’till I could see you or trust it only in safe hands—the other is from M r Dalton— I heard upon my first arrival in Ireland which was in Feb y that you were in England, & hoped to...
13To John Adams from Thomas Wren, 22 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
At the request of Sir John Carter, I take the liberty to inform your Excellency, that Rob t. Muir, detained in our goal, having lived upon his own money till about a week ago, is now according to the custom of the goal allowed 3 d. per day which is paid by the parish. But the parish officers object somewhat to the making this allowance, as this man’s offence, they say, does not principally...
14Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Two days only are wanting to campleat six years since my dearest Friend first crost the Atlantick. But three months of the Six Years have been Spent in America. The airy delusive phantom Hope, how has she eluded my prospects. And my expectations of your return from month to month, have vanished “like the baseless Fabrick of a vision.” You invite me to you, you call me to follow you, the most...
15To John Adams from Isaac Smith Jr., 19 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
The papers having announced y r. public appearance in this kingdom, I take the liberty of Congratulating you on y r. arrival in England, & on the success of y r. negociations in behalf of the United states of America. After much anxiety & toil, to see y r. wishes realized, to find the uncertainties of war ended, & the great object of it fully established & secured, must give you an high degree...
16Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We postponed to answer the honour of your Excellency’s favour of 5 febr, in hope to be able to mention Something definitif to you, but it would be disagreable to you to enumerate the objections and difficulties, since hitherto we have not yet the answers of all the undertakers, whilst we are continually Endeavouring to Settle the matter, of wh ch. the Success is yet too incertain, to give your...
17John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am now much more at my disposal, with respect to my Time, than I was at Haverhill, and can devote more of it to writing, though, it is said, this Quarter, that is, the last of the Junior Sophister year, is most important, and busy, than any other in the four years. Mr: Williams’s Lectures on natural Philosophy, render it so; his Course consists of 24 Lectures, 13 of which we have already...
18To John Adams from the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 26 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Vous nous avez fait, notre cher ami, un veritable plaisir en nous donnant de vos nouvelles; nous avons Souvent prié M. Jefferson de vous faire parvenir nos Compliments et de vous temoigner tous nos regrets sur votre absence, il n’a surement pas manqué de remplir Cette Commission. Si nous ne consultions que l’amitié que nous avons pour vous, nous ferions le voyage de Londres nous avons tant et...
19Richard Cranch to John Adams, 19 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the within Letters, and as I hear Capt. Young is to sail tomorrow I take the liberty of inclosing them to you. By Capt. Cushing who sailed a few Weeks ago I sent you the News-Papers from last May, and by Capt. Young I have sent the Papers since and a Register for 1786. I have also sent a little Bundle for Sister Adams. I wrote you largely by Capt. Cushing, and have wrote...
20Baron Franz von Reischach to John Adams, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Cest bien malgré moi, que je n’ay pu repondre tout de Suitte à Votre lettre de ce matin, mais mon peu de Coñoissance de la langue Angloise m’at obligé d’attendre à cet effet la rentré d’un de mes Secretaires pour en Coñoitre la Substance; et Satisfaire à vos intentions. Il apert par la traduction qu’on m’a faite que vous Suposés et vous doutés que c’est à Bruxelles, que l’Exprès qui vous...
21To John Adams from Isaac Stephens, 24 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Sir By the hand of Doctor Warner Consul Logie Doctor which Returns to London I hope you will Ricive these few Lines He has attended Us Since being in algirs By order of Count D Espilly When Under his protection Since as we Could Not Clam any wright to the Spanish Hospitle without going into it which was Not agreable without Dangeros ill I think he has paid a friendly attention to Me as I have...
22From John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. At present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. None of their more important...
23To John Adams from Rufus King, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I intended to have written to you previously to my departure from New York— M r. Jay has undoubtedly transmitted to you the late Acts of Congress permitting your return to America after the expiration of your Commission to the English Court, and giving you the unequivocal thanks of the U.S. for the diligent, faithful, and able discharge of your various public Duties since your Residence in...
24Christian Lotter to John Adams, 30 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The orders I have lately reicived from Your Son M r: J: Q: Adams for packing up his goods, on purpose to be Shipped to another End of the World, gave me very great concern, I rather like to unpack, then to pack up, especially for Such for whom I maintain the greatest Esteem and am proud to Serve; I am in this point alike the Hollander, all under een dak van’t huÿs, but changes will and must...
25To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 10 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
J’apprends dans l’instant par l’une de nos Gazettes Hollandoises que Votre Excellence est actuellement à la Haye; & je m’empresse de vous faire passer le renouvellement du respect & de la venération que j’ai toujours eus & invariablement fait éclater pour votre Personne & vos vertus. La confiance & l’amitié dont vous avez bien voulu m’honorer dans les tems de votre Residence dans ce Pays-ci,...
26To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on the 7 th: of last Month, and also on the 18 th: of this enclosing some Papers respecting an american Vessel seized at Barbadoes by a british Man of War. I have been honored with yours of 16 th. 25 th. and 28 th. May and 6 th. June last, which with the Papers accompanying them were immediately laid before Congress.— The Situation in which the Want of an adequate Representation...
27To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 29 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Je dois réponse aux honorées vôtres des 1 er. & 10 du cour t. J’écris ce fois à Mr. Cerisier afin de savoir pourquoi l’insertion n’a pas encore été faite de la piece que j’ai envoyée il y a 12 à 15 jours à Mr. Luzac, & pour le presser de me renvoyer l’original & sa traduction imprimée, pour pouvoir vous retourner le tout selon vos ordres. J’ai fait grand plaisir Aux Amis, en leur lisant les...
28To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 21 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your esteemed Letter of the 5 th March last, and congratulate You on your appointment to that Court, where it was so much for the interest of these States to have a Minister— In my last letters of the 11 th & 19 th April, I attempted to give You some account of the Spirit of the People in this part of the Continent, on account of the unequal trade between the U States and G...
29To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 3 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by the Hon. William Smith Esquire one of the representaives in Congress from the State of South Carolina—whom I beg leave to introduce to you as a friend and a fellow citizen whose talents, integrity, fortune and connexions are respectable in the eyes of his constituents in the district which he represents, and whose family since the earliest settlement of...
30To John Adams from John Bubenheim Bayard, 13 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
It is with great sincerity, I beg leave to congratulate your Honor on your election as Vice President of the United States— the many high offices you have been called by your Country to fill, & the eminent services you have render’d to your fellow Citizens during our important struggle, justly entitle you to this distinguished mark of their gratitude & affection— I take the liberty to inform...
31From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 27 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed I have the Honour of sending to your Excellency Copies of Papers contain’d in a Dispatch just receiv’d from Congress. The Affair of the Free Ports recommended to us, has been sometime settled: They are Dunkirk, L’Orient, Bayonne & Marseilles.— I wonder much that we hear nothing from Congress of their foreign Arrangements. This short Line from the...
32Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 19 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have the pleasure to advice your Excellency that the Loan is So far advanced, that all the drafts will be payed, and we hope in course of time to compleat the whole sum of 2 millions. M rs. de Neufville & Son have applyed to us for the payment of coupons of the loan opened at their House formerly consisting in 7 coupons of Sept r. 1782 at ƒ25 ƒ175 — 7 dito March 1783 175 — ƒ350: — postage...
33To John Adams from Walter Mowbray, [20 April 1787] (Adams Papers)
As the intelligence I am to communicate is in my opinion of the highest consequence to the mercantile interest of America I presume any apology for the freedom I take in writing to your Excellency is unnecessary. The discovery I am to make an intended forgery of the paper currency of America, so ingeniously executed as to elude discovery. One of the persons concerned in this nefarious business...
34To John Adams from Robert Morris, 20 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s favors of the fifth tenth and eleventh of July— I have taken the Liberty to make some Extracts from the two latter which are transmitted in a Letter to the Governor of Massachusetts Copy whereof is enclosed— Permit me Sir to give my feeble Approbation and Applause to those Sentiments of Wisdom and Integrity which are as happily expressed as they...
35To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
While in the silent watches of the Last night I was Contemplating the Vicissitudes of Life, the Fickleness of Mankind & the Instability of human Friendships.— I determined to take up my pen in the morning & inquire if it was possible that M r Adams should never have directed one line to his frends at Milton since he held the Rank of Minister at the Court of Britain. I have been always...
36To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have read over most part of your book with no less satisfaction than pleasure and gained much information. In conversation the other day you advanced a doctrine which appears to me new & extraordinary. neither are the consequences so evident as to prevent me thinking otherwise and that facts make against the Idea. attention to stile would ruin America. The practice of all ages has been...
37To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter from President Lee to you (of the Subject and Contents of which I am informed) will explain to you the Design of the Letters and papers which accompany this. The one to the archbishops of York and Canterbury are left open for your Information; and that you may the more easily determine with yourself either to deliver it in Person, or merely to forward it by a proper...
38To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 11 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
È comparso alla luce un’elogio dell’Abate di Mably, scritto sotto gli auspici dei 2. vecchi Abati ben noti a Vostr’ Eccellenza, uno dei quali è (a mio giudizio) un gran birbone, e l’altro un buon coglione. Secondo il detto elogio, Vostr’ Eccellenza pregò l’Abate di Mably d’aver la bontà d’illuminare noi poveri ignoranti Americani su i principi di legislazione e d’amministrazione, e quando il...
39To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
On receipt of your favors of Aug. 18. & 23. I conferred with mr̃ Barclay on the measures necessary to be taken to set our treaty with the pyratical states into motion through his agency. supposing that we should begin with the emperor of Marocco, a letter to the emperor & instructions to mr̃ Barclay seemed necessary. I have therefore sketched such outlines for these as appear to me to be...
40Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as...
41To John Adams from the Chevalier de Pinto, 7 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
J’ai eû ordre de ma Coûr de faire parvenir à votre connoissance, que quoique on ait differé jusqu’ici de repondre au project d’un Traité de Commerce, sur le quel nous êtions concertés à Londres, ne a moins, Monsieur, les desirs de Sa Majesté Trés Fidelle ne sont ni moins vifs, ni moins efficâces pour Conclure avec Les Etâts Unis d’Amerique ce même Traité, a des Terms et a des Conditions...
42John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The time of M rs— A s. departure draws so near, & the Conveyance is so unexceptionable, that I can hardly be excused from forwarding a few Lines.— I wish it was in my power to write you a particular state of our public Affairs; but my life for six months past has been so recluse, and I have seen so few Persons from whom certain Information could be obtained, that you must not expect any very...
43To John Adams from David Ramsay, 20 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of July 14 th with the pamphlet of letters addressed to D r. Calkoen came to hand a few days since. Many thanks to you for that production. Your predictions of the consequences of the British successes in the Southern States have been so exactly realised as to fill me with admiration of that political sagacity which could so accurately foresee the connexions between causes &...
44To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The day before yesterday I took the liberty to trouble you with a few lines by M r. Prentis, & expressed my determination to do it more at large by the next opportunity, which now offers in D r. Bancraft. Knowing my way of thinking you must, I suppose, have been surprised at hearing my return to Europe. The friendship with which you have constantly honored me, ever since I had the pleasure to...
45To John Adams from William Gordon, 7 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
You have very fairly & fully discharged your epistolary account of the preceeding year; which is an encouragement for me to begin anew. There is both pleasure & profit in corresponding with You; & notwithstanding some desponding expressions, I trust your strength & spirits will not be exhausted, till the business is completed. Finesse & subtilty are ministerial qualifications; & the only...
46From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 20 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknoledge the receipt of your favor of Jan. 25. Colo. Franks sailed in the packet of this month from Havre for New York. This arrangement of the packets opens a direct communication between Paris and America, and if we succeed as I expect we shall in getting Honfleur made a freeport, I hope to see that place become the deposit for our Whale oil, rice, tobacco and furs, and that...
47John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. at present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. none of their more important...
48To John Adams from the Baron von Thulemeier, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
La lettre dont Vous m’avés honoré, Monsieur, en date du 11. du mois dernier ne m’a été rendue que le 24. Je ne puis que Vous remercier de tout ce que Vous daignes me dire d’obligeant a l’égard des nouvelles liaisons, qui vont étre etablies entre Vôtre Patrie, et la mienne. C’est le 4. du mois courant que j’ai recû de la part de Messieurs Francklin et Jefferson le Traité méme dont j’ai transmis...
49To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 20 October 1788 (Adams Papers)
In a Letter of October 7 th rec d from D r Rush of Philadelphia I find the following Paragraph “Mr John Adams will probably have all the [. . .] of our State for the Vice Presidents Chair.” I have the Honor to be Sir / Y r respectful & obed t Serv t RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “The Hon M r Adams”; endorsed: “J. Belknap / Oct
50Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10 th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as wanted in particular Paragraphs. The...