31F. & A. Dubbeldemuts to John Adams: A Translation, 17 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
We are interested in a ship and its cargo of which we have enclosed information. We are taking the liberty to ask that you examine this information and advise us as to the possibility of obtaining damages. We beg you to excuse us for causing this inconvenience. Several of our friends are interested in the ships and cargo brought into Brest. We dared to take the liberty of sending to you one of...
32John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 13 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
As you may possibly not come here before the 18th I write to know, if I must leave these lodgings at that time, as the month will then be up, and if I stay any longer I must begin another month. I have finish’d Phaedrus’s fables and the lives of Miltiades, Themistocles, Aristides, Pausanias, Cimon, and Lysander; and Am going next upon Alcibiades in Cornelius Nepos, I shall begin upon...
33John Adams’ Instructions Respecting a Commercial Treaty with Great Britain, 16 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
Philadelphia, 16 October 1779. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:183–184 . Like those for the peace treaty (calendared above), these instructions had been adopted on 14 August ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington,...
34To John Adams from Etienne Louis Geoffroy, 22 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
J’ay fait part de la letter que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire a la derniere assemblée de la Société Royale de Medecine, qui m’a chargé de Vous en faire Ses remerciemens. Nous Sommes très flattés, Monsieur, de la correspondance, que Messieurs du College de Medecine de Boston Veulent bien etablir avec nous, correspondance qui ne peut être que très avantageuse aux progrès de l’art, et...
35To John Adams from Henry Grand, 15 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have before me the two Letters you honoured me with in date of Decr. 1st. and 10th. and am made sensible by what you are pleased to tell me that you have L6857.3 to claim, not of me however, as I have given you credit and M. Dana by your order, for the whole sum Dr. Franklin charged me to pay to you personally the 12th. feby 1780, as appears by the inclosed Copy of his order. But as M. Dana...
36To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 26 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
En réponse à l’honorée vôtre du 18 e. , la clef de votre Secretaire S’est heureusement retrouvée sous des Livres; & je suis sûr que personne n’a pu en faire usage, parce que votre appartement n’a jamais été ouvert, depuis votre départ, que par l’un de nous toujours présent. J’ai remis avec les autres celle que vous m’aviez laissée. A l’heure où j’écris, les Etats d’holl de. sont à résoudre...
37John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I reciev’d this morning your letter of the 14th. in which you speak of Poetry, and although I have not read much of it, yet I always admired it, very much. I take the Delft Dutch paper to learn to read the language. To day there is a report which I read in it that Admiral Kingsbergen had taken fourteen of the German Transports, but this is only a report. Inclosed is a letter which I reciev’d...
38Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 11 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
We would be most unhappy not to see the young gentlemen Sunday. It is a day made for them since the ceremony is not repeated often, and I have taken the necessary steps so that they can see it comfortably. We are expecting them and beg you not to disappoint us. Commodore Jones will surely honor us by accepting our invitation to breakfast . I will serve good tea which has not been taxed by...
39C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 20 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of your letter of the 17th and respond to it here. According to the Constitution the president has neither the right to suppress papers addressed to Their High Mightinesses nor the right to deliver them to anyone else. But Their High Mightinesses themselves can, if they deem it appropriate, refrain from, or delay responding to such papers. Now you no doubt remember, sir, that...
40C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 24 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
In order to keep my promise of sending you all essential news, to save time, and to spare me the sometimes intolerable task of copying the same things too many times, I decided to send my letter to Congress to you, so that you can read it, and then be kind enough to enclose it with your next letter to America. If this arrangement meets your approval, I will continue to do it from time to time;...
41To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, [ca. 23 December 1782] (Adams Papers)
Being without any of your favours, we take the liberty to addres you these few lines, on occasion that we are informed by M r. Grand, that M r. Morris has again furnish’d some drafts on him, to the amount of about £400,000— tourn s. , for which M r. Grand desires our remittances. We did not receive from M r. Morris any information nor disposition about those drafts. however it seems to us very...
42To John Adams from James Warren, 8 – 9 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since my last we have the formidable Accounts of the Exertion of the powers and Malice of Britain which I suppose have reached you by this time or will tomorrow. It is reported here that the Fleet and Army are arrived at Hallifax and are determined to Attack this Colony again. This is Confirmed by some deserters from the Ship below who say that they have heard the Officers talk of their...
43To John Adams from Gregory Clark and Others, 18 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Having full assurance of your assiduous attention, to Such of your unhapy Countrymen, as have had the misfortune to be Capturd. and shut up felons, In Brittish prisons, and of being Instrumental In their relief We now laboring under the unhappy Circumse of Confinement, far distant from friends or Money, do most humbly implore your assistance In Supplying us with Some Money, to palliate In Some...
44To John Adams from William Lee, 24 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Above ten Daies after its date I was honor’d with your favor of the 10 th. instant, & am indeed apprehensive with you, that America has lost the favorable moment for establish g a desirable commercial connection with Great Britain; but this is not the only, nor the greatest, mischief that has flow’d upon us from the same Source. you will by this time be able to judge of the dispositions of the...
45Abigail Adams to John Adams, 22 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Lorthorp call’d here this Evening and brought me yours of the 1 of October a day which will ever be rememberd by me, for it was the most distressing one I ever experienced. That morning I rose and went into my Mothers room, not apprehending her so near her Exit, went to her Bed with a cup of tea in my hand, raised her head to give it to her, she swallowed a few drops, gaspd and fell back...
46To John Adams from James Warren, 22 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Two days ago I received your favour of the 18th. March, without ever hearing before of, or seeing since the Gentleman there recommended. When I have an opportunity I shall most certainly pay proper respect to your recommendations, by takeing proper Notice of him. My last to you was by a French frigate from Newport with a Copy of what went by Capt. Hayden from here to Amsterdam. I beleive I...
47To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 5 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Honoured with your Excellency’s Confidence, we think it our duty to inform you in our privy, that a motion is made to dispose our Regency, to subscribe for account of our City, a certain Sum at the Loan whch. is proposed to be made for the States of Maryland; whch. if succeeding, Should prove a mark of confidence, proper to encourage particular Subscriptions, whch. the Continental Loan doth...
48To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 6 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The scene of Action is so entirely transfered to your side of the Atlantick that scarce any occurance among us at present is sufficiently interesting to furnish matter for a publick Letter. The Resolutions which have from time to time evinced the steady Determination of Congress in no event to Relinquish the great Object of the War or to think of Peace but in Connection with their Allies have...
49From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 30 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Arriving this moment, I received your Favour of 26; and am happy to find that you continue in the Same Sentiments. I am Still of the Same mind too, and I Shall call on you, tomorrow, when we will arrange all Things. I wish you would loose no time, in getting a certain Paper, well translated into Dutch. Tr ( PCC , No. 101, II, f. 181). JA ’s memorial of 19 April , above, was translated into...
50To John Adams from Francis Dana, 6 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I do not ask you to consider this as a letter to you. I have writen so much for several days that I am absolutely beat out; and my health besides begins to fail me. A most constant head ach hangs upon me, and almost stupifies me: Consider this therefore only as a cover of the enclosed letters. I shall probably trouble you more frequently in this way than I have ever done; but it must be upon...
51To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 16 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Voici une petite Cargaison de Lettres, qui m’ont été remises par M. le D. De la Vauguyon pour vous. J’ai bien reçu l’honorée vôtre du 14, et ferai bon usage du contenu, premierement avec nos amis, et puis avec les autres. Quant au projet conciliatoire, je puis vous assurer, that the convalescent is not at the Bottom of it. Ceux-mêmes qui l’ont conçu et modifié ne l’ont jamais regardé que comme...
52To John Adams from Jean de Neufville, 3 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
May I begg leave to inform yoúr Excellency of the invitation I have gott on a súdden to vizit Paris for a few days, where I had the honoúr to wait on His Excellency B Franklin, who did me the honoúr to receive and treat me with the utmost politeness. I have mentioned again the Bill which yoúr Excellency had projected that we should Accept, as belonging to the former parcell bútt Mr. Franklin...
53To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 28 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Le Baron Dedem a échoué. Mr. Van Berkel le Bourguemaître de Rotterdam, frere du Pensionaire d’Amst. s’est présente subitement, & l’a emporté venit & vicit. C’est donc lui qui sera Min re de la Rep. en Amérique. Je viens de l’en féliciter cordialement. Vous avez ses respects. Il sera charmé de vous avoir pour compagnon de Voyage. J’ai les respectées votres des 18, 22 & 23. Je fais de mon mieux...
54To John Adams from Francis Dana, 9 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I reached Leide in the Scout at 6. o Clock, and finding it impossible from thence to get to Roterdam that night in a Scout, I took a Carriage, and rode on to that place, where I arrived between 10 and 11 Clock at night. There I luckily found a French Gentleman who was bound for Antwerp; with him I took another Carriage at Rotterdam, and tho’ the road was exceedingly bad, we got on within one...
55To John Adams from Mark Lynch, 8 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the favor to acquaint you that pursuant to the directions of Philip Mazzei Esqr. I have Sent you by the Diligence that parted hence this morning for Paris, a Small case to your adress containing 7 Vol. in 4to. which Said friend left with me at his departure from this place. I have given Said case in the care of a young Man, Mr. John Kirwan, who is going to the Irish college of Paris, he...
56Samuel Tufts to John Adams, 6 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you have a letter from Saml. Moody Esqr. dated the 5th. Inst. came to my hands by his Brother, unsealed. You will therein read his propossals respecting your son. If you should send him, I shall be ready to offer him my Service so far as lays in my power, in any respect, to make his life happy in his Absence from his Friends. The Owners and Agents of the Civel Usage have followed your...
Since you know the ardor and sincerity of my feelings for the cause of liberty, you can understand my gratitude at receiving the honor of your trust in the letter of 23 October. I regret only that I cannot devote all my powers and abilities to the defense of this noble cause. The duties with which I am burdened at present leave me scarcely a free moment. This did not prevent me, however, from...
58To John Adams from Perez Morton, 19 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to the Direction of the inclosed Resolution, I am to acquaint you that by a joint Ballot of both Houses of Assembly for the Colony of Massachusetts Bay You are elected one of the Delegates to represent that Colony in American Congress untill the first Day of January AD 1777 And the enclosed Resolve you are to make the general Rule of your Conduct. RC ( Adams Papers ); with enclosure,...
59To John Adams from John Jay, 26 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I hope I may by this Time congratulate You on your safe Arrival, and happy meeting with your Son at amsterdam. M r. Laurens is here, & in better Health than I have heretofore seen him since he left America— His Stay will probably be short, for his Permission to return creates Doubts in his Mind as to the Propriety of his continuing to act with us, unless by our particular Request; and M r...
60To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 13 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
I did not write you last Tuesday as I had it not in my power to inform you with any certainty on the Subject my Letter was intended for. I can now assure you the Marquis de la Fayette will not leave home this summer. Monsieur de la Touche with the Eagle and some other Frigates have by this time sailed, with sundry Vessels under Convoy, having on board Stores Cloathing &ce for both Armies. A...