61To John Adams from William Cunningham, 14 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 7th. inst. After telling me that the employment of your thoughts upon your public essays precludes your attention, for the present, to my letters, I should be bereft of apology for filling again a whole sheet, if you had not also said that you are in no apprehension of being inundated. Amidst the heaviest outpouring which may be supposed to be congregating in...
62To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of September 14—No person can more sincerely commisserate the situation of Mr Jarvis and his family than I do—and I am certain that the Comptroller who has directed the proceedings for the recovery of the debt due to the United States has been influenced by the same feelings—It is now about three years since Mr Jarvis was removed from Office and not...
63To John Adams from Samuel Stanhope Smith, 16 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that the students of this College, seized with the general spirit that is pervading the country, have presumed to offer you their address on the present state of public affairs. As this measure has been entirely planned & executed without the privity, or participation of any of the Masters of the College, I fear it must be at least imperfectly, perhaps, imprudently executed—Most...
64Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 10 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Nov. 23. the banks, bankrupt law, manufactures, Spanish treaty are nothing. these are th occurrences which like waves in a storm will pass under the ship. but the Missouri question is a breaker on which we lose the Missouri country by revolt, & what more, God only knows. from the battle of Bunker’s hill to the treaty of
65From 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...
66To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I regret, that So often I must wearÿ you with mÿ complaints about myself, and yet I must do it, in apologÿ to myself, when I write a dull Letter. I have again be tortured with head-ache, and enjoÿ now only a little relief, which I am apprehensive Shall not last long—but I must take hold of this interval, to give me the pleasure, of answering your last favour of the 2d inst. I believe, I Shall...
67To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
As I consider the Appointment of a Judge, for the fifth Circuit, of very great Importance to the Public, and to the judiciary Department, I take the Liberty to recommend to your Excellency Philip Barton Key Esqr.—I know no Gentleman, in this State (who will accept) better qualified, in every Respect, to discharge the Duties of the Office; and I am well assured, that only Want of Health, of...
68To John Adams from Edward Hill, 4 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a fortnight ago by Mr. Sullivan, since which almost every day has produced some new matter of joy to the friends of Liberty. The proceedings of the people at Salem Cambridge and other places —the resignation of many of the new Councillors—the behaviour of both juries at the Superior Court held here the last week; are some of the most important. I had proposed to send you a very...
69To John Adams from James McHenry, 16 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received the inclosed letter and list of persons proposed for military appointments from Major General Pinckney, and take the liberty to request, if the names should be approved of that it may be returned as soon as convenient, with authority to announce to the persons therein named their appointments and to make alterations therein should any intervening information or...
70To John Adams from James McHenry, 2 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that Tench Frances Eqr Purveyor of public supplies, died last night; This event creates a vacancy in an important office, which the necessities of the service, require, should be filled with as little delay as possible. Permit me respectfully to present to you, the name of Mr. Jonathan Williams as a successor to this office. He is a gentleman of intelligence, activity, experience...
71To John Adams from John Jay, 10 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
I cannot easily tell you how much I am pleased & obliged by your friendly Letter of the 4th. Instant:—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...
72To John Adams from Captain Ryk, 2 September 1825 (Adams Papers)
Captain Ryk takes his leave and presents the Expression of his Veneration to His Excellency President Adams. Among all the pleasant recollections his stay in Boston never will fail to give him. certainly he allways will remember with the greatest interest that he had the honour to be introduced to the Veteran of the American liberty, ones the first Magistrate now the father of the first...
73Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 9 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Adams not knowing of this Opportunity by Mr. Sears and Capt. Cheevers, who are going in a Dutch ship, who probably may call on you as the ship is designed to touch at Bourdeaux. I wrote you by a Vessell of my Own a few days since by the way of Cadiz, I then wrote you I had received a Trunk by Capt. Tucker, for Mrs. Adams, in good order. You will doubtless have heard by the packet Count...
74To 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...
75To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 30 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the President of the United States, the following report upon the petition of Slocum Fowler.— The petitioner states that at the last February term of the District Court for the District of Rhode Island, judgment was recovered against him in favour of the United States, for the sum of four hundred dollars, being a penalty incurred by him in...
76To John Adams from the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 23 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous Sçavez, notre Cher Monsieur, que l’interest de l’amerique a toujours été le notre; nous n’avons jamais perdu de vue cet heureux pais depuis la glorieuse époque de sa revolution, le premier motif de ce Sentiment est la justice que la nature reclame Contre l’oppression et la tirannèe. Nous ne voyions que des hommes malheureux. Des hommes libres qu’en vouloit soumettre à la honte de...
77To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 October 1821 (Adams Papers)
Although I did not hear from Montezillo—Since your very affectionate Letter of 30 May—except by our friend Tyng, on 27 July—I am confident, that I can not be forgotten—and Supposed, that health and contentment must have remained your familys Share, increased yet by the presence of the Secretary of State, and the distinguished progress of your grandson—yet these pleasing contemplations were...
78To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in Obedience to the command of the President of the United States respectfully submits the following Report. That the facts stated in the petitions of Robert Wanton herewith transmitted, praying for the pardon of an offence committed by him against the Revenue Laws of the United States are verefied by the Letter of the Collector for the District of Boston and...
79To John Adams from Benjamin Waterhouse, 13 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter with pleasure, and read it with high satisfaction. You have paid the highest compliment on the President’s Message or rather, Elogium, that I have yet seen, or have ever heard of—Our proud federalists however are displeased & mortified that he did not tell the whole world, how grand, how rich, how powerful, how gifted & how virtuous they in Boston are above all other...
80To John Adams from James Warren, 1 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
An Event has lately taken place here, which makes much Noise, and gives me much Uneasiness not only as it Affects the Character, and may prove the ruin of a Man who I used to have a Tolerable Opinion of, but as it may be the Cause of many suspicions and Jealousies and what is still worse, have a Tendency to discredit the Recommendations of my Friends at the Congress. Dr. C——h has been detected...
81To John Adams from James Francis Armstrong, 2 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Armstrong wishes to insinuate to the President of the United States his wish to know whether the President proposes to communicate with our Church tomorrow as we expect the administration of the Lord’s Supper then by Dr. Woodhull—The Communicants sit with us not at a common Table, but in the Pews around the Pulpit—mine in which the President sat last Sabbath week is one, which I wish he...
82To John Adams from William McCarty, 15 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Having been taken the 25th. January last, in the Brig Active, on my passage from Philadelphia to L’Orient and Carry’d into England, The British took from me, all my private paper’s and Bills of Exchange, among which were several setts, drawn by Congress, on Holland; Colo. Palfrey in the Shelaly, who had the Seconds, not being arrived, leaves me without any to Present untill I can receive the...
83To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 17 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
After the letter we had the honour of writing to your Excellency having got a Conversation about the Prospectus of the Loan, we think it would be more easy and convenient for yr. Excellency, to pass five Bonds, each of one Million of Guilders in our favour, authorising and empowering us to divide them in Bonds of thousand Guilders each, under our hands, which Should be Saving a good deal of...
84To John Adams from Richard Rush, 24 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have given the above extract exactly as I find it in a book of my venerated parent that I have just been reading, and which is full of interesting anecdote. I avow it in part as my motive, that I may ask you what toast you would give now if I had the happiness of being in your company at Quincy. That we shall have to fight longer is, as I intimated to you a few days ago, highly probable. The...
85To John Adams from James Warren, 5 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Inclosed Letter was sealed to go by the last Post, but I Unluckily missed it. I have now An Opportunity to Inclose one from Braintree. Doctr. Church is Arrived here. Is not your resolve relative to him somewhat Extraordinary. I fear the People will kill him if at large. The Night before last he went to Lodge at Waltham was saved by the Interposition of the selectmen but by Jumping out of A...
86To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 September 1824 (Adams Papers)
Confident, that, after Such a long Silence, a few Letters of an old friend, who allways revered you, and will continue to do So till his last breath, Shall not be unacceptable, I once more take up my pen I can not—after approaching my 73th foster the hope, that I Shall be permitted to do it often—But I will not delay it longer—as I hear neither from you or my N. England frends a word—except...
87To John Adams from David Campbell, 2 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
With this letter you will receive an Address from part of the Citizens of the State of Tennessee, under my signature. I being appointed by a very respectable body of people to draw up, and forward the same, it becomes my Duty to transmit it to your Excellency. I have the honour to be with very / great Respect / Your Excellency’s / Most Obt. Hbl. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
88To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 15 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
“Arma, Cestusque”, parmamque “repono,” upon the offensive subject of one of my late letters to you.— I sincerely rejoice in the successful issue of the operation upon Mrs Smith’s breast. I would reciprocate your expressions of pleasure upon the appearances of a recussitation of the Spirit of 177 4 at Washington did I believe they would terminate in any thing but in upon Speeches, Embassies...
89To 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...
90Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have not any Letter from you of a later date than the 9th; you was then unwell. I have one from william of the 12th. as he does not mention your being still indisposed I hope it was only occasiond by the Thaw, and the close air of the Theatre. I have myself been confined for a week, but got down stairs yesterday, and hope I have parted with some of my bad humours , by the application of...