101To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 17 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
After a detention of twenty days at Helvoetsluys, and a pleasant passage of twenty four hours from thence to Margate I arrived here on the morning of the 11th: instt: The state of the business on which I came, will be known to you before the receipt of this Letter. An English paper that I saw at Rotterdam on the day of my departure from the Hague gave me the first information of Mr: Randolph’s...
102Abigail 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...
103To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your very obliging favour of the 10 th: inst: till yesterday, when I returned from the eastern Circuit. I have heard that the Judicial bill has been passed in the Senate without any alterations respecting the general plan of the judicial system. But you seem to think great changes may be made in it in the house of Representatives—that the district Judges may be annihilated...
104To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 23 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
More trouble hangs over the Camp The President last night, indulged The Secretary of War, by consenting to the arrest of Major General Wilkinson—The Court martial is detailed, and dispatches with an official arrest were this morning, sent off from the War office, to the Army of the North—somebody must be sacrificed to cover the blunders of the War— Yours respectfully, MHi : Adams Papers.
105Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 1 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
My time has been so occupied between going to Boston to get my dinner and coming back to Quincy again, that I have written to you but once since my arrival. I should have considered these frequent visits as time lost to improvement, but that they have enabled me to attend the Session of the Supreme Court, which commenced on the 19 th: ult o. . Having now complied with all the necessary forms...
106To 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...
107To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 23 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
As Messrs. Staphorst had to send the Prospectus of the Loan, with assurance of our respect to your Excellency, we beg Leave to refer to it. We received this mail the following note from Cadiz—Letters from London give notice his Excellency Mr. John. Adams, authorises the privateers of his Nation, to take portugeese Ships, and shall likewise do it to take danish Ships. As we know nothing of...
108To John Adams from James Warren, 11 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
Since my last I have waited with Impatience to hear from you. I mean Individually. The public Expectation to hear from the Congress is great. They dont Complain but they wonder that the Congress should set a month without their receiveing something decisive with regard to us. I presume we shall have it in due time, at least that nothing will be wanting in your power to relieve the distresses...
109To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have now the honor to inclose a copy of Mr. Gerry’s letter of April 20. to M. Talleyrand, which completes communication of every thing new received from him. A copy of his letter of May 13th I sent by last Friday’s mail; and a copy of his letter of May 12th by Saturday’s mail. Several cases of the yellow fever have occurred. I am with great respect, / Sir / your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams...
110To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter of the 9th. I mentioned the Receipt of yours to the President of June 26. I inclose a Resolve passed in Consequence of the Report of a Committee: Lovell, Houston and a judicious amiable Col. Motte of Sth. Carolina. On the morning of the date of the Resolve a Duplicate of that Letter had been received covering two Papers more than had been inclosed in the Original; one of which was...
111To John Adams from Silas Talbot, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
If it should be the Pleasure of the President of the united States, or the Secretary of the Navy, to place Lieut. Knox as the Junior, or an Extra Leiutenant either Temporarily, or Perminently It would be exceptable to to me. MHi : Adams Papers.
112To John Adams from Robert Morris, 25 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 22nd April has been delivered to me by Mr. Peter Paulus to whom I shall most chearfully Afford such advice or countenance as he may stand in need of. But it seems this Gentlemans wants are not confined to those Points, he applies to me for a Supply of Money to set up his Trade, I have explained that your desires in his favor do not extend to the advance of Money, and I am...
113To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Although my health is very indifferent, and my eyes soo weak and dim, that within a fortnight, I could Scarce affect any thing, either by labour or in writing—yet I must indulge the gratification of thanking you, for the few affectionate lines with which your kindness favoured me with. My Physician Says—all will be Soon well—the chief remedies are—abstinentia et quiete.Was your life less...
114To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you the decent Fashion in which we it was yesterday opinioned to let the World know Mr. Lee has a Successor. Pray strive by Mr. Issac Smith’s Knowledge of the Sailing of Vessels to let Arthur get the paper before his Foes. The 3 Ministers are to have per An: £2500 sterling. Their Secretaries £1000 in full of Services and Expences. To commence at Outset and finish in 3 months after...
115From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 4 September 1824 (Adams Papers)
I was so much occupied during my stop at Borden Town I could not answer your Letter therefore busy myself here having nothing to do with all the nonsense I can think of for pastime. You can easily conceive, the dreariness of my situation travelling alone with your father who though more of a than I can recollect since the earliest period of our marriage is still too much of a Statesman to be...
116Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have written to Ostend for the two gazettes in question. In the meantime, I will continue, always as soon as possible, to lend you mine. I am very happy to hear that your son has returned in good health to Passy. Some day this spring you should send me him, together with Mr. Cooper’s grand child and your other son. I will show them Versailles and ensure they return satisfied. My son will be...
117To John Adams from John Thaxter, 1 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is this day a Confirmation of the News of the taking the fleet mentioned in my Letter —with this addition that there is 62 instead of 55 taken—they had great quantities of provisions and warlike Stores on board, a considerable quantity of Brass Ordinance also, which they were carrying to their fleets and Armies—this Event is very unhappy for the English, and has sunk their funds. The...
118To John Adams from William Davis, 6 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Permit me, most respectfully to congratulate yr. Excellency on yr. advancemt. to this, your exalted Station; permit me, also, ( in confidence ) earnestly to request an appointment here, on the first vacancy, whereby I may be enabled to support my Family, in this my advanced age, & whereby I may render my Country some little service. nothing, but imperious necessity, can apologize, for thus...
119To John Adams from James Asheton Bayard, Jr., 25 April 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have been extremely flattered by the letter which you did me the honor to write me on the 10th. Inst. It is no virtue to be insensible to the praise of great & good men. I could not have received a more grateful reward for any labour than your approbation. I beg the favor of being presented very respectfully to Mrs. Adams. and / have the honor to be / with sentiments of the highest...
120To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 25 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to intrude upon a few of your important moments, in behalfe of William Armstrong, late commander of a letter of marque Brig, belonging to me, and called, the little Porga ; which vessel was captur’d the 3d Nov. last by a Cutter Privateer, belonging to the Island of Guernsey—whither Capt Armstrong and his company were carried, after being stripped almost naked, according to the...
121To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 8 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
By the demise of Mr Innes, the Office of Commissioner for Liquidating the claims of British Citizens under the Treaty, has become vacant. My long acquaintance with the arbitration of Exchanges, and with the most complicated & difficult modes of Account keeping both in Europe and America, would, I presume, enable me to fill the place of the late Mr. Innes, with becoming ease and propriety—I beg...
122To John Adams from Arthur Campbell, 21 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
You have spoken, and you have spoke it with dignity and truth.—That the rising generation of Americans, the most promising and perhaps the most important Youth, which the human species can boast, educated in the principles of religion and morality, and having before them the examples of the wise and good of all nations, cannot fail to answer the high expectations, which the World has formed of...
123F. & 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...
124To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
He published—his opinions on Jus Eccles. Protest . in the Ses—which were—under his presidium—defended publicly by his most eminent Students. This could not be performed without awakening the intolerant zeal of the clergy—Their rage—increased when manÿ of their Brethren Strengthened him with their open Support—then the Church became in danger. Spies—under pious pretexts were Send to him for...
125To 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...
126To John Adams from Tench Coxe, 5 April 1793 (Adams Papers)
Tho I suppose that some recent arrivals in the ports at S.E. of Philadelphia will give you the conformation of the report of war between G Britain & France I do myself the honor to mention to you the foundation on which it rests here. A Philada. ship arrived yesterday from Lisbon, when the Captn. Saw in the hands of Mr John Balkely, our principal American house, a letter from Mr. Fenwick the...
127Wilhem & 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...
128To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 27 April 1823 (Adams Papers)
My Dear and ever Honor’d And beloved Father and And Friend—For such I shall ever consider you.—it greives & mortifies me to think I am obliged to leave this place tomorrow Morning without the Happiness of seeing you—my Health for sometime back has been miserable indeed— I have rode out but twice, & that but a short distance, since last Thursday week; and since that , I found as much as I could...
129John 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...
130Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was not till last Evening that I received Your Letters of Febry 2 d 4 & 7 th . the post did not get in which was Due on twesday till Saturday. I do not know how to pass a week without hearing from You. I received newspapers to the Tenth. in those I have an account of the Declaration. it was a Solemn Scene to You, and an affecting one. You will find by my Letter of the 8 th that I was with...
131To John Adams from Antonio C. de Poggi, 27 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Proofs of the Death Montgomery &ca Rich gilt Frames, Glasses &c 6 = 6 = Packing Case = 8 = 6 CtY : Trumbull Papers.
132John 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,...
133To John Adams from Alexander Hamilton, 20 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Agreeably to the order of the Senate, I have the honor to transmit the plan for the support of Public Credit announced in my letter of the 16th instant together with sundry Statements connected with it—and to be Sir / Your most obedient & / humble servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
134From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 18 September 1824 (Adams Papers)
I write you a few lines my dear John in answer to yours which I received last night merely to say we are all well and your Grandfather better but we are so immerced in dinners and partys that my head is perfectly turned— Give my love to Johnson (Hellen), and tell him not to grieve—for I am glad the connection has failed as there is something in the conduct of all parties not altogether...
135To John Adams from George Claghorn, 2 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
We the subscribers being the superintendant Constructer and Clerk of the Navy Yard, during the building of the Frigate Constitution feel ourselves Constrained by the Principles of Justice to say That Genl. Henry Jackson the Naval Agent has on all Occasions from the Commencement of building the Frigate manifested unremitting Zeal and exertion by Personal attention to obtain in the most...
136To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 4 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I find you, & I must agree , NOT to disagree , or we must cease to discuss political questions. I could as soon believe that the British parliament, never had once a right to tax America, as believe that a fourth major part of the citizens of New york were federal , or that many of the federal minority were so, from proper motives.— I know from good authority that some of the leading...
137To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Among the papers accompanying the list of military appointments was the resignation of an Officer by the name of Bullet, if I mistake not. It was sent for your acceptance. He is waiting, & would be obliged by your decision as soon as convenient. I have the honor to be / with perfect respect / Your faithful servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
138To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 1 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I beg your acceptance of one of these volumes & that you would give the other to the President with the most respectful Compliments of the author Yr most obedt Servt MHi : Adams Papers.
139To 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...
140From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
Being very well I hasten to write you and although you disclaim all merit in a certain transaction still to repeat my approbation of a conduct which does you so much honour and which I hope (although you must not expect) will be rewarded by the improvement and merit of its object—Should this not happen do not suffer the disappointment to mortify or wound your feelings or to damp any future...
141To 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...
142To John Adams from James McHenry, 19 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose the proceedings of a General Court Martial held at Fort Sargent on the Mississippi, on thursday the 22nd day of November 1798 by order of Brigadeir General Wilkinson. At this court Andrew Anderson, a soldier, was tried on a charge of deserting his post, on the night of the 31st of October 1798, and aiding and assisting two prisoners to make their escape from confinement at Fort...
143From 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....
144To John Adams from Henry Knox, 28 September 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 13th instant and I have the honor to enclose you a letter from the spanish Residents. Your Steward himself has recovered and also his children, but his Wife is dangerously ill Your house is not what it ought to be, either for your dignity or the rent. But it is the best to be obtained. With respectful Compliments / I am my dear Sir / With...
145To John Adams from John Sinclair, 3 June 1802 (Adams Papers)
I expected to have had the Honour of hearing from you before this time, on the subject of the publication of General Washingtons Letters, but I hope to have that pleasure soon. In the interim I beg to send an engraving of the proposed Monument and a plan of the new town of Thurso in which it is proposed to be erected. You will also herewith receive a paper on Longevity. Permit me to request...
146To 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...
147To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Pickering, Capt Preeble, arrived at New York two or three Days ago—I expect the George Washington, Fletcher, is at New Port by this time. I will take the most decided steps, to get both these Vessels out immediately. Capt Preeble thinks the Pickering may be dispatched in a Week—she will be sent to near Guadaloupe,—where there remain The Ganges—Tingey The Baltimore—Barron The...
148To John Adams from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 22 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your Consideration the inclosed affidavits respecting the English Ship Oracabessa Burnt on Tuesday last within the Bar of this harbour by a Privateer said to be called the Vortitude commanded by a Captain Jourdain and belonging to Cape Francois, also of the capture of the Ship Pallas belonging to this Port and the Mary of Savannah. By an examination of the...
149To John Adams from Samuel Allyne Otis, 17 April 1793 (Adams Papers)
I suppose by this time sober hill is in great glory, at least if your spring has been forward in any measure as ours has. And when we compare our peaceful Towns & happy villages with the garrisons & wasted fields of Europe we ought to bless God who has divided us by 1000 leagues of water. But the question occurs will this distance from that great awful & distressed Theatre of human misery &...
150Abigail Adams to John Adams, 4 [December] 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Weather has been & held so uncommonly cold ever since you left Me, that I had no expectation of getting a line from you untill you reachd N york, but that line I have not yet received, and by this Time I presume you have reachd the city of Sedition, the Hot bed of France; I wrote you this Day week, and inclosed to you our Sons Letters. Gen ll Lincoln & mrs Lincoln Dined with Me yesterday...