1771To John Adams from Richard Henry Lee, 24 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
Philadelphia, 24 April 1779. Dft ( ViU : Lee Papers). printed : The Letters of Richard Henry Lee , ed. James Ballagh, 2 vols., N.Y., 1914 (repr. N.Y., 1970), 2:46–49. Given its date and its existence only in draft, this reply to John Adams’ letter of 5 Aug. 1778 (vol. 6:350–352) probably never reached him. Lee commended Adams for his determination to remain outside the quarrels of the...
1772To John Adams from James Lovell, 20 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
The receipt of your letters of Decr. 24th variously directed gave equal and uniform satisfaction here yesterday. There was an error in the date of the Commission but it is judged to be of no importance. I send all the dispatches to you open as before that you may be acquainted with the contents, in case you should forward them before you sail yourself. I will endeavour to send your Chest by...
1773John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 24 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you, was of November 25. since which I have not enjoyed the pleasure of receiving a line either from my mother or from you— To her I have in the interval written once; and now enclose a press-copy of the letter, in case the original should fail in the conveyance. My numerous letters to the Secretary of State, and to my brother will I hope apologize for my silence during so...
1774To John Adams from Hendrik Bicker, 11 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Monsieur, Les Courtiers ten Kate du temps que j’etais dans les Affaires ont eu l’entree Libre chez moi, je les crois capables, Mais je les ai trouves si interressables pour Eúx memes que je ne pouvais jamais terminer avec Eux, quand au Sieur van Vloten je crois que sa Residance est a Utrecht et qu’il a des bonnes occasions pour placer de L’argent des Habitants de cette Province qui pourtant ne...
1775From Richard O’Brien to John Adams, 12 May 1792 (Adams Papers)
The Humble Petition of us the undersigning Citizens of the united States who are now Languishing prisoners at Algiers— Humbly Sheweth that we youre petitioner’s had the misfortune of being Captured nearly Seven years ago by Cruisers belonging to the Regency of Algiers while we were navigateing Vessels belonging to Citizens of the united States. that we were flattered for a Considerable time...
1776C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 3 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that a courier from the republic’s plenipotentiaries at St. Petersburg has arrived with dispatches that remove any plausible pretext for the temporizers to delay the accession of the republic to the armed neutrality and indicate the likelihood that Portugal, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor will also join. It is apparent that the purpose of all this is not...
1777To John Adams from Paul Dudley Sargent, 19 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
In reading your Speach to the two Houses of Congress I could not but notice the emphatical manner in which you impressed Congress with the necessity of Defending our Commerce; which led me to consider of our present mode of building our Ships on stocks above high water mark. I think we have had a full trial of the inexpediency of that way of building, in the difficulty, risk, and danger in...
1778To John Adams from J. D. Schweighauser, 26 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of sending you inclose a Letter received per this Morning’s post and altho I expect to have that of seeing you dayly I have thought proper to send it you per this conveyance as if you are on your way here that it can not miss you on the road. We have learnt that the french frigate the Surveillante has sent it in two English Privateers at L Orient and sunk three others. The...
1779To John Adams from James Monroe, 15 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inclose to you a report of a the com: of the. 7th. on our for: relations with govts. in which the communications wh took place between the Ex: of the US. & the Br. govt., are review’d, & the a project of an act of congress, relative to seamen submitted to considerations—The object of the report seems to be and as it undoubtdly is, to place the controversy between the two...
1780To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 22 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yorktown, 22 January 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Benjamin Rush, Letters Letters of Benjamin Rush , ed. L. H. Butterfield, Princeton, 1951; 2 vols. , 1:190–192. Whatever might be said about the graces needed at the French court, Rush praised the choice of the “perfectly honest” Adams as commissioner. Critical of American generalship, Rush yet dreaded the entry of France into the war...
1781To John Adams from Richard Rush, 26 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
I must insist upon it, notwithstanding the authority of your veto, that the subject is truly a noble one for the painter. A great patriarch, one of the chief founders of his country’s liberties, the steady advocate of her rights at the courts of foreign potentates as well as in all departments at home, is permitted by a kind Providence to live as it were into posterity, beholding the vast...
1782To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Understanding a marine Department is about to be created, and reflecting, that my former appointment under the Commissioner of the United States in France was principally of that discription, I am emboldened to offer a renewal of my Services. Maritime concerns have been with me objects of particular attention from early life, and so far as they are connected with Commerce may be considered as...
1783To John Adams from Robert Montgomery, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of Addressing you the 5th Currente to Which Please be Referd and Since am Honour’d With your Truly Esteem’d Letter of the 31 ultimo and am Happy to Learn your Safe Arrival at Bordeaux on your Route to Paris. Your Thanks is Much more than an Equivilante for any Services I Wished to do you At Madrid. I onley Considred that as part of My duty, as well to Serve the united States...
1784To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 7 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Among the late intercepted Letters from London, is one from the Army Agent there to the Traitor Arnold, by which it appears that his Bribe was 5000 £ Sterling, in Bills drawn on Harley & Drummond, who are the Contractors for furnishing the Army with Money. Inclos’d I send you a Copy of that Letter, and shall send you others by next Post. The English Papers tell us, that you have succeeded in...
1785To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 26 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I return you my sincere thanks for the kind opinions reiterated in your letter of the 17th. inst. and also for your obliging answers to my inquiries relative to Botta. Though I felt no disposition to engage further in biography, yet any suggestion coming from you cannot fail of engaging my earnest attention. Your recommendation therefore to take the lives of Samuel Adams & Josiah Quincy I have...
1786To John Adams from George Washington, 22 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
As the Transmission of the inclosed paper through the usual Channel of the Department of foreign Affairs would, on the present Occasion, probably be attended with great Delay—and recent Intelligence of Military Transactions must be important to our Ministers in Europe at the present period of Affairs—I have thought it would be agreeable both to Congress and your Excellency, that the Matter...
1787To John Adams from Stephen Peabody, 12 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
With pleasure we are informed in the public prints of your safe return from the seat of government. The present critical state of the affairs of our country, has undoubtedly produced pressing anxieties in your mind, of which we have all in some measure been partakers. But the public mind appears to be relieved and satisfied, with the cool, deliberate, and spirited measures recommended in your...
1788C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 3 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received your orders of the day before yesterday, and I will not fail in executing them next Tuesday morning, not being able to do so earlier because of the holidays. I consulted a well-connected friend who advised me to carry the letters personally since this would be more polite and decent for everyone, and this way they could not be refused. I will have the honor at that time to give you...
1789To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Congress, after her very long detention at Norfolk, I have reason to hope will be ready to sail on the 15 ins.—to cruise a little while in those latitudes where the French Privateers have lately done most mischief—and then proceed to St. Domingo. The Insurgent too, will be ready to leave Baltimore about the same time, to cruise on the coast, & between the Coast and the Islands—The...
1790To John Adams from Richard Peters, 10 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
I should be wanting in those Evidences of my very sincere Respect & Esteem for you which I shall ever be happy in shewing, if I did not take the Oppertunity your Election to the honourable & respectable Station you now fill affords me of joining my Congratulations with those of the great Numbers of our Fellow Citizens who are gratified by your Appointment. I very truly wish you every...
1791To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 2 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Having information that Capt Little of the Boston will be ready for Sea, by the 10 Inst— I have the honor to enclose for your perusal, his Instructions. It having been determined, not to let it be known any where, until it could be known every where, that two ports in St. Domingo were to be open to our Trade, I have calculated Capt Littles Instructions, so that he is not to know his...
1792To John Adams from James Wilkinson, 24 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
At the particular desire of the Bearer, the Miamis Chief called the little Turtle, I give Him this Letter of Introduction to you; His consequence among the Nations, approximate to one North Western frontier, gave Him pretensions to this distinction, I have deemed it political to indulge Him, and hope the Step may not be displeasing to you.— To the details which I have given the Secretary of...
1793To John Adams from Hendrick W. Gordon, 28 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
It has been said by some persons, with a view to make many believe it, “that His Excellency John Quincy Adams our Minister in Russia has written to his Father the late President of the U.S. a letter which came by the way of Halifax & recently received, in which he says “the war in which the U.S. are engaged” is unncessary and unjust. ” For myself I do not beleive that he has written any thing...
1794To John Adams from Joseph Bradley Varnum, 20 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor of Receiving your Letter of the 4th. Instant, for which and many other valuable & Instructive Communications from you, I tender you my most cordial and grateful acknowledgements. I am in hopes, that our next Campaign will be more prosperous than the last great Exertions are making to open it, by Land, with Vigour. The late Success of the Frigate Constitution, the news of...
1795To John Adams from Henry Dearborn, 16 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
In behalf of a numerous body of Citizens of Boston, we request your consent; to set for a Bust , in Marble, to be executed by an eminent Artist, now resident in that Town, to be placed in Faneuil Hall.— In soliciting your assent, to this tribute of our high Respect & Veneration, we are particularly influenced by a desire of transmitting to our Children, the Features of the Man, whose patriotic...
1796To John Adams from William Bentley, 11 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I could not refuse myself the pleasure of sending the inclosed view of the Tree in the Endicot Orchard. It is from the pen of a young Female Pupil, belonging to the family in which I live, & from the same person who accompanied me in my journey through Quincy, in the last year; & who was present with me when I took the Grafts of this season, which I sent to you. I add in confirmation, that the...
1797To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 21 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
The idea suggested by you last evening, that you may possibly think it expedient to appoint a Secretary of Legation to the embassy to Paris, induces me to say that if upon reflection such a measure should finally be adopted, and no person occurs to you as likely to accept the appointment whose experience and qualifications should not give him superior pretensions; I should be glad of it, if it...
1798To John Adams from William Plumer, 21 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have for sometime neglected writing to my friend your son at St. Petersburg, because I expected his return early the approaching summer; but I now perceive he is appointed minster plenipotentiary to the court of St. James’s. My object in this Address is to enquire whether he will accept that mission or return to his native country? If he accepts that appointment, the son may terminate his...
1799To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits the following observations, in obedience to the direction of the President of the United States. The project of a treaty proposed by the minister of His Britannic Majesty, for the reciprocal delivery of deserters from the land and naval service, does not sufficiently provide against the impressment of American Seamen, and is therefore deemed...
1800Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have regularly received Your Letters and thank you for them. I have read the pamphlets. the Bone has much good natured Witt, contains many painfull facts, & Shows in a strong light what manner of Spirit actuates the pretended Patriots. the writer has in some places taken, a poetical Licence I have not offerd it where I am. Society and Interest and dissapointed ambition will have their...