2671To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose the Aurora of yesterday—beleiving that you do not take that paper. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect & / esteem Sir Yr. most / Obed. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
2672To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a copy of Mr Pickerings letter to me of the 20th of June No 1, of an account of Stores said to have been purchased for the Sophia No 2, & of his statement of my account No 3; the latter of which, as I conceive, is unjust in several particulars. 1st Mr Pickering has considered my salary as terminating the 12th of may; stating, that it was “the day on which I received...
2673To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
There is in the Aurora of this city, an uninterrupted stream of slander on the American Government. I inclose the paper of this morning. It is not the first time that the Editor has suggested—that you had asserted the influence of the British Government in the affairs of our own—and insinuated, that it was obtained by bribery. The general readers of the Aurora will believe both.—I shall give...
2674To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honour most respectfully to submit to the President of the United States the following Report.— That in consequence of strong suspicions that great disorders existed in the office of John Fitzgerald Esquire, Collector of the Customs for the District of Alexandria, an enquiry was instituted in March 1798, the management of which was committed to William...
2675To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
By this Mail, I shall have the honour to transmit a Report respecting John Fitzgerald Esqr. Collector of Alexandria—if the President shall see proper to make a new appointment, I take the liberty to recommend Charles Simms Esquire, who is, I presume well known to the President.—The Attorney General is of opinion that Colo. Simms is the most suitable character—He is a Gentleman of eminence at...
2676To John Adams from Samuel Smith, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I Do myself the honor to Inclose you a publication of the Committee of this City, whether it will have the desired effect contemplated I cannot yet determine. The following Expression Induced me to address you. We are informed by the Sect. of War that the Finances of the U. S. did not admit of a larger appropriation than twenty thousand Dollars towards the fortifications to be erected near our...
2677Elijah Adams to John Adams, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I embrace this opportunity to send, by Miss Hannah Adams, a copy of the genealogy of the family of Adamss according to your request. It is some years since I was requested by a number of respectable relations to prevent the genealogy from being lost; Accordingly I have been, for several years, collecting information from every source to make out the genealogy which I here exhibit to you. I...
2678To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit a letter dated the 18th instant from General Thomas Pozey, advising of his resignation of the Office of Commissioner of Direct Tax, for the eleventh Division in the State of Virginia, and recommending Captain William Taylor of Fredericksburgh as his successor. Having no reason to doubt that Mr Taylor is a suitable character to fill the vacancy—I enclose a blank...
2679To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Revd. Mr. Evens call to tender his services as a Chaplain to the troops now raising—In that Character he passed thro our long Contest with Great Britain to great acceptance. He joined my family during the seige of York town I not only became atteached to him as a friend, but as a Gentleman well qualified & disposed to discharge with fidelity the duties of his station. I think him now...
2680To John Adams from James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning the inclosed letter from Major General Hamilton dated the 17th July Inst. recommending Ths. y. How of Trenton, in N. Jersey, to the Office of 2d. Lieutenant in the 11th United States Regiment of Infantry. Knowing the inadequacy of the salaries allowed to officers in subordinate stations, and how difficult it is to secure the services of persons properly qualified to...
2681To John Adams from James McHenry, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Major General Pinckney advises on the 28th June ulto. “I have this moment received accounts from Mr. Seagrove at St. Mary’s that the Creeks are disposed to prevent the running of the line between the U.S. and the Floridas, notwithstanding they had consented to it by the treaty of Colerain. The talk of one of the Indian Chiefs to him, and his answer is now copying to be sent you, but I do not...
2682To John Adams from James McHenry, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The impossibility which has existed to do more than proportion our supplies of cloathing to the wants of the recruiting parties for the 12 Regiments of Infantry, has been one cause why no orders have yet issued to Major General Hamilton to raise the six additional companies of Cavalry. I have been influenced also to this delay, by a desire to husband our means, and guard against interrupting...
2683To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit a letter dated the 15th. instant, from William Payne Esquire, advising of his resignation of the Office of Commissioner of Direct Tax for the tenth Division in the State of Virginia, and recommending Augustine J. Smith Esquire, as his successor.— Having no reason to doubt that Mr. Smith is a suitable character to fill the vacancy, I enclose a blank commission for...
2684To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to submit the inclosed list of names of candidates recommended to fill vacancies in the 6th Regiment, and to be with the greatest respect, / Sir / Your most obt. / & hble St. MHi : Adams Papers.
2685To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The unfortunate mistake referred to in Mr. Liston’s letter of the 13th to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, has induced me to reprint your proclamation for opening the trade with St. Domingo, and to subjoin an extract of Mr. Liston’s letter, to put into the hands of as many of the Collectors as are within reach, prior to the first of August.—General Maitland’s letter to me of the 23d of May and the 5th...
2686To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 17 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose, agreeably to a request contained in a letter from Mr Shaw of the 9th instant, the regulations for the government of the Navy together with my report on the naval establishment. I have the honor to be, with / the greatest respect and esteem / Sir, / Your most Obd. Hb. St. MHi : Adams Papers.
2687To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I now do myself the honor to enclose letters from Capt Tingey—who appears to be a Judicious, attentive, active officer. I wish his commission was of older date. The Merrimack, Capt Brown, must have joined him very soon after the date of his last letter—she might have joined him before.—The Pickering sailed from New York, to join him, the 27. June—and the Delaware is now proceeding down the...
2688To John Adams from James McHenry, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour, to receive your letter of the 5th inst., inclosing two letters dated the 10th of August 1798 and 2d May last, to you, from Ensign David Fero, relative to his sentence by a general court martial, which sat at the camp near Natches. You direct me to inform you, if I have any official information on the subject, and to report my opinion, what is proper to be done. In my...
2689To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose copies of three letters from Mr. Liston, copied from his rough draughts which on the 8th instant he put into my hands, supposing them to be the letters which report said had been taken in Bucks County in this State from the man to whom Mr. Liston had entrusted them, and which in my letter of yesterday I said would be forwarded to-day. This morning the Aurora has...
2690To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
By the southern mail of this day I have received the inclosed letter from James Seagrove, late superintendant of Indian affairs for the Creek nation, with Methlogy’s speech and his answer. I have also the honour to inclose the copy of a letter I have just written to Mr. Seagrove on the subject.—What Methlogy says of Colo. Hawkins’s conduct at the close of the conference, I doubt not is utterly...
2691To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since closing my other letter of this date, I have received a packet from Mr. Pitcairn, with the inclosed note and pamphlet (Le Spectateur du Nord) for you. In his letter to me, he says he sends 1. one large letter for the President & do. for you; both from Mr. Adams. There was none for you, except the pamphlet & P’s note. Mr. Adams was near concluding a commercial treaty with Prussia: I will...
2692To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 8th. Inst. Having sent by yesterdays mail all the papers relating to Talbotts claim of Rank—I will not add further on that subject. If Talbott will not continue in the Constitution, Sever, I would risk my life, would be found equal to the Command of her.—I am sorry for the prejudices which prevail against him, which arise in part from the his efforts to...
2693To John Adams from Silas Talbot, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to you, the oath I have taken the second time since I was appointed a Captain in the Navy. The first was taken before Judge Willson in Phila—on or about the 11th of June 1794 and was handed by me, to General Knox at the War Office; and it is likely that it may now be found among the files of that office I have also drawn up a short but Summary statement of my...
2694To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit a Letter dated April 8th. 1799 from Nathl. Burwell Esqr. one of the Commissioners of Virginia.—This Letter was received in due season, after the date.—By the operation of a late Law of the State, a new appointment is now necessary.—I have no reason to doubt that Mr. William Fleet is a suitable character to fill the vacancy.— I have the honour to be / very...
2695To John Adams from David Leonard Barnes, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The merit of the inclosed Oration deliver’d by the learned & eloquent President of the College in this place, will I trust be a sufficient apology for the liberty taken in transmitting it by Your most Obedient / And very Humble Servant MHi : Adams Papers.
2696To John Adams from James McHenry, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inclose, a submission to the Heads of Departments, in conformity with your letter of the 19th of June Ulto, and the answers thereto dated the 3d. 6th and 9th of July inst. I shall only observe, that it appears from the files of the proceedings of courts martial—during our revolutionary war, that the practice was not uniform, to mention on the face of the proceedings, the...
2697To John Adams from James McHenry, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive, this morning, your letter of the 7th of July inst. It is very certain, Sir, that nothing was more remote from my thoughts, than to bring into comparison, the re l ative importance of the Navy and Army; and I believe, I shall never take the liberty, to call upon you to decide, what I flatter myself, it is impossible can ever happen, any dispute between Mr...
2698To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
There has been much noise made by the presses and persons devoted to France, about some letters of Mr. Liston to the Governors of the Canadas. Mr. Liston has handed me his original draughts of the letters referred to, which are copying, and which copies I will transmit to you to-morrow: you will see that they are quite harmless; and therefore, notwithstanding the threat of publishing them, the...
2699To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 5th Inst enclosing two letters from Captain Talbot—I cannot express the mortification they have given me— I fear Captain Talbot has not met with much Candour in his intercourse with the World, or he would not have urged as one of his reasons for declining the Service, a Suspicion of my want of confidence in him directly in the teeth of my whole...
2700To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
If Capt. Talbott persists in declining the Command of the Constitution—I presume Capt. Sever will be quite equal to that service. For my own part, I have thought very highly of him, from his correspondence, and Capt. Murray informs me, that there was hardly a Vessel in our service, where better discipline was kept up than in the Herald, which he attributed in a great degree, to the good...