301To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter for Capt Talbot, enclosing a commission for your signature. Several letters have passed between Talbot & me, on the subject of the dispute between him & Truxtun—I have stated to him explicitly my opinion, that Truxtun must now be considered his Senior Officer—but promised him the whole should be laid before you, & that he should not serve with Truxtun,...
302To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
While in the silent watches of the Last night I was Contemplating the Vicissitudes of Life, the Fickleness of Mankind & the Instability of human Friendships.— I determined to take up my pen in the morning & inquire if it was possible that M r Adams should never have directed one line to his frends at Milton since he held the Rank of Minister at the Court of Britain. I have been always...
303To John Adams from William Simmons, 8 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject which from its nature I trust from your known goodness will appologize for the intrusion.—I have a Brother who entered the service of The United States as a Lieutenant of Cavalry at the age of nineteen, in the Year 1797, He was shortly after ordered to proceed to the Frontiers of the State of Tennessee where he continued to do duty near two...
304To John Adams from William Cunningham, 29 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote to you on the 9th. inst. I did not expect that I should again trouble you; nor did I look for an answer, except to the postscript, nor to that unless you chose to continue the communications you have made me embargoed in my bosom. To this hour, I can very truly assure you, that the contents of your Letters are unknown to any human being but myself, excepting those to whom they...
305To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have read over most part of your book with no less satisfaction than pleasure and gained much information. In conversation the other day you advanced a doctrine which appears to me new & extraordinary. neither are the consequences so evident as to prevent me thinking otherwise and that facts make against the Idea. attention to stile would ruin America. The practice of all ages has been...
306To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the US. and will have the honor of waiting on him to dinner on Thursday next NHi ; NNGL .
307From John Adams to John Adams, 31 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I find upon my table this morning your favour of the 7. March; and I know not whether I have ever answered it. I approve of your “eating and Sleeping and living together; of your playing Football, Crickett; running, climbinge, leaping Swimming, Skateing; and have no great Objection to your play at Marbles. These are good for your Health: but what do you do for your Mind? The Mind is of more...
308To John Adams from William Moulton, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
At this important crisis, while the sensibility of our good citizens through the union is awakened by the indignities the United States have suffered from the French government, and while they are signifying their confidence in and approbation of the measures adopted by their own Government, I hope it will not be deemed impertinent or improper in me to testify my sensibility at the nefarious...
309To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
Tu m’aduli, ma tu mi piace says anÿ where Chesterfield—but so you do in a most egregious manner—but you make your Physic so highly palatable, that it is swallowed, before reason can with sufficient coolness examine, if the encomium—so kindly bestowed is really deserved. You want not to be informed—that I am highlÿ pleased, when I am favoured with your encouraging approbation—and whÿ should I...
310To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 8 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the Vice-president of the U. S. and has the honor to inclose him the copy of a letter from the President, just now received. MHi : Adams Papers.
311To John Adams from Tench Coxe, 21 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received a letter from one of my brothers, who went thro Pittsburg to New Orleans in June last, which contains some information relative to public affairs. I therefore do myself the honor to enclose a copy that it may be of any confidential use that you may think proper, within the Government. My brother having a very considerable commercial establishment at New Orleans, and other parts...
312To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have now before me your favour of July the 15th, with which, as usual, I was highlÿ gratified. I could have wished, to have delay’d its answer longer, till the assaults of that relentless Demon of head-ache had been abated, who possesses me again Since three weeks, but I know not, to what charm he will listen—So that I must Submit with resignation, till he is tired of the contest. Indeed...
313To John Adams from Chérot Dumaine, 3 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
Vous trouverez sans doute surprenant que sans V ous connaitre & sans avoir l’honneur d’être connu de V ous, je me hazarde à mettre Votre complaisance à l’épreuve, en Vous priant de Vouloir bien me rendre un service. Ce service sans doute très faible relativement au peu qu’il en coutera à Vos talens, pourrait, je le Crains, vous causer quelqu’embarras, puis qu’il Vous dérobera quelques momens...
314To John Adams from William Gordon, 5 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of April the 8th tho’ frankt was not received till the 22d of May. Tis mortifying to think that such a horrid corruption hath spread itself so rapidly thro’ the American States; and that in the first year of our existence we should have adopted so many of the Old England vices. People had a better opinion of themselves than was meet: but the time of temptation hath laid open their...
315To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that on considering, with the Secretary of the Treasury, the mode of communicating your proclamation for renewing the commercial intercourse between the United States and St. Domingo, we have concluded to transmit copies thereof by mail, as follows. To-morrow, Friday, to send off those for the District of Maine, for the States of Georgia, South and North...
316John Thaxter to John Adams, 23 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of your Note and the inclosed Extracts yesterday Morning; I waited on Mr. Luzac immediately with the Paper and shewed him the Extracts, with which he was highly gratified. He sent them so late last Evening that I had only time to inclose them to You. The News cannot but be agreable to every one who loves his Country, and feels interested in every Event that affects it: but the...
317To John Adams from Seth Harding, 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
On the 27th. Instant, I had the Honnor to Receive your kind frendley Letter with a Number of Certificates which I Enclosed to your Excelencey Sumtime past the Reason your Letter did not Com to hand before I suppose was on acct. of the Sickness in this City. Sir I am Exceading happy to hear youre Excelency so fulley Sattisfied, in Regard to the Unfaverable Charge Lodged against me—Sir I...
318To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter from President Lee to you (of the Subject and Contents of which I am informed) will explain to you the Design of the Letters and papers which accompany this. The one to the archbishops of York and Canterbury are left open for your Information; and that you may the more easily determine with yourself either to deliver it in Person, or merely to forward it by a proper...
319Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 6 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a post or two Ago, of being informd Mr. Gearey had wrote his brother to procure a Cargo or two of fish, to ship to Europe and had Applyed to me for some I have by me, but as I have sundry Vessells of my Own lying by should be glad to have them imployed, and iff the Congress wants to purchase I would let them have mine and would see to the loading of her and to follow there...
320To John Adams from William Tudor, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of your Letter by Monsieur Jean Baptiste Petry about six Weeks since, and should before this Time have acknowleged the Receipt of it, had a favourable Opportunity presented but so many of our merchant Ships are captured that a Letter goes subjected to too much Hazard which is transmitted by a private Vessel; This goes by The Alliance and I hope will arrive safe, for the Loss...
321Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 20 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 15 th: inst t: and am pleased to find in it an interpretation of the 6 th: Article of the Convention with France, which had escaped my reflection— Viewing it as a provision only to operate after the expiration of our treaty with G Britain, it may be both natural & proper, but as the time when it was to operate was not specified, many others, like myself, have supposed...
322To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 29 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have the very great pleasure to acknowledge your favour of the 15th. Inst. Be assured, Sir, that I appreciate the honour of your correspondence; and that it will be a precious reward to cultivate and deserve your esteem and confidence. “The uncertainty of politics” is, indeed, as obvious, as it is lamentable. I cannot, however, unite with you, in applying to it the epithet “glorious.” It is...
323To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 1 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Favour of the 15th of December, for which I beg leave to express my grateful acknowledgements. I never read any thing from your pen, without deriving information and pleasure. You have Sir, I believe drawn a correct map of Bonaparte’s power. I had some similar ideas, but you have measured things by a large scale, and marked the limits of nature. Napoleon, like...
324To John Adams from Hanson Briscoe, 25 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a meeting of the Citizens residing in the Town of Cumberland in the County of Allegany and State of Maryland and its vicinity, held on Friday the 25th. day of May 1798 after due notice. Hanson Briscoe was appointed Chairman and Patrick Murdoch John H Bayard, Samuel Selby 3rd, John Simkins and George Dent were named a Committee to draw up and report an address to the President of the United...
325To John Adams from William Gordon, 30 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
In answer to yours of July 2 d , sent You, Sep t 19, under cover to Mess rs D e Neufville’s by a vessel,—Buffington Master—bound from Salem to France, a very long letter, in which I wrote freely: afterwards I thought, that should French curiosity peep into it, you might possibly fail of receiving it. I keep no copies, & therefore cannot transmit a duplicate. But I told You that I neither knew...
326To John Adams from John Winthrop, 5 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit so good an opportunity as now offers, of paying my respects to you. Nothing remarkable has occurred among us since the disgraceful flight of the British troops on the 17th ultimo. Tis generally believed they are bound to Halifax. General Washington set off yesterday. His conduct has met with universal approbation, and has gained him the highest applause. Saltpetre is made and...
327To John Adams from James Walker, 24 October 1823 (Adams Papers)
Various causes, connected with the absence & illness of Revd Mr Fay of the old church, have delayed my going into the investigations which you requested me to make respecting the elder Mr. Shepperd & the Messrs Quincys. I am sorry, now that I have made them, that it has been to so little purpose, or rather to no purpose at all. You ask whether the Records of the Town or Church were destroyed...
328To John Adams from William Vans Murray, 7 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
As Mr. Rand, a good American, sails in a lettre of Marque from the Texel direct for Boston, I take the liberty of sending some gazettes, which remain of those which I could not consistently with an eye to postage , send through the Secretary of State. They may amuse you after the labours of Philadelphia, & contribute to brush away those public cares which ought not to follow you in the...
329Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of Nov br. 9 th 11 th 12 & 14 th . you are made easy respecting the Election of mr Ames tho I believe that many of the Electors would not bear a strict scrutiny any more than Jarvis’s Party. I fear that in one sense evil was done, that good might come of it. there was no other way of Parrying the stroke, but making use of similar weapons and as Hudibrass has it, “to Combat...
330To John Adams from Richard Morris, 5 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
Having been honored with a commission of a Captain in the Navy by you, and still desirous of preserving your good Opinion, which I highly prize, I have taken the liberty to send your Excellency my defence, upon charges exhibited against me, by Order of the President of the United States. I have the honor to be, Sir / with great respect, Your / Obedient Servant, MHi : Adams Papers.
331Bidé de Chavagnes to John Adams: A Translation, 4 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Although for some time I have had neither the honor nor the pleasure of inquiring after your health and that of your dear family, I, nevertheless, have been thinking about you and them, and, at the same time, shall never forget the kindnesses and friendship shown me by you and your countrymen, particularly by you. And if you do not enjoy, in our country, all the health and happiness that you...
332To John Adams from Francis Dana, 27 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 22 d. of Feb y: has come to hand this moment, and has given me much satisfaction. I always admired the noble and independant spirit of my friend; but I now see cause to admire it still more. You have confered additional obligations upon, or to express myself otherwise, you have rendered additional services to your Country, by breaking to peices chains forged to hold it in a state...
333To John Adams from James McHenry, 10 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honour to present schedules, shewing the vacancies in the 1st. & 2d. Regiments of Artillerists & Engineers, and the 3d Regiment of Infantry, on the permanent military establishment of the United States, together with the cadets in the Corps of Artillerists, and the names of all the Gentlemen recommended for Lieutenancies in the same, with the letters recommending them. In...
334To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 11 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
È comparso alla luce un’elogio dell’Abate di Mably, scritto sotto gli auspici dei 2. vecchi Abati ben noti a Vostr’ Eccellenza, uno dei quali è (a mio giudizio) un gran birbone, e l’altro un buon coglione. Secondo il detto elogio, Vostr’ Eccellenza pregò l’Abate di Mably d’aver la bontà d’illuminare noi poveri ignoranti Americani su i principi di legislazione e d’amministrazione, e quando il...
335To John Adams from Joseph Delaplaine, 27 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
You had done me the honour of answering my letters to you, so fully, that I had supposed I should never again, perhaps, trespass on your time and attention. I am induced, however, once more, to trouble you. I this day received an anonymous letter, under no date, and bearing the Boston Post office mark. It is very well written, and appears disinterested. It is respectful, liberal, and evinces a...
336To John Adams from James McHenry, 24 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received at this place your letter of the 1st of Sepr. instant with its several references. I have been attacked here with a bilious fever from which I am getting slowly better, a restoration to my former state of health being impeded by the business I have been obliged to attend to and having no assistant to copy for me except a youth my nephew. The inclosed papers from No. 1 to No. 5...
337To John Adams from Catherine V. R. Malcom, 13 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
If I have not addressed you before it was not that gratitude did not prompt an expression of the feelings your early patronage & continued kindness had excited— You are pleased to enquire the name and age of our Child—We have given him his Grandfathers name of William—he is 2½ Years and rather (if a Mother may be credited) promissing than otherwise— I am proud my dear Sir to find that the...
338To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
On receipt of your favors of Aug. 18. & 23. I conferred with mr̃ Barclay on the measures necessary to be taken to set our treaty with the pyratical states into motion through his agency. supposing that we should begin with the emperor of Marocco, a letter to the emperor & instructions to mr̃ Barclay seemed necessary. I have therefore sketched such outlines for these as appear to me to be...
339To John Adams from David Hosack, 17 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
you did me the honour some time since after reading my memoir of Dr Hugh Williamson to write me a letter stating some particulars relative to the Hutchinson letters’ which were new to me and which are calculated to unfold some secrets of that affair that before were inexplicable, I mean relating to the agency of Mr Temple and Mr Hartley— I read that part of your letter to the new york...
340To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 20 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois. Je suis très sensible à la confiance avec laquelle vous m’avez communiqué vos idées sur la position actüelle des Etats-unis, et sur le besoin qu’ils ont de l’assistance immédiate de quelques Vaisseaux de ligne et frégates. M. le chev. de Ternay et M. le Cte. de Rochambau ont été expédiés précisément...
341To John Adams from William Cunningham, 18 August 1809 (Adams Papers)
The last mail brought me your favour of the 8th of July, with a postscript of the 13th. inst. Whether you had received my letter of the 9th. inst. does not appear by you favour. You request the return of the Letter to yourself uncopied—you will find it enclosed, but if you have no particular reasons to the contrary, you would oblige me by entrusting it to my possession. It contains many things...
342To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
As no act of the Congress of the Thirteen United American Colonies was so distinguished as that by which their Independence of Great Britain was declared, the most particular history of that transaction will probably be sought for; not merely as an interesting curiosity, but to do substantial justice to the abilities and energy of the leaders in that great measure. By the public journals it...
343To John Adams from Joshua Morris, 11 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to send you the inclos’d letter which was sent (as you may se) by Thomas Davis a Member of Congress to Cap Standerford an Acquaintance of mine. I beg your Honour will not take Offence at the fredom I take in this Business. The steps that are taken by many of Our Gentlemen here are realy serious to me. I am Apprehensive unless some measures are taken to prevent, a revolt will...
344To John Adams from Mordecai M. Noah, 24 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to transmit to you a discourse delivered at the consecration of the Synagogue in this City an event which from its novelty may be somewhat interesting It cannot but be gratifying to you to observe that perfect harmony existing in our Country between men of different faiths & the mildness & tolerance growing out of our national Institutions—and this gratification must be...
345To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 20 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
Will thy good-nature excuse the freedom of a friendly enquiry after thy health? assured that a real solicitude exists for its long continuance, with every other blessing? And of our Minister, thy Son—hast thou heard of late from him? I am anxious to learn how my humble offering was received, as well by him, as by the Autocrat of all Russia. And I am also very anxious to learn that the labors...
346To John Adams from Uriah Forrest, 25 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is I assure You with great diffidence that I take this liberty; but I could not let my friend & Brother Colo. Plater, visit Philadelphia, without his having an opportunity of Presenting himself to the President. He is a Man of Honour, and as such, I make free to Introduce him to you. I have the honor to be with every sentiment of Respect and attachment, / Sir, Your most Obedient Servt. MHi...
347To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 November 1823 (Adams Papers)
Once more I must give you my cordial thanks for this proof of your remembrance—not, that I suspected it—but I did not expect so soon an answer. Every one, which I receive every letter of myself—I consider—nearly unwillingly—that it may be the last of our correspondence—continued now since more than forty years—during which—whatever Station you fulfilled—I was allways honoured with your kind...
348To John Adams from William Tudor, 19 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I set down to give you Part of the Information you ask. The Brigade you mention are new Levies wholly from the Massachusetts Bay. They are posted at Greenwich on the North River about 2 Miles out of Town. What the Men are or how they look I can’t tell not having seen them. The Brigadier Mr. Fellows, was a Colonel in the Continental Service last Campaign, his Regiment was at Roxbury. He lives...
349Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 21 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
Sometime in September last I wrote to You, and am not a little anxious to know whether you receivd my Letter, as it was sent about the Time You were removing from Philadelphia; In Your next to me or to Your Bosom Friend dont forget to inform me. I congratulate You on Our Success to the Northward.—When I saw Burgoines Proclamation I read the Man, when I saw his Orders to Col. Baum I was...
350To John Adams from Elkanah Watson Jr., 5 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I was honour’d with an answer to my Epistle; for which permit me Sir with gratitude to acknowledge your goodness, I flatter my self it will be attended with perticular advantages in my present, and perhaps future persuits in Europe: I cannot However, but regret the leaving my letters for you behind; as that loss renders the propriety of your assertaining my character Impracticable....