1Vernejoux to the President of the Board of War, 4 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I beg Leave to write your Excellencys this Letter to have the honour to present you my Respect. I pray you to you Remember wath you promised my one autre Commission if my Superiors Officers was satisfied of my Services. I have send to this Excellencys John Hancock one Letter of Recomendetion of the honorable major General Sullivan. I have stay with him some time. I believe what is it satisfied...
2The Massachusetts Board of War to the American Commissioners, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress Your esteem’d favours of the 21 December per Mr. Dean 12th. February per Capt. Senneville, and 17th of same Month per Capt. Courter, we had the Honor to receive. Agreeable to your request, we have furnished Capt. Courter with every necessary for his Journey to Congress, on which he set out the 7th. Instant, being the second day after...
3George Washington to the Board of War, 29 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
At length I have been able to comply with the first part of a Resolution of Congress of the 27 Ultimo relative to a return of the vacancies in the Several Regiments composing that part of the Army under my immediate command. I thought to have made this Return much sooner, but the dispersed situation of our Troops—the constant duty they are upon—the difficulty of getting returns when this is...
4To 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...
5John 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...
6John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I reciev’d this morning your letter of the 14th. in which you speak of Poetry, and although I have not read much of it, yet I always admired it, very much. I take the Delft Dutch paper to learn to read the language. To day there is a report which I read in it that Admiral Kingsbergen had taken fourteen of the German Transports, but this is only a report. Inclosed is a letter which I reciev’d...
7John Paul Jones to Franklin and John Adams, 9 December 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dartmouth College Library; copy: National Archives <Lorient, December 9, 1778: A Virginia pilot boat arrived in twenty-three days from Boston. Her captain reports that comte d’Estaing had sailed on a secret mission a fortnight before, that the Somerset was lost on Cape Cod and her crew made prisoners, that the Providence, Boston , and Ranger arrived with prizes, that the Raleigh was...
8To John Adams from John Jay, 26 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I hope I may by this Time congratulate You on your safe Arrival, and happy meeting with your Son at amsterdam. M r. Laurens is here, & in better Health than I have heretofore seen him since he left America— His Stay will probably be short, for his Permission to return creates Doubts in his Mind as to the Propriety of his continuing to act with us, unless by our particular Request; and M r...
9William Temple Franklin to John Adams and John Jay, 22 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Since the Letter I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 19th. Inst, the Duke de Lauzun is arrived at Versailles from Virginia, with the glorious News of the combined Force of America & France having forced General Cornwallis to capitulate. The English Garrison marched out of York Town on the 19th of...
10John 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...
11John Thaxter to John Adams, 13 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
The day before Yesterday Mrs. Adams was delivered of a daughter; but it grieves me to add, Sir, that it was still born. It was an exceeding fine looking Child. Mrs. Adams is as comfortable, as She has Just inform’d me, as can be expected; and has desired me to write a few lines to acquaint you that She is in a good Way, which I am very happy in doing. RC ( Adams Papers ).
12John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 19 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I reciev’d this morning your yesterday’s favour, in which you say, you want to hear of my beginning in Sallust; I have not begun yet but shall soon; but am for the present continuing in Cornelius Nepos. I have got a fair copy of Phaedrus bound, it is My Master’s Translation which if you desire to read, and have time for it, I will send to you. The Vacancy does not begin at the same time,...
13To John Adams from John Jay, [2? March 1783] (Adams Papers)
on calling this Moment for my Man Manuel to comb me I am told he is gone to shew my Nephew the Fair— I fear they will have so many fine Things & Raree shows to see and admire, that my Head will remain in statu quo ’till afternoon, & consequently our intended Visit to C t. Sarsfield be postponed. Thus does Tyrant Custom sometimes hold us by a Hair , and thus do ridiculous Fashions make us...
14To John Adams from John Sullivan, 8 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
You cant oblidge me more than by giving me a Line to Inform whether you are, or are not alive ; I begin to grow Suspicions and am therefore uneasy. I Should be Exceeding unhappy if you were to Steal a march upon me During the present Contest. I am Determined to See it out. I wrote a Line beging your opinion upon Some Points but (Like Saul in Distress) I can get no answer. I fear Therefore...
15From John Jay to John Adams, 17 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowleging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May —since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...
16To John Adams from John Bondfield, 6 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Vernon Junr. having obtained a knowledge of the French Language sufficient to introduce him into a Compting House he is return’d to Bordeaux. I have taken him to my Lodgings but my concerns not being sufficiently extensive and varied as to give him the knowledge it will be his Interest to acquire I propose engaging some House of distinguish’d Character to take him into their Compting House...
17John Thaxter to John Adams, 16 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose You the 23d. No. of the Politique Hollandais. I have this moment heard of your safe arrival, and of your good health and Spirits, which is a vast addition to my happiness. I had a hint of your visit at P aris , and altho’ some Folks are surprized at the peculiar Nature of it, yet I am persuaded that Chaleur and froideur can exist politically, if not naturally,...
18To John Adams from John Bondfield, 27 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
With the Compliments of the Season permit me to add the justly acquired Congratulations on the conducting executing and concluding the Great Buissness of your Special Commission the greatest that was ever invested with Powers of equal Consiquence we may emediately expect to learn the progress of M r Dana’s Mission which the acknowledgement of Great Britain will greatly accelerate— pray give a...
19Enclosure: John Hancock to John Adams, 16 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
On a Visit to Mrs. Yard this Evening I was inform’d by her that your Lady and Children propos’d to go into Boston, with an intention of Taking the Small Pox by Inoculation, and as the Season is warm, and the present process of Treating that Disorder, requires all the Air that can possibly be had, and as my Scituation in Boston is as much Bless’d with a free Air as most others, I make a Tender...
20John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 22 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here in very good health yesterday morning at about 6. o’clock, after having spent some days at Amsterdam. I found here a letter from you, by which you leave to my choice to stay here or go to Leyden: if you return to America this summer I think I had best stay here; because, if I go to Leyden; I shall only stay there a few weeks at most. You advise me yourself to stay here until you...
21To John Adams from John Hancock, 2 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hancock’s Compliments to Mr. Adams. The Inclos’d Letter from the Baron De Kalb he Received under Cover. Mr. Hancock would have been exceedingly Glad to have Seen Mr. Adams at his house at any time when he has been in Town, and had Mr. Hancock have known when he was in Town he should have Sent to him; if Mr. Adams should Come to Town on Wednesday next, and it would be agreeable to him to...
22To John Adams from John Jay, 18 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of recg your favor of the 28 ult. a few Days ago. I congratulate You sincerely on the accession of Friesland and the flattering Prospect there is that the Example of that Province will be followed by that of Holland and the others. It would give me great Satisfaction to be able to transmit you In telligence equally agreable, but that is not the Case. Prudence forbids me to...
23John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have waited on Mr. Luzac with the Crisis, who is much obliged to You for it, and will either translate it into Dutch or French, as shall be most agreable to You, and as soon as possible. You will be so good as to acquaint me, which of the two Languages is your Choice. I waited a few days agone on the Rector Magnificus with Charley, and was informed by him, that his Matriculation was...
24John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 11 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received a day or two agone the vocabulary which I desir’d you to send, for which I am much obliged to you. Last Thursday I went to hear the Rector Magnificus for last year speak an oration. The Rector for this year is professor Voorda. All the Professors of the university, the Burgomasters and the Schepens of the city were there. Professor Hollebeek (the last years rector) is Profesor in...
25John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 23 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you just after I arrived here, and gave you a short sketch of my Journey from Amsterdam to this Place, and promised you in my next a description of this city, but I dont find any thing more than what Voltaire says of it in his history of Russia nor even quite so much, for according to his description, the city is situated upon the Gulf of Cronstadt in the midst of nine branches of...
26To John Adams from John Bondfield, 20 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed we take the liberty to lay before you a letter we lately wrote to Doc. Franklin requesting his interest to obtain us leave from the Ministry to load our Vessels with the produce of this Kingdom to the French Islands on the same terms as Nationals for certain reasons we leave to your judgement to suppose we thought it prudent to write direct to the ministry thro the Channel of the Navy...
27From John Jay to John Adams, 1 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I am this Moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told M r Oswald so, & he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet rec d ....
28To John Adams from John Trumbull, 21 November 1776 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of seeing You last, I have conversed with my Father on the plan you proposed to me of going into the Service; and tho’ we were both very sensible of the kindness of your Offer, and should have preferred the Office You engaged to procure me to any other Post, I could have expected to obtain, yet he seemed averse to my joining the Army on any Conditions at present. He...
29John Thaxter to John Adams, 19 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
We arrived here last Evening at six oClock. This Morning We have a Sky and Air truly in the American Style. We have been to a Lecture, where many curious Experiments were made by the Professor of Medicine Mr. Horne. At four Clock We go to a Law Lecture. I have engaged two Rooms at fifteen Guilders per Month, in the same Lodgings with Mr. Waterhouse, whom I find very polite and attentive. On...
30John Thaxter to John Adams, 4 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
Last Monday Dr. Mather Byles was tried by Virtue of a late Act of this State, and found by the Jury so inimical, as to render his residence in the State dangerous to the Liberties thereof. He is to be sent to some quarter, where his local Situation will deprive him of the power to injure the State. Tomorrow some others are to have their Trial—they have engaged Attornies. The Inferior Court...