11From John Adams to John Jay, 24 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received, last week your friendly private Letter of the tenth—The assurance of the continuance of your friendship was unnecessary for me, because I have never had a doubt of it—But others invent and report as they please. They have preserved hitherto, however more delicacy to wards the friendship between you and me than any other. The last Mission to France, and the consequent dismission of...
12From John Adams to John Jay, 24 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in the incident, which has called me, to give you a certificate under my hand, that I am yet alive. The Reverend, Mr Henry Colman, an ordained minister of a Congregational Church in Hingham (General Lincolns town,) six miles only from me, has requested of me an introduction, to you as one of the most interesting characters, our Country has produced. Mr Colman is beloved by his people...
13To John Jay from John Sloss Hobart, 20 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I embrace this opportunity to introduce to your notice M r John Aspinwall, who will have the honor to deliver this letter— he is the youngest son of the late M r . John Aspinwall of Flushing, and is going to reside for some years in Britain with the best of all possible recommendations for a merchant, a fair irreproachable character and plenty of cash— I drank a glass of porter and smoaked a...
14John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...
15To John Jay from John Adams, 7 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
The night before last, Commodore Jones arrived, with Dispatches from Congress. Two Packets were directed to the Ministers, and one larger one to D r Franklin. The two first I opened. One of them contained nothing but News Papers, The other contained, a private Letter from the President and a Sett of Instructions to the Ministers for Peace. These I copied, and Sent on the originals to Passy,...
Since the Letter I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 19 th . 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 19 th of Oct r . with the honour of War, & laid down their Arms: the Troops consisted...
17From John Adams to John Jay, 24 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to transmit to Congress, a Letter from M r Harrison, with an Account of Disbursements for Captain Erwin and his Associates on their return to Cadiz from their Captivity in Morocco. Situated as M r Harrison was he had every motive of Humanity, and love of his Countrymen to relieve their necessities, and it would be too Severe, if not unjust, to leave the burthen upon him....
18To John Jay from John Adams, 24 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
I received last Week your friendly private Letter of the tenth.— The assurance of the continuance of your friendship was unnecessary for me, because I have never had a doubt of it.— But others invent and report as they please. They have preserved hitherto, however more delicacy to wards the friendship between you and me than any other. The last Mission to France, and the consequent dismission...
19To John Jay from John Adams, 19 December 1800 (Jay Papers)
M r Elsworth afflicted with the Gravel and the Gout in his Kidneys and intending to pass the Winter in the South of France after a few weeks in England, has resigned his office of Chief Justice, & I have nominated you to your old Station. This is as independent of the Inconstancy of the People, as it is of the Will of a President. In the future Administration of our Country the firmest...
20To John Jay from John Brodhead Romeyn, 1 June 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have the honour, in compliance with the direction of the Managers of the American Bible Society, to inform you, that you have been elected one of the Vice Presidents of that Institution. Trusting that this Great National Society for the circulation of the Word of God without note or Comment will meet with Your cordial approbation, I am Sir Your’s respectfully ALS , NNC ( EJ : 09088 ). John...
21To John Jay from John Trumbull, 20 July 1797 (Jay Papers)
On the 9 th . instant, M r . King put into my hands your Letter of the 3 d . June, containing duplicate of one dated 20 th . October the original of which never came to hand.— I beg you to accept my thanks for both, and particularly for the wise reflexions & Counsel contained in that of October:— Experience has shewn that my apprehensions of delicate and high responsibility, were not...
22From John Adams to John Jay, 18 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of the 4. of July and thank you for your friendly Congratulations on my Arrival. The Decision of the Convention at Poughkeepsie, is of very great Importance to this Nation, perhaps to Some others.— I am extreamly anxious, that, as the new Constitution has already proceeded to far, it Should be adopted kindly and cordially, by all the three that remain. a little...
23From John Adams to John Jay, 16 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
There is no Maxim more clearly Settled in all Courts, and in all Negotiations between Nations, than that Sovereign Should always Speak to Sovereign and Minister to Minister. I am not at all Surprised therefore, although I am much mortified at having my Memorials to their High Mightinesses and to His most Serene Highness returned to me, with the Letter inclosed from M r Fagel. I Should have had...
24From John Adams to John Jay, 21 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
A difference of opinion having arisen among those of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, who are now in this City, respecting the construction of their authority under the Act making provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt, by which they are equally divided, your presence here towards settling the principle which is in question, in order to the future conduct of the business, has become...
25To John Jay from John Adams, 11 May 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
26From John Adams to John Jay, 28 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
27To John Jay from John Adams, 28 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
28From John Adams to John Jay, 21 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had my Audience of Leave of His Majesty. I Shall not trouble you with any Particulars, of the previous steps to obtain this Audience (which you know are always troublesome enough); nor with any detail of the Conversation, farther than the Publick is immediately interested in it. The substance of my Address to His Majesty was no more than, a Renewal of assurances in Behalf of the...
29To John Jay from John Trumbull, 6 March 1798 (Jay Papers)
The last letter which I have had the honor to receive from you is dated in Albany the 27 th . Oct r . and the last which I wrote to you was of the 10 th . December.— Our Commissioners have not ^been^ received to an Audience in Paris, nor has any Negotiation with them been fairly opened:— Decrees more offensive than all the acts of which they had to complain have been passed under their...
30John Adams to John Jay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. But The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
31From John Adams to John Jay, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Dr D’Ivernois continues to send Us his Speculations, which I value the more for giving me an opportunity to congratulate you, on the Durability and impenetrability of the Anvil, while so many hammers are wearing themselves out by their strokes upon it. The Treaty is not arrived and Congress will do nothing with spirit till they have vented themselves upon that. But all their Hammers will be as...
32To John Jay from John Adams, 14 February 1786 (Jay Papers)
I have received your Letter, inclosing two Pamphlets one of which I have sent to M r Jefferson, by Coll Humphreys who setts out for Paris this morning. These Letters will be sufficient to shew any Man of common Decency, the Characters of the Writers. On one side there is the Condescension of a provident but indulgent Father: on the other the Impertinence and Ingratitude of a Prodigal Son, not...
33To John Jay from John Adams, 30 August 1798 (Jay Papers)
I had last night the pleasure to receive the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the 21 st of this month inclosing the resolutions of the Senate & Assembly of New-York, & their unanimous address. I can scarcely imagine any event that could do me more honor or give me greater satisfaction. The unanimity of New York, of vast importance in the union, is a happy omen of success...
34From John Adams to John Jay, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday, in your Ministerial Capacity as well as mine, my ulltimate Determination to revisit my Country, this time twelve months.— I now write you this private Letter to intreat you as a Friend, to promote in every Way in your Power, an Arrangement as early as possible, by which I may be permitted to return, with Decorum.— It is not from a desire to stimulate any Body to vote for...
35To John Jay from John Trumbull, 16 December 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the 7 th Sept r by D r . Edwards, since when I have received none of yours. The Official communications of the American Commissioners conveyed by this Ship, state that Objections have been made on the part of this Government, by their Agent, to the Jurisdiction of the Board in certain cases:— And they explain the Nature and Extent of those Objections: as...
36John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received the Letter which D r Franklin did me the Honour to write me on the 16 th. with the Copy of the Treaty with Sweeden. I have before inclosed the King of Prussias Project of a Treaty, prepared as I am assured by his Minister with his own Hand in his private Cabinet. I believe it has been reserved to the present Age when the subtilties of Aristotle and the schools are...
37To John Jay from John C. Dongan, 27 February 1792 (Jay Papers)
I’ve been accidentally inform’d that your that your friends have prevailed on you to offer yourself as a candidate at the ensuing election for the Government of this State tho’ none of them have thought a communication to me of any service to their cause— What share I’ve ever had in politics, an independent disinterested conduct has always procured me more pleasure than perhaps emolument, and...
38To John Jay from John Trumbull, 10 December 1794 (Jay Papers)
In consequence of your directions, I spoke to M r . Burges of the propriety of making some acknowledgement on your part to the Two Clerks who wrote the Copies of the Treaty;—and in consequence of our conversation I have this morning enclosed Ten Pounds to Him, with a Request that He will divide it to the Two, according to their Merits. This Conversation introduced the general Subject of...
39From John Adams to John Jay, 30 April 1821 (Adams Papers)
I must beg your pardon for delaying so long the acknowledgement of your kind favour—you have done all that is necessary to be done with Mr Duane—The sume of the matter is I suppose is—he has ploughed the Son of the Heifer in the Secretary of States Office—and procured copies of some of your communications to Congress—My letter to Jonathan Jackson, which was unfortunately and absurdly laid...
40To John Jay from John McVickar, 11 May 1812 (Jay Papers)
My feeble State of body compels me to employ my Son to express to you the Satisfaction with which I regard the addresses of your Son to my daughter, and my wish to promote in every thing, their happiness. I can scarcely flatter myself that I am yet better in health; the advancing Season may by the blessing of Providence restore me to a moderate Share of ease and strength—& in every...