71To 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...
72From 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...
73From John Adams to John Jay, 31 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Paul Randall Esq r , who has been with M r Lamb to Algiers will have the Honour to deliver this Letter. in order to lay before Congress the earliest Information of all that has come to his Knowledge, in the Course of his Journeys and Voyages he proposes to return, without loss of Time to New-York. He has conducted, as far as I can judge, with Prudence and Fidelity, and has merited a...
74From John Adams to John Jay, 24 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I was Yesterday honoured, with your Letter of the 14 th. of October, accompanied with the Gazettes and the Act of Congress of the 27. Sept r. You will learn from M r Dumas Letter, as well as by the public Papers, that the Treaty of defensive Alliance, between France and Holland was Signed at Paris on the tenth of this month. The vain Exertions of the Cabinet of St. James’s, to prevent it, are...
75To John Jay from John Adams, 8 July 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Duke de la Vauguion has this Moment, kindly given me Notice, that he is to Send off a Courier this Evening at Eleven, and that the Dutch Fleet has Sailed from the Texel this Morning. I shall take Advantage of the Courier Simply to congratulate you on your Arrival at Paris, and to wish you and M rs Jay, much Pleasure, in your Residence there.— Health, the Blessing which is Sought in vain,...
76From John Adams to John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
When the Ratification of Congress, of their Treaty with the King of Prussia, arrived here, the Term limited for the Exchange of it was near expiring. as a few Members of the States general, had discovered Uneasiness at my coming to London without going to the Hague to take Leave, it Seemed a convenient Opportunity to go over and Shew them as much of the Respect they required as remained in my...
77From John Adams to John Jay, 16 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Expences of Insurance on American Vessells; the Obstructions of their Commerce with Spain Portugal and Italy: and Compassion for our Fellow Citizens in Captivity: all occasioned by Apprehensions of the Barbary Corsairs, must excite Solicitude in every Man capable of thinking or Feeling. it is nevertheless certain that too great an Alarm has been Spread, Since no more than two Vessells have...
78From John Adams to John Jay, 3 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
There is a Gentleman at Lisbon, who went and established himself there, as I believe partly with a View to the Consulate. He is of a very respectable Family and Connection, who have indeed Sacrificed themselves in the Cause of their Country. He is a Nephew of the famous Otis and a Son of Major General Warren. The Gentleman himself whose name is Winslow Warren, is ingenious and active, and I...
79John 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...
80From John Adams to John Jay, 8 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Duke de la Vauguion has this Moment, kindly given me Notice, that he is to Send off a Courier this Evening at Eleven, and that the Dutch Fleet has Sailed from the Texel this Morning. I shall take Advantage of the Courier Simply to congratulate you, on your Arrival at Paris, and to wish you and Mrs Jay, much Pleasure, in your Residence there. Health, the Blessing which is Sought in vain,...
81To John Jay from John Adams, 5 November 1785 (Jay Papers)
The Chevalier De Pinto, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, from Portugal, after a long Absence by Leave of his Court, is lately arrived here from Lisbon. Upon Several Occasions, when I met him, at court and upon Visits, he told me, that he had orders from his Court to confer with me, upon the Project of a Treaty between the United States and Portugal, but he never descended to...
82From John Adams to John Jay, 31 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Marquis of Carmarthen told me a Story of an Italian Ambassador who resided at this Court some Years ago, which was very humerous. It was his Excellencys Practice to take all the Newspapers, every Morning, and make up his Dispatches by transcribing Paragraphs from them. He began very gravely “Ho penetrato,” and went on from those Words to translate whatever he found which could amuse or...
83From 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...
84From John Adams to John Jay, 6 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
If the Facts, which I have had the Honour to state to you in my preceeding Letters, are credited, I think it will appear, that the Connections of these Kingdoms with foreign Powers, every Idea of the Ballance of Europe; the Dominions of Great Britain in Asia And America, and all the Interests Considerations of Posterity, are Sacrificed, to a momentary Tranquility and Credit. From which...
85To John Jay from John Adams, 26 March 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have only Time to introduce to you and M rs Jay, my Daughter Smith and to recommend her to your Patronage and M rs Jays Friendship. I Shall embark in Six or Eight days. I am just returned from a cold Journey to the Hague and Amsterdam, where I met M r Jefferson very unexpectedly. He has persuaded me, to open another Loan, which he will transmit to Congress. I am very anxious least it Should...
86From John Adams to John Jay, 4 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
As the Week is approaching when you are to be expected at Philadelphia, I take this opportunity to present to you and your Lady the Compliments of the Season, and request the honour and pleasure of your Company at our House during your Visit to this City. We live in Arch Street at the Corner of fourth Street where your old bed is ready for you in as good a Chamber and much more conveniently...
87John Adams to John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am extreamly Sorry, to read in your Letter of the 8 th. that you think of embarking for America. Let me beg of you to reconsider that Project. if you persist in it, I shall repent of having written for my Family and wish I had it in my Power to go there too. The Committee to whom, the Dispatches by Thaxter were referred have reported that a Commission be sent to the 3 named in the Resolution...
88To John Jay from John Adams, 31 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20 th your letter to M r Duane comprehends every thing necessary to be said upon this occasion, and I presume will remove all difficulties— I congratulate you on the firmness of your nerves fully demonstrated by your hand writing, the beauty and firmness of which is equal to the best of your former days Mine are so debilitated that I can neither write— or...
89From John Adams to John Jay, 19 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to propose for your consideration, and to request you to submit to the decision of Congress whether it would not be proper that some measures should be taken to furnish your Ministers abroad with the Laws of the several States, and more especially with such Laws as may have a relation to External Commerce, or any other foreign Affair— Information of this kind will be wanted at...
90From John Adams to John Jay, 27 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Chevalier De Pinto, the Envoy of Portugal, informed me, this Day that he had received Instructions from his Court, to inform me, “that the Queen his Mistress has Sent a Squadron to cruise in the Mouth of the Streights with Orders to protect all Vessells belonging to the United States of America equally with those of her own Subjects and that She would continue those orders as long as they...
91To John Jay from John Adams, 20 December 1790 (Jay Papers)
Permit me in this Severe Season, to Salute your fireside, and congratulate you on your return from the Northern Circuit. As the time approaches when We are to expect the Pleasure of Seeing you at the Supream Court in Philadelphia, you will give me leave to Solicit the Honour and the Pleasure of your Company and that of M rs . Jay, and whoever else of the Family who may accompany you, at Bush...
92From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I received, last night your kind favour of the 7th. Your design of writing to Mr Duane for Copies of our “very Short journals” as he calls them, is judicious, and all that is necessary. I am under no concern about Mr Duane’s Extracts or Copies, because Congress has ordered our Journals to be printed and they are in a course of publication. Although I am ashamed of mine, yet I know that Shame...
93From John Adams to John Jay, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
On Monday Evening another Conference was held with the Tripolitan Ambassador, attended with his Interpreter Benamor, who is a decent Man, and very ready in the English as well as Arabick and Italian. The Foreign Ministers here Say it is the Custom of all the Ambassadors from Barbary to be much connected with Jews to whom they are commonly recommended. It may be Supposed the Jews have...
94To John Jay from John Adams, 26 February 1786 (Jay Papers)
The Envoy from Portugal, has received, from his Court an Answer to his Dispatches relative to the Treaty with the United States, and the enclosed Extract from it, which has been delayed some time by the Sickness of the Chevalier de Freire, the Portuguese Secretary of Legation, th at is Minister did me the Honour to deliver to me two days ago, with his request that it might be transmitted to...
95From John Adams to John Jay, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I recieved from L’Orient a sett of fresh Instructions from Congress, dated the 16th. of August, and with the more enjoined to open a Correspondence with your Excellency, upon the subject of them. I presume You have Copy by the same Vessel; but as it is possible it may have been omitted, I shall venture to inclose a Copy, and hope it may pass unopened. I have communicated it...
96John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 10 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed is Copy of a Letter from the Baron de Thulemeier and Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me by order of the King of Prussia: I should be glad if your Excellencies would examine it, and write me your objections, and proposals of alterations, which I shall immediately communicate to his Majesty through his Minister. I presume too...
97From John Adams to John Jay, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
At three O Clock according to Appointment, I went to the Secretary of States Office, in Cleavland Row St. James’s, and was immediately received by the Marquis of Carmarthen. His Lordship began the Conversation, by Saying that he could answer for himself and he believed for the rest of the Kings Servants, that they were Sincerely desirous of cultivating the most cordial Friendship with America,...
98To John Jay from John Adams, 31 January 1796 (Jay Papers)
D’Ivernois continues to send Us his Speculations, which I value the more for giving me an Opportunity to congratulate you, upon 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...
99From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 1 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
My last Letter to Congress, was on the Twenty seventh of last Month Since which an Account of the new Loan is received from London, and as this may perhaps afford to Congress the clearest Proof, of the Weakness of their Ennemies, it is of importance that it should be transmitted to them. Some Accounts Say the Loan is to be seven Millions, others Eight. The Conditions of the Loan are in...
100John Adams to John Jay, 13 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d a Letter from M r Gerry, at Phil a. 23 Nov. Thaxter arrived there the night before. I presume he has written by M r Reed, and that his Letter is gone to You, as he probably addressed his Letter to Us all. M r Morris has drawn afresh by this Vessell. Let me beg of you and the D r , to advise him to Stop his Hand. If I can possibly, save those already drawn, which however I still...