271To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 12 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 6th. and had before received the same Information from Amsterdam. I know not how to express to you, the sense I have of the disingenuity of this Plott. The Difficulty of selling the obligations I believe to be mere Pretence, and indeed the whole appears to me to be a concerted Fiction, in consequence of some Contrivance or Suggestion of Mr. Parker, the great...
272John Adams to Franklin and Jefferson, 20 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your desire I went early this morning to Versailles and finding the Ct. de Vergennes unembarassed with company, and only attended by his private Secretaries, I soon obtained the honour of a conference, in which I told him that my colleagues were very sorry that indisposition necessarily prevented their paying their respects to him in person, and obliged them to request me alone to...
273To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 15 August 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Watchman! what of the night!! Is darkness that may be felt to prevail over the whole world? Or can you perceive any rays of a returning dawn? Is the devil to be the “Lords anointed” over the whole globe? Or do you forsee the fulfilment of the prophecies according to D r Priestly’s interpretation of them? I know not but I have in some of my familiar and frivolous letters to you told the story...
274From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures of the domestic kind, I take the Liberty of Sending you by the Post a Packett containing two Pieces of Homespun lately produced in this quarter by One who was honoured in his youth with Some of your Attention and much of your kindness. All of my Family whom you formerly knew are well. My Daughter...
275To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 16 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith, a Son of the Lady you Saw here, who is a Sister of our old Acquaintances the Rutledges, will deliver you this Letter. He goes to reside Sometime in France. Mr. Jay, in a Letter of the 7. of April, writes me “We are well, ’tho not officially informed, that all the States have granted the Impost to Congress, except New York, in whose Legislature there is a Strong Party, against it.”...
276John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 27 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have transmitted your letter to Samu el Adams Welles Esq r in Boston as you desire This gentleman is a singular character he is I beleive the only surviving male of his Grandfather the late govenor of Massachusetts Samuel Adams who never had but two children a son and a daughter; his son who bore his name died early a surgeon in the army of the Revolution without issue; his daughter married a
277To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 26 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Sometime Since I received from Gov. Bowdoin some Papers relating to Alexander Gross, with an earnest desire that I would communicate them to the French Ambassador here. I did so and his Excellency was so good as to transmit them to the Comte De Vergennes. Mr. Bartholomy however advised me to write to you upon the Subject, that you might prevent it from being forgotten. Inclosed is a Letter,...
278To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 10 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Boylston is going to Paris, with a Cargo of Sperma Cæti oil, and will be obliged to you for any assistance or advice you can give him. I forwarded a few days ago, from Mr. Gerry, a Copy as I suppose of the Result of Convention.—It seems to be admirably calculated to preserve the Union, to increase Affection, and to bring us all to the same mode of thinking. They have adopted the Idea of...
279From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 27 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I arrived Yesterday and have made my Visit to day, and been very politely rec d , by the Marquis, but of this more hereafter. this is devoted to a smaller Subject. Upon Enquiry I find, that I cannot, be exempted from paying duties upon my Wines, because no foreign Minister is. except for a less quantity than I have of the best qualities in my Cellar at the Hague.— so that I must stop all that...
280From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have more to Say, on Religion. For more than Sixty Years I have been attentive to this great Subject. Controversies, between Calvinists and Arminians, Trinitarians and Unitarians, Deists and Christians, Atheists and both, have attracted my Attention, whenever the Singular Life, I have lead would admit, to all these questions. The History of this little Village of Quincy, if it were worth...
281From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
As Holly is a Diamond of a Superiour water it would be crushed to pouder by Mountainous oppression in any other country. Even in this, he is a light shining in a dark place. His System is founded in the hopes of Mankind, but they delight more in their Fears. When will man have juster notions of the Universal eternal cause? Then will rational Christianity prevail. I regrett Holly’s misfortune...
282To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favours of June 22d. and July 7 and 11th. are before me. The delay of Mr. Lamb’s arrival is unfortunate, but I think with you that the sooner a project of Treaties is prepared the better, and I will give the earliest attention to it whenever you shall send it. I shall go this morning to Stockdale, to talk with him about sending you the News Papers, and Pamphlets through the Channell of...
283John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Late last night I received Your Report and your translation of Tracy , for both of which, tho’ I have read neither I thank you, but the full pro o f of your returning health has given me more Pleasure than both. I envy your Eyes and hands and Horse. Mine are too dim, too tremulous and my head is too dizzy for the Sovereign Doctor . All is now Still and tranquil. There is nothing to try Mens...
284John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 23 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you and myself on your recovery from the three Illnesses that have distressed you, the means that have been used to preserve you, may, and I hope will have laid a foundation for good Health, and many more years of an already long Life.— My Health is astonishing to myself, I can say, like Deborah Queen Ann Dutchess of Marlbourgh —who in one of her letters, after innumerating a...
285John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot in my last to remark, a very trifling Inaccuracy in yours of June 27 th . The Letter intercepted in Hichbournes Trunk which was reported to glance at M r Dickenson , was not in 1776. It was in the month of June 1775. Had it been June 1776, the English would not have printed it. The Nation had then too maturely reflected, on the necessity of Independence, and was too ripe and too hot...
286To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 15 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long entertained scruples about writing this letter, upon a subject of some delicacy. But old age has over come at last. You remember the four Ships, ordered by Congress to be built, and the four Captains appointed by Washington—Talbot & Truxton & Barry & ca to carry an Ambassador to Algiers and protect our Commerce in the Mediterranean. I have always imputed this measure to you: for...
287From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
I ought not to have neglected so long to write you an account of the delightful visit I received from Mr. and Mrs. Cooledge, Mrs. C—— deserves all the high praises I have constantly heard concerning her, She entertained me with accounts of your sentiments of human life, which accorded so perfectly with mine that it gave me great delight—In one point however I could not agree—She said, she had...
288John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a Curiosity to learn Something of the Character Life and death of a Gentleman, whose name was Wollaston , who came from England with a Company of a few dozens of Persons in the year 1622, took possession of an height on Massachusetts Bay built houses there for his People, and after looking about him and not finding the face of Nature Smiling enough for him, went to Virginia to seek a...
289From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
Lyman was mortified that he could not visit Monticello. He is gone to Europe a Second time. I regret that he did not See you, He would have executed any commission for you in the litterary line, at any pain or any expence. I have many Apprehensions for his health, which is very delicate and precarious. But he is Seized with the Mania of all our young etherial Spirits, for foreign travel. I...
290From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have desired Colonel Smith to go Express to Paris, to intreat you to come here without loss of Time. The Portuguese Minister has received his Instructions from his Court, and We may here together conduct and finish the Negotiation with him, I suppose in three Weeks. But there is another Motive more Important. There is here a Tripolitan Ambassador with whom I have had three Conferences. the...
291John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The Biography of M r Vander Kemp would require a Volume which I could not write if a Mil l ion were offered me as a Reward for the Work. After a learned and Scientific Education he entered the Army in Holland and Served as a Captain, with Reputation: but loving Books more than Arms he resigned his Commission and became a Preacher. My Acquaintance with him commenced at Leyden in 1780. He was...
292From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
By D r Gibbon a young Gentleman of Philadelphia whom I beg Leave introduce to you, I have the Honour to send you a few more Copies of the Prussian Treaty: and to inclose in this, a Resolution of Congress of september 26. annulling M r Lambs Commission & Instructions. M r Jay desires me to transmit it to him, and although I hope M r Lamb is on his Passage to New York or already arrived there,...
293From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Oct. 14 has greatly obliged me. Tracys Analysis, I have read once; and wish to read it a Second time. It shall be returned to you. But I wish to be informed whether this Gentleman is of that Family of Tracys with which the Marquis La Fayette is connected by intermarriages? I have read not only the Analysis, but Eight Volumes out of 12 of The Origine de tous les Cultes, and if...
294To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 22 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 8 th has revived me—It is true, that my hearing has been very good, but the last year it has decayed so much, that I am in a worse situation than you are; I cannot hear any of the common conversation of my family without calling upon them to repeat in a louder tone . The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I, myself could have imagined, The next...
295From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
M r Daniel Parker will have the Honour to deliver you this. He is an intelligent American, and well informed as any Man you will see from hence. I beg leave to introduce him to you. Let me thank you for your late Letter and the important State Papers inclosed with it.— I have ordered to your Address, a dozen Copies of my Boudoir for the Marquis, who desired M r Appleton and M r Paine to have...
296John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d yesterday your favour of may 27 th . I lament with you the loss of Rush . I know of no Character living or dead, who has done more real good in America . Robert Treat Paine Still lives, at 83 or 84, alert drol and witty though deaf . Floyd I believe, yet remains, Paine must be very great; Philosopher and Christian; to live under the Afflictions of his Family. Sons and Daughters with...
297From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am desired by our old Acquaintance Mr D’Ivernois to transmit you the inclosed Papers for your inspection Opinion and Advice. The poor Fellow has been obliged to fly a Second time into Banishment. The first time, he was driven out as a Democrat: but it is now, Day about, as they Say, in Geneva, and he is compelled to run, as an Aristocrat. Shall We print his History? What Shall We do with his...
298[To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ London, 6 Dec. 1787. Recorded in SJL as received 17 Dec. 1787, “recommending of Cerisier.” Not found. Antoine-Marie Cerisier, French historian and diplomat, was attached to the French embassy in Holland, where Adams met him in 1780 (Didot, Nouvelle biographie générale; Adams, Works , I , 330; vii , 492).]
299John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The Seconds of Life, that remain to me, are So few and So Short; (and they Seem to me Shorter and Shorter every minute) that I cannot Stand upon Epistolary Ettiquette: And though I have written two Letters , yet unnoticed I must write a third. Because I am not acquainted with any Man on this Side of Montecello , who can give me any Information upon Subjects that I am now analysing and...
300To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 11 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In Answer to your Favour of September 4. I am sorry to inform you that I have not received one line from the Commissioners of the Treasury, nor from Congress, nor any of their Ministers, respecting the Interest due in France. It is possible Messieurs Willinks and Van Staphorsts may, or possibly the orders may have been suspended to be sent by the Minister to the Hague, when they can find one...