1From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 August 1825 (Adams Papers)
The extreme imbecility of old age must be my apology for neglecting to write, and thank you for your valuable Book, It has not been for want of esteem or respect, or admiration that I have not written frequently to you—There is no part of my Life that I look back upon with more pleasure, than the short time I spent with you—And it is the pride of my life that I have given to this nation a...
2From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 July 1806 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received from the Post Office your obliging Letter of the Sixth of this month. It is not necessary for me to recurr to my Letter Books, and examine the few Letters I wrote to General Washington, before I assure you, that I Shalt take no offence at your inserting in your History, parts or the whole of them. They were written under great Agitation of Mind, at a time when a cruel...
3From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received from you, three Volumes of the Life of our late General and President Washington in a condition of convenience and ornament, which has not yet been exceeded by any of the Arts or Artists of our Country, nor indeed much inferiour to any in the most refined Countries of Europe. I pray you, Sir to accept my best Thanks for this elegant present. Exegisti monumentum ære perennius....
4From Thomas Jefferson to John Marshall, 1 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the Chief justice of the US. and asks the favor of him to administer to him the oath which the constitution prescribes to the President of the US. before he enters on the execution of his office, on Monday the 4th. instant at twelve aclock in the Senate chamber. PoC ( DLC ).
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Marshall, 2 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I was desired two or three days ago to sign some sea letters to be dated on or after the 4th. of Mar. but in the mean time to be forwarded to the different ports; and I understood you would countersign them as the person appointed to perform the duties of Secretary of state , but that you thought a reappointment to be dated the 4th. of March would be necessary. I shall with pleasure sign such...
6From John Adams to John Marshall, 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to me from the Vice President of the U.S. with a resolution of the Senate, dated the 18 of this month & a certificate of the Vice President of the election of Aaron Burr to be the future Vice President of the United States. I request you to select a proper person, according to the usage in such cases, to proceed to N York and convey this certificate to Mr Burr With great...
7From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Newbury Port Herald in which is quoted “A letter from John Adams dated Amsterdam 15 of Dec. 1780 to Thomas Cushing Lieutenant Govenor of Massatts.” This letter has been for some years past reprinted & quoted in many American pamphlets & newspapers as genuine & imposes on many people by supposing & imputing to me sentiments inconsistent with the whole tenor of my life & all the...
8From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of this morning and am happy in your acceptance of the office of Chief Justice. The Circumstances however of the times render it necessary that I should request and Authorise you, as I do by this Letter, to continue to discharge all the Duties of Secretary of State, untill ulteriour Arrangements can be made. With great Esteem, I have the / Honor to be,...
9From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I request you would cause to be prepared letters for me to sign, to the king of Prussia, recalling Mr. John Quincy Adams, as Minister plenipotentiary from his Court. You may express the thanks of the President to his Majesty for the obliging reception & kind treatment this minister has—met with t at his court & may throw the letter into the form of leave to return to the United States. You...
10From John Adams to John Marshall, 28 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
As it has been the practice of this government, to summon the Senate of the United States to meet on the fourth of March after a new election of a President and Vice President, & as various considerations render it probable, that it will be at least as necessary this year, as it ever has been at any former period, I request you to prepare summons for all the Senators, who are to serve after...
11From John Jay to John Marshall, 2 January 1801 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . Yesterday the polite Letter w h . you did me the Honor to write on the 22 d . Ult: enclosing a Commission whereby the Presid t ., with the advice and Consent of the Senate, has been pleased to appoint me ch. Justice of the United States. I am very Sensible of the Honor done ^me^ by this appointm t . but (independent of other Considerations) the Incompetency of my Health to the...
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Marshall, 28 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that a list of the votes for President & Vice-president of the US. has come to my hands from every state of the union; and consequently that no special messenger to any of them need be provided by the department of state. I have the honor to be with great respect Sir Your most obedt. humble servt PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “The Secretary of State”; endorsed by...
13From Alexander Hamilton to John Marshall, 26 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 26, 1800. On January 1, 1801, Marshall wrote to Hamilton : “I receivd this morning your letter of the 26th of Decr.” Letter not found. ]
14From John Adams to John Marshall, 21 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President presents his kind regards to Gen Marshall, & requests the favor of him to look into the dispatches of Gen. Pinckney, which gave an account of his rejection by the Executive directory & of Mr. Barras’s speech to Mr. Monroe on his taking leave & mark the day when that news was first received. It must have been in the month of march 1797. The President wishes to be furnished with...
15From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter or Memorial from Mr J. Lewis late Consul at the Isle of France. I pray you to consider it in connection with that from Mr Babcock in favour of Mr Spooner. I know of no disqualification or demerit in Lewis. He has often called on me Since his return, and I think him a considerate and well informed and well behaved Man.... The great difficulty will be to permit the...
16From John Adams to John Marshall, 9 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Adam Babcock a respectable merchant of Boston whom I have known and esteemed for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Spooner I also know and believe him to merit the character given him by Mr. Babcock. If it should be thought expedient to try a new experiment at negociation with the isle of France I dont believe we shall find a more proper person to conduct it as...
17From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are papers received from Govenor Sargeant. I pray you to keep them till I arrive. As they are private communications to me I would not wish them to be read by any but yourself With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
18From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Memorial from a respectable Merchant in Boston Mr Babcock. Mr Lewis has a similar request before you. Can We do any Thing in either Case or is it worth while to send another Agent to negotiate with the Isle of France? Enclosed is the Permit signed for the Brig. Amazon to carry Passengers to France, sent me in yours of 26. septr. DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Port Louis.
19From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are some packets of Newspapers &c received from Mr. Smith & a private letter to you which I dared not open. I am for sending half a dozen frigates into the Mediteranean With great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
20From John Adams to John Marshall, 3 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received last night your letter of 24 Sept. I return you Mr. Adams’s letter of 28th of June. The question whether neutral ships shall protect ennemies property is indeed important. It is of so much importance that if the principle of free ships free goods were once really established & honestly observed, it would put an end forever to all maratime war & render all military navies...
21From Alexander Hamilton to John Marshall, 2 October 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Before this reaches you, you will no doubt have seen under the Paris head an account of the suspension of the negotiation which has strong marks of being genuine. Inclosed is a comment which I have thought it expedient rather hastily to make upon it, with an eye particularly to some elections in our neighbourhood. If you agree with me in the concluding sentiments you will seriously consider...
22From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is high time for me to request that you would seriously revolve in your own thoughts, the subject of communications both of intelligence & advice to be made to congress at the opening of the approaching session and favor me with your sentiments upon the whole subject, as soon as possible. I shall leave this place on Monday the 13 of Oct. No letters should be directed to me here which are to...
23From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr. William Rogers of N York, requesting to be Consul at Bourdeaux I pray you to file with others, aiming at the same object. I am Sir with much respect, MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
24From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the enclosed letter of J Cox Barnet at Bourdeaux of 27 July. This letter being addressed to the Secretary of State, I ventured to open & found in it only a private letter to you. This, I did not think myself warranted to open, though it may contain intelligence of a public nature, and now transmit it to you in the same enclosure, which first covered it. I have received...
25From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday the inclosed letter, sent up from Boston, with several others and large packets, which appear to be only newspapers. This is duplicate of N. 244 from Mr. Humphries at Madrid, dated 29 July & Aug 1. Talleyrands reply to the French minister, “in the present state of the negociation, between the US & France, you may inform Mr. Humphry’s that he shall not long have occasion to...
26From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter of the 20th from Dr Leib together with a petition from Philip Desh & Abraham Shants for pardons. A certificate of physicians and other citizens accompany the petition. Refer this to the Attorney Gen. & let me know your opinions. With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
27From John Adams to John Marshall, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Elias Backman, Consul in Sweden with an account, which you will please to consider. If he took upon himself the office of Ambassador without orders, commission or instructions and spent money to obtain advantages to American commerce, the Executive authority cannot reimburse him. Enclosed also is a letter from C. Blackberd. You may take notice of it or not at your...
28From John Adams to John Marshall, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Samuel Parkman, a very respectable citizen of Boston & a member of our Massachusetts legislature, recommending Mr George A Cushing to be Consul at Havanna. You will find in your office the papers referred to. This letter you will please to file with them to be considered in case. I know nothing of the probability of the office being vacant. A letter is also...
29From John Adams to John Marshall, 18 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night & have read this morning the copy of your letter to Mr. King inclosed in your favor of the 9th. I know not how the subject could have been better digested. An idea has occurred to me, which I wish you would consider. Ought not something to be said to Mr. King about the other board, that I mean in London. We understand it no doubt all along, that those commissioners are to...
30From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I agree entirely with your sentiments relative to explanations with the British government & a gross sum, and am happy to learn that you have prepared a letter to Mr. King, according to the principles understood between us, which has been approved by the heads of department. This letter may be sent without further advice from me. Mr. Liston apparently had un peu de l’heumeur when he wrote his...