1From John Adams to David Sewall, 12 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
In the Boston Gazette of the 3d. Instant, I have the Pleasure to see your Name among the Councillors, where I have wished to see it, for some Time. That refined Ingenuity and pertenacious Industry, which distinguished my Classmate at Colledge, and my Brother at the Bar, I am sure will be of great service to the Province, at the Councill Board, especially at this Time, when the public Stands so...
2From Alexander Hamilton to David Sewall, 13 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received through the Clerk of the District Court, your statement of facts on the petition of George Tyler. Some doubts which arose in my mind on the subject, added to my being on the point of removal from New York to Philadelphia delayed a determination. The day before yesterday a letter from the Collector of Penobscot of the 20th. of September (an extract from which together with...
3From John Adams to David Sewall, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your address of the 4th of this month has been transmitted to me as you requested by one of my ancient and esteemed friends Judge Sewall. The mercenary views of the French Republick have been sufficiently maniffested for a course of years by their purchasing supplies without any thought of payment, by their continued depredations on our commerce & especially by the infamous law against all...
4From John Adams to David Sewall, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a short answer to the address of the Grand jury transmitted in your letter from Pownallborough at Sept term 1798. It would have given me great pleasure to have seen you at Pownalborough as I did in 1764 but I shall never see Kennebeck river again most probably. Some coincidence or other of affaires I hope will one day enable me to take you by the hand once more I am dear Sir your...
5From John Adams to David Sewall, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I beg pardon for postponeing to this time an answer to your favor of the 30th. Sept. I have run over all the names, Hooper Lee, Orne, Gerry, Sewal, Otis and twenty others & if you prefer any of them you may give the name. But upon the whole, I have thought that Fort Fisherman would be better than any other. The twelve apostles were fishermen and Marblehead is chiefly inhabited by fishermen....
6From James Madison to David Sewall, 3 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 December 1802, Department of State. Will lay Sewall’s 20 Nov. letter [not found] before the president. No commissioner of bankruptcy has been appointed since those named in the letter to Widgery [not found]. Proper notification of the appointment of commissioners of bankruptcy is considered to be the exhibition of their commissions; therefore, no other evidence of the appointment has been...
7From John Adams to David Sewall, 22 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
When I resolved, if I could, to give Peace to my Country in Opposition to the Selfish and ambitions Views, of a few of the Federalist, who never knew the Character and temper of the American People, nor their true Interest a Peter Porcupine and a John Ward Fenno, under the direction of McDonald the British Commissioner and William Smith the Agent for British Creditor, began to Squirt their ink...
8From John Adams to David Sewall, 12 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I recd last night yours of the 6th.—I read the Account of the Small Globe rolling in a little Pool of Mercury: but have heard no more of it. The Powers of the Magnet are indeed among the Arcana of Nature: and what is not? Nature itself is all arcanum: and I believe will remain So. It was not intended that Men with their Strong Passions, and weak Principles, Should know much. Without a more...
9From John Adams to David Sewall, 29 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 24th, and it revived or restored many of the sensations of my youth. The last Trial before a special court of Vice-Admiralty in Boston, before the revolution, was of Ansell Nickerson for piracy and murder on the high seas. The case was very singular and unaccountable. Nickerson took a passage on board a small vessel and sailed from Boston for Cape Cod, with...
10From John Adams to David Sewall, 4 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
your friendly letter of 31st October, has given me great pleasure. But if Envy were lawful I should envy the neatness, and firmness of your hand. Neither my eyes, nor my quivering fingers will allow me the power to write as you do. The vicissitudes of the last year have been like the Hurricane of the last Equinox, unexampled in the memory of Man. What other changes are to follow? I fear the...