31From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the blank e commission, inclosed in your letter of the 23d of July, that you may fill it up with the name of Captain William Taylor of Fredericksburg, in conformity to the recommendation of Gen Thomas Posey, if no other candidate occurs, whose pretensions are superior in your judgment. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
32From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 2 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday, your favor of 25th March, & thank you for the letter inclosed in it to Gen Lincoln. I am glad to learn that the discontents in Northampton are not increasing. I wish the expence of marching a force against the malcontents could be laid upon them alone.—Our elections are supposed to have gone very well.—much better than had been feared and expected. In a violent snowstorm,...
33From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 9 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the blank commission signed that you may fill with the name of Alexander Freeland to be collector & inspector of Great egg harbor, if no other candidate presents of superior merit in your estimation. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
34From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you, a day or two ago, on the necessary Article of money: but am afraid I did not express myself with earnestness enough to convey an adequate Idea of my Necessities. This shall be your Warrant for signing a Warrant in my behalf, if that is necessary, for two thousand dollars of my salary, which I pray you to convey to me in Postnotes, on New York, as soon as possible. The Question...
35From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your Letter of the 26 of July, I have to inform you that although you omitted to enclose to me the Letter from John Cowper Esq as you intended yet as there are no Candidates for the office, that I know of, who ought to excite any hestitation, I am well Satisfied that you Should apply to the Secretary of State for Commissions for Mr Claude Thompson to be Collector of the Customs...
36From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 21 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
In your letter of the 13th. you hint that attempts are makeing to draw into question the solidity of the public credit but you have not explained the particulars and I am at a loss to conjecture the facts which you may allude to. Public credit can never be steady and really solid without a fixed medium of commerce. That we have not such a medium you know has been my opinion for several years....
37From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 16 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter and Power to Mr Jones who did me the favour last year at the request of my Son to receive for me a Quarters Salary, which I beg the favour of you to deliver him and at the same time to give him a Warrant, that he may remit the Money to me by a Post Note. The Treaty opperates in Boston like the Hogsheads of Lime which I am putting under Earth and Weeds and Mud and Straw to...
38From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Report of the Sixteenth of this month, and for your early Attention to the important subject of the Loan. I have Subscribed, and Send you with this, an Authorization to borrow to the amount of the Law: but if the public Exigencies can be Satisfied with a part of it, your own public Spirit of Œconomy will induce you to confine your Self to Such part. The Rate of Interest is...
39From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 18 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Mr Pope, the Collector of New Bedford requesting to be appointed to Superintend the Building a Light House on Gayhead, to which I request your attention. I am, Sir with great regard / Your Most Obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
40From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 25 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the pardon of Wanton signed & pray you to have the seal of the US official affixed & the man liberated as soon as possible being convinced that humanity & the public good will justify it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
41From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favour of Septr. 7. Many Applications have been made to me for the Place of Dr Way. Mr Muhlenbourg, Mr. Huger, Mr Knapp Dr Jackson, and Dr Rush, besides those you have mentioned, have presented themselves as Candidates, and Mr Mumford of Philadelphia formerly of Rhode Island. These are all respectable Characters: but all Things considered my Judgment inclines to Dr...
42From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 4 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Mr Daniel Bedinger, with a Certificate in his favour from Governor Wood. I Suppose the Letter comes too late but that if it had arrived earlier it would have made no Alteration in your Judgment or mine. Neither Mr Parker nor any other Person ever had authority from me to Say that any Mans political Creed, would be an insuperable Bar to promotion. No Such rule has ever...
43From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 1st. and read all the ——— papers inclosed with much pain as I had conceived of Mr. Tucker, without honouring very much of him, a good deal of regard for him. I have signed the blank commission to be filled with the name of William Watson, the recommendation of him being sufficient, & the expediency of a new appointment apparent. I return all the papers with...
44From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Questions 1. Among the three Criminals under sentence of death is there any discrimination in the essential Circumstances of their Cases which would would justify a determination to pardon or reprieve one or two and execute the other? 2. Is the Execution of one or more, so indispensably demanded by public Justice and by the Security of the public Peace, that Mercy cannot be extended to all...
45From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Halliburton of Portsmouth has called this morning upon me with the inclosed Letters, which I transmit to you for your consideration with all other Letters and Recommendations you may receive, relative to the Succession to the Naval Office. With great Esteem &c CtHi : Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Papers.
46From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 8th. of this month; and am sorry to find that you judge it necessary to retire from office—Although I shall part with your services as Secretary of the Treasury, with reluctance and regret, I am nevertheless, sensible, that you are the best and the only judge of the expediency of your resignation.— If you persist in your resolution, your own time shall be...
47From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is high time for me to request, that you would seriously revolve in your thoughts, the subject of communications, both of intelligence and 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 13th of October. No letters should be directed to me here,...
48From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Dr Bartleet of Charleston, offering himself a candidate for a medical appointment in case; I transmit to you, because I believe the law has committed the medical marine Establishment to your care. If I am mistaken in this, you will please to give this letter & its inclosures to Mr. Stoddert. Dr. Bartleet is as worthy & respectable character as any we have. Last night I...
49From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 20 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your favour of the 16th.—Thank you for your care in writing to Mr Sands, who has furnished me with two thousand dollars for which I gave him duplicate Receipts to Serve for one, according to your desire. Though I rejoice to learn from your Letter that the Sickness in the City is diminishing, I cannot admit your Walk through the Principal Streets of it, to be full proof; because it...
50From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 9 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the commissions for Maxwell Armstrong & Alexander Nelson signed according to the recommendation, inclosed in yours of the first of this month which I here enclose I am Sir your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
51From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr William Channing from Tappahannock requesting to be made Collector of Norfolk in the place of Col Bird which you will be pleased to file & consider with all other applications for the same office With affectionate esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
52From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
With the blank commission signed I here return all the applications & recommendations inclosed in your favor of 24th of July.—If it is your ultimate judgment that Charles Simms ought to be prefered, you will please to have his name inserted. The recommendations of Mr Porter however seem to be very respectable. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
53From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are the full powers to borrow five million and two million signed according to your report made to me and dated the 20th. of September. The duplicates I shall send by another opportunity if those should not arrive to you. This is I suppose as you intended I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
54From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th, incloseing a letter from R. B. Lee Esqr. requesting an appointment as commissioner of the federal city, in case of a vacancy. The pretensions of this honorable & worthy candidate will be weighed with all others, whenever such an appointment shall become necessary. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
55From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 7 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have just now recd your favour of Yesterday I shall be obliged to you if you will inform General McPherson that I am very Sensible of the honour intended me by the Troops of the City and Vicinity. I shall dine at New Bruswick tomorrow and on Thursday get as far as Trenton or perhaps two Miles beyond the Delaware. On Fryday I intend to reach Philadelphia and that before night. I pray the...
56From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 15 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Petition from John Sylvester for a Pardon, a Copy of the Record of his Conviction, a Petition which he presented to Governor Sumner, and a Certificate and request Signed by a large Number of respectable and Worthy Citizens of Plymouth in his favour.— My answer to his Relation who brought me the Petition was that the Crime was of so serious a Nature, that, Whatever might be my...
57From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Judge Bradbury, recommending Capt. Joseph Titcomb of Portland to be Surveyor in the place of Col Lunt deceased. I pray you to file with the testimonies in favor of Mr Fosdick, which I sent you yesterday & all others With high regard & MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
58From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 24 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th and read it over and over again, with all the attention I am master of. The long continued dangerous sickness of my best friend, and her still precarious destiny, have thrown my mind into a state of depression, agitation and anxiety, which will not admit of a full discussion of the various points on which, you and I appear to differ in opinion. I will...
59From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 13 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 6th & thank you for a letter of credit on Gen Lincoln for 766, 66/100 dollars of which I shall receive from time to time such sums as I shall have occasion for & give receipts as you propose. My Steward is at Trenton ferry on the Pensylvania side of the river at the ferry house. The distress of the poor at Philadelphia is so great that I pray you to subscribe...
60From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 26 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Nabby Sylvester, the signer of the inclosed petition, came to me this morning to present it. She has the appearance of a virtuous & discreet woman. Left as she is with an helpless family of children, among whom is a pair of twins very young, she seems to me to be an object of compassion & of charity. I know not whether the law authorizes me to grant her request. The fine is yet in the...