91To John Adams from James Lovell, 24 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am much chagrined at not having a Line about you by last Post. I did not expect one from you. You are so sick of Party abroad that you would not venture to have any thing to do with Individualities, here. Every Line that I read from France, like as yours have done, confirms me in an Approbation of the part I have taken all along through the contests of many months back relative to our...
92From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry?, 27 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have written, many Times to you, Since I left you, but have never received one Line, except that which accompanied my Commission, which I received at the Same Time. Are you of the Board of Treasury Still? If you are, I believe I must transmit to you my Accounts and Vouchers, and beg the favour of you to get them passed. I wish to have this Affair off my Mind, which will then be at Ease. If...
93To John Adams from James Lovell, 31 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received yours of May 14 from L’Orient and Aug. 13th. from Braintree with several valuable Papers. I hope to be able to write shortly to you on those Topics which are the Subject of your Correspondence with de Vergennes. At present, as I have been for several days past, I am engaged in a severe wrestling Match with a Chap who has laid many on their Backs here lately. He is known in...
94To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 3 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I most cordially congratulate You on Your safe Arrival to your Country, Family and Friends. I was honoured with a letter from You last Winter, which I should have answered, but what was worthy of your Notice or conveying Information could not with Prudence be intrusted to Paper without a Cypher. Our political Climate has been greatly changed since I had the Pleasure of Seeing You last in...
95To John Adams from Henry Knox, 4 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
To the numerous congratulations which you have received on your safe arrival in America, permit me to add my tribute, and to felicitate you on your safe return to your Family, friends and Country, and event which I am certain gives you true pleasure and happiness, whatever motives produc’d it, Whether Faction, Ambition, or—as I am a very bad Statesman—true policy in order to procure proper...
96To John Adams from the President of the Congress, 7 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
On the 20th. August last I had the Pleasure of recieving and communicating to Congress your Favors of the 3d. and 4th. of that month. Be pleased to accept my Congratulations on your safe Return to your Family and Country. Yours of the 27 Feby. and 1st. March last came to Hand about ten Days ago. An Expectation of having Commands from Congress to transmit, induced me to delay writing ’till now....
97From John Adams to Jonas Belton, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 14 of August, and have the Pleasure in Answer to it, to inform you, that I Saw your son, Several Times in France, and in particular, Some time in the Month of February, or Beginning of March last, at Dr. Franklins House, consulting with him about Some of his Philosophical or mechanical Inventions or Projections. He was in good Health. I thank you, Sir, for...
98From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I received by last Post your obliging Letter of 24 of August. The sight of your Hand Writing, gave me more Pleasure than you are aware. I would send you Copies of my Letters to you, if they were not out of Date at this Time. Thank you for your Compliment on my Letter to Congress. It is a long dull story; but I think Several Things appear from it, that are of great Importance. It appears that...
99From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of a very agreable private Letter from you, while in Paris, which I answerd, having executed your Orders, as soon as received. Whether you received my Answer I dont know. I have had a Stormy Voyage, but not more so than the Scaene you have been in, at Land. I wish I may have escaped with as much Hon our, as you have done: but have little Reason to believe it, for I can...
100From John Adams to James Lovell, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I had the Pleasure of yours of August 20 and 24. It was not for Want of Affection, that I did not write particularly to you and to many other Gentlemen, but from Want of Time. And since my Arrival to this Time, I have been obliged to go to Boston, Cambridge &c., so often, my good old Town of Braintree having taken it into their Heads, upon my Arrival, to put me into the...
101From John Adams to Henry Marchant, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
A few Days before I Sailed from America, I had the Pleasure of a Letter from you, on the subject of a Law for Confiscations, but my Engagements in a new Scaene of Adventures, made it impossible to attend to the subject, or answer the Letter. And Since, my Peregrination, not having received any Letters from you, and being occupied in a manner you may well imagine, I have not I confess done my...
102From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Looking over the printed Journals of Congress of the fifteenth day of last April, I find in the Report of the Committee, appointed to take into Consideration the foreign Affairs of these united States, and also the Conduct of the late and present Commissioners of these States; the two following Articles. “1. That it appears to them that Dr. Franklin, is Plenipotentiary, for these States at the...
103From John Adams to Daniel Roberdeau, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have not the less Affection for you, not the less pleasing Remembrance of the social Hours at York Town, for not having written since my Departure. Whatever may be thought of it, I have been very busy, and about such Objects and in such scaenes, as left me no Heart to write, except upon necessary Business. If you have ever suspected that I have not thought of you often enough, you have no...
104From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to you, for more Letters than I can repay at present. But declaring myself a Bankrupt, You must except of a few shillings in the Pound. Indeed I suspect the Debt is greater than I know of. I saw in the Courier de L’Europe, Part of a Letter from you to Dr. Dubourg, which was intercepted, in which you refer him to me for a long Letter you wrote me upon our military affairs &c. But...
105From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 11 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Early last Fall, in Conversation with Several Gentlemen, who are acquainted with Ministers of State, I laboured to convince them of the Policy and Necessity of sending Strong Reinforcements to the Compte D’Estaing. Mr. Chaumont particularly, coming into my Chamber, one Morning in his Way to Versailles, I begged him to mention it to the Compte De Vergennes, and Mr. De Sartine and endeavoured to...
106From John Adams to James Warren, 11 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I was told in Boston that Mr. Avery and Mr. Wendell had been proposed for Judges of the Inferior Court for the County of Suffolk, in the Room of my Friend Pemberton. I said not a Word, but since I have been at home, I have reflected upon this and altho these Gentlemen have amiable Characters I cannot think them So well qualified for this Place as Mr. Cranch, whose great Natural Abilities, and...
107From John Adams to William Whipple, 11 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
How do ye? Here I am, after, escaping storms, thunder, lightning, the Gulph Stream British Squadrons, Cannon Balls, and what is ten Thousand Times worse than all of them the Neglect and Contempt of Congress. Dont you think me a Philosopher, to pronounce these Words Neglect and Contempt with so much Deliberation Patience and Tranquility? When Dr. Fs new Commission arrived, there was much Pains...
108From John Adams to the Massachusetts Council, 13 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
While I resided at Paris, I had an opportunity of procuring from London, exact Information, concerning the British Whale Fishery on the Coast of Brazil, which I beg Leave to communicate to your Honours, that if any Advantage can be made of it, the Opportunity may not be lost. The English, the last Year and the Year before, carried on, this Fishery to very great Advantage, off of the River...
109To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 4 came yesterday to hand with the Pamphlets. If the Chevalier does not take his Bias at Bethlehem or Easton where he is to be documented 2 or 3 days, I shall continue in the hopes which your good Judgement has inspired. We have indeed had a stormy Time; and some Villains, I guess wanted to get hold of the Helm and the main Stays at a critical Moment. We are going to tell S...
110Enclosure: James Lovell to John Adams, 13 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
I shall not look through my Almanac to see whether I have written to you 22 or 24 Letters, I shall go upon the easier task of acknowledging all I have had from you—Decr. 6 1778 received Feb. 16 1779 answered 17th. and Sepr. 26. 1778 received Mar 4 1779 answered Apr. 28th. 3 months ago Mr. Gerard communicated to us in a private audience that Spain was mediating and that we ought to take speedy...
That Mr. John Adams threatned Mr. Izard with the Displeasure of Congress in his opposing the 11th. and 12th. Articles of the Treaty of Commerce; and, that the said Mr. John Adams entertained Expectations that Congress would be inattentive to the Interests of nine States of America to gratify the Eaters and Distillers of Melasses. Evidence. Mr. Izards Letter to the President 12th. Sepr. 1778....
112Enclosure: Ralph Izard to President of the Congress, 12 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Melasses business would certainly have proved the source of continual disputes, if it had not been altered; but the mischief which might have been expected from that is beyond doubt comparison less than what is pointed out in my letter to Mr. Lee of 18th. May. My apprehensions on this subject were communicated to the Commissioners at this Court; but I am sorry to say that they made no...
113From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of your Letter of the 4th of this Month, and I thank you for your obliging Congratulations on my Return, which gives me Happiness, whatever Passions or Reasonings produced it. You have Cause to thank Heaven, that the state of Europe is so favourable. It is Scarcely possible it should be more so. France is already elevated to the highest Degree of Reputation and England...
114From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of yours of August 19, by the last Post, and thank you for your kind Congratulations on my Return. You judge right, when you Suppose, that I cannot be idle, but my Industry will probably be directed, in a different manner, in future. My Principles are not in Fashion. I may be more usefull here, as you observe, than in the Cabinet of Louis the 16. But let me tell you, that...
115From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I had the Honour of a Letter, from your secretary, inclosing, by your order Copy of the Resolutions of Congress of the Sixth of August relative to the Allowance to the late Commissioners, and their Accounts, together with the Resolution of your Honourable Board of the 26 of August, requesting me to inclose my Accounts and Vouchers to the Board of Treasury, that they may take...
116Account of John Adams with the United States, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
The United states of America to John Adams Cr Liv. By the Total of Monies received 28,355: 3: 3 The United states of America to John Adams Dr Liv. To the Total of my Expences 13,855: 16: 0 To twenty Month’s allowance at the Rate of 11,428 Livres per Annum 19,046: 0: 0 32901: 16: 0 28355:
117From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 20 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted my Account to the Board of Treasury, according to their Directions together with my Vouchers, and have desired that these last may be delivered to you after the Board should have done with them. I must beg the favour of you to receive them and transmit them to me by a safe Hand. I see that Congress have allowed to their Commissioners, one half of what they voted in the...
118From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 20 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is a long Time, Since I had the Pleasure to see you, but my Esteem is not at all diminished. None of Us have any Thing to boast of in these Times, in Respect to the Happiness of Life. You have been in disagreable Scaenes no doubt—mine have been much worse than I expected. I never heard of any Jealousy, Envy or Malevolence, among our Commissioners, at Paris, untill my Arrival at Bourdeaux....
119From John Adams to John Holker, 21 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
A Day or two before my Embarkation at L’orient, Mr. Chaumont came to me and told me that he had shipped a Quantity of Tea, for Boston, and that he wished to lay out, the Proceeds of it, in Land, desired Permission to consign it to me and that I would, purchase Land for him with the Money. I told him that I was not a Merchant, and should not be likely to sell his Tea to Advantage, but that As I...
120From John Adams to James Lovell, 21 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
In one of your late Letters, you hope that a Treaty with Spain, will Soon be made. I wish I knew your Intelligence, which is undoubtedly better than mine: I have suspected, for I can call it no more than suspicion, that Spain intended to wait untill the Negotiation for Peace. In another you Say, you should be easier in your Mind, if I were in Europe, when you consider what Negotiations are...