10081To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 10 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for you son’s pamphlet. Much as I loath political discussions of all kinds, I was induced by your request, and my great respect for the genius of its author, to read it. with I thank you for the pleasure I derived from it. It is a masterly performance overflowing with argument & eloquence. He places Mr Ames where he ought to have been placed stood in the meredian of his political...
10082To John Adams from Joseph Wheaton, 21 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Soon after the memorable afair which took place at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts on the 19th: of April 1775, the news of it reached the Town of Machias, then most eastern port in the province of Maine, and early in the month of May came to that place two coasting Sloops owned by a Mr. Ichobad Jones, and convoyed by the armed Schooner called the Margarite a British tender, commanded by...
10083To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duly received your Excellency’s Favour of the 1st. and 6th Instant. I wrote to you by Mr Barclay, who went from hence some Days since, and I hope is with you by this time, and that he will with your Assistance be able to settle every thing relating to the Goods. I have receiv’d a long Letter from Messrs. Neufville, the Purport of which is, that they are willing for their Parts to deliver the...
10084From John Jay to John Adams, 27 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
In my Letter to you of the 20 th . Inst: I inserted a Copy of the one which on the 13 th . Inst: I had written to M r . William Duane; and promised on recieving his answer, to transmit a Copy of it to You. The last mail brought me his answer, in the words following— Your Letter of the 13 th . Inst, which you did me the honor to address to me, concerning some notes in the fifth volume of the...
10085To John Adams from John Holmes, 7 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
You may perhaps deem it evidence of my vanity, that I have ventured to submit the enclosed to your inspection—But I commit it to your liberality & candour, with views, I confess somewhat selfish—It is my hope that should you think it worth the perusal, you will generously point out to me its imperfections & erroneous sentiments—We, who have some trouble in resisting the opposition to repu...
10086To John Adams from Enos Hitchcock, 4 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Citizens of the Town of Providence voluntarily assembled to tender their respects to the first Magistrate of the Union on his arrival in this Town beg leave to approach you by their Committee with sentiments of Joy on the present occasion, and with assurances of the sensible pleasure they feel in common with their Fellow Citizens that the suffrages of this great community have met in a...
10087To John Adams from William Carmichael, 22 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago the Letter which you did me the honor to write me the 18 th Ult o. by Mr Barry— It will be a pleasure for me to show my respect for your Excellencys recommendation, by rendering every personal civility & service to that Gentleman, which the nature of my situation in this Country will permit— When the Ct. de Rechteren—Minister from Holland at this Court left Spain, I...
10088To John Adams from James McHenry, 1 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose the proceedings of a General Court Martial, held at the Natches July the 21st. and by adjournments to the 29th, 1798, by order of Captain Isaac Guion commanding, for the trial of Ensign Daniel Fero, and others. The Sentence of this Court, upon Ensign Fero being a commissioned officer, extends to his dismission from the service, and therefore requires your directions, whether the...
10089To John Adams from Cresswell and Addams, 24 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honor of your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th. Instant wherein You inform us that you have received Authority from the Secretary of State of the United States to adjust and settle our Accounts for Services authorized by the late Genl. Lyman on the public Account of the United States. We beg to make our best acknowledgments for the Trouble and Interest your Excellency has taken in...
10090To John Adams from Edward Church, 14 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Notwithstanding the deep wound which one branch of our fishery had rec’d by an act of the british parliament, We were not without hope, while we had a free and an uninterrupted Commerce with the Mediterranean, and it’s neighbouring ports, that we might still be able not only to employ, but increase the number of our fishermen, and from our local advantages, it is not an extravagant Idea to...
10091To John Adams from Ralph Izard, 18 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with your Letter of 12th, and am sorry to find that you have had so much trouble about the Frigate. The accounts which we had of the small number of hands she had, made it probable that she would not sail soon. Perhaps this detention may prove to be “all for the best.” Some wise people are of opinion that this is always the case; and though the maxim has undergone the criticism...
10092Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 17 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favors of October 28. & November 11. of the past year, have been some weeks in my possession. I am not, nor can I conveniently be, so good a correspondent as my brother, whose frequent and copious communications exhaust most of the subjects upon which I should feel disposed to write you myself, I think it is my duty nevertheless not to suffer any considerable period to pass, without...
10093To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The unfortunate mistake referred to in Mr. Liston’s letter of the 13th to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, has induced me to reprint your proclamation for opening the trade with St. Domingo, and to subjoin an extract of Mr. Liston’s letter, to put into the hands of as many of the Collectors as are within reach, prior to the first of August.—General Maitland’s letter to me of the 23d of May and the 5th...
10094To John Adams from Henry R. Schoolcraft, 5 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
Henry R. Schoolcraft has the honor, with this note, to present to John Adams Esqr., the inclosed geological memoir, which he begs may accepted with the respectful compliments of the author. MHi : Adams Papers.
10095To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 15 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 15 February 1780. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:245 Vergennes stated that he thought it best to await the arrival of Conrad Alexandre Gérard, who presumably would bring a copy of Adams’ instructions and additional information on the nature and scope of his mission, before...
10096Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 22 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 8 th. I received the 17 th. Ins t. and broke the Affair to M r. Cranch, who has it under Consideration and expect he will give me an Answer this Week— A Day or two previous to the Receipt of yours, Solomon Thayer of Braintree came to my House and offered me a piece of Pasture Land adjoyning to a detached Piece of the Farm which You bought of Elkanah Thayer, the same Piece he had...
10097To John Adams from Charles Lee, 12 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
In deferring my answer to the letter which I had the honor to receive relative to your speech to Congress I was induced from the expectation of authentic information relative to the most recent state of the negotiations between this country and the great nations of England & France. These are topicks which every one expects to find embraced in the speech. Though the newspapers last from...
10098To John Adams from Jean Luzac, 31 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous renvoyer ci-joint les Papiers, que vous aviez eu la bonté de nous communiquer; et vous verrez par l’Exemplaire ci-joint de notre Gazette de Mardi dernier l’usage que j’en ai fait. Je vous suis infiniment obligé de l’attention, que vous nous avez témoignée à cet égard; et vous me trouverez toujours prêt à vous prouver tout le cas que je fais des Pièces, que vous nous...
10099From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 2 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
[. . . .] the Vice President—sends him a memoir which is the work of a M r. La Rocque a French Gentleman who is said to be charged with exploring the ground for extensive speculations in our vacant lands &c and which the Author is desirous of having placed under the eye of the Senate— How this can be done the Vice President can best judge or whether at all. RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 46,...
10100To John Adams from James McHenry, 13 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to submit a letter proposed to be sent to Lt Col. Gartlen by to-morrows post, with the letter mentioned therein from Governor Jackson of Georgia and that from Lt. McCall to the said Governor—It is desirable to have the letters returned to-day if approved of. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir / your most obt. & hbe st MHi : Adams Papers.
10101Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 20 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have it now in my power to send you a piece of homespun in return for that I recieved from you. not of the fine texture, or delicate character of yours, or, to drop our metaphor, not filled as that was with that display of imagination which constitutes excellence in Belles lettres, but a mere sober, dry and formal piece of Logic. ornari res ipsa negat . yet you may have enough left of your...
10102To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 24 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
By the Letters you will by this Post receive in Congress from the Brigadiers Sullivan, and Arnold, it appears to me, that Our Army in Canada are in the Utmost Peril of being lost. An unadvised Step taken in the Sending Genl. Thompson with a Large Detachment to Attack the Enemys post at the Three Rivers, has ended in Defeat, and Disgrace, with The Loss of Thompson, Col. Irwine, and 3 Principal...
10103To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 5 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this, Aaron Putnam Esq, is the gentleman names to you, as a suitable candidate for the office of Superintendant of the Dock & Navy yard, should such an establishment be made in this harbour. He goes on to the seat of government by the unanimous voice of this town, as their agent to represent their wishes, & to state their proposals, relative to the erection of a Dock &c. in this...
10104To John Adams from Julia Stockton Rush, 14 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I cannot refrain from the inclination I feel to be among the first of your friends in expressing to you the gratification I feel in knowing that your Son is placed in the situation for which his talents and character so eminently qualify him, and which you filled with so much advantage to your country. I rejoice that your life has been spared to enjoy the heart felt pleasure which such an...
10105To John Adams from Richard Henry Lee, 3 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter to you of december 1785 from Chantilly in Virginia in answer to the letters that you were pleased to write me on the 26 th. of August, 6 th. & 7 th. of September 1785; I have not been honored with any letter from you. On my arrival here I met with, and read with great pleasure your book on the American governments— The judicious collection that you have made, with your just...
10106To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the permission contained in the letter with which you honored me, of the 27th. Ulto. and expecting that the Constitution will arrive at Boston in a few Days, if she is not already there; I take the liberty to enclose a letter for Nicholson—If it meets with your approbation, it may be forwarded to him. Barry speaks favorably of Nicholsons conduct, in the West Indies. But as he...
10107To John Adams from William Vaughan, 7 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
I beg to introduce to your acquaintance and civilities Mr Masson the Kings Botanist who is taking the Tour of America in order to increase our Knowlege in one of the most extensive and most useful pursuits in Nature. From your situation and your disposition to encourage all undertakings of public Utility I am persuaded you will anticipate my wishes in shewing those attentions to a man of worth...
10108Mme. V. Chabanel to John Adams: A Translation, 31 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have eagerly asked Mr. Baron de Brederode, the current chamberlain to his royal and imperial majesty, and colonel in the state’s service, to deliver this letter to you so that I may be informed of your health, which, I hope, is perfect, as well as the health of the inestimable Mr. Thaxter, who I have heard has been very ill with fevers. I hope I was misinformed but if not, I do wish him a...
10109To John Adams from John Adams Harper, 30 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 20th. of this month, for which you will be pleased to accept my most grateful acknowledgements.— That any remarks of mine, should receive the approbation of any fellow citizens, is a cause of gratification—but when I find that they meet with the warm applause of the most intelligent and virtuous of the community, it is truly pleasing— I have...
10110To John Adams from Richard Henry Lee, 29 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am exceedingly happy to hear of your safe arrival, and I hope agreeable accommodation at Paris. At first, I doubt not, the splendid gaity of a magnificent Court, accorded not so well with the temperate manners of a sober Republican. But use reconciles most things. It may soon happen that you be desired to visit Holland, where I believe they yet retain much of that simplicity of manners which...