13831To John Adams from David Ramsay, 7 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
By this time I suppose that the fame or rather the infamy of our new instalment law has reached you. I wish that it may not embarrass your hands in negotiating with the British ministry. I can only say that it was forced on the legislature by polical necessity. Our necessities were great at the close of the war. Our negroes were carried away & our plantations laid waste. 700,000 sterling of...
13832To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Have long wished for a private opportunity to write to you, And while Expecting it, Have deprived myself of the pleasure to tell you my Opinion of Your Admirable Book— I Cannot Express, my dear Sir, the Satisfaction I felt in Reading of it—let those who study Constitutions in their Closet Say what they please—to Any one who Has Experience, Yours must Ever be the true principles— there is in...
13833From John Adams to John Jay, 10 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Public Councils of this Country, as far as they regard America, remain So exactly the same as to afford nothing new to communicate to Congress. The Members of Parliament, have been so long irritated and tormented on that subject, that they detest to hear the Name of America mentioned, and the political System and national humour Seems to be, neither to Speak nor think of it.— a seemingly...
13834William Stephens Smith’s Commission for His Mission to Portugal, 11 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
To William Stephens Smith Esquire Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America to the Court of Great Britain— The Secretary of the United States of America for the department of foreign affaires, His Excellency John Jay to whom was referred a letter to him from the Honourable John Adams of the 27 th. of June last, informing that the Queen of Portugal had ordered her squadron in...
13835William Stephens Smith’s Instructions for His Mission to Portugal, 11 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Congress by their Resolution of February the 3 d. 1787, determined, that the Letter to the Queen of Portugal herewith delivered you, should be transmitted to Her faithfull Majesty by your hands— You will therefore prepare yourself, as soon as conveniently may be, and proceed to Lisbon.— In your way, as you pass through France & Spain, you will of Course pay your respects to the Ministers of...
13836To John Adams from Patrick Miller, 14 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to present Your Excellency with the Account of an Invention for the Improvement of Naval Architecture, which is intended for the general Good of Mankind. As I trust it will be followed with happy effects to the Nations who shall adopt it, and that I believe it will prove particularly useful to the different States of North America, from the Nature of their Coasts, and Inland...
13837From John Adams to John Jay, 19 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to inclose the New Act of Parliament for regulating the Trade between the Territories of the United states of America and the Dominions of the King of Great Britain, by which Congress will see that the Same System continues, and is fortified with fresh Provisions. Provisions & Lumber, the Growth or Production of the United States are now, prohibited, from any foreign...
13838From John Adams to Rufus King, 19 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
M r. Francis Upton, a Gentleman recommended to me by M r: Hartley, will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter, He goes to NewYork, about an Estate Claimed by him, his Brother & Sister I beg Leave to introduce him to you— This Country affords nothing new—an obstinate continuation of the same Ministry, the same Principles Spirit, Passions, Prejudices, and in one word system is no News,— I...
13839To John Adams from Walter Mowbray, [20 April 1787] (Adams Papers)
As the intelligence I am to communicate is in my opinion of the highest consequence to the mercantile interest of America I presume any apology for the freedom I take in writing to your Excellency is unnecessary. The discovery I am to make an intended forgery of the paper currency of America, so ingeniously executed as to elude discovery. One of the persons concerned in this nefarious business...
13840To John Adams from Thomas Wren, 20 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I think it requisite to inform you that we have in our town M r. Waller Mowbray, a printer, in rather a confined way of business, but of fair & honest character, to the utmost of my knowledge. An unknown person applied to him ab t. two days ago for his assistance to work off some counterfit notes of several of the American States, and put into his hands extreme well-executed box blocks, &...
13841From John Adams to Thomas Wren, 21 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Yesterday 2 °Clock by express was delivered to me this morning— I waited on the secretary of State, at eleven & communicated the Papers to M r. Fraser—Lord Carmarthen not being there— M r. Fraser was desirous of doing whatever could be legally done, to detect & punish such infamous Practices, M r. Mowbray’s Letter & his whole conduct on this occasion does him honor— They shew...
13842To John Adams from Thomas Wren, 22 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of receiving your favour this morning, and have now to add, to the former intelligence, [. . . .] man who had sollicited Mowbray to assist in a forgery, is in custody [in] our town gaol. He went to Mowbray repeatedly on Saturday evening, & was so urgent to have some notes worked off, that he proposed their working all night, for he fixed on going to assist Mowbray, saying that...
13843From John Adams to John Jay, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Upon the Receipt of the first of the inclosed Letters from D r Wren and M r Mawbrey, by Express, I made Application to Government.— Lord Sidney was absent and Lord Carmarthen Sick: but M r Fraser the Under Secretary of State, took up the subject with Integrity and Politeness. He discovered a real desire to do every Thing that the Laws would permit, to crush in the Beginning this villainous...
13844From John Adams to Patrick Miller, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received the elegant volume you did me the honor to address to me, and shall take the first favorable opportunity to transmit it to Congress at New York, in conformity to your desire. Improvements in Naval Architecture are interesting to all men, and to none more than to the United States of America; where your inventions Sir, in this kind, will meet with both Scientific and experienced...
13845To John Adams from Thomas McKean, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much oblidged to you for the esteemed present of your Book, “in defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America.” It came to hand on the 27 th. instant, and I have read it through with great pleasure. The balance of the one, the few & the many, is not well poised in this State; the legislature is too powerful for the executive and judicial branches of...
13846From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 1 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of Feb. 24. I rec d. but this Moment.— The Mass. Law in question obliged Masters of Vessells, before they landed a Passenger to give Bonds, to maintain him, in Case he came to want. it was intended to indemnify Parishes, or rather Towns, against the Maintenance of Paupers.— This Law turned the Tide of Emigration from Ireland to Philadelphia.— it was early in this Century I believe,...
13847To John Adams from John Jay, 3 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
In Obedience to the Orders of Congress I have the Honor of informing you, that Phineas Bond Esq r. has presented to Congress a Commission from his britannic Majesty, constituting him Commissary for all commercial Affairs within the United States, and another Commission constituting him Consul for the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware and Maryland.— Congress being desirous...
13848To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 4 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
We have to acquaint Your Excellency that the Time drawing now very near for the Payment of the Interest Two Hundred & Fifty Thousand Guilders due by the United-States first June, and as it would be advantageous to have it inserted in the Public-papers so early as possible; We are very uneasy at the total Silence of the Board of Treasury to us on the subject. We still flatter ourselves the...
13849From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 7 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Letter from the Board of Treasury of the 4. of April, in which this is inclosed, I received open, on Fryday, together with the Bills for 75,000 Guilders mentioned in it. I went immediately to Mr Ruckers House with them: but no one was at home, but a Servant, who told me, his Master and Mistress were in the Country, and the Clerk not at home. on Saturday, I went again. The Clerk was then at...
13850From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 8 March [i.e. May 1787] (Adams Papers)
on Fryday last I had the Honour of your Letter of the fourth of April with two Bills of Exchange inclosed for Seventy five thousand Florins. rejoiced, at the Prospect of Supporting the Credit of the United States, I went immediately, to M r Ruckers House in Hatton Gardens, in order to present them for Acceptance. But nobody was at home, but a Footman, who told me his Master and the Family were...
13851From John Adams to John Jay, 8 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of April 2 d , and am happy to receive the Resolutions of Congress, inclosed in it, especially those of the twenty first of March 1787. The Convention at Phyladelphia, is to consist of Members, of Such Ability, Weight, and Experience, that their Result must be beneficial to the United States. The Settlement of So many great Controversies Such as those between the...
13852From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 8 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment, four O Clock, your Letter of the 4.— I have this forenoon Sent to the Post Office two Letters for you. The Board of Treasury have not been unmindful of you: But you will See, that I am miserably disappointed. The Interest must at all Events be paid at the day, if possible. You must, I think be convinced, that before another Year, there can be no difficulty. Can a new Loan...
13853To John Adams from John Jay, 12 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of writing you a few Lines on the 2 d. of last Month, since which I have received and communicated to Congress your Letters of 9 th. 24 th. and 27 th. January and 3 d. & 24 th. February last.— My Health continues much deranged, and I purpose in a few Days to make an Excursion into the Country for about a fortnight.— A Motion has lately been made in Congress to remove to...
13854From John Adams to John Jay, 14 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Last Thursday, according to your Advice, I communicated to Lord Carmarthen, not officially but as private, tho authentic Intelligence, the Resolutions of Congress of the twenty first of March. His Lordship appeared to be Sincerely and highly pleased: And Said that those Resolutions did the highest honour to Congress, and he wished I had Authority to communicate them formally. The Reason was...
13855To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 15 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
It has been long matter of Surprise to me that the States of America when investigating the various forms of republicks should never have thought of the mode of government practised in the city of London. it is an Epitome of the constitution of England, that constitution which is so beautifull in theory & of which you are so fond tho the balance no longer exists, and perhaps in some respects...
13856To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 15 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. Yours by Capt. Cushing with 50 Vol. of the Defence &c Thirty of which, I put into the Hands of M r Guild Bookseller, which were sold in the Course of 5 or 6 Days— Twenty I reserved—and took the Liberty to add to Your List of Distribution, One to Hon. Sam. Adams at the Instance of Bro r Cranch & myself, One to the Hon James Lovell at the Desire & advice of Un c Smith and one by y r...
13857To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 15 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
We have your excellency’s esteemed favors of 7 th: and two of 8 Instant transmitting us Letters from the Board of Treasury. The detention whereof later than others we received per the April Packet, has retarded the Business of a new Loan during a whole Week, A delay of utmost consequence at the eve of the June Interest falling due.— We sincerely lament the Necessity M r: John Rucker was in to...
13858To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 18 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received by D r White the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27th of January, together with two Copies of your Defence of the American Constitutions, one for myself for which I beg you would accept my Thanks, the other for the Philosophical Society, whose Secretary will of course officially acknowledge the Obligation. That Work is in such Request here, that it is already put...
13859To John Adams from James Warren, 18 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Thank you for your favour of Jan y. 9 th. & for the very valuable Present which Accompanied it. I have read your Book with great pleasure, as well as Information. The Avidity of the rest of the Family to read it has prevented a second perusal, which I Enjoy in prospect. I do not recollect a Single Sentiment different from my own. Except we should might differ a little with respect to the...
13860To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 18 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Agreeable to what we had the honor to acquaint Your Excellency the 15 th Instant, We have exerted ourselves to procure Money for Payment of the Interest due the First Proximo by the United-States; A Matter very difficult to be accomplished, as we had against us the late News from America, no immediate flattering Prospects and an excessive Scarcity of Money here at present. We have however been...