160127 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A fair, cold day. Drank Tea at Mrs. Paines. All day, in high health, and spirits. Writing Tillotson. That Comet which appeared in 1682, is expected again this year, and we have intelligence, that it has been seen, about 10 days since, near midnight, in the East. —I find my self very much inclin’d to an unreasonable absence of mind, and to a morose, unsociable disposition. Let it therefore be...
160228 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
A raw cold day. Attended Mrs. Brown’s funeral. Let this, and every other Instance of human frailty and mortality, prompt me to endeavour after a temper of mind, fit to undergo this great Change.
160329 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Went to Leicester with Thayer. Heard him preach all Day. Dined at Mr. Whitneys. Returned home and drank Tea, and spent the Evening at Mr. Paines.
1604[March 1756] (Adams Papers)
Wrote out Bolingbrokes reflections on Exile. For JA ’s lifelong study of, and his extensive commentaries on, the writings of Henry St. John, first Viscount Bolingbroke, see Haraszti, JA and the Prophets of Progress Zoltán Haraszti, John Adams and the Prophets of Progress, Cambridge, 1952. , ch. 4. JA ’s own copies of Bolingbroke’s writings are now divided between the Boston Athenaeum and the...
1605March. 1756. 1 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Wrote out Bolingbrokes reflections on Exile. For JA ’s lifelong study of, and his extensive commentaries on, the writings of Henry St. John, first Viscount Bolingbroke, see Haraszti, JA and the Prophets of Progress Zoltán Haraszti, John Adams and the Prophets of Progress, Cambridge, 1952. , ch. 4. JA ’s own copies of Bolingbroke’s writings are now divided between the Boston Athenaeum and the...
1606From Benjamin Franklin to Timothy Horsfield, 1 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Orders are gone up to relieve Capt. Wayne’s Company. I suppose he will apply here for his Pay. Capt. Arndt should make out his Muster Roll on Oath, and send his Journal &c. according to the Instructions given him, before he demands his Pay. However you may pay him Fifty Pounds in part; and let him know, that the Remainder will be paid when the Commissioners...
1607From Benjamin Franklin to Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg, 1 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives of the Moravian Church, Bethlehem As the Forts are built, and the Ranging Companies in Motion beyond the Mountains, to cover the Inner Parts of the Country, I think the People may now very safely stay at their Places. The Government is at a great Expence to afford them this Defence; If they have no regard to it, but run away in so shameful and cowardly a Manner every time an...
16082 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A snow fall last night, half leg deep. Began this afternoon, my 3rd. quarter. The great and almighty Author of nature, who at first established those rules which regulate the World, can as easily Suspend those Laws whenever his providence sees sufficient reason for such suspension. This can be no objection, then, to the miracles of J esus C hrist . Altho’ some very thoughtfull, and...
1609To George Washington from Robert Orme, 2 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
I writ to you the very day I sailed from America to convince you I left the Continent with all those Sentiments of Friendship towards you I ever professed I hope now to convince that I retain the same and shall ever have the greatest Happyness in the Continuance of it. Letters from America had made the Generals Character as odious in this Country as there but since my Arrival and my having...
16103 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Fair Weather. Natural Phylosophy is the Art of deducing the generall laws and properties of material substances, from a series of analogous observations. The manner of reasoning in this art is not strictly demonstrative, and by Consequence the knowledge hence acquired, not absolutely Scientifical, because the facts that we reason upon, are perceived by Sence and not by the internal Action of...
16114 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
A fine morn.
1612Queries on the Plan of Association, 4 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , March 4, 1756; also printed in The Pennsylvania Journal , March 4, 1756. When Governor Morris signed Franklin’s commission as colonel of the Philadelphia City Regiment on Feb. 24, 1756, he knew very well its importance in the complex and continuing struggle over defense, which at this time centered on implementation of the Militia Act, and was conducted at...
1613To George Washington from Joseph Chew, 4 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
I find by the Papers that you Arrived in Boston the Fryday after we Parted, and I hope had an agreable journey Considering the Severity of the weather. The many agreable objects you there met with I conclude prevented my having a Line from you by the Post, this you can Very Easily Settle by Spending one day at New London when you Return. I Engaged a Good Boatman to Call on me this day when I...
16145 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home, Mr. Barnes dined here, drank Tea, and spent the evening at Coll. Chandlers. The ambiguous punctuation of the MS has been retained. JA probably intended a full stop after “dined here.”
1615From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Hubbart, 5 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Excuse my not writing to your good Mama and my other Friends. I am excessively hurried, and not very well. I shall send a Commission to Cousin Tuthill. I am going shortly to Virginia if nothing hinders, and could be glad to have the State of the Office Accounts and the Ballance, that I may settle it with Mr. Hunter. Pray desire him to put Huske’s Bond in...
1616To George Washington from William Shirley, 5 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
Governor Dinwiddie at the Instance of Colonel Washington having referred to me concerning the right of Command, between him and Capt. Dagworthy, and desiring that I would determine it, I do therefore give it as my Opinion that Capt. Dagworthy who now acts under a Commission from the Governor of the Province of Maryland, and where there are no regular Troops join’d, can only take Rank as...
16176 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Rose 1/2 after 4. A clowdy morn. Wrote Bolinbrokes letter on retirement and study.
1618Reply to the Plan of Association, [6 March 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers is a draft paragraph in his hand countering the assertion in the Plan of Association of the independent companies that the Militia Act had produced few enlistments. Obviously intended as a compliment to the German volunteers in his regiment, the paragraph appears, in an almost literal translation, in the Philadelphische Zeitung ,...
16197 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Maccarty all day. Spent the Evening and supped at Mr. Greenes, with Thayer. Honesty, Sincerity and openness, I esteem essential marks of a good mind. I am therefore of opinion, that men ought, (after they have examined with unbiassed Judgments, every System of Religion, and chosen one System on their own Authority, for themselves) to avow their Opinions and defend them with boldness.
16208 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Evening at Major Chandlers. Fair Weather.
1621To Benjamin Franklin from Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg, 8 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives of the Moravian Church, Bethlehem What you have done hitherto for the Defence of our County hath not been in Vain, but hath stopp’d our cruel Enemy from going on like a Bush-Fire in his wicked Ways. Had you not secured the Frontiers with some Forts in building of which you have ventured your own Life and taken upon you so many and various Hardship’s; the Enemy would likely not...
16229 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A charming Day. Spent the evening up Chamber.
162310 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
A misty morning. Sun brake out about noon. Spent Evening at Gardiners.
162411 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at the Colonels. Drank Tea at Mr. Paines with a number of Ladies, and spent the Evening at Major Chandlers, with Thayer.
162512 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Clowdy. Laid a pair of Gloves with Mrs. Willard that she would not see me chew tobacco this month. We do not know who won this wager. We do know something about JA ’s use of tobacco. In 1805 his friend Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse of the Harvard Medical School published a tract entitled Cautions to Young Persons concerning Health in a Public Lecture...; containing the General Doctrine of Chronic...
162613 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Some Snow last night, a clowdy, raw morning.
162714 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Maccarty all Day upon Abrahams Faith, in offering up Isaac. Spent the Evening, very Sociably at Mr. Putnams. Several observations concerning Mr. Franklin of Phyladelphia, a prodigious Genius cultivated with prodigious industry.
162815 Monday. (Adams Papers)
I sometimes, in my sprightly moments, consider my self, in my great Chair at School, as some Dictator at the head of a commonwealth. In this little State I can discover all the great Genius’s, all the surprizing actions and revolutions of the great World in miniature. I have severall renowned Generalls but 3 feet high, and several deep-projecting Politicians in peticoats. I have others...
162916 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Sat out for Uxbridge, arrived about 12, dined. Rode to Aldridges after Mr. Webb, and brought him with me to my Uncles. Spent the Evening there. Lodged with Webb. Presumably Nathan Webb (1734–1760), Harvard 1754 , nephew and namesake of JA ’s “Uncle Webb"; he is said to have practiced medicine, and it was to him that JA addressed his first letter that survives, 1 Sept. 1755 ( Adams Papers ; JA...
163017 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
A fine morning. Proceeded on my Journey towards Braintree. Stop’ed at Josiah Adams’s. Baited at Clarks of Medway. Dined at Clarks of Medfield. Stopd to see Mr. Haven of Dedham, who told me very civilly that he supposed I took my faith on Trust from Dr. Mayhew, and added that he believed the doctrine of the satisfaction of J esus C hrist to be essential to Cristianity, and that he would not...
163118 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
A cloudy morning. Spent the afternoon at my Uncles, and part of the Evening at the Doctor’s. Ebenezer Adams (1704–1769?) , youngest brother of Deacon John Adams; his wife was Ann, sister of Susanna Boylston, JA ’s mother; their daughter Ann was Mrs. Elisha Savil, mentioned in the preceding note ( Braintree Town Records Samuel A. Bates, ed., Records of the Town of Braintree, 1640 to 1793,...
1632From Benjamin Franklin to [Elizabeth Hubbart], [18 March 1756] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Parke-Bernet Galleries Sale Catalogue, No. 61 (November 9–10, 1938), p. 30. I forgot whose Tickets I sent you; but you can write the names of the Managers, and the Numbers sign’d by each, and the 4th Class will be sent you. … I will get your Brother’s Commission sign’d by Mr. Hunter and send it from Virginia. … See above, pp. 403–4, for the lottery and...
163319 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A rainy morning. Went down in the afternoon, to the Point. Spent the afternoon and Evening and lodged with my dear Friend Cranch, in the usuall social friendly Strain. Richard Cranch (1726–1811) , who in 1762 became AA ’s brother-in-law before her marriage to JA . Cranch conducted a glass manufactory at a settlement called Germantown (from the German artisans who worked there), on a point of...
163420 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
After breakfast, rode to my Uncle Hunts, dined there, came Home, went to see my Aunt Owen, drank Tea at Deacon Webbs with Mrs. Nabby Webb . Came home. Spent the evening at the Drs. JA ’s aunt Hannah Adams had married Benjamin Owen of Braintree, 1725; his aunt Bethiah Adams had married Ebenezer Hunt of Weymouth, 1737 ( A. N. Adams, Geneal. Hist. of Henry Adams of Braintree Andrew N. Adams, A...
163521 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Vernal Equinox. Heard Mr. Wibird preach two excellent Discourses from Eccles. 9.12. Spent the Evening at Mr. Wibirds with Messrs. Quincy, Cranch, Savel, in Conversation upon the present Scituation of publick affairs. Mr. Quincy exerted his Talents in the most Eloquent Harrangue. Mr. Cranch quoted the bishop of Quebecks Letter concerning the french Missionaries among the Indians. Some, he says,...
1636From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We got here yesterday Afternoon and purpose Sailing to day, if the Wind be fair. Peter was taken ill with a Fever and Pain in his Side before I got to Newcastle; I had him blooded there, and put him into the Chair, wrapt up warm, as he could not bear the Motion of the Horse, and got him here pretty comfortably. He went immediately to bed and took some...
163722 Monday. (Adams Papers)
A fair but cool morn. Mounted for Boston, arrived about 11 o’clock, went to friend Wm. Belchers, drank a bowl of punch, dined at my Uncle Sympsons, rode to Cambridge, drank Tea with Tom Went-worth. Spent the Evening partly at Hills Chamber, partly at Slewmans Sluman’s , and partly at Trumbles Trumbull’s and partly at Harry Hills. Lodged with John Hill. Nathan Simpson , a blacksmith of Boston,...
163823 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A fine morn. Breakfasted with Slewman at Prentices, mounted for Braintree, arrived about 1, dined, went to Dr. Millers, to see friend Sam. Drank Tea there with Mrs. Veasey and Mrs. Mary Miller, stopped in my return at Dr. Marshes, smoked a pipe there, came home, went to my Uncles and spent the Evening. Returned home and went to bed. Samuel Miller, Harvard 1756 , was a son of Ebenezer Miller,...
1639Enclosure: Jean-Daniel Dumas to Alexandre d’Agneau Douville, 23 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
Dumas Capitaine d’infanterie Commandt—De la Belle Riviere Et ses dependances. Il Est Ordonnie au sieur douville Enseigne En second de partie à la tête d’un detachment de Cinquante sauvages pour aller observer les mouvemens des Ennemis sur les derrieres du fort Cumberlan. Il Satachera à harceler leurs Convois et tentera de Bruler leurs magazins de Canagiechuic si Cette Expédition Est...
164024 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Sat out for Worcester. Dined at Dedham and rode from thence in the rain to Mendon, supped and lodged at Josiah Adamses.
1641From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [24 March 1756] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society Peter is now quite well. Present my Duty to Mother, and Love to the Children, and to all Friends. I shall write more particularly per Post. This goes by a Vessel to New York. I am, Dear Debby, Your loving Husband Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / at / Philadelphia / via New-York Of the four surviving letters BF wrote his wife after reaching Virginia,...
164225 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
Rode to Uxbridge. Tarried at my Uncle Webbs and lodged with Mr. Nathan Webb .
1643From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [25 March? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society … about 5 aClock in the Afternoon, tho’ I had been hinder’d near half a Day by Peter’s Illness. The 3d Day about 2 in the Afternoon, we sail’d, after parting with Col. Washington, who overtook us there, and proceeded on his Journey by Land. We were only Sunday Night and Monday Night on the Water, for on Tuesday Morning about 10 aClock, we arrived...
1644From George Washington to Adam Stephen, 25 March 1756 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Adam Stephen, 25 Mar. 1756. On 19 May 1756 Stephen wrote to GW : “I am sorry that I did not receive yours from Quantico dated March 25th.”
164526 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A delightful morning. Rode to Grafton, dined at Josiah Rawsons. He exerted his rawsonian Talents concerning the felicity of Heaven. I sat and heard for it is vain to resist so impetuous a Torrent. Proceeded to Worcester, drank Tea at Mr. Maccarty’s and spent the evening at Major Gardiner’s.
164627 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
The Stream of Life sometimes glides smoothly on, through flowry meadows and enamell’d planes. At other times it draggs a winding reluctant Course through offensive Boggs and dismal gloomy Swamps. The same road now leads us thro’ a spacious Country fraught with evry delightful object, Then plunges us at once, into miry Sloughs, or stops our passage with craggy and inaccessible mountains. The...
164728 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Maccarty, spent the Evening at Coll. Chandlers, in Conversation concerning Lands and Farms &c.
164829 Monday. (Adams Papers)
A little hail and rain fell to Day. We find our Selves capable of comprehending many Things, of acquiring considerable Degrees of Knowledge by our slender and contracted Faculties. Now may we not suppose our minds strengthened, and Capacities dilated, so as fully to comprehend this Globe of Earth, with its numerous appendages? May we not suppose them further enlarged to take in the Solar...
1649To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 29 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
There is no remarkable Occurrence on this Quarter since my last, only the Murder of Ensign Gordon for the particulars of which, I refer you to Capt. Stewart. I regret him much, as he was a diligent Officer, Staunch, and firmly attach’d to the Virginia Interest, and had a particular Regard for You. I have learn’d that you have been a long Journey, purely to pay your Compliments, and hear Some...
1650To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 29 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd you have the montly Return—George Hedgeman resigned last month. Captain Gist is the only Officer who, as [I] hear, has had good Success in recruiting—I have sent him, at his Earnest Request, £100 to pay off Some Expences on the Recruits left in Maryland. The Sickness continues among the men, and I have a thought of fiting up the New Store for an hospital, but wants your Orders how to...