17761To John Adams from Hanson Catlett, 26 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Nothing of less value to me than my reputation should tempt me to this bold intrusion, as, nothing but conscious innocence could promise me advantage thereform— Raised Sir, by your appointment to the station which I have held, I am justified in the confidence I feel, that to spare the reputation of a young man whose tender buds of hope had scarcely blown, (if it can be done consistently) will...
17762To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 26 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your confidential letter of the 30th of Decer, & am sorry that any event should render it uncertain, whether you shall appoint Consuls to France. that Mr Lee, amidst the interfering applications of so many candidates, should be represented to the President as a Jacobin, is not to my mind, in this epoch of intrigue, slander, injustice, unexpected or extraordinary. but I am...
17763From John Adams to Richard Stockton, 27 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 17th. If the judiciary bill should pass as I hope and believe it will, I should be very glad of your advice, relative to appointments in other states as well as your own. The talents and litterary qualifications of Mr. William Griffith of Burlington have been familiar to me for some time. Your account of his character in other respects is very...
17764To John Adams from Charles Chauncy, 27 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Should the present Judiciary Bill, under Consideration of Congress, pass into a Law; and an appointment of a Judge or Judges, be made, if in this State, Permit me Sir, to ask to be considered as a Candidate, if not inconsistent with other arrangments; and, if my Qualifications & Character, shall be found suitable to the important Betrustment, to be indebted to Your Goodness, for A Nomination,...
17765To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Major Hatch has shewn to me the draft of a system he has formed for discharging a number of Cannon at the same instant and proposed so to connect the balls by chains and sharpened Knives so as to cutt their way thro every body which shall come in contact with them.—I have not any pretentions to that kind of science on which their operation must be founded. I therefore hope that my silence...
17766From John Adams to John Marshall, 28 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
As it has been the practice of this government, to summon the Senate of the United States to meet on the fourth of March after a new election of a President and Vice President, & as various considerations render it probable, that it will be at least as necessary this year, as it ever has been at any former period, I request you to prepare summons for all the Senators, who are to serve after...
17767To John Adams from William Thornton, 28 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to present to you a state of the business under our care, and of the public property belonging to the federal seat, with an estimate of its value, founded, not on mere supposition, but on the average of former sales. This report would have been made at an earlier day, had it not been delayed by the unfortunate death of Mr. Scott. We have the honor to be, with...
17768From John Adams to United States Senate, 29 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Roger Griswold Esqr member of the house of Representatives from Connecticut to be Secretary of war in the place of Samuel Dexter Esqr. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
17769To John Adams from Roger Griswold, 29 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
A Gentleman who is a member of the Senate of the United States has informed me that you have done me the honour, to nominate me to the Senate, to fill the office of Secretary of War. Without detailing to you the reasons which opperate conclusively upon my mind, but which can be of no importance except to myself, I deem it my duty, at this early period to inform you, that in case the Senate...
17770From John Adams to John Breckinridge, 30 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
It appearing to me proper and necessary for the public service that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Wednesday, the 4th of March next, you are desired to attend in the Chamber of the Senate on that day at 10 OClock in the fore-noon, to receive and act upon any communications, which the President of the United States may then lay before you, touching their interests, and to...
17771From John Adams to United States Congress, 30 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I transmit to Congress for their consideration a letter from William Thornton, Alexander White, and William Cranch, esquires, commissioners of the city of Washington, with a representation of the affairs of the city made by them to the President of the United States, dated 28th of January, 1801, accompanied with a series of documents marked from A to H, inclusively, Printed Source--A...
17772From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I hereby authorize & request you to execute the office of Secretary of State so far as to affix the seal of the U.S. to the inclosed commission to the present Secretary of State John Marshall of Virginia to be chief Justice of the U.S. & to certify, in your own name on the commission as executing the office of Secretary of State pro hac vice MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
17773From John Adams to John Marshall, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I request you would cause to be prepared letters for me to sign, to the king of Prussia, recalling Mr. John Quincy Adams, as Minister plenipotentiary from his Court. You may express the thanks of the President to his Majesty for the obliging reception & kind treatment this minister has—met with t at his court & may throw the letter into the form of leave to return to the United States. You...
17774To John Adams from Timothy Dwight, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Mr. John Punderson Austin , Son of David Austin Esq. the present Collector, wishes me to write to you in his behalf. He has for a number of years done the business in the Office of his Father, who as Collector of this port; &, as appears by a certificate, signed by several of the most respectable merchants of this town, and now lying before me, has done it much to their satisfaction. His...
17775To John Adams from John Rodgers, 31 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
It was with Singular Pleasure I learned from the public Papers, that the Judiciary Bill had passed the House of Representatives, by so respectable a Majority, and I hope it will meet with no Obstruction in the Senate—I consider it as a wise Measure, & one that promises no Small Utility to the Union; as the important Trusts it contemplates will, no doubt, be commited, under the present...
17776To John Adams from Caleb Gibbs, January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I flatter myself that the President of the United States will excuse the Liberty I have taken in addressing him at this time, but concious that he will lend an listing ear to my observations induces me to do it. The Inclosed Copy of a duplicate to the Secretary of the Navy in June 1799, respecting my situation, and soliciting him to keep me in view in case of any preferment taking place in the...
17777To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Once more I Shall enjoÿ the Sensation in addressing you as the President of the U.S. but your leaving the chair will not bereave you of a more exalted title, that of being the Father and Benefactor of your Countrÿ. To your indefatigable cares America owes her continuallÿ increasing prosperity—to you we owe—that our peace had been undisturbed—our independencÿ consolidated—and our Friendship...
17778To John Adams from Nathaniel Wells, 1 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Honble Daniel Davis Esqr has been lately appointed Solicitor General of this State and probably will soon resign his office as District Attorney for the District of Maine as the business of one office will interfere with that of the other—Considering it as of great importance to have able and faithful Attorneys in the several Districts in the United States I take the liberty to recommend...
17779To John Adams from Richard Stockton, 2 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to return my grateful acknowledgements for your goodness in answering the letter I took leave to address to you on the 17th. of last month. This act of condescension affects me the more as it was altogether unexpected, and has been performed in such a manner as lays me under a w e ight of obligation that I want words to express. Whilst I tender you my most sincere thanks for this...
17780To John Adams from Samuel Stanhope Smith, 3 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been requested by a very worthy friend to express to you my opinion of the character of Saml. Bayard Esqr of New-Rochelle in the state of New York—I am aware that you must be oppressed with introductory & recommendatory letters. And I have not an idea that the gentlemen who write them ought to expect more from them, than to furnish you with the materials of making a comparative estimate...
17781From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of this morning and am happy in your acceptance of the office of Chief Justice. The Circumstances however of the times render it necessary that I should request and Authorise you, as I do by this Letter, to continue to discharge all the Duties of Secretary of State, untill ulteriour Arrangements can be made. With great Esteem, I have the / Honor to be,...
17782From John Adams to United States Senate, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the Gentlemen in the following List to fill the Offices to which they are designated in it— Cavalry. Alexander Macomb, junr: New York— Second Lieutenant First Regiment of Artillerists & Engineers. Cadet Jared Brooks Lieutenant Robert Gray Pennsylvania Ditto Cadet Lewis Landais Ditto Cadet William Murray Ditto Cadet Joseph Cross Ditto Peter Lampkin Virginia Ditto
17783From John Adams to Joseph Ward, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read, with much pleasure, your kind and friendly Letter of January 22d. As I have all my life-time expected such events as those which have lately occurred, I was not surprized when they happened. They ought to be lessons and solemn warnings to all thinking men. Clouds black and gloomy hang over this country threatning a fierce tempest, arising merely from party conflicts...
17784To John Adams from Jeremiah Brown, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to notice to you the following pieces of Machinery of my Invention, it being my intention shortly to apply at the proper Office to obtain Patents therefor.— 1st. For raising water for watering Soil &c.— 2nd. For a Plough which may be worked by one Yoke of Oxen with equal advantage that it is worked by two in the Ordinary way.— 3rd. & 4th. For cooking with Steam of Fat, such...
17785To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Among the papers accompanying the list of military appointments was the resignation of an Officer by the name of Bullet, if I mistake not. It was sent for your acceptance. He is waiting, & would be obliged by your decision as soon as convenient. I have the honor to be / with perfect respect / Your faithful servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
17786To John Adams from Francis Gurney, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I hope Your Excellency will Pardon the liberty I take in addressing You on a Subject which interests me deeply from Personal motives of friendship; and I am well Satisfyed if my present application is successfull, I will in this instance, as I have always meant and intended, be Serving the real Interests of my Country—Having learned Yesterday that the Judiciary Act has passed in Congress in...
17787To John Adams from John Marshall, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my grateful acknowledgements for the honor conferd on me in appointing me chief Justice of the United States. This additional and flattering mark of your good opinion has made an impression on my mind which time will not efface. I shall enter immediately on the duties of the office & hope never to give you occasion to regret having made this appointment With the most...
17788To John Adams from John Punderson Austin, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
My Father, who now holds the Office of Collector of the Customs, for the District of New Haven, being apparently very near the close of life, I take the liberty to make known to you the desire I have to succeed him in that Office. I have been his Deputy and Assistant in the Office ever since I finished my collegiate course of studies, which is now five years past; during this period he has...
17789To John Adams from Nathan Beers, 5 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The office of Collector for this Port being vacant by the Death of David Austin Esqr. For myself and at the solicitation of a number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Town I am induced to address your Excellency with a request that I may be appointed to that Office. As early as Augt 1798 (when it was the general opinion here that the Office would become vacant, Mr Austin being very...
17790To John Adams from William Munson, 5 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to Inform you that the office of Collector of the Customs for the District of New Haven has become Vacant by the death of David Austin Esquire. I beg Leave to inform the President of the United States that I have served in the office of Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue in this District almost Eight years and have in that time during the Vacancy of a Collector performed...