3091From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 28 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Letter for Philadelphia, inclosed in your’s of the 18 th , I have caused to be inclosed to M r. Morris, unsealed as it is, desiring his Attention to its Contents— But I should think M r. Van Berckel had better see for himself first— As he goes in a Frigate, he may carry every thing he wants, and perhaps he may please himself better at home than in America, in the Articles of Furniture & ca...
3092[February 1754.] (Adams Papers)
This winter, we had a vacation. In the winter of 1754 we had no snow at all save a smattering or two, But perpetuall rains and warm weather thro’ought the whole. In the academic year 1752–1753 there had been no winter vacation at the College. This was because during 1752 the number of instructional days had been greatly diminished, in the spring by the closure necessitated by a smallpox...
3093From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Diverse Causes and considerations essential to the Administration of the Government, in my Judgment requiring a Change in the Department of State you are hereby discharged from any further Service as Secretary of State. MHi : Timothy Pickering Papers.
3094From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
At the hazard of the little Vision that is left me I have read your Travels in the Wilderness with as much Interest Pleasure and Instruction as Coxes or Moores or Crusoe’s or Gullivers. I have Sent the Manuscript to Alexander Bryant Johnson of Utica and requested him to return it to you by a safe hand. My dear Wife has been sick all Winter and is Still very week, tho’ We hope somewhat better....
3095John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 February 1774 (Adams Papers)
I was very glad to receive a Line from you, by Mr. French, tho the Account you give me of the Danger of my dear Mother gives me great Concern. I fear she will not long survive her beloved Aunt who was buryed Yesterday. Let me intreat you to be very carefull of your own Health which is very tender. Dont pretend to Watch. I had rather be at any Expence for Watchers than that you should attempt...
3096From John Adams to Ebenezer Seaver, 14 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of your Letter of the 11th. It is all over with me. I can recollect an Old Anecdote and repeat it with the Garrulity of Age: But close thinking is out of the question. You must have Seen proofs enough that any novel Scenes or extraordinary Exertions or fatigue are two much for my Nerves. There are other reasons of an higher Order than this, which render it improper for me to...
3097From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 18 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of January 31, and thank you for your obliging Congratulations, as well as for the monthly Publication. Will you do me the favor of having my name Subscribed and the Magazine Sent to Quincy regularly as it comes out? I am no doubt obliged to Capt. Ingraham, and I Suppose also to Mr Barrel, my old Friend for the Compliment. The Time has been when such a feather...
3098From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
You were a Letter in my debt, when you wrote yours of March 17th but you did not know it. I wrote you Some months ago, and asked the favour of you to inform me, what is the Christian Name the Place of Residence, and the present Titles of our Friend Mr De Gyselaer, formerly Pensionary of Dort. I had particular reasons for this Inquiry which you would not disapprove, though I am not at present...
3099From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
Must We, before We take our departure from this grand and beautiful World, Surrender all our pleasing hopes of the progres of Society? Of improvement of the intellectual and moral condition of the World? Of the reformation of mankind? The Piemontese Revolution Scarcely assumed a form; and the Neapolitan bubble is burst. And what Should hinder the Spanish and Portuguese Constitutions from...
3100From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from John Davis Esqr, District Attorney at Boston, recommending Charles Angier to be a midshipman, & a letter from Charles Angier himself, requesting an appointment. I desire you would send him a warrant. You may inclose it to Mr Davis— With high regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3101From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 1 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
By virtue of the Act entituled “An Act to enable the President of the United States to borrow money for the public service”, passed on the Sixteenth day of July in the year One thousand seven hundred and Ninety Eight. I do hereby authorize and empower you, by yourself or any other person or persons to borrow on behalf of the United States, of the Bank of the United States, or any other body or...
3102From John Adams to United States Senate, 9 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Hazard Wigg Esqr of South Carolina, to be Collector of the District of Beaufort in that State, and Inspector of the Revenue for that Port, in the place of John Grayson Esqr deceased. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3103Enclosure: Letter of Resignation from Superior Court, 10 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
To the Honourable the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay. May it please your Honours I find myself under a Necessity of resigning my Appointment to a Seat in the Superior Court; and I do accordingly hereby resign it, and request that Some other Gentleman may be forthwith appointed to that most honourable and important Station. I am your Honours most obliged and obedient humble Servant...
3104From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 2d instant has prescribed a dismal plan, which I was never very well calculated to execute, but am now wholly incapable. I can write nothing which will not be suspected of personal vanity, local prejudice or Provincial & State partiality. However, as I hold myself responsible, at this age, to one only tribunal in the Universe, I will give you a few hints at all hazards. As...
3105From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate John Faulcon of North Carolina to be a Commissioner under the Act for the Valuation of Land and Dwelling Houses and the Enumeration of slaves for the third Division of that state in the Room of Joseph John Williams who has declined his Appointment William Peck to be Marshall for the District of Rhode Island Charles Burnham Cockran to be Marshall for the District of South Carolina,...
3106From John Adams to Rhode Island, Citizens of Newport, 28 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for this cordial Address—When you declare to the World, that your affections, are wedded to your Constitution, and Government, that all the objects of my Administration, and the means by which they have been pursued, particularly as they regard the Republic of France, possess, your most cordial approbation, and grateful applause, that I have endeavored by every prudent and...
3107From John Adams to James Warren, 16 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you, in yours of the 30 March, in opinion that five Regiments are too Small a Force to be left with you, considering the Necessity of fortifying the Harbour, and the Danger there is that the Enemy may renew their Designs upon our Province. Am happy to learn that you have Sent a Committee to view the Harbour of Boston and report the best Method of Securing it. When this Report is...
3108From John Adams to Richard Rush, 26 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20th and the Extracts which are very consolatory. I have Sometimes thought that the People of the U.S. of both Parties were the worst Judges in the World, of themselves, their Resources, the Character of their own Nation and even of the Geography of their Country. Mr Madisons Administration, must be recorded by Historians; not with Standing all the Errors,...
3109John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
I, Yesterday rec d your favour of June 27. N o. 10. It is in common with all the Numbers which preceded it, full of accurate Information, profound Sagacity and nice discernment. I sent four of your preceeding Numbers to the President, who wrote me on the 20 th of August that “they contain a great deal of Interesting matter and N o. 9 discloses much important Information and political...
311029 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
29 Sunday.
3111From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 31 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have, after so long a time, been favored with a loan of four Volumes of Captain Joseph Ingraham’s Journals of his voyage to the North West Coast of America, round Cape Horn, in the Brigantine Hope of Seventy Tons burthen. He sailed from Boston on the 16th. of September 1790. In these he often Speaks of a voyage he made the year or two before, in the Columbia, and refers to his Journal of it....
3112From John Adams to Jonathan Mason Jr., 21 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had by Yesterdays Post, the Pleasure of your Letter of the 12. instant. The Account you give me of the Books you have read and Studied is very agreable to me. Let me request you, to pursue my Lord Coke. The first Institute You Say you have diligently Studied. Let me Advise you to study the second, third and fourth Institutes with equal Diligence. My Lord Coke is justly Styled the oracle of...
3113From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 22 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, you did the honor to write me, on the 8th. of Jan: ins t. tho’ dated 8. February, by mistake— I have since received another Letter from M r. Jefferson, informing me that the Creditors in Holland insist on immediate payment of the principal sum of 51.000 Guilders &c Colonel Smith has by last post transmitted you a sealed Packett from the board of Treasury which may...
3114From John Adams to Jonathan Mason, Jr., 27 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
When the enterprise against Cape-breton was planed and adopted by the Legislature of Masschusetts I was ten years old—My Father took the Newspapers and gave them to me to read—so that I became some what attentive to publick affairs—But my attention was more forcibly attracted by the din of Arms The Militia where frequently called to-gether, And the Ensigns with their Colours—and the Sergeants...
31151760. Aug. 9th. (Adams Papers)
Drank Tea at Coll. Quincys, with Coll. Gooch and Dr. Gardiner. I see Gooch’s fiery Spirit, his unguarded Temper. He Swears freely, boldly. He is a Widower, and delights to dwell, in his Conversation, upon Courtship and Marriage. Has a violent aversion to long Courtship. He’s a fool, that spends more than a Week, &c. A malignant Witt. A fiery, fierce outragious Enemy. He quarrells with all Men....
3116From John Adams to Henry Guest, 26 June 1808 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the fifteenth of this Month and read it with pleasure; and my Son, who happened to be with me, on a visit, from Boston where he resides read the part of it addressed to him, with apparent Satisfaction. on his return from Washington he presented me, in your name with that fine American Staff which I call “My Guest,” for which I give you a thousand Thanks. It not...
3117From John Adams to John Marshall, 12 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I return inclosed the duplicate answers to the letter of the prince regent of Portugal signed. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3118From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 18 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of April 13, soars above the visible diurnal Sphære.— I own to you that avarice Ambition the Love of Fame &c are all mysterious Passions. They are the greatest Absurdities, Delusions and Follies that can be imagined, if in this Life only We had hope. In the Boat on our Return from Point no Point, the principal Topick of Conversation was Independence. — an intercepted Letter early...
3119From John Adams to Henry Grand, 3 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your favor of Octr. 13th and thank You for your Care in sending the Letters. The News Papers may come by any Opportunity. I should be obliged to You to send the News Papers regularly to Congress. The Journal des Scavans and that of Mr. Linguet, You may keep or send along to me, as You please: but I shall not renew the Subscription for these. I thank You for paying the twenty...
3120Questions to be Proposed Concerning Negotiators to be Sent to France, 27 May 1797 to 28 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Questions to be proposed. 1. Shall Pinckney be appointed Sole Envoy Extra.? Ans. No 2. Shall one Person be united with him only? 3. Shall two Persons be united with him? Yes 4. Who Shall those Persons be? Dana and Marshall James Maddison, John Marshall, Ludlow Ludwell Lee Thomas Lee Bushrod Washington, William Vans Murray. MHi : Adams Papers.