3151From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 4 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
At the Close of the Service, on which Congress have done me the Honour to Send me, it may not be amiss to Submit a few Reflections to their Consideration on the general State of Affairs in Europe, So far as they relate to the Interests of the united States. As the Time approaches, when our Relations, with the most considerable States in Europe, will multiply, and assume a greater Stability,...
3152John Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 30. and 31 July was brought me, to day, by Captain Cazneau. I am happy to think that you, and my oldest son, are well through the distemper, and have sufficient Receipts. Nabby, I believe is also through. The Inflammation in her Arm, and the single Eruption, are nearly as much Evidence, as I had to shew—and I have seen Small Pox enough since I had it, to have infected 100 Armies....
3153Ap. 19. Dimanche. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home, with Mr. Grand our Banker, his Lady, Daughter and Sons, Mr. Austin, Mr. Chaumont, and a great deal of other Company. Mr. David Hartley, a Member of the B ritish House of Commons came to visit Dr. F., a Mr. Hammond with him. Went with Mr. Chaumont in his Carriage to the Concert Spirituel. A vast Croud of Company of both Sexes, a great Number of Instruments. A Gentleman sung and...
3154Saturday. May. 10. (Adams Papers)
Dined with the M. de la Fayette, with a large American Company.
3155John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 11 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 4 th with double pleasure occasioned by the Encouragement you give me to hope that I shall See you Soon at this chosen Spot. There are indeed in this Country, all the Characters and humours that you describe, and there will be such for many years to come, which will keep alive the extravagant Spirit of democracy, longer than it would live of itself. Exaggerations of...
3156John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I dare Say there is not a Lady in America treated with a more curious dish of Politicks, than is contained in the inclosed Papers. You may Shew them to discrete Friends, but by no means let them go out of your hands or be copied. Preserve them in Safety against Accidents. I am afraid We shall have another Campaign: but do not dispair however of a Peace this Winter. America has nothing to do...
3157From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 24 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th & read the letter of Mr B. H. Phillips, our consul at Curacao of 20th July, & the papers inclosed with it, which I now return. It is right to communicate these documents to Mr. Van Polaner & to Mr Murray, and to remonstrate in clear language to the government, of the Batavian government against the partiality of the govenor & councils & the scandalous...
315824. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
On the grand Bank of N ew F ound L and .—A few days ago, We spoke an American Privateer, the General Lincoln; Captain Barnes. Wrote Letters by him to my family. Mr. Dana wrote. Mr. Thaxter, Mr. John, and several others. Heard, since I came on board, several Hints concerning W.; Son of ——. That he has made a great Fortune—by Privateering, by Trade, by buying Sailors Shares, and by gambling....
3159John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to find by your Letter that you are so well situated, at Mr. Sewalls, make my Compliments to that Gent. and thank him for the Kind present of his translation of Young—it appears to me to be well done. You will write to me from time to time, if you want Books, or any assistance in your studies, from this side the Water. I hear a good account of your Conduct, your studies you must...
3160From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favours of 14 and 26. I thank you for the Extract, and hope you will discover by whom and to whom it was written. I dont See the Virtue nor the Wisdom, nor the Honour of writing Such Things to the English. It would be Sufficient, one should think to write them to America. However, just as they please. As long as they pursue with tryumphant success, the System, which was urged...
3161John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 23d. has made me the happiest Man upon Earth. I am twenty Years younger than I was Yesterday. It is a cruel Mortification to me that I cannot go to meet you in London, but there are a Variety of Reasons decisive against it, which I will communicate to you here. Meantime, I Send you a son who is the greatest Traveller, of his Age, and without Partiality, I think as promising...
3162From John Adams to William Crane, 25 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Unanimous Resolution presented to me by the Speaker Mr Dayton, “to stand ready at the Call of your Country, with your Lives and Fortunes to Support the Laws, Government and Rights of your Country against all her Ennemies. ” MHi : Adams Papers.
3163From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 10, 25 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
There are Persons, in this Republick, who have been Attentive to this War, and who know somewhat of the History of the Rise and Progress, of the united States of America: but it is Surprizing that the Number Should be So Small. Even in the City of Amsterdam, which is the most Attentive to our Affairs, and the best inclined towards Us there are few, who do not consider the American Resistance,...
3164Prescription, March 1797 (Adams Papers)
R x . Muriat: Hydrargyr Эi. = 1 Scruple = 20 grains Cream. Tartar. Эii. = 2 Scruples = 40 grains. Dissolve in one Pound of Soft Water or Rosewater. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3165From John Adams to John Russell, 5 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have, this morning received, your favour of the 28th. of April, with the volume of Washingtons political Legacies. For this instance, of your polite Attention and for this elegant present, which does honor to american Printing, I pray you to Accept of my best thanks. I am Sir Gentlemen, with much esteem your obliged and obedient / Servant MHi : Edward Everett Papers.
3166From John Adams to James Warren, 5 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of September 19. came duely to Hand. You have raised every fifth Man to march to New York. But to what Purpose, Should you send forth Your Thousands and Tens of Thousands of Men, if they are all to run away from the Enemy when they come in Sight of them? If whole Brigades, Officers and Men are to run away, as Fellows’s and Parsons’s did on the fifteenth of September, throwing away their...
3167May 9. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning Mr. Joy, Mr. Johonnot, and Mr. Green, came to visit me—Joy who lived at Weymouth, Green Son of Mr. Rufus Green. Dined with Madam Bertin. Michael Joy, Francis Johonnot, and William Greene, formerly of Massachusetts but more lately of London, who were traveling together in France (see note on the following entry). Greene kept a journal of this trip, in which he wrote of this visit...
3168From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 27 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the warrants inclosed in your letter of the 15th & sent them to J.C. Jones. His letter to you, I return & suppose you will comply with his request. I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3169From John Adams to Vt., Citizens of Burlington, 16 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
My Journey to this Place has delayed till this time, an Answer, to your obliging Address of the fourth of July: Your Zeal in support of those Rights to which that memorable Day gave Birth is as natural and commendable as your resolution to hold yourselves in readiness to support and defend them is commendable. The Constitution and Government, of your own Choice has indeed, caused the...
3170From John Adams to William Vernon Jr., 2 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
This Evening, I received the inclosed in a Letter from your Father. He writes that he has never herd from you nor me—I have wrote him several Times. Soon after Mr. Revellat was here, I had accounts from America that Congress were about to take into Consideration the State of foreign Affairs, and I did not know but they might make Such Alterations in the System of Their Affairs here as might...
3171From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 7 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your letters demanding my Accots. I have the honor to enclose the three Numbers: 1. 2. 3. No. 1 is an Account of my Salary for two years and an half, and the payment of it by Dr: Franklin, in obedience to the orders of Congress, the whole amounting to £ 6250 . sterling. No. 2 is the account for the purchase of the Hotel des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique, wh. amounts to 15207 . florins,...
3172John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
I embrace an Opportunity by two young Gentlemen from Maryland to write you a Line, on friend Mifflins Table. The Names of these Gentlemen, are Hall. They are of one of the best Families in Maryland, and have independent Fortunes, one a Lawyer the other a Physician. If you have an Opportunity I beg you would shew to these Gentlemen all the Civilities possible. Get them introduced to your Uncle...
3173From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have now to acquaint you that on the 29 Nov r. I accepted a Bill of M r. Tho s. Barclay. N o. 6. (by mistake I suppose it ought to be Number 8) for 200 £ s t dated Paris 24 Nov r. 1785 at usance first of the sett in favour of M r. Grand This 13 th. Day of Dec r. I have accepted Two Bills of 200 £ s
3174John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am called to this Place, in the Course of my Duty: but dont conceive from it any hopes of Peace. This desireable object is yet unhappily at a Distance, a long distance I fear. My dear Charles will go home with Maj. Jackson. Put him to school and keep him steady.—He is a delightfull Child, but has too exquisite sensibility for Europe. John is gone, a long Journey with Mr. Dana:—he will serve...
3175Ap. 23. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home with Company.
31761771. Wednesday June 5th. (Adams Papers)
Rode to the Spring, drank and plunged. Dipped but once. Sky cloudy. Activity and Industry, care, and Oeconomy, are not the Characteristicks of this Family. Green was to set out upon a Journey to Providence to day to get Stores &c. and Stock for Trade, but he lounged and loitered away, hour after Hour till 9 O Clock before he mounted. The Cow, whose Titts strutt with Milk, is unmilked till 9 O...
3177From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 23 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
On the 17th day of November, 1779, I embarked for Europe, with the hon. Francis Dana, Esq. and Mr. John Thaxter. The former was appointed by Congress, secretary of legation to my two commissions.—There could not have been found in the United States a gentleman in whose education, connections, talents, integrity and personal friendship, I had more entire confidence. The latter I had taken from...
3178From John Adams to James Warren, 4 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 30. April, is arrived. I am Surprized to read in your Letter that “our Poverty cant relieve Us from the Piracies of the Algerines.” Are the thirteen United States then not worth two or three hundred Thousand Guineas? Suppose they borrow it at Six per Cent. there will be Eighteen thousand Guineas to pay Yearly. We now loose a Million sterling a Year, by this War.— Are We able to...
3179From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter or Memorial from Mr J. Lewis late Consul at the Isle of France. I pray you to consider it in connection with that from Mr Babcock in favour of Mr Spooner. I know of no disqualification or demerit in Lewis. He has often called on me Since his return, and I think him a considerate and well informed and well behaved Man.... The great difficulty will be to permit the...
3180May 22. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning I drew the following Letters to be laid before the Ministers this Evening. We have received the Letter you did Us the Honour to write Us on the day of this Month, containing a brief State of the Affairs of the United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief. We have &c. Mr. Grand has laid...
3181From John Adams to Richard Rush, 1 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
I long to See the narrative of Dr Rush’s Life. I hope it will be printed. The Anecdote relative to me, in 1774, and the Toast ascribed to me, at Mifflins Supper, is so exactly like me at that time, that I dare take my Bible Oath, that it is literally true. My toast then was, as you Say and I believe, “Cash and Powder to the Yankees.” You ask me what would be my Toast now? I assure you, it...
3182From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 24 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, June 15, 1782—Wrote to Secretary Livingston. “This morning, I made a visit to the grand pensionary of Holland, Mr Van Bleiswick, and had a long conference with him, concerning the plan of a treaty of commerce which is now under consideration, and endeavored to remove some of his objections; and to explain to him the grounds and reasons of certain articles which have been objected to...
3183John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter from your Sick Chamber if not from your Sick bed, has made me so uneasy that I must get away as soon as possible.— Monday Morning at Six, I am to Sett off in the Stage, but how many days it will take to get home will depend on the Roads, and or the Winds. I dont believe Nabby will go with me. Her Adventurer of an Husband is so proud of his Wealth that he would not let her go I...
3184From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 4 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Son is probably in England: but I have no Letter from him later than the 21. March, then at Paris in the Center of the curious Revolution. Charles 12th of Sweden, at Bender had a fracas with the Turks, in which he exerted his personal Strength and desperate Valour. When the Affray was over, an officer complemented him, as he thought, by saying “I am told you Majesty killed a dozen...
3185From John Adams to United States Senate, 6 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Smith of Charleston South Carolina to be Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Portugal vice John Quincy Adams removed to the Court of Berlin Thomas Bulkely to be Consul General in Portugal vice Edward Church Superseded. Richard O’brian to be Consul of the United States, to the Dey and Regency of Algiers Charles Hall of Pensilvania to be an Agent for...
3186From John Adams to Daniel Hitchcock, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of the 22, Ultimo came duely to Hand, and I thank you for it. A free Correspondence between the Members of Congress and the Officers of the Army, will probably be attended with Advantages to the public by improving both the Councils and Arms of America. The Burthen of contracting for Cloaths, Arms, and Accoutrements, for the Regiments ought not to lie upon the Collonells....
3187From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 20 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
By the Seventh Article of the provisional Treaty of Peace, signed on the thirtieth of November, One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty two, confirmed by the definitive Treaty of September one thousand, Seven hundred and Eighty three, it was Stipulated, that his Britannic Majesty should, with all convenient Speed withdraw all his Armies and Garrisons from the United States of America and from...
3188May 13. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at M. Chaumonts, with a great deal of Company. After Dinner took a Walk to Chaillot to see Mr. Lee, who had a large Company of Americans to dine with him, among the rest Mr. Fendell of Maryland and Dr. Smith Brother of Mr. Smith of N. York the Historian. James Smith (1738–1812), College of New Jersey 1757; M.D., Leyden 1764; first professor of chemistry and materia medica at King’s...
3189To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 25 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor to inclose a Copy of a Letter I yesterday recieved from Corunna. I communicate it to your Excellency in Confidence. The Writer is a particular Friend of yours. He has so good an Heart, and is so amiable a Man, that I would not expose him to the Resentment of any of the Gentlemen, and therefore pray your Excellency to keep his Letter secret....
3190From John Adams to Charles Carroll, 2 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 24th July, I received as a precious treasure. You have in your list of Survivors omitted General Floyd in the State of N York, somewhere not far from Utica, as I hope and believe he still lives; he certainly was addressed on the fourth of July by his neighbours with great respect and was able to make them a concise answer. While Mr Ellery was dying and reading...
3191June 17. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Went to Versailles, had a Conference with the C omte de V ergennes .—Made my Court with the Corps Diplomatick, to the King, Queen, Monsieur, Madame, the C. D’Artois, Madame Elizabeth, Madames Victoire and Adelaide. Dined with the Ambassadors. Had much Conversation with the Ambassadors of Spain, Sardinia, Mr. Markoff, from Russia, the Dutch Ambassadors, &c.—It was to me, notwithstanding the...
3192From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 5 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
It is necessary that you should be minutely informed, of the minutest and most secret Springs of Action here, if it is possible. Yet the Danger is so great of our Letters, being taken and getting into English News Papers, that it is very discouraging to a free Correspondence. I will however take all the Precaution in my Power, to have the Letters sunk, but if all these fail and my Letters...
3193From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 7 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I like this prompt and quick correspondences, I have received your Sons acknowledgement dated the 6th of my letter to you of the 5th. Your Sons letter has greatly obliged me and I cordially wish him success but he has proposed to me a plan that would increase, my already established reputation for Vanity and Egotism to a mountain as high as blue hill, Wachusett or Monadnock. Before any...
3194[September 1774] (Adams Papers)
This Day, We breakfasted at Mr. Mifflins, Mr. C. Thompson came in, and soon after Dr. Smith. The famous Dr. Smith, the Provost of the Colledge. He appears a plain Man—tall, and rather Aukward—there is an Appearance of Art. We then went to return Visits to the Gentlemen who had visited us. We visited a Mr. Cadwallader a Gentleman of large Fortune, a grand and elegant House And Furniture. We...
3195From John Adams to William Wirt, 5 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your Sketches of the life of Mr Henry have given me a rich Entertainment. I will not compare them to the Sybil conducting Eneas to the Regions below to see the Ghosts of departed Sages and Heroes: but to an Angel convoying me to the abodes of the blessed on high to converse with the Spirits of just Men made perfect. The Names of Henry, Lee, Bland Pendleton Washington Rutledge Wythe Dickenson...
3196From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 10 July 1809 (Adams Papers)
DESIROUS to inform Congress of every step of my proceedings, I wrote a letter, on the 15th in these words, to the President: Paris, July 15, 1781. Sir, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter to the Comte De Vergennes, and of certain articles and their answers. The British Court proposed to the Imperial Courts, a congress, upon two preliminary conditions, the rupture of the treaty with...
3197From John Adams to James Warren, 8 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
You will not think your Time misspent in Perusing any Plans for the Service of your Country, even altho they may prove, upon Examination chimerical. There are two Channells only, through which Vessells of large Burthen, can pass, to and from Boston: one, is between the West Head of Long Island and the Moon: It is a mile wide, but incumbered with Rocks and too shallow for a Man of War of more...
3198Oct. 11. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
C.S. came in familiarly at Breakfast, and I had a hours Conversation with him upon the foregoing Extract. I shew him some Papers. He thinks the American Cause ought to come in. Walked to the House in the Wood. Near 3 O Clock Mr. Fagel came in Person, and in Ceremony to make me a Visit, and delivered to me, the four other Copies of the Treaty attested by himself, to be sent to America....
3199From John Adams to John Trumbull, 31 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
As I had promised myself much Pleasure, in a few hours Conversation with you in my Way to Philadelphia, I was greatly disappointed when I found you were absent, and still more pained when I found heard you had been out of Health. your Journey has I hope been of Service to you. I lived in constant hope that We should have the Pleasure to see you in the Course of the last Summer at Braintree:...
3200From John Adams to the President of Congress, 18 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Leyden, 18 March 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 78–93. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:306–313. This letter was read in Congress on 19 Nov. and consisted of English translations of the States General’s countermanifesto of 12 March and...