32111777. Feb. 28. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Last Evening had a good deal of free Conversation, with Mr. R. Purveyance. He seems to me to have a perfect Understanding of the affairs of this State. Men and Things are very well known to him. The object of the Men of Property here, the Planters &c., is universally, Wealth. Every Way in the World is sought to get and save Money. Landjobbers—Speculators in Land—little Generosity to the...
3212From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 22 June 1806 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the tenth, like all others from your pen, notwithstanding all your apologies, was a cordial to my Spirit. I must confess to you, that the data, upon which you reason from the Prophecies concerning the future amelioration of the condition of mankind, are too obscure and uncertain, to authorize us to build any System upon them for the conduct of Nations—It is well to understand as...
3213From John Adams to John Hancock, 26 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r De Hogendorp a Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards, in the Service of the Republick of Holland, is going to America in the Suite of M r Vanberckel the Dutch Minister and I am requested by Some respectable Gentlemen to give him Letters of Introduction to Some Persons in America. any Civilities you may please to Shew him, will be gratefully acknowledged, by / Sir your most obedient and / most...
3214From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 2 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have received your friendly Letter and am much obliged to you for your kind remembrance and felicitations. I also thank you for the Trouble you have taken in sending my Books to the gentlemen of whom I gave you a List. But I wish to be informed whether you sent the three Volumes or only the first. I directed M r: Dilly, Bookseller in the Poultry, London to send fifty Copies of each of the...
3215John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have been so overwhelmed with Business at the Close of the session of Congress and Since, that I have not been able to write you for several Days. M r Grove desired me to tell you that M r William Smith your Nephew is married to a very amiable young Lady the Daughter of a rich Father. What he means by a rich Father I dont know.— I congratulate you & Louisa on this Event. I cannot Say whether...
3216From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 28th. of October has been received with pleasure—First because it is sprightly ingenious and agreeable—Secondly because it is a proof of your continued punctuality and Correspondence—Thirdly because it gives us a most refreshing assurance of the abatement of the epidemic in Washington, Georgetown, and its neighbouring region Fourthly, because you appear to be pleased with...
3217From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 9 March 1809 (Adams Papers)
Though it is “a terrible thing” for “eyes with reading almost blind” to go over between three and four hundred pages of ms. History, I have read “the General history of the United States” with more delight than it would be prudent for me to express. It is written in the pure spirit of an upright and faithful and impartial American. I see in it none of those panegyrical Romances which compose...
3218From John Adams to Anonymous, 18 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted your letter of the 10 Nov to the Secy. of the navy with the certificate of Mr Bartram and am your well wisher MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
32191774 Fryday Octr. 7. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Thos. Smith, with a large Company, the Virginians and others.
3220Oct. 15. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning at 10 made my Visit to the President Van Randwick of Guelderland to take Leave of their H igh M ightinesses and presented Mr. Dumas as Chargé des Affairs in my Absence. Went next to the Hotel de Dordrecht to take Leave of Mr. Gyselaer, and next to that of Amsterdam, to take Leave of Mr. Vischer, who was more bold and open than ever I knew him. Said it was the Statholder who was...
3221[Monday September 23. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Monday September 23. 1776. A Letter of the 20 and 21st. from General Washington; two of the 19th. from J. Trumbull; one of the 21st. from the Convention of Delaware; one of the 14th from R. Varick; one of the 19th. from Governor Livingston; also, one of the 14th. from General Schuyler and one of the 19th from Colonel Van Schaick, and one from Dr. William Shippen were read: Ordered that the...
3222From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
If Parson Nelson could call that Composition of Alexander, Petrarch and Werter, The Admiral, “ Great and good , Surely it may be excusable in me, to make free with the Same Epithets. But away with Badinage. Be it known to you that I am in Correspondence, with your Rival; your victorious Rival; and what is more marvelous, a friendly correspondence. One of his Letters is inclosed, copied by your...
32231774 Wednesday. Septr. 21. (Adams Papers)
Captn. Callender came to breakfast with Us. Coll. Dagworthy and his Brother Captn. Dagworthy breakfasted with Us. Mrs. Yard entertained Us, with Muffins, Buck Wheat Cakes and common Toast. Buckwheat is an excellent grain, and is very plenty here.—Attended Congress from 9 to after 3. —Rode out of Town six Miles to Mr. Hills where we dined with Mr. Hill and Lady, Mr. Dickinson and his Lady, Mr....
3224To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 4 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; (II) copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Columbia University Library; press copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives Since the 25th of August, when I had the honor to write You, this is the first Time that I have taken a Pen in hand to...
3225From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received with great Pleasure your favour of the first.— Your Excursion I dare answer for it, will be advantageous in many respects to our Country.— The Object of mine to Holland was to procure Money, and I had the good fortune to obtain as much as was necessary for the then present Purpose: but it was not in Consequence of any orders from Congress, and therefore I am under Some Apprehension...
3226From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am almost ashamed to acknowledge, after ten days, the receipt of your favor of the 18th, and to thank You for the pains You have taken in searching the Treaties for Examples of Subsidies. I had understood that the House of Austria, altho’ one of the most powerful in Europe, and the constant Rival of that of Bourbon, not being a maritime and commercial Power, had always occasion for Money, to...
3227To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 10 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last letter was brought to me from the Post office when at breakfast with my family. I bade one of the misses open the budget, she reported a letter from M r Jefferson and two or three newspapers. A letter from M r Jefferson says I. I know what the substance is before I open it; There is no secrets between M r Jefferson and me, and I cannot read it, therefore you may open and read it—when...
3228To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 29 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter to Mr. Lamb and another to Mr. Randall: if you approve them please to Sign them and send them on. Why those Gentlemen have lingered in Spain I know not. I have long expected to hear of their Arrival in Paris. Possibly they wait for orders. If so, the inclosed will answer the End. The Chev. De Pinto told me on Wednesday that he had orders from his Court to inform me, that...
3229Octr. 17th. 1761. (Adams Papers)
I began Lancelotts Institute last Jany., and have read no farther than Lib er 3. Ti tulus 8. De Exceptionibus et Replicationibus. This entry, the second so dated, is from D/JA/4, JA ’s journal of studies.
3230[July 1756] (Adams Papers)
Sat out for Boston. Borrowed the Idea of a Patriot King of Ned. Quincy. Rode to Cambridge. Lodgd. Rode the next morning to Worcester. Edmund Quincy (1733–1768) , son of the first Josiah Quincy; Harvard 1752. Bolingbroke’s Idea of a Patriot King was first published in 1749. Eliot and Trumble lodged here with me. Kept School.—I am now entering on another Year, and I am resolved not to neglect my...
3231John Adams to Royall Tyler, 3 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday received your Letter of the thirteenth of January. The Subject of it has for some time been to me an Occasion of Solicitude, chiefly on Account of the Uncertainty in which I have been too long left respecting every thing which concerns me and my Family. Your Connections and Education are too respectable for me to entertain any objections to them: Your Profession is that for which I...
3232From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 5, 4 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 4 Sept. 1780. RC ( MdHi : Gilmor Papers). A note attached to this letter by Robert Gilmor, a Baltimore merchant, indicates that he received it from Jared Sparks on 24 Dec. 1827. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:45. In this letter, received by Congress...
3233[May 1766] (Adams Papers)
Returning from Meeting this Morning I saw for the first Time, a likely young Button Wood Tree, lately planted, on the Triangle made by the Three Roads, by the House of Mr. James Brackett. The Tree is well set, well guarded, and has on it, an Inscription “The Tree of Liberty,” and “cursed is he, who cutts this Tree.”—Q. What will be the Consequences of this Thought? I never heard an Hint of it,...
32341782. November 3. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
In my first Conversation with Franklin on Tuesday Evening last, he told me of Mr. Oswalds Demand of the Payment of Debts and Compensation to the Tories. He said their Answer had been, that We had not Power, nor had Congress. I told him I had no Notion of cheating any Body. The Question of paying Debts, and that of com pensating Tories were two.—I had made the same Observation, that forenoon...
3235John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
On Wednesday, the 9th. of this Month, We all arrived in tolerable Health at the Hotel De Valois, in Paris where We now are. On Thursday the 10th We waited on Dr. F ranklin and dined with him at Passy. On Fryday the 11, the Dr. accompanied Us to Versailles, where We waited on Mr. De Vergennes, Mr. De Sartine and Comte Maurepas, from all of whom We had a polite Reception. To day We stay at home....
3236From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 2 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your address to the Senate. I wish the Presidents Message, your address, and Governor Strongs speech might be printed together in every News-paper. There are pretty stories universally circulating here of your fortuitous journey in the Stage with Colonel Pickering. I have heard them with pleasure, for they really do honour to both. They are really good natured. The Millenium...
3237From John Adams to MA Town of Quincy, 25 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men by these Presents,—That I John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Esquire, In consideration of the kindness with which my former conveyance dated the twenty fifth of June 1822, has been accepted, and in further consideration of all the motives enumerated in that instrument and of various other causes—not necessary to be stated particularly, Do hereby give, grant, and convey,...
3238From John Adams to Commissioners of City and County of Philadelphia, 9 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
The Senate have considered the letter that you were pleased to address to the Senate and the House of Representatives, on the 6th instant, and they entertain a proper sense of the respect shown to the general government of the United States, by providing so commodious a building as the commissioners of the city and county of Philadelphia have appropriated for the accommodation of the...
32391774 Tuesday Octr. 11. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. McKean in Markett Street, with Mr. Reed, Rodney, Chace, Johnson, Paca, Dr. Morgan, Mr. R. Penn, &c. Spent the Evening with Mr. Henry at his Lodgings consulting about a Petition to the King. Henry said he had no public Education. At fifteen he read Virgill and Livy, and has not looked into a Latin Book since. His father left him at that Age, and he has been struggling thro Life...
3240From John Adams to Jean George Holtzhey, 24 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Since I have been in London, a number of Gentlemen have expressed a Desire to have the Medals, struck by you in Commemoration of the Connection between your Country and mine.— I should be obliged to you, if you would send me three of each Sort, and apply to Mess rs Wilhem & Jan Willink for your Pay, who will charge it to my Account. Send them, if you please, to the Care of M r: John Stockdale...