3401From John Adams to United States Senate, 1 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Thomas Baker Wait, to be Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Thomaston in the Massachusetts in the place of Samuel Winslow who has declined his appointment. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3402From John Adams to Alexander Gillon, 20 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had last Evening the Pleasure of your Letter from Amsterdam, of the 14th. instant and I thank you for your kind Congratulations, on my Arrival in Europe, and for your obliging Compliments. You and I have been tossed about the World, in the service of an Infant Country in distress and danger: happy and blessed indeed shall We be if all our Labours, Hasards, and Exertions, can in any degree...
3403From John Adams to John Jay, 24 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received, last week your friendly private Letter of the tenth—The assurance of the continuance of your friendship was unnecessary for me, because I have never had a doubt of it—But others invent and report as they please. They have preserved hitherto, however more delicacy to wards the friendship between you and me than any other. The last Mission to France, and the consequent dismission of...
3404From John Adams to Peter Force, 10 June 1825 (Adams Papers)
I recieved the enclosed extract this morning from the North. The Source from whence it comes is as Mr DeGrand would say “first rate.” Dr. Waterhouse is a well known character in Massachusetts and so staunch a Republican that any thing concerning him would be gratifying to that party—Concerning the truth of the suggestion I know nothing. Whether true or false however this indirect notice of the...
3405From John Adams to Sigourney, Ingraham, & Bromfield, 9 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am engaged in some Affairs, which will oblige me to be absent from Amsterdam for some days if not for some Weeks, but when I return it will be necessary for me to have an House to put my Head in and Furniture, suitable for a Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to receive and entertain Company &c. not in the Style of Sir J. Y. of 80.000 Guilders a Year, but however decent enough...
3406From John Adams to Job Field and Others, 24 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yours of September the 8th. I have but just received, it went a long Circuit to come to me. I am very Sorry for your misfortune, in being captured, and wish you Liberty as soon as possible, but rec ommend to you Patience, the only Remedy under Evils which cannot be avoided. Sufferings in so good and great a Cause, as that of our Country, are the easiest to bear, because they are honourable. I...
3407John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
M rs Otis arrived with her little Rosignal, in good health and Spirits the night before last, and brought me your favour of Dec r 7.— Why am not I so fortunate as to be able to receive my best Friend, and to Spend my Days with her whose Society is the principal delight of my Life. If I could make Twelve Thousand dollars at a Bargain and Several of Such Bargains in a Year: but Silence.— So it...
3408From John Adams to United States House of Representatives, 27 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I transmit to you, in conformity with your request of the I7th instant, two reports, one from the Acting Secretary of War, the other from the Secretary of the Treasury, of the 26th, with details of the expenditure of the moneys appropriated by the acts of the 20th (4th) of May and 6th of July, 1798, and of the 10th of May, 1800. Printed Source--A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the...
3409From John Adams to Benjamin Vaughan, 14 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r Charles Storer, of Boston who has for Sometime past made one of my Family, will have the Honour to deliver you this. On Account of his amiable Qualities and his Discretion, I have presumed to introduce him to you, relying at the Sametime on your Goodness to excuse me for taking Such a Freedom. We expect every hour, and with not a little of Impatience, an Account of the Debates upon the...
3410From John Adams to Joseph Reed, 7 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday your Favour of the 4th. Instant was handed me by the Post. Am much obliged to you for it, and will give all the Attention I can to its Contents. Am not certain that I know the Gentleman whom you recommend by the Name of Henshaw—but I believe I do. There are several very worthy Men of that Name: which of them this is, I am not clear. The Difficulty is that We dont know what Vacancies...
3411From John Adams to United States Senate, 12 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Joseph Forman of Maryland to be Consul of the United States at Rotterdam in the place of John Beeldermaker deceased. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3412June 8th. 1762. (Adams Papers)
Went to Taunton Court. To the Land of Leonards. Three Judges of the Common Pleas of that Name, each of whom has a Son, who was bred at a Colledge. The Honl. George Leonard, the first Justice, seems to me arbitrary. He committed two old Gentlemen who were near 80 Years old, to the Custody of an officer, only for speaking loud, when they were both deaf and not conscious that they did speak loud....
3413[Seizure of Hancock’s Sloop, 1768–1769] (Adams Papers)
In the fall of the Year 1773, a great Uproar was raised in Boston, on Account of the Unlading in the Night of a Cargo of Wines from the Sloop Liberty from Madeira, belonging to Mr. Hancock, without paying the Customs. Mr. Hancock was prosecuted upon a great Number of Libells for Penalties, upon Acts of Parliament, amounting to Ninety or an hundred thousand Pounds Sterling. He thought fit to...
3414John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
on Wednesday I dined with M r Russell the Friend of D r Priestley and while We were at Table, in came large Packets of Letters and Newspapers from England. The Ladies at Table had Letters from their friends and the Scæne was so lively so much like what I had often felt that it put me into very good humour. The News was what you will see in Fennos Paper. Yesterday I dined at the Presidents with...
3415Tuesday 24. Wednesday 25. Thursday 26. (Adams Papers)
Tuesday We spyd a Sail and gave her Chase. We overhawled her, and upon firing a Gun to Leeward, and hoisting American Colours, she fired a friendly Gun and Hoisted the French Colours of the Province of Normandy. She lay to for us, and We were coming about to speak to her, when the Wind sprung up fresh of a sudden and carryed away our Main top Mast. We have been employed ever since in getting...
3416From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 14 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Joseph Coffin Boyd, dated Portland July 8th: You may know this Gentleman, better than I do. The papers inclosed in it, recommend Aaron Dwinel for Captain, Samuel Swett, for 1st lieutenant, John Quincy Keith for second lieut. & Zadock Dean for Cornet. If you see no objection to the acceptance of this troop of Volunteers, as I do not, you may send commissions to the...
3417From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of June 26th. & return the Exequatur for Mr Barclay signed.—Whatever irregularity there may be in this I suppose it may be justifyed by a particular regard to Mr Liston & Mr. Barclay as well as by an earnest desire to cultivate a good understanding with their government MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3418[Fryday. September 27. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Fryday. September 27. 1776. Two Letters of the 24th. and 25th from General Washington, with sundry Papers inclosed; one of the 20th. from the Convention of New York; one of the 22d. from Joseph Trumbull; one of the 25th. from Colonel John Shee inclosing his Commission; and one of the 25th. from Jon. B. Smith requesting Leave to resign his office of Deputy Muster Master general were laid before...
3419From John Adams to James Monroe, 23 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 15th, and the able Report of the Committee of foreign relations, and a very conciliatory Bill for the regulation of Seamen &c. I call it conciliatory, because in Theory it Should appear to be So; and because I believe it was sincerely intended to be so. The views were upright and the Motives pure, which produced it, I have no doubt. But will the present...
3420To John Jay from John Adams, 6 December 1785 (Jay Papers)
If the Facts, which I have had the Honour to state to you in my preceeding Letters, are credited, I think it will appear, that the Connections of these Kingdoms with foreign Powers, every Idea of the Ballance of Europe, the Dominions of Great Britain in Asia and America, and all the Interests ^ Considerations ^ of Posterity, are Sacrificed, to a momentary Tranquility and Credit. From which...
3421From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 26 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
THE gentlemen of the Senate informed me, that they came to confer with me on the subject of the nomination of Mr. Murray to France; that there was a considerable dissatisfaction with it, and they desired to know for what reasons I had preferred Mr. Murray to so many others abroad and at home. My answer to the gentlemen was, that I thought Mr. Murray a gentleman of talents, address and...
3422June 29. 1759. (Adams Papers)
Have this moment finished Woods new Institute of the Imperial or civil Law. It is a great Help in the study of Van Muyden and Justinian. I understand Wood much better for having read Van Muyden, and shall now understand Van Muyden much better for having read Wood. Thomas Wood, A New Institute of the Imperial or Civil Law, London, 1704 , went through several editions.
3423To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 17 April 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of March 25 th has been a cordial to me, and the more consoling as it was brought by your Grandsons M r Randolph and M r Coolidge. every lady connected with you is snatched up, so that I cannot get any of them to dine with me, they are always engaged—how happens it that you Virginians are all sons of Anak, we New Englanders, are but Pygmies by the side of M r Randolph; I was very...
3424From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Privateers manned by Spaniards with French commissions are intollerable. Remonstrances ought to be made to the Spanish govenors & to the Court of Madrid in a serious tone.—The Warren is arrived in Nantaskett Road, but I have nothing from any officer. The Captain, Col. Pickerings nephew, Newman is dead. I know not the character of the ship. If our ships...
3425[April 1771] (Adams Papers)
Last Wednesday my Furniture was all removed to Braintree. Saturday, I carried up my Wife and youngest Child, and spent the Sabbath there, very agreably. On the 20th. or 25th. of April 1768, I removed into Boston. In the 3 Years I have spent in that Town, have received innumerable Civilities, from many of the Inhabitants, many Expressions of their good Will both of a public and private Nature....
3426From John Adams to Henry Dearborn, 25 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am obliged to borrow a hand to thank you for your favour of March 11th. and for introducing to me, Mr Binon—whom I find to be a Gentleman of Sense and Letters—as well as Taste and skill—in all the fine Arts—He has been an agreeable Companion—and we have been fortunate enough to procure the best Accommodations Accommodations for him— Excuse me for I can barely write the name of your Friend,...
3427From John Adams to United States Senate, 3 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
His Excellency John Jay Esquire Governor of New York, has informed me, that the Oneida Tribe of Indians, have proposed to sell a part of their Land to the said state, and that the Legislature at their late session, authorized the purchase; and to accomplish this object, the Governor, has desired that a Commissioner, may be appointed to hold a Treaty with the Oneida Tribe of Indians, at which...
3428From John Adams to William Bentley, May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I received from our Quincy Stage under the direction of Mr Thayer a Box of Scions from The Endicott Pear Tree, carefully preserved and in admirable order for which I pray you accept my best Thanks. I have engrafted a number of Stocks which have taken very well according to their present appearance, and have distributed others to several Gentlemen in this and the Neighbouring, Towns. Mr Norton...
3429July 26. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. B. Hollis, Miss Brand, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Smith, and I walked to Mill Green, or Mill Hill the Seat of a Mr. Allen a Banker of London. We walked over the Pleasure Grounds and Kitchen Garden and down to Cocytus, a canal or Pond of Water surrounded with Wood in such a Manner as to make the Place gloomy enough for the Name. This is a good Spot, but Mr. Allen has, for want of Taste, spoiled it by...
3430From John Adams to Sigourney, Ingraham, & Bromfield, 13 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
It will be necessary for me to have, Tea Geer and Coffee Geer and Knives and Forks and Table Linnen. I believe a dozen and half of Tea Cups and Saucers and as many Coffee Cups— as many Silver Tea Spoons, and an equal Number of larger Spoons —a Set of Table Cloths and Napkins—whether there is half a dozen Table Cloths or a Dozen I dont know in a set. Two dozens of Knives and Forks. I know not...