3401From 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...
3402From 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...
3403From 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...
3404From 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.
3405June 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....
3406[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...
3407John 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...
3408Tuesday 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...
3409From 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...
3410From 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.
3411[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...
3412From 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...
3413To 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...
3414From 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...
3415June 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.
3416To 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...
3417From 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...
3418[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....
3419From 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,...
3420From 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...
3421From 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...
3422July 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...
3423From 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...
3424From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 26 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duely received your Excellencys Letter of August 6th, but have been prevented by Sickness and a variety of accidents from answering it Sooner. My accounts have never been mixed, with Mr Dana’s, any farther than this. Mr Dana was here last December, I believe, and was going to Paris. In order to avoid opening an account here, he desired me to lend him, Some money for the Expences of his...
3425From John Adams to Alexander Wedderburn, 25 April 1774 (Adams Papers)
Your Defence of Messrs. Hutchinson and Oliver before the Lords Committee of his Majestys privy Council for Plantation affairs, against the Address of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay, has arrived in Boston,: and as it is very curious, interesting and extraordinary, you will excuse a fair Discussion of its Merits, before the Trybunal of the Public. Whatever may be your real...
3426From John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 22 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I must beg your pardon for neglecting to answer your friendly letters for which I am obliged to you If congress moves the publick offices must all move as the law now stands. But all the prophets could not foresee what will happen in a year. I suppose the government will move. If there is any thing in particular that you have in view I pray you to indicate it. My disposition is so good that it...
3427Friday [29 December]. (Adams Papers)
Let me see, if Bob P aine dont pick up this Story to laugh at. Lambert will laugh no doubt, and will tell the story to every man he sees, and will squib me about it, whenever he sees me. He is impudent and unfair enough, to turn this on every Occasion to my Disadvantage. Impudence, Drollery, Villany, in Lambert, Indiscretion, Inconsideration, Irresolution, and ill Luck in me, and Stinginess as...
3428John Adams to Charles Adams, 23 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
The Papers, furnish Us this Evening with more flowers of Jacobinical Rhetorick from New York. Crushing Monarchy Confusion to Aristocracy and Monarchy: a Brutus to Tyrants &c are Still not only panting in the Bosoms of the Guests at the new Civic Feast, but they must publish their Breathings to the World. It is so customary for the Members of the Corps Diplomatick, to make Ex officio...
3429From John Adams to James Lloyd, 26 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
1 I now inclose to you, the original Spanish Letter to me, dated Falmouth 10 May 1798 from D. Pedro Joseph Caro apologizing for his not coming to me in Person. 2 I next inclose a translation of Pedro’s Letter to Pickering dated Falmouth 10th. May 1798. Sir The annexed Letter of the honourable Mr King to you will serve as a Credential in my favour, in presenting myself to you with the important...
3430From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 November 1811 (Adams Papers)
The journal proceeds—1783, Monday, May 5th.—Dined with my family at comte Sarsefields. The dukes de la Vauguion and de la Rochefaucault, Mr. Jay, &c. were of the party. 1783, Tuesday, May 6.—Dined at Mr. Jay’s. Lt. General Mullville, who is here to solicit for the inhabitants of Tobago the continuance of their assembly and trials by jury, was there. 1783, Wednesday, May 7.—Dined at Mr....