3601To John Adams from William Tudor, 6 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
That I was right in my Position “that a considerable Time must elapse before the united States can arise to Greatness” I find confirmed by your last Letter. That our Situation, Resources and Population may & ought to rank Us high on the Scale of Nations is indisputably true. But the heterogeneous Materials which compose our extensive federal Republic; the Jealousies, the Ignorances, & the...
3602To John Adams from Nathan Beers, 5 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The office of Collector for this Port being vacant by the Death of David Austin Esqr. For myself and at the solicitation of a number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Town I am induced to address your Excellency with a request that I may be appointed to that Office. As early as Augt 1798 (when it was the general opinion here that the Office would become vacant, Mr Austin being very...
3603To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 12 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
I am still not only to answer, but to acknowledge the receipt of your kind Letters of 3. 10. 18. 24. and 26. July; and 4. August—all of which I had the pleasure of receiving at once by Messrs Thacher and Bigelow, who came fellow Passengers in the same vessel Mr Bigelow has been out here and dined with us—His father, the Speaker, was one year before me, at the University, where I had a...
3604To John Adams from John Montgomery, 14 October 1791 (Adams Papers)
By special request of my Brother at Alicante I have the Honour of communicating to your Excellency in his name of the demise of the Dey of Algeirs on the 12th of July, and that the Minister Ali Hassan Who Was always Mr Montgomery friend is now Dey and that Sir. Soliman an Algerun Nobleman Who paid him a Visit at Alicante is promoted in consequence from those circumstances Mr Montgomery has no...
3605From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 13 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered you by young Mr. Rutledge. Your knowledge of his father will introduce him to your notice. He merits it moreover on his own account. I am now to acknolege your favors of Oct. 8 and 26 . That of August 25. was duly received, nor can I recollect by what accident I was prevented from acknoleging it in mine of Sep. 28. It has been the source of my subsistence hitherto, and...
3606To John Adams from Thomas Pownall, 30 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
I feel so uneasy about the manner in which you went from hence to London without your Servants—& with a Man not used to drive— that I cannot satisfye myself without sending a Servant to know how you gott to town I hope without any accident—& that You & Your son are well. RC ( NjMoHP ); internal address: “Gov r Pownall P:H:C to the Hon le M r Adams”; addressed: “The Hon ble Mr Adams / &c &c /...
3607To John Adams from John Trumbull, 27 April 1793 (Adams Papers)
I enclose to you, Frederic Bull’s Account & Receipt. It was with difficulty, & not till I had called on him four or five times, that I could persuade him to exhibit it. He said he had no account against you, & did not want any of your money. He was irritated by the stories told him by Mr. Pease , the Post-rider, who called on you for payment at Philadelphia. It seems that Pease thought You did...
3608To John Adams from Caleb Davis, 10 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I ask pardon for giveing you this Trouble, Amidst your More Important Concerns, but being requested to forward the Inclosed, I beg Leave to Recomend the Person from whoom it Comes as Suitable, for a 1t. or 2d. Leiut. on Board one of the Continental Frigates, and Should you procure Such an appointment for him I doubt, Not, he will do Honour to himself, and his Country. I Presume you have a...
3609To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully transmits to the President a Warrant for Three thousand Dollars, and requests that the President would be pleased to sign the Recd. on the back of the Warrant, in lieu of that signed by Cotton Tufts Esqr. for an equal amount paid by Genl. Lincoln, which it is proposed to leave in the Presidents hands. MHi : Adams Papers.
3610To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of the 11 th. instant I had the honour of inclosing you copies of letters relative to the Barbary affairs. others came to hand three days ago, of some of which I now send you copies, & of the others the originals. by these you will perceive that mr̃ Randall and mr̃ Lamb were at Madrid, that the latter means to return to Alicant & send on a courier to us. mr̃ Randall does not...
3611To John Adams from James Lovell, 19 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I begin to be very impatient at not hearing from you; and this not barely from the Number of days elapsed since my Information of Sepr. 28 &c. &c. but from the Opinion dropped by Mr. Lowell that we should not be able to obtain your Consent again to trust us here. It is the Desire of many that you should execute an intermediate Negociation with Holland, and you are named but others think it...
3612To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
Having not received directly from you, or from any of my friends at Quincy, a line later than the 10th: of April, it was with no small pleasure, that a few days since, I met in an English Newspaper, an extract of a letter from you to Mr E. Watson, dated the 6th: of July—It relates to the War, and expenses your opinion that this was both just and necessary—Although I am unable to maintain by...
3613From John Jay to John Adams, 21 February 1787 (Jay Papers)
I had the Pleasure of re[ceivin] g two Days ago your Letter of the 30 Nov r . by M r Mitchel—it was the next Morning laid before Congress. Nine States are now represented, but as yet little progress has been made in the Business before them. My Report on the Infractions of the Treaty complained of by Britain, has been referred to a new Committee and I think a very good one;—various Opinions...
3614To John Adams from Oliver Whipple, 26 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Again I beg Pardon, for intruding on you while engaged in public Buisness, but I know your Goodness & Generosity will give me a patient Hearing. I once communicated to you my Desire to be ingaged, in some public Department, it is my wish Still, should any Thing turn up in Congress, that you may think worth, attention, & will give a decent Living, I would Supplecate your Friendship & Influence...
3615From John Adams to John Adams, 16 October 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your frolicsome letter of the 10th of October has come to hand this morning and amidst the sinking and fainting infirmities of age has given me a temporary flash of spirits and has tirminated in the solid comfort of the arrival of your father and Mother and Miss Mary at Washington after tot et tanta discrimina rerum. The ladies must have had a severe trial your Mother is so much in the habit...
3616To John Adams from Citizens of Stockbridge, 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a time when our Country is convulsed by different and opposite political opinions and views, when national Councils are divided and embarrassed, the efforts of patriotism retarded, and measures necessary for self-defence, and the protection of its property and independent rights fail of that promptitude which alone can insure, or promise, the best effects, it may justly be considered both...
3617Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
If I was certain I should welcome you to your native Land in the course of the summer, I should not regret Mr. Smiths going abroad without me. Should it be otherways, should you still be detained abroad—I must submit, satisfied that you judge best, and that you would not subject me to so heavy a dissapointment, or yourself to so severe a mortification as I flatter myself it would be, but for...
3618To John Adams from John Sinclair, 5 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
You will herewith recieve, the History of the Statistical Account of Scotland, in the appendix to which, I have taken the liberty of inserting the extract of a letter I had the pleasure of recieving from you, urging me to persevere in an Undertaking, which I have at last happily accomplished. I wish much to hear, that similar enquiries took place with you, and that a Board of Agriculture was...
3619To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
The french Directory have refused to receive Mr: Pinckney as Minister from the United States, and have taken a resolution, that all communication between them and the American Government shall be suspended untill the wrongs of which the French Republic has a right to complain, shall be repaired. The motives alledged for this proceeding are said to be that the Treaty between the United States...
3620To John Adams from John Bondfield, 27 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
With the Compliments of the Season permit me to add the justly acquired Congratulations on the conducting executing and concluding the Great Buissness of your Special Commission the greatest that was ever invested with Powers of equal Consiquence we may emediately expect to learn the progress of M r Dana’s Mission which the acknowledgement of Great Britain will greatly accelerate— pray give a...
3621To John Adams from J. Rocqùette, Th. A. Elsevier, & P. Th. Rocqùette, 3 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the conversation, which the writer of this had the honour to have with your Exellencey, Last Saturday, We now make free to entretain you aboutt the American Certificates of which we have a good number. Part of them are already due Since the beginning of this year, the others will become due in February, March and April of next year, we are at a Loss how to gett payment of...
3622To John Adams from George Hebb, 27 May 1824 (Adams Papers)
You may have observed by the Boston Patriot of the 18th: Inst: that Henry V. Somerville Esqr. had been selected, as an Elector as President & Vice-President, friendly to the Election of John Q. Adams Esq, for the District composed of Baltimore County—He called upon me some Days since and requested that I would furnish him with a List of the Most prominent Appointments and Acts of John Quincy...
3623From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 11 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter and was very much concerned to observe the depression of spirits under which you laboured, but the rapid approach of Spring will I hope restore you to all those blithsome feelings which are so charming and so natural to your nature character and disposition—. It is too true alas that in the attainment of the knowledge of human nature we are obliged to wade...
3624To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 21 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
I beg your Excellency would Accept my Thanks for the publications, which I have lately had the Honor of receiving from you; and for your Letter to the Abbé Raynal, who receivd me in Consequence thereof with the utmost Politeness and Attention. He spoke of your Excellency with the Greatest Cordiallity and respect, and seemed concerned, that you was not quite satisfied with the facts, as laid...
3625To John Adams from James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had not time yesterday, without losing the benefit of the mail, which you know closes at 12 o’clock A.M, to say any thing on the subject of Major Jacksons letter. I now take the liberty to observe, that the appointment of Mr. Pearson to be a Cadet by Capn. Gates, was altogether improper, and the attempt to draw pay for him, after my letter to Majr Jackson of the 27th Ulto. at least equally...
3626To John Adams from George Washington, 13 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour on the evening of the 11th. instant to receive from the hands of the Secretary of War, your favour of the 7th. announcing, that you had with the advice and consent of the Senate appointed me “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the Armies raised, or to be raised, for the Service of the U.S” I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this New proof of public...
3627To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 26 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I very much approve your Plan with regard to our future Accounts—and wish it to be followed. The Accounts that have been shown you, are only those of the Person we had entrusted with the receiving and paying our Money; and intended merely to show how he was discharged of it. We are to separate from that Account the Articles for which Congress should be charged, and those for which we should...
3628Abigail Smith to John Adams, 19 April 1764 (Adams Papers)
Why my good Man, thou hast the curiosity of a Girl. Who could have believed that only a slight hint would have set thy imagination a gig in such a manner. And a fine encouragement I have to unravel the Mistery as thou callest it. Nothing less truly than to be told Something to my disadvantage. What an excellent reward that will be? In what Court of justice did’st thou learn that equity? I...
3629To John Adams from David Brown, 7 September 1802 (Adams Papers)
From the encouragement which literature has received from you, I am encouraged to solicit the honor of your name to the inclosed Proposals... not doubting, if obtained, but what a people, daily increasing in learning, will follow the example,—as being made by the late Guardian of their country. I have the honor to be, / Sir, / your Excellency’s most obdient, / And most humble servant, MHi :...
3630To John Adams from Robert Montgomery, 26 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
After so long a Silence please permit me to address Your Excell y: with my sincere And Most Harty Congratulations on the success of Your Principal Negociations in Europe, Which has brought us to that Degree of Liberty and will I trust to that of Prosperity So Much Desired by Every Good American The War With all its Horrors and Confusion being Now At An End, You will no Doubt turn Your Views...
3631To John Adams from James McHenry, 23 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received your note yesterday afternoon, inclosing a letter to you, from Wm. S Smith Lt. Colonel of the 12th Regiment of Infantry dated the 21st instant. You request my candid opinion upon the project contained in the letter inclosed. Whether his (Col. Smiths) request can be granted in whole or in part, consistent with military and political justice and propriety, without favour or affection....
3632From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 26 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have been so much engaged the last week at races parties and Ball it has been impossible for me to answer your last Letter or to write to Charles Eclipse as you have heard ran down poor Sir Charles who was totally unfitted by his lameness to oppose the pride of the North and I confess the race as it appears to me was altogether so unequal I cannot see any thing to boast of on the winning...
3633Rector Verheyk to John Adams, 10 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
La Desobeissance et L’impertinence de Monsieur votre Fils ainé, qui fait de son mieux pour corrompre son aimable Frere, n’etant plus a soufrir, puis qu’il cherche lui même par sa brutalité, a s’attirer le chatiment qu’il merite, dans l’Esperance de quitter les Ecoles, sous ce pretexte. Je vous prie donc Monsieur d’avoir la bonté de le retirer d’ici, plutot que de voir la Discipline publique...
3634To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, with an Appended Memorandum, 22 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Franklin presents Compliments to Mr. Adams, and requests that all the Public Papers may be sent him by the Bearer. Dr. Franklin will undertake to keep them in order; and will at any time chearfully look for and furnish Mr. Adams with any Paper he may have occasion for. Mr. Adams on receit of this put all the Public Papers, then in his Possession, into the hands of W T Franklin. Dft ( PPAmP...
3635Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Captain Beal who is always attentive to the post office for me in your absence, brought Me on the Evening of the Seventh your Letter written at Stratford Nov br 27 th , which is the only line which has yet reachd me; I fear you sufferd from the cold on the journey, for it has been unusually so, for the Season. the continuence of it, has frozen the Ground very deep. I fear we shall not be able...
3636To John Adams from Joseph Bradley Varnum, 15 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
Having seen a Letter over your Signature, Addressed to Mr. Green, I feel myself constrain’d to return You my most Grateful Acknowledgement, for the high & Respectful Compliment, which you have been pleased to pay, bestow, on our Reply to the Resolutions of the Resolutions of the Massachusetts Legislature. We conceived it a duty, we Owed to Ourselves, to Our Constituents, and to Our Country, to...
3637To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 10 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secy of the Treasy respectfully submits to the Prest. of the US. the following Report. On the 19th of August 1796 information was recd. by the Secretary, by a Letter dated July 26th 1796, from James Read Collector for the District of Wilmington in North Carolina that a French Privateer had arrived at Wilmington on the 14th. of July with two British Prizes with valuable Cargoes, consisting...
3638To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
According to the reservation between us, of taking up one of the subjects of our correspondence at a time, I turn to your letters of Aug. 16. & Sep. 2. The passage you quote from Theognis, I think has an Ethical, rather than a political object. the whole piece is a moral exhortation , παραινεςις , and this passage particularly seems to be a reproof to man, who, while with his domestic animals...
3639To John Adams from John Marshall, 24 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been requested to make to you the application of Mr. DAmbrugeac to provide for him a passage to France. He says that he has not been furnishd with money by Genl. Toussaint for that object. I set out to wait on you but have been stopt til it is too late. As he wishes to set out tomorrow I communicate his request in writing. I do not pretend to express any opinion on the subject but think...
3640To John Adams from Samuel Denny, Jr., 27 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
As the object of that Society over which you have the honor of presiding is for the promotion of the Agricultural interest in this Commonwealth, I am much gratified in seeing useful knowledge diffused, and shall esteem the privilege of contributing, throu’ your assistance, an honor and happiness, of which I am anxious to partake. If a proposal should be made, apparently extravagant, the...
3641To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honour to lay before the President the petition of Robert Fisher of Harford County, Maryland, committed to gaol in Baltimore for theft committed in the Island of Cuba , praying a Nolle prosequi may be entered. Governor Howard has just been here with the father of the young man who anxiously waits your decision. On the enquiries of the Secretary, two letters were...
3642To John Adams from United States House of Representatives, 3 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed two enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of the Vice President; The House of Representatives adhere to their amendments on the bill, entitled “An act concerning consuls and vice consuls;” They disagree to the amendment of the Senate on the bill, entitled “An act for making compensations to the...
3643The Comte de Sarsfield to John Adams: A Translation, 9 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have an infinite obligation to you, sir, for providing my introduction to Mr. Searle. I have hardly been able to profit from it since I have only had the honor of seeing him once. But I hope that we can share a drink together on Wednesday and toast to your health. He told me that you have been staying in Holland, a fact, which I will tell you openly, made me angry. But after some reflection...
3644From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 28 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
It has given me great satisfaction to learn that a part has be assigned to you to perform at the exhibition, fixed for the 30th. of April—and should be well pleased if it if it were in my power to be present at the performance—But as that will not be practicable, I wish you to let me know what dialogue it is that you are to speak—I feel also some anxiety for your performance, and quite...
3645From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned about three weeks ago from a very useless voiage. Useless, I mean, as to the object which first suggested it, that of trying the effect of the mineral waters of Aix en Provence on my hand. I tried these because recommended among six or eight others as equally beneficial, and because they would place me at the beginning of a tour to the seaports of Marseilles, Bourdeaux, Nantes and...
3646To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Nov. 23. the banks, bankrupt law, manufactures, Spanish Treaty are nothing. these are occurrences which like waves in a storm will pass under the ship. but the Missouri question is a breaker on which we lose the Missouri country by revolt, & what more, God only knows. from the battle of Bunker’s hill to the treaty of Paris we never had so...
3647To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 27 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
Dont complain of my Wife. You have not a better friend, nor a great Admirer in the United States. She devours your letters. The reflection you have noticed, was aimed, not at the Subjects, but at the frequency of our letters. It was uttered with an Air of pleasantry, such as you have Often advised in your excellent Mr. Adams. The Anecdote I Alluded to respecting the fast day is as follows....
3648To John Adams from John Steele, 24 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor to call at your house this morning to request leave of absence from the seat of Government to enable me to accompany my family on a visit to their Friends in Carolina after the Offices are removed from Philadelphia. The journey will be near six hundred miles out, and about Four hundred returning, which I cannot perform with satisfaction before the 10th. or middle of...
3649To John Adams from Denny McCobb, 25 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
At a moment So eventful & alarming as the present, when a great & imperious Nation whose aim is universal domination, is endeavouring to Sap the foundation of our political existence, it is the duty of every man to step forth & avow his Sentiments on Concerns so interesting to humanity—Replete with this Idea, We the field Officers & Commanders of the Companies of the 1st. Regiment 1st. Brigade...
3650To John Adams from Christian Lotter, 4 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Seeing that the whole of mine endeavours either by Your Excel y: or by those Gentlemen of Amsterdam, to Stay in the hotel, only for the time proper for removing, are of non effects; on the contrary Still more hurried and pushed on to depart as Speedy as hardly possible.— With the greatest regreat I have read a paragraph in a favour from Mess rs: van Staphorst of the 1 th: of this month; which...