3851From John Adams to Samuel Chase, 9 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 5th came to me the 8th. You will see by this Post, that the River is past and the Bridge cutt away. The Declaration was yesterday published and proclaimed from that awfull Stage, in the State house Yard, by whom do you think? By the Committee of Safety,! the Committee of Inspection, and a great Crowd of People. Three cheers rended the Welkin. The Battallions paraded on the common,...
3852From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 16 November 1811 (Adams Papers)
I received in season your obliging favour of the 27th of October, but an unusual combination of calamities have prevented an acknowledgment of it till this time. You need not be concerned my good Friend about Timothy’s attack on my moral character. Nobody here believes him. His own most devoted Fools, I beg pardon, I mean even the Artizans who have employed him as their devoted Fool do not...
3853From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 9 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed N o. 121 of the Politique Hollandais, having translated a few Sentences of mine, and the Author intending to insert more, as he has already inserted a good deal of the Same Correspondence, I think it proper to transmit You, a Short Relation of it. In 1780, at Paris, a Number of Pamphlets of M r Galloway were sent me from England. I wrote to a Friend an Answer to them. He Sent it...
3854From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 2 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted your letter to Mr Adams but in total despair of success. The heads of Department are jealous of the interference of the President in the appointment of their clerks. I never could get in one clerk into any office during the whole of my administration. You must apply to the heads of Departments if you have any hopes of success. The Representatives from N. York will probably...
3855John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Newspapers will inform you of our interminable Delays. The House have asked for Papers and the President has refused them, with Reasons and the House are about to record in their Journals their Reasons— meanwhile the Business is in suspence: and I have no clear Prospect when I shall go home. It is the general opinion of those I converse with that after they have passed the Resolutions...
3856John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I am very well yet:—write to me as often as you can, and send your Letters to the Office in Boston or to Mr. Cranches, whence they will be sent by the first Conveyance. I am anxious to know how you can live without Government. But the Experiment must be tryed. The Evils will not be found so dreadfull as you a ppreh end them. Frugality, my Dear, Frugality, OEconomy, Parcimony must be our...
38571775. Decr. 9th. (Adams Papers)
Having Yesterday as ked and obtained Leave of Congress to go home, this Morning I mounted, with my own Servant only, about twelve O Clock, and reached the red Lyon about two where I dine. The Roads very miry and dirty, the Weather pleasant, and not cold. This is the first regular entry since 29 Oct. in JA ’s Diary. Why he failed to keep a record of either personal or congressional affairs...
3858From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
The report that John Quincy Adams has written to his father, or any one else that “the war which the United States has declared, and is waging against England is in his opinion unjust and unnecessary;” whether fabricated in Halifax or Boston is altogether groundless. Mr Quincy’s resolve is slacking. Louis 14th Fistula drained his brain of vapours. Vide Talk of a tub. You have not acknowledged...
3859From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 22 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received this day the letter which your Excellency did me the honour to write me on the Twenty first Day of this Month. I thank your Excellency for the Confidence, which induced you to communicate this letter to me, and the continuance of which I shall ever study to deserve. When your Excellency says that his Majesty’s Minister at Congress, has already received Orders to make...
3860I. To Le politique hollandais, 22 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Mistakes of Gazettes and fugitive Pamphlets, may pass unnoticed, because they are not expected to be correct, are not read by many and are Soon forgotten: but the Inaccuracies of a Writer, so distinguished by his Genius and Eloquence as the abby Raynal, in a work embellished with ornaments to captivate every Man of Taste and Letters, and enriched with Such a Variety of usefull knowledge,...
3861From John Adams to John Marshall, 27 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter of the 20th from Dr Leib together with a petition from Philip Desh & Abraham Shants for pardons. A certificate of physicians and other citizens accompany the petition. Refer this to the Attorney Gen. & let me know your opinions. With great regard. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3862From John Adams to Peter Thacher, 25 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last Post, and have read with great pleasure your obliging letter; and the Sermon which accompanied it on the death of His Excellency Governor Bowdoin, for whose person I had an affection, and for whose character I had in common with all men, a sincere esteem; I say in common, because I really know of no Party or individual, that had not such an Esteem for him. The Sermon,...
3863From John Adams to Timothy Alden, 21 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is an Answer to your Questions, to the best of my Knowledge of a Subject to which I have never given much Attention: And it is now too late, to think much of it, for those who could have given details are all departed. I am Sir respectfully your respectful humble / Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3864From John Adams to Samuel Smith, 7 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the honor of your letter of the 3d. I know the worth of Mr. Bayard & should be happy to give the proof of it, but in these cases I can give no encouragement untill all the candidates are before me & their cases weighed. I am much obliged by your information concerning him, which coincides with all the testimonies I have seen & indeed with all that I have observed. Most...
3865From John Adams to James Lloyd, 31 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
Before I proceed to St. Domingo, I have a few Words more to say. And after all I expect to forget and omit, more than half that I ought to Say. In my last I hinted at the happy conclusion of the Peace with France in 1801 and its fortunate Effects and Consequences. Here Sir, I must ask indulgence. I cannot repent of my “Strong Character.” Whether I have one or not, I know not, I am not...
3866John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I fear you will complain of me, for not writing so often as I ought. But I write as often as I can.—I really never had more Business to do in my Life, and what mortifies me, beyond Measure is, to be obliged to say I never did less. No News from England, or America—dreadfull Intervall! I say dreadfull Because, the Question of Speedy Peace or not depends, I apprehend upon what has already passed...
3867From John Adams to Stephen Miller, 23 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening Mr: Apthrop put into my hand your polite Letter of the first of this Month from New York. Your civil Apology for writing to me was unnecessary: because I hope I should always be ready to communicate any information in my possession in furtherance of Justice; and especially to a Gentleman whose Father and Grandfather Uncle and various Relations I have known and respected from my...
3868John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for all your kind favours. I wish I could write to you, much oftener than I do. I wish I could write to you, a Dozen Letters every day. But the Business before me, is so arduous and takes up my Time so entirely, that I cannot write often. I had the Characters and Tempers, the Principles and Views of fifty Gentlemen total Strangers to me to study, and the Trade, Policy, and whole...
3869From John Adams to Abiel Holmes, 6 May 1807 (Adams Papers)
I am under a great obligation to you for the two volumes of the your American Annals, and am ashamed that I have not acknowledged long ago the Receipt of the first of them They are a work of great Labour, care and Industry, and the Execution of the plan appears to me to be as ingenious as it is judicious The Style is Elegant as well as clear and concise. With great satisfaction I observe that...
3870From John Adams to James Wilson, 24 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had two days ago the Pleasure of receiving a Duplicate your Letter of the 20 of April—the original is not come to Hand. You could not have given me a Commission, more agreable to my Inclinations, than that of furnishing a List of a Collection of Books—on Treaties, the Law of Nations, the Laws maritime, the Laws of France respecting Navigation and Commerce, and the History and Policy of the...
3871John Adams to Abigail Adams, April – May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday We went to see the Garden of the King, Jardin du Roi, and his Cabinet of natural History, Cabinet d’Histoire naturell. The Cabinet of natural History is a great Collection, of Metals, Mineral s , shells, Insects, Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and presscious stones. They are arranged in good order, and preserved in good condition, with the name of every thing beautifully written on a piece...
3872From John Adams to Richard Rush, 15 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
I will now venture to congratulate you upon your relief from a part of the heavy burthen which has been imposed upon you for So many months. And above all I congratulate you, my son and myself on your future destination. Had Providence permitted me to choose Events my heart would have dictated none other. Accept my Thanks for your uninterrupted and invariable kindness to me and my Friends, and...
3873Adams’ Notes of Authorities For the Preliminary Argument: 24 October 1770 (Adams Papers)
By the Stat ute of Wm. Prisoner intituled to a Copy of the Indictment 5 days and of the Panel 2 days before the Tryal. And extended by Equity or by Favour, to Cases of Felony, tho the statute relates only to Treason. Vid. Foster and Hawkins. Foster 228. 229. Foster 299. §2. bottom, different Indictments to the same Jury. 272. Adams Massacre Minutes, MHi MS 1. See Descriptive List of Sources...
3874From John Adams to John Peter De Windt, 22 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
Had I known where to direct my aim, I should have shot at you long ago: but hit or miss I will now hazard a . But to quit this nude figure, for which nothing but my connections with Sportsmen, or perhaps the military fashions of the times, could apologize, let me return to simple style. And tell you plainly that I have nothing to write, but what you already know, except as hereafter excepted....
3875From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to order fair copies of the instructions, as corrected last evening, to be prepared and delivered to Judge Elsworth & Govenor Davie, with another for Mr. Murray without loss of time, & to write a letter to those gentlemen, as Envoys Extraordinary to the French republic, expressing with the affectionate respects of the President, his desire that they would take their passage for...
3876Genealogical Note, 7 August 1773 (Adams Papers)
Mr Henry Adams before the year 1640, I cant Say how long before, came from Bristol in England, with Eight Sons, and fixed himself at Braintree, in an House nearly opposite to the present Parsonage House of the Church of England, near the late Dr and the present Major Millers—being a Maltster by Trade he Set up a Malt House there upon a Piece of Land between the Brook on the North a Rivulet...
3877Adams’ Minutes of the Trial: Suffolk Superior Court, Boston, December 1771 (Adams Papers)
J. Quincy . We had done nothing but what was justifiable by the Laws of our Country. J. Whitworth . Pitt said in the forenoon, that Gray had used him very ill, and he would beat him whenever he met him. About 11/2 Hour before, he did Very ill in Speaking Reports of him. Mr. Hutchinson . Pitts told me he had sent a Lad to the Custom house to call Gray out to demand Satisfaction of him. And I...
3878John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Our Antifœderal Scribblers are so fond of Rotations that they Seem disposed to remove their Abuses from me to the President. Baches Paper which is nearly as bad as Freneaux’s begins to join in concert with it, to maul the President for his Drawing Rooms, Levees, declining to accept of Invitations to Dinners and Tea Parties, his Birth day Odes, Visits, Compliments &c— I may be expected to be an...
3879From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I know not where your Father is, or I should write directly to him. As Soon as you See him, pray to procure for himself and for you “Il Consulato del Mare” with all the Tanslations of it, into Dutch, German, Italian, French, English Spanish, and as many as there be. I have it only with a translation into Low Dutch. About 8 or 9 hundred Years ago, (I have neither time nor patience to look up...
388022 Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
A fair morning. Fresh and lively Air. Drank Tea and supped at Mrs. Paine’s. Presumably Sarah (Chandler) Paine, daughter of Colonel or Judge John Chandler and wife of Timothy Paine (1730–1793) , currently a member of the General Court ( Stark, Loyalists of Mass . James H. Stark, The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution, Boston, 1910. , p. 382–385).
3881From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 7 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Letter from the Board of Treasury of the 4. of April, in which this is inclosed, I received open, on Fryday, together with the Bills for 75,000 Guilders mentioned in it. I went immediately to Mr Ruckers House with them: but no one was at home, but a Servant, who told me, his Master and Mistress were in the Country, and the Clerk not at home. on Saturday, I went again. The Clerk was then at...
3882From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 14 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had not till This afternoon, your Favour of the third of this month. I am greatly obliged to you, sir for this and the other of the 7th. I may promise to be as faithfull a Correspondent, as the particular Situation I am in, will permit: But you must be very sensible, that I cannot be very exact in the Payment of Debts of this sort. I really cannot devine the Principle, nor the Passion, nor...
John Wentworth Esqr. Surveyor General of all and singular his Majestys Woods on the Continent of North America shews that on the Twenty fourth day of March last he seized for his Majestys Use, at the several Places hereafter mentioned in said Province, the following white pine Logs; vizt at a Place called little Ossipee in the County of York in said Province Three hundred white Pine Logs from...
3884[August 1778] (Adams Papers)
Went to Church, to the Chappell of the Duch Embassador in Paris, where We had Prayer Books, Psalme Books in french and a Sermon. The Preacher spoke good French, I being judge, and with much grace. I shall go again. Dined at Chatou, with Mr. Bertin. After dinner went to view the Machine of Marli, which forces up from the River Seine, all the Water at Versailles and Marli. We walked up the...
3885From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 9th: Never did I feel so much solemnity as upon this occasion—the multitude of my thoughts and the intensity of my feelings are too much for a mind like mine in its ninetieth year—May the blessing of God Almighty continue to protect you to the end of your life as it has heretofore protected you in so remarkable a manner from your cradle. I offer the same...
3886From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
I duly recd your favour of the 21. Sept.—I Sent you two pretty large Packetts the first of Six sheets of Paper, another of five or Six more, and have written two or three Short Letters, besides. You have acknowledged the receipt of the first Packet, but the Second large one you have not mentioned. It related to the Kali and the Medusa &c. &c. I only wish to know that you have it. I return with...
3887From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 20 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
your favour of the 10th. is received—I remember that a Woman came to me in London with a Book she wished me to buy—it was Carvers Travels—she said she was his Widow that he had left her the Property in his this Book—and that she had little else to support her—with much Pyrrhonism concerning the Veracity of her intentions as well as in the historical facts—as in the Work itself—I though it a...
3888From John Adams to John Jenks, 15 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of the first of this month and thank you for you kind congratulations. The application in favor of Joseph Hiller to be naval officer for the port of Salem must be made by himself or friends to the President. The indispensible duties of my office render it impossible for me to give much attention to nominations and appointments in the executive departments: but if this...
3889From John Adams to the Massachusetts General Court, 18 June 1788 (Adams Papers)
To the Honourable the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts The kind and condescending Congratulations of So illustrious a Body as the Legislature of the Massachusetts, on my arrival with my Family, in this my native Country, does me great honour and demands my most gratefull Acknowledgments If the Dangers and Fatigues which have fallen to my Share in the Course of a memorable...
3890From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Tha nks for this Paper. Ld George Gordon I think will be the Oliver Cromwell, after all. He seems the only Man of Common sense, and he begins with Religion. Burke, Barry, Fox, Conway, &c and all the rest appear but small Boys to Lord George. RC (Private owner, 1972). Fire damage has resulted in the loss of the first word and possibly the greeting, although the absence of a closing and...
3891Boston. August 10. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
The committee for the Congress took their departure from Boston, from Mr. Cushing’s house, and rode to Coolidge’s, where they dined in company with a large number of gentlemen, who went out and prepared an entertainment for them at that place. A most kindly and affectionate meeting we had, and about four in the afternoon we took our leave of them, amidst the kind wishes and fervent prayers of...
3892From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 26 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Although Governor Gages Prediction to General Jo. Warren has not yet, been fully accomplished in this Country; yet as His Observation was Suggested by History, it will be found too just, Some time or other. Selfishness has dissappointed The Hopes of Patriotism and Philanthropy in all Ages, not only in England at the Period of her Commonwealth. Edes’s Watertown Gazette Shall be carefully...
3893[May 15. Fryday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
May 15. Fryday. 1778. Dined at Mr. Grands with all the Americans in Paris. We received a Letter from the Count De Vergennes, a litteral Translation of which is in these Words. I have the honour, Gentlemen, to send you the Copy of a Letter, written to Mr. De Sartine, by the Consul of France at Madeira. You will see, in it, all the Circumstances of the Conduct, which an American Privateer, named...
3894From John Adams to Eliphalet Fitch, 18 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have received the polite and obliging Letter, you did me the honour to write me, on the Seventh of May.— Although an intimate and frequent Correspondence with you, considering the relation between Us, and the agreable Acquaintance, I had with you in France and England would have been always agreable to me; Yet considering the different Countries and Governments in which We live, and the...
3895From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have already accepted Bills drawn upon Mr. Laurens, to the Amount of Thirty four Thousand three hundred and fifty Eight Guilders. How many more will arrive I know not. I shall inform your Excellency from Time to Time, as they appear, and I accept them. This Republick is in a violent Crisis. If a certain Party prevails, We Shall raise no Money here. If they do not We shall raise very little....
3896[Monday August 12. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Monday August 12. 1776. A Letter from General Washington of the 8th. with sundry Papers enclosed, and one from General Mercer, with one inclosed to him from Colonel Dickinson, were read: Resolved that the Letter from General Washington, with the Papers inclosed, be referred to the Board of War. Commodore Hopkins had his hearing, as in the Journal. On this Occasion I had a very laborious task,...
3897From 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 with 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:...
3898John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
I this day rec d your favours of the 8. and 12 th. but how this last could have leaped to this distance in five days I know not. It is impossible to Say precisely when Congress will rise: but I will go home as soon as possible; I hope in April. I am very willing to confide all Arrangements to you— I like shaw and his Wife: and I like Richards and Joy from your Account of them.— We will try a...
3899From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 14th. found me deeply immersed in researches, not astromical or mineralogical or metaphisical; but after old Papers, Trunks Boxes Desks Drawers locked up for thirty Years have been broken open because the Keys are lost. Nothing Stands in my Way. Every Scrap Shall be found and preserved for Your Affliction for your good. I am now employed very anxiously and laboriously,...
3900From John Adams to M. Detournelle, 16 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America have experienced so much Friendship from the French Court and Nation, and I have myself as their Representative heretofore received so many Civilities from many Gentlemen of your Nation, that those I had the Honour to receive from you at Ferrol and Corunna, Instances of Politeness and Attention from a french Gentleman were nothing new to me: But the particular...