4201Aug. 13. (Adams Papers)
Arrived at Paris, at the Hotel de York on the . In the present entry and the next, the blank space (which is in the MS ) is meant to be filled up with the date at the head of the entry.
4202From John Adams to John Taylor, 18 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
Observation fourth. “By modifying our temporary, elective, responsible Governors, into Monarchs.” How have I modified our Governors, into Monarchs? My three Volumes were written in “Defence of the Constitution of Massachusetts, and insolent against a rude Attack of Mr Turgot. This constitution, which existed in my hand writing, made the Governor annually elective, gave him the Executive Power,...
4203Decr. 14th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
Hunt v. White. Complaint to Coll. Quincy—of a scandalous Lye, made and published to Hunts Damage. We appear before your Honour to complain of a very slanderous, and malicious Lye, made and published to our Damage. We complain of a Violation of the Law of this Province against Lying and Libelling. The Law runs thus.—If any Person &c. shall wittingly and willingly make or publish any Lye or...
4204John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Eliot brought me yours of Septr. 21, this day. My Health is rather better than worse. The cool Weather, in conjunction with my Ride to Staten Island, has braced me up, a little, but I shall soon relax again and must have another ride. I sympathize with you, in the Recollection of the melancholly scaenes of the last Year; and I rejoice with you, in the vigorous Health of your excellent...
4205From John Adams to Richard Bland Lee, 10 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Oration on the red letter day in our national Calendar, which I have read with mingled—emotions, an invisible Spirit seemed to suggest to me in my left ear. Nil admirari, nil Contemni—Another Spirit at my right elbow, seemed to whisper in my ear—Digite compesce labellum.— But I will open my lips, and will say, that your modesty and delicacy have restrained you from doing...
4206From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
In the first place, I must, in conformity with one of the rules ordained by you orators, endeavour to conciliate the affections of my reader, by quieting your Anxiety for your Children, which I can do with a good conscience by assuring you that George and John are in very good health and very fine Spirits. My Sheet would not hold the history of their Studies, their Sports and frolicks. In the...
42071779. Tuesday. May 11. (Adams Papers)
Sailing by Belisle, which the English took last War after a Defence of Six Weeks with about 900 Men. F. still on the Subject. He says that the Contract made by F ranklin and D eane with the farmers general, was for £40 Pr. Ct. whereas Tobacco was then at 90 and T. Morris made a Contract with them before for £70. F. and D. to be sure were duped by the Farmers General but F or d has nothing...
4208From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Do you think it worth while to work into your next Article, from London, the following Observation of Lord Bolinbroke? “The precise Point, at which the Scales of power turn, like that of the Solstice, in either Tropic, is imperceptible to common Observation; and, in one case, as in the other, Some progress must be made, in the new direction, before the change is perceived. They who are in the...
4209John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
From Lovejoys at stratford We fixed off M r shaw with a part of the Baggage by the stage for East Chester. Mrs Smith and the fair Caroline came with me to Norwalk to dinner at Gregories, where We were very comfortable. We rode in gentle snow & rain all day and Arrived at Webbs at Night, where We put up till Monday. My Horses want a day of rest. From Quincy to stanford, within 22 miles of East...
4210John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
This Moment I had, what shall I say? the Pleasure or the pain of your Letter of 25 of Octr. As a Letter from my dearest Freind it gave me a pleasure that it would be in vain to attempt to describe: but the Complaints in it gave me more pain than I can express—this is the third Letter I have recd. in this complaining style. the former two I have not answer’d.—I had Endeavour’d to answer them.—I...
4211From John Adams to John Trumbull, 9 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Coll Humphreys; at the Levee, this morning, delivered me Your kind Letter of Feb. 6, for the favour of which you cannot imagine how much I am obliged to you.— not less delighted with Your frank communications respecting your own affairs, than Satisfyed with your friendly cautions to me, I shall make a kind of Commentary, or at least some marginal Notes upon both. I rejoice in your health, and...
4212From John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 22 March 1810 (Adams Papers)
Know all men by these Presents, That I John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire do make, constitute and appoint Cotton Tufts of Weymouth in the said County Esquire my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my Name to sell, assign and tran s fer all or any part of the Stock now standing or that may hereafter stand in my Name on the Books of the...
4213From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r: Berenger the Secretary of the French Legation has this Moment left me He came in to inform me of the News. The Empress of Russia has communicated, to the King of Prussia, a Treaty of Alliance between the Emperor of Germany and her, defensive against the Christian Powers and offensive against the Turk. The King of Prussia has answered her “That he is very sensible, upon this Communication...
4214John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter inclosing that from our Friend Hollis. The Influenza is here as general as it was at N. York.— Your youngest Son has been laid up with it at M r Cranche’s; but is better. M r Wibird is confined with it, so that We had no Meeting. I have been to visit him: He is not very bad: but not fit to go out. My great Horse, had a Misfortune last night in the Stable, that...
4215From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 22 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the twenty second day of April I was introduced by the Chamberlain to his most Serene Highness the Prince of Orange. Knowing that his Highness spoke English, I asked his Permission to speak to him in that Language, to which he answered smiling, “if You please Sir.” Altho’ French is the Language of the Court, he seemed to be pleased and to recieve as a Compliment my Request to speak to him...
4216From John Adams to James Warren, 13 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Yours of october 1. and 2d I received this Morning with the Letters inclosed. These were from my afflicted Wife, giving me Such a continued History of her Distresses, as has affected me too much to write you a long Letter. The Misfortune, or what shall I call it of the Surgion General had been represented here in several Letters in very glaring Colours untill one arrived from the secretary to...
4217From John Adams to American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 23 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
As on Assembling Meeting with you, at the regular Period of your Legal Meeting established by Law, I expected nothing more than those Testimonials Expressions of your Friendship, which I have constantly received upon all such occasions as one of your Associates: this elegant Address is therefore the more agreable as it was not foreseen. coming from Gentlemen whose Fame for Science and...
4218John Adams to Mary Palmer, 5 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of June 15. 1776 was handed to me, by the last Post. . . . I hold myself much obliged to you for your Attention to me, at this Distance, from those Scenes, in which, altho I feel myself deeply interested, yet I can neither be an Actor nor Spectator. You have given me (not withstanding all your modest Apologies) with a great deal of real Elegance and Perspicuity, a minute and...
4219From John Adams to James Lovell, 6 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received, this Morning, by several Hands and at other Times during the last Week, Several of your Favours. I will endeavour to acknowledge each if I can but if I should mistake in my Hurry and omit, one or two I hope you will excuse it. One of Jany 1. one of Jany. 17. one of Jany 21. one of Jany. 20. with their Enclosures. I will, do all I can to ensure a Passage for the Resolution of...
4220From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have seen many of your poetical effusions, from the time when you were at College, to this last Month. And there are so many indisputible proofs of natural and Social affections, and genuine poetical imagery that if you will had cultivate the muses as much as you have politicks you might have made a Shakespear, a Milton or a Pope, for anything that I know, how “How sweet an Ovid, is in...
4221John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly pleased with your Letter of the 30 of August. Every Part of it shows a Sound Understanding and a manly honest heart. Your Conduct at the meetings was wise, as well generous. Never mind Majorities. Weigh well and judge right and never fear being in a minority. You are right to mix with your fellow Citizens at their invitation to their Consultations. Although Horatius has Sacrificed...
4222From John Adams to Richard O’Bryen, 29 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
I, Yesterday received your Letter of July 25, and am obliged to you for the Information it contains. You may possibly have heard an erroneous Report, of what M r Lamb Said to the Dey. it is not likely that He made any Promises. however that may be, We must all wait the orders of Congress. It is painfull to the Mind of a Freeman, to think that he is in Slavery, and every one of your Countrymen...
4223From John Adams to John Jay, 22 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate You, on your happy Arrival in Europe, which must be the more agreeable to You, for the terrible Voyages You have had. Every good American in Europe I believe suffered a great Anxiety, from the Length of Time that passed between the day when it was known the Confederacy sailed, and the Time when the News arrived of your being at Cadiz. I too have had my Hair...
4224From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 15 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
you are a frolicksome little fellow; and I delight in your Fun with your School mates as heartily as you do, because it proves that you are all good natured and good humoured and live together in harmony. When I lived in Holland, the Dablers in English laughed a little, sub rosâ at a question put by William the fifth Prince of Orange to a Stranger who Spoke the Language “What for a Countryman...
4225From John Adams to Thomas Beall, February 1801 (Adams Papers)
You are hereby requested to convey a certain Square, parcel or lot of Ground in the City of Washington, bounded as follows—Beginning in the line of the east side of eleventh Street east, at the distance of ninety feet south of the south-west corner of Square numbered nine hundred and eighty eight—thence east eight hundred and twenty six feet, six Inches—thence south four hundred and forty...
4226[In Congress, June and July 1775] (Adams Papers)
This Measure of Imbecility, the second Petition to the King embarrassed every Exertion of Congress: it occasioned Motions and debates without End for appointing Committees to draw up a declaration of the Causes, Motives, and Objects of taking Arms, with a view to obtain decisive declarations against Independence &c. In the Mean time the New England Army investing Boston, the New England...
4227From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 14 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
When I sat down to write you, yesterday I really intended to write a sober Letter: but fell insensibly into my habitual playful Strain. I will now try the experiment, whether I can write a Serious Letter to you without any thing Sportive or extravagant in it. I cannot See with you that “a declaration of War against France as well as England would probably unite Us.” On the contrary, it appears...
42281778 [i.e. 1780] Aug. 5. (Adams Papers)
Lodged at the Mareschall De Turenne. Dined with Mr. Dubblemets. Went to see the Statue of Erasmus, the Exchange, the Churches &c. Mr. Dubblemets sent his Coach in the Evening and one of his Clerks. We rode, round the Environs of the Town, then to his Country Seat, where We supped.—The Meadows are very fine, the Horses and Cattle large. The Intermixture of Houses, Trees, Ships, and Canals...
4229From John Adams to United States Senate, 27 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate William Willis our Consul at Venice to be Consul of the United States at Barcelona in Spain DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
4230From John Adams to John Woddrop, 3 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 27 th. of January—and several others before that some of which contained Letters for America, which I sent with my first dispatches. I have not answered any of those Letters because they related to a subject with which I have nothing to do. I am not come to this Country Sir—to solicit emigrations to the United states of...