4201John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 31 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have been detained about ten days in this place, waiting for a wind, and am very like to be detained as many more; the westerly winds prevailing in the channel at this Season of the year almost without intermission. Since my arrival here I have received your favour of August 25. transmitted to me by my Brother, who remains at the Hague, with the care of our affairs during my absence.—...
4202To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
The Commissioners of the treasury have given notice to Willincks & Van Staphorsts that they shall not be able to remit them one shilling till the new government gets into action; and that therefore the sole resource for the paiment of the Dutch interest till that period is in the progress of the last loan. Willincks & V.S. reply that there is not the least probability of raising as much on...
4203To John Adams from Henry Channing, 10 November 1820 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured by your favour of the 2d Inst: in answer to my letter of 26th ult. I cannot refrain from expressing my very great pleasure, in perusing this renewed proof of the wonderful retention of mental powers at this advanced period of life. I should be happy, could I justly think that, though nearly thirty years younger than yourself, I now possessed the memory and powers of mental...
4204To John Adams from Skelton Jones, August 1808 (Adams Papers)
HAVING secured the copy right of a book, of which the enclosed is a prospectus, I take the liberty, though personally unacquainted with you, of requesting such information of the events of the period mentioned in the prospectus, as you may, from your public station, have been particularly acquainted with. As it relates to the biographical sketch that will be given of your own character, the...
4205To John Adams from Isaac Stephens, 30 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Isaac Stephens late from Algiers humbly shews to your Excellency, That he understands that a light-house is to be erected on Cape Cod, & that a Keeper of the same will be wanted. He will not pretend to repeat the misfortunes which has happened to him in the course of his life, nor his present dependent & very indigent situation, for they are already known to your Excellency. But should your...
4206To John Adams from James Lovell, 6 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hope the Papers which you will receive by this opportunity will give you personal Satisfaction as well as facilitate the Purposes of your Commissions. I have already sent several Copies of the Diary of Congress of Decr. 12th. 1780 as follows. “Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Committee to whom was referred the Letter of June 26 from the honorable John Adams, whereupon...
4207To John Adams from William Cunningham, 9 September 1809 (Adams Papers)
On our way home from Quincy, we were detained by the kindnesses of friends till the last evening. Of the pleasant events of our excursion, none are recollected with more delight than the attentions we received at your house. Nor have I to express my obligations to any but yourself, for any part of the secret history you orally communicated. Your Letter of the 22d. ult. I received, with the...
4208To John Adams from William Tudor, 28 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of the 12th. Instant by Mr. Tracy. But the One you mention to have sent me some Time before I never got. I am much oblig’d by your Exertions to get my Pay augmented, which is now made fully equivalent to the Office. The Concern which you have shewn for the Advancement of my Honor and Interest in a thousand Instances, demands something more than bare Acknowlegements. If...
4209To John Adams from Richard Price, 2 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been wishing to call upon you all this week, but the weather has been so discouraging as not to Suffer me to go much from home. I have communicated your request to the Gentlemen who manage the affairs of the meeting at Hackney. They agree with me in thinking the Society much honoured by your attendance; and they have directed me to inform you that, as the pew lately made is a permanent...
4210To John Adams from Peter Ludlow, Jr., 11 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Having been advised to arrange an unbiassed history of the events which have grown out of the late Seminole War, especially as relating to the conduct of General Jackson we assume the liberty of requesting your generous aid in an undertaking which we esteem laudable and important— In calculating the difficulties which might impede our project we were persuaded that no plan could be pursued...
4211To John Adams from Samuel Tucker, 27 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am ready for Sea and waiting for a wind after a teadious fatigueing Jobb. I heartily Congratulate you with the News of Capt. Jones takeing the Drake and make no doubt but any of us Could Compleat Such an Undertaking Was our People Unanimous but Sir their has bein a Consparicy Carred on board the Boston this three weeks Past betwen the English att Bourdeaux and my men to take the Ship to...
4212From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 23 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
By some means or other it would seem that one of my Letters to you have been lost—perhaps you had better enquire at the Post Office—I answered you immediately after you wrote about the desk and recommended you to take the one offered by Louisa Smith—I send you the dates of my Letters that you may ascertain whether any of them are missing 11th. 22d 29th March 18th and 23d April 24th. & 25th of...
4213From John Jay to John Adams, 16 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
You will recieve this at a Moment, when you will again find yourself surrounded by your amiable Family— it is a pleasing Circumstance, and I congratulate you on the occasion. We are much obliged to M rs . Adams for having honored us tho for a little while with her Company— it has confirmed the Esteem which her Character had inspired.— If wishes were not vain, I should wish you all well settled...
4214To John Adams from James Sullivan, 16 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have neglected writing to you perhaps more than I Should have done had I not supposed that your Numerous correspondents had become a burden to you. indeed our Country has afforded but little lately to write upon. I have been here seventeen days on a mission to settle by a way of Compromise with the State of N York a Controversy between our Commonwealth and them respecting the Western...
4215To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 7 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Three long and dangerous illnesses within the last 12. months must apologise for my long silence towards you. The paper bubble is then burst. this is what you & I, and every reasoning man, seduced by no obliquity of mind, or interest, have long foreseen. yet it’s disastrous effects are not the less for having been foreseen. we were laboring under a dropsical fulness of circulating medium....
4216To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 29 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Dans ma Lettre d’hier il y a une erreur qui doit être redressée. Ce n’est point parce qu’on attend un Courier de Petersbourg, que le Manifeste n’a pas encore été publié, mais parce que les villes d’Amsterdam et de Dort ne sont point contentes de celui qui est dressé, ne le trouvent pas assez fort, et veulent qu’on en fasse un autre. Voilà la seule raison qui a retardé celui-ci; et l’on en fera...
4217Abbé Gabriel Bonnot de Mably to John Adams, 25 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
je réponds bien tard, Monsieur, à la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 14 de ce mois; c’est que j’esperois de vous porter moi même ma réponse. je me suis flatté de cette douce esperance, mais de jour en jour la fortune à rompu nos projets. Tantot le temps a été trop détestable pour oser se mettre en route, et tantot M rs les Abbes de Chalut, arnoux et moi nous avons été...
4218To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 September 1825 (Adams Papers)
It is a very long time my dear venerated father since I have written to you; but the events of yesterday were altogether so interesting I cannot refrain from giving you an account of them— The genl in his travels through this Country has been so much the publick idol, and the devotion of the people has been continued with so much fervour until the last moment of his residence among us, he...
4219C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 7 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
You will have seen from today’s supplement to the Gazette de Leyde that I followed your instructions to the letter and had the extracts concerning Mr. Laurens inserted. Only the last two or three lines, where White-Eyes is charged with the ignominious treatment inflicted upon Mr. Laurens, have been omitted, for including them would have risked exposing ourselves. Moreover, I am very grateful,...
4220To John Adams from John Sanderson, 24 November 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have addressed to you, by the Post office, the first no. of the “Biography &c. ” —of which I have now hazarded the publication; & which I beg the favour of you to accept, with my grateful acknowledgements, at the same time, for your kind attention to my former letter. This vol. has been hurried into the world but “half made up”, to meet the conveniences of printers & publishers. It has been...
4221To John Adams from C.W.F. Dumas, 15 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
Après avoir présenté à Votre Excellence, dans une précédente, l’expression de mes sentimens sur son élevation au Poste éminent qu’Elle occupe, permettez, Monsieur, qu’en les confirmant j’y ajoute aujourd’hui de nouvelles félicitations sur les dignes Coopérateurs au bien public, qu’Elle vient d’acquérir par la nomination aux Postes éminents de Secretaire d’Etat, Chef de Justice, & Trésorier gen...
4222To John Adams from Alexander Gillon, 12 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
A Fever having confind me to my lodgings some days, debar’d me of the pleasure of waiting on your Excellency, and of making a Verbal instead of A written application to you in behalf and for the use of the State of South Carolina. Your Excellency has been partly a Witness to the unavoidable delays I have met with here, proceeding from a three months spell of Easterly winds and not sufficient...
4223To John Adams from Joseph Priestley, 20 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
I feel myself much gratified, and highly honoured, by the sympathy which you express with me on account of my sufferings in the riot at Birmingham. The same malignant spirit, fostered by our governors, is much more prevalent now than it was then, and shews itself in almost every part of the kingdom, so that I begin to fear the most serious evils from it. Nothing has yet been done towards our...
4224To John Adams from Henry Grand, 20 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour of your last Letter to which the least return was a quiker aknowledgement of thanks for its particular civil contents; and I should certainly not have been deficient in that respect had it not been for the Settlement of a part of your Madeira Wine which I let a friend have, for you may well suppose that no man in the World, lett him have been ever so sincere a Wel Wisher...
4225To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 24 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
That I may prove to you and my Dear Mrs Adams, the high estimation of the value I attach to the picture you have confided to my care—I sent immediately for a blacksmith, and had an Iron fender made to go round the lower part, as a protection from the careless brush, of the House maid, or the incautious foot of those who might otherwise wish to come too near it—The room is every day aird, and...
4226To John Adams from John Taylor, 10 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
At the time when the contest for the Presidency, produced a general discussion relative to the political opinions of the gentleman proposed for that office, I mentioned to Genl. Lee a conversation I had with you in the Senate chamber some years past, and he now calls upon me for a statement of what I then said. I think there would at this time be an impropriety, in giving it, except for the...
4227To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 19 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
The same Opinion of your Abilities and Zeal for our country which made me rejoice in your accepting of an embassy to France, leads me to rejoice with most of your countrymen in your Safe return to your native Shores. I am sure you cannot be idle nor unconcerned ’till the Vessel in which our All is embarked is safely moored. We stand in greater Need than ever of men of your principles. You may...
4228To John Adams from John Browne Cutting, 29 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
Doctor Edwards the bearer of this letter, is a native of Pennsylvania, late a member of the legislature—and Convention of that Commonwealth and one of the district Judges. He came to Europe with such good letters of introduction—as few of our citizens bring—: his pursuits have led him to traverse every part of this Island and to cultivate an acquaintance with the territorial Aristocracy of it:...
4229Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, 16 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Here I am after a six Months Session at Annapolis, on my Way to Massachusetts, & altho my Opposition to the same System in America, which you have opposed in Europe, has perhaps rendered me equally obnoxious here to the aristocratic Party, yet I assure You the Pleasure resulting from a Reflection on the Measures adopted by Congress, overballances every trifling Consideration of the loss of...
4230To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 7 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
your truely affectionate Letter of the 27th ultimo met me at this place by last mail, and I use the return of the same, to make my acknowledgemts of gratitude, with reciprocations of Sentim e nt for the tender and flattering Interest you express for the recovery of my health, which has been very seriously deteriorated by the last inroad made upon it— I do assure you my Dear Friend, I feel most...