4251From John Adams to United States Senate, 2 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following List of Promotions and Appointments in the Army First Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. Lieutenant Peter Talman Captain vice Elliott resigned. Prescott Barron of Rhode Island, Surgeon’s Mate Second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers. Lieutenant John Hancock Captain vice Eddins resigned Moses Swett of Vermont, Lieutenant vice Hancock promoted. Stephen Thomas...
4252From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 10 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your last Letter relates to a Subject of the last Importance, to America. The Continental Currency, is the great Pillar, which Supports our Cause, and if that Suffers in its Credit, the Cause must Suffer: if that fails the Cause must fail. The Subjects of Coin and Commerce, are the most nice, and intricate of any within the compass of political Knowledge, and I am very apprehensive We Shall...
4253From John Adams to United States Senate, 17 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
In conformity with your request, I transmit you a return from the War office, of those officers, who have been appointed under the act, entitled an Act to augment the army of the United States & for other purposes, designating such officers, who have accepted their appointments & those who have declined accepting, resigned their commissions, died, &c. A report from the Secretary of War, which...
4254From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 21 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr Adams will Stay, at home, for the Gentleman in No. 10, whom he will receive at ten o Clock, this Day, Sans Ceremonie, provided the Gentleman is content the Conversation Should pass in presence of Mr Thaxter, Mr Adams’s Secretary. But Such is the Situation of Things here and elsewhere, that it is impossible for Mr. A. to have any Conversation with any Gentleman from England, without Witness....
4255John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday two Letters from each of our Sons at the Hague, who were very well and in good Spirits on the 25 th of April: but the Letters contain So much Information, that I have been obliged to lend them to The Secretary of the Treasury: I shall inclose them to you however on Monday All the next Week will be taken up, I Suppose in further Investigations of the Subject before Senate,...
4256From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Samuel B. Malcom Esqr, is not wholly a Stranger to you. He was three years in my family in the Character of my private Secretary, and I believe his conduct appeared to you, as it invariably did to me ingenuous, candid faithful and industrious. His Friends in New York were among the most respectable; his Education was public and his Studies and in the Law and introduction to the Bar regular...
4257From John Adams to Oliver Spencer, 11 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Address of the 4th of July which has been forwarded to me by Colonel Spencer, signed by your officers as you requested. That auspicious day on which the United States took a rank among the Nations, which they have maintained with Dignity and Honor for two and twenty years, was well chosen to take into consideration the Horrid depredations committed on the Property of your...
4258From John Adams to William Carmichael, 29 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Samuel Watson, a Citizen of the United States of America and Settled at Charlestown South Carolina as a Merchant Sailed from thence about two Years ago on board a Vessell bound to the Havannah and nothing has been heard of him or Vessell Since, till lately, a Gentleman from the Havannah has reported that a M r Watson from Charleston was taken in the Bay of Mexico and carried into...
4259John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your favours of Jan. 7 and February the first with the Newspapers for which I thank you— I rec d some days ago a Letter with the Review and some other Papers. I thank you for all these Marks of your kind Attention. a few Lines from you are always acceptable as they are Information of your Health and Situation, but your long Letters are fraught with such Information...
4260John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I would not loose the Opportunity of writing to you—tho I must be short. Tedious, indeed is our Business.—Slow, as Snails. I have not been used to such Ways. We sit only before Dinner. We dine at four O Clock. We are crowded with a Levee in the Evening. Fifty Gentlemen meeting together, all Strangers, are not acquainted with Each others Language, Ideas, Views, Designs. They are therefore...
4261From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 1 May 1807 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, my dear Sir for the promptitude of your Answer to my last Letter, and for inclosing the misterious one to you, which however has every Appearance of honesty about it. My Daughter Started the Idea that it might be our Friend Wm. Smith of Charlestown who married Miss Izzard: but the Date of the Letter is New York. My Daughter, upon my Receipt of your Letter wrote to her Husband on...
42621775. Decr. 10. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Rode from Bristol to Trenton, breakfasted, rode to Princetown, and dined with a Captain Flahaven, in Ld. Sterlings Regiment, who has been express to Congress from his Lordship. Flahaven’s Father lives in this Province. He has lived in Maryland. Says that the Virginia Convention granting the Scotch Petition to be neutral has done all the Mischief and been the Support of Lord Dunmore. He says...
The United States of America in Congress assembled. To the Honble. John Adams Esquire Greeting. Whereas by our commission to the Honble. Henry Laurens Esqr. bearing date the thirtieth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, we have constituted and appointed him the said Henry Laurens during our pleasure, our Agent for and on behalf of the said United...
4264From John Adams to John Langdon, 3 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Although it would do no good to excite your Tears or my own, by Allusions to your late Afflictions or mine; I Sincerely condole and Sympathize with you. Instead of bewailing the past, it is better to think of the future, and Serve our Generation, as well as We can by the feeble Forces and few days that may be lent Us. I know of nothing better that I can attempt at this moment in this Way, than...
4265From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 11 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have, just now received your favour of the 6th. Who, pray, has injured the Character of Commodore John Paul Jones? and in what manner? It would give me Pleasure to furnish any Evidence in my Power in vindication of his Character against any Injury: but I have no recollection of any Acknowledgement of Jones himself, that his Surname was Paul, though I remember that the English Publications...
4266From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 24 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters of the 5th. of May I have recieved with more pleasure than You can imagine. They are the first Lines I have recieved from Philadelphia. Your Letter prepared my mind for the horrid History We have since recieved in the Court Gazette from London of the Surrender of Charlestown. This is the severest Blow We ever recieved. Yet We shall soon get over it. I hope it will arouse the...
4267From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
At first I intended to encumber your paper with no Documents but such as were absolutely necessary for my own vindication. But as the peace with France in eighteen hundred was not only an event of great importance in itself, but produced demonstrations of the prejudices, passions, views, designs and systems of parties, more perhaps than any other; I hope you will allow me room for such other...
4268III. To Le politique hollandais, 22 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Page 21. The Abby Raynal Says “Les Habitants de Boston detruisirent, dans le Port meme, trois Cargaisons de Thé qui arrivoient d’Europe.” As the opposition to the landing, and Consumption of the Tea and the Payment of the Taxes upon it, was the immediate occasion of this War, and all the vast Chain of great Events, which have succeeded, this Business ought to be Stated in great detail, and...
4269From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have carefully read all the applications & recommendations for the office of collector of Norfolk & although the list of candidates is numerous and their pretensions respectable I think I discover sufficient reasons in the papers to concur with you in opinion that Col William Davis ought to be appointed and pray you to send him a commission accordingly. His letters have a strong character of...
4270From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, December 25, 1781—wrote to congress: “There has appeared an ulterior declaration, in addition to the ordinances of the thirtieth of April and the third of November concerning the navigation and the maritime commerce of the subjects of Prussia, during the present war. The ordinances, which the king has caused to be published of the 30th of April and third of November of this year,...
4271From John Adams to United States House of Representatives, 19 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The letter herewith transmitted will inform you that it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life our excellent fellow-citizen George Washington, by the purity of his character, and a long series of services to his country, rendered illustrious through the world. It remains for an affectionate and grateful people, in whose hearts he can never die, to pay suitable honors to his...
4272To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society The Day before Yesterday, were brought to my House, Fifty one Bills of Exchange, amounting to 40958 B. f. [Banco florins] all drawn on the 22 June 1781 at Six months Sight, on the Honble Henry Laurens Esqr, in favour of Mr John Ross. This is a Pheenomenon which none but you Philosphers can explain, at least, I can think of but one Hypothesis, which...
4273From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 12 March instant—the contents of which are entirely satisfactory to me. Your memory is quite as particular as I could expect any gentleman of the company to retain except myself. I must confess I was very sore on the subject of my mission to France. I was attacked by two armies—a french army & an English army—each working warring upon me to conquer me...
4274From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, dear Sir for your favours of 7. and 20th. Ult. Messrs Everett and Mr Ticknor will have the benefit of your Introductions. Oh! that I had been So introduced when I entered Holland a forlorn Pilgrim in 1780, without a Single Line of Introduction to any body. What a Knighterrant I have been? There has been too much Said about Franklins Plagiarism. If he was guilty, which I do not...
4275From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 20 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment written a Message to the Senate nominating you to be an Envoy Extraordinary to the French Republic. Knowing as I did Mr Dana’s aversion to the Sea, and his continual dread of his Mother’s fate, I was always apprehensive he would decline and should have nominated you at first, if I had not been overruled by the opinions of many Gentlemen that Mr. Dana’s Experience in this...
4276From John Adams to Duncan Ingraham Jr., 19 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are six Passports for American Vessels, one of which You will please to deliver to M r. de Neufville for the Firebrand Capt. Frazier— You will dispose of the rest as You judge proper. There is also inclosed a little Packet directed to You, which You will dispose of as directed requested.— You will accept my Congratulations upon the late addition of a Daughter to your Family— I have a...
4277From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 21 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 5th, & for your introduction of Aaron Putnam Esqr, with whose person & conversation, I have been much pleased. The preparations for a decisision on the great subject are so advanced, that I hope it will not be postponed much longer. But there are so many great objects involved in the question, and so many considerations, great & small to be attended to,...
4278From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for Dr Ware’s letter to Dr Mc Load which I have read with pleasure, they are worthy of his Father, & his Father in Law—Mc Load’s choice of a Text is in the true Character of a Jesuitical Priest-hood whose maxim is, that it is lawful to lie for pious purposes You must at least have had a pleasant Eevening, on your return from Montezillo—And I rejoice to hear that none of your days...
4279From John Adams to the Count Frederik von Reventlow, 30 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed a certified Copy of an Act of Congress of the 21. of March last, instructing me to communicate to M r St. Saphorin, the high Sense, the United States of America in Congress assembled, entertain of the liberal Decision made by his Danish Majesty, on the Question proposed to his Minister by me, respecting the ordination of American...
4280[February 1772] (Adams Papers)
Have omitted now for 3 months almost to keep any “Note of Time or of its Loss.” Thomas Newcomb dined with me. He says that Etter, the Stocking Weaver, told him about a fortnight ago, that he saw the Governor within these 3 Months, and told him, he hoped the People would be contented and easy now they had a Governor from among themselves. The Governor said, “there were some Discontents...
4281John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I dined on Monday at the Presidents with young La Fayette and his Preceptor, Tutor or Friend, whatever they call him, whose Name is Frestel. I asked Them with M r Lear to breakfast with me this Morning and they agreed to come: but last Evening M r Lear came with a Message from The President, to ask my Opinion whether it would be adviseable for the young Gentleman, in the present Circumstances...
4282From John Adams to William Heath, 11 May 1807 (Adams Papers)
I read in the Chronicle some time ago, two Speculations with the signature of a military Countryman, and I read them with great pleasure for two very Substantial reasons, one of which is that I cordially approved and coincided with every Sentiment and every expression in them: the other was that I knew at once that General Heath was the Writer of them. How did you know that? you will ask. I...
4283John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Having just heard of a Small Brig bound directly from Nantes to Boston, I write you, one Line. The day before Yesterday, I had a letter from your Uncle S mith by Way of Amsterdam, 26 February. I should advise you to embrace these Opportunities by Way of Spain and Holland, otherwise I shall very seldom hear from you. There are a full Bushell of Letters from me, and your share is among them, on...
4284From John Adams to Ashbel Baldwin, 12 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the thirtieth and am sorry that it is not in my power at present to comply with your request. The address from the protestant Episcopal church in Connecticut which I received and answered with much pleasure I left with the rough draught of the answer in Philadelphia. My papers have been since removed from my house to a place supposed to be of greater safety....
4285From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 12 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
In a A Letter from Alexander Hamilton concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams Esq. President of the United States printed at New York for John Lang, by George F. Hopkins, 1800. Copy right Secured; the Subject of the Negotiation with France in that year is considered. In the twenty fourth page it is Said that “The Session which ensued the Promulgation of the Dispatches of our...
4286From John Adams to James McHenry, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
As a few Weeks only intervene between Us and the Meeting of Congress I request the favour of you to turn your Thoughts to the subject of Communications both of Information and Advice necessary to be made to that Body at the opening of the session and in particular to prepare a summary of the Rise Progress , declension and suppression of the Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Every Thing in the Indian...
4287From John Adams to Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn, 20 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my cordial thanks for the rich present of your Memoir, on the Commerce and Navigation of the Black Sea &ca. This work had been read to me throughout, three years ago, and I had long since purchased it if I had known where to find it. It is now the more acceptable to me as the it is a present from the Author. I know of no Monument that has ever yet been erected in America,...
4288John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...
4289From John Adams to Abraham Rees, 13 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance The Reverend Thaddeus Mason Harris, the amiable Clergyman of the town of Dorchester, in my neighborhood, who is bound to Europe upon necessary business I know not whether I am not committing an Indiscretion, in presuming upon the small acquaintance with which you honored me in London, to take this Liberty: but I could not resist the Temptation, to...
4290From John Adams to Ann Frances Bulkeley Humphreys, 14 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
your reccommendation alone would have been surficient apology for me Authority for me to sign my name to the recommendation of Mr Frances Coffin a Brother of our friend Mrs Derby to be Consul at Lima—tho the other names already signed to that reccommendation we being among the most respectable in the state, would have been amply surficient without mine—when the extreme heat of the weather is...
4291From John Adams to John Jay, 8 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of April 2 d , and am happy to receive the Resolutions of Congress, inclosed in it, especially those of the twenty first of March 1787. The Convention at Phyladelphia, is to consist of Members, of Such Ability, Weight, and Experience, that their Result must be beneficial to the United States. The Settlement of So many great Controversies Such as those between the...
4292From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 19, 14 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 14 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 321–324). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “NB. Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 were delivered to Mr. Brown of S. Carolina. No. 15th on the tenth of March, the rest on the 15th. of March 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United...
4293From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I forgot in my last the most brilliant Topick, of all that splendid Phenomenon in the female World, of Genius Taste Learning Observation and Reflection, Madam La Baroness de Stael Holstein. You Seem to Suppose that I have the honour of her Ladyships Accquaintance. Alass! I never had Such good Fortune! I never Saw her Face or figure. Indeed I Should be afraid to behold either, for I have as...
4294John Adams to John Wentworth, 24 April 1769 (Adams Papers)
I have prepared Eight Libells, and shall compleat the rest immediately. Those I mean whose Additions and Abodes are made known to me. The others must remain undone till I receive Directions con cerning the Persons. Should be glad if any further Informations are sent, to have the Names, Occupations, and Places of Abode of the Persons, that is, the Towns and Countys they live in. The Number of...
4295[November 1778] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Lee read me a Paragraph of a Letter, from London, “that Mr. D. Hartley would probably be here, in the Course of this Month.” At Dinner I repeated this Paragraph to Dr. Franklin, and said that I thought “Mr. H’s Journey ought to be forbidden.” The Dr. said “he did not see how his coming could be forbid.” I replied “We could refuse to see him,” and that I thought We ought to see nobody from...
4296From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 70, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 20 May 1780. RC partly in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 63– 69). LbC partly in Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). In the recipient’s copy the account of Conway’s speech is in John Adams’ hand, while the criticism of the speech is in Thaxter’s. In the Letterbook the portions by Thaxter and Adams are reversed. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed.,...
4297From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of the fifth—of this month—which—our meritorious friend Mr. Shaw, put into my hand, yesterday, I had before seen the paragraph in the Daily Advertiser— The Baron De Greishm—himself, in a subsequent vol—Sufficiently explains, and confutes the Error—of the rumour which had been propagated, I know not by whom in 1782—. You will find at the End of the first Vol—of...
4298To John Jay from John Adams, 7 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
The night before last, Commodore Jones arrived, with Dispatches from Congress. Two Packets were directed to the Ministers, and one larger one to D r Franklin. The two first I opened. One of them contained nothing but News Papers, The other contained, a private Letter from the President and a Sett of Instructions to the Ministers for Peace. These I copied, and Sent on the originals to Passy,...
42991774 Aug. 15. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Last Evening, after spending the Evening at the Meeting House to hear the Singing, We were invited into Mr. Church’s. Mr. Seymour, Mr. Paine Payne , Lawyers, and Mr. Bull, Merchant, came to see us and invited us to dine with them this Day with the Principal Gentlemen of the Place. This Morning Mr. Deane, and two young Gentlemen, Messrs. Webbs, came to see us from Weathersfield.—Mr. Deane says...
4300From John Adams to James Monroe, 28 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the frank and friendly communication in your kind letter of the 19th. of the Arrangement for the Negotiations at St. Petersburg. I have no Objection to make to it. The Points of Rank and Ettiquette, of Such vast acknowledged importance in Europe, and felt by every Man in America to be more consequence here than any Man will acknowledge; are So unsettled in this Country, that I...