4681From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Send you the Letters. If any Thing is necessary to be added to the Memorial before the Signature, you will be So good as to add it. I should be obliged to you for a Line by the Bearer, in Return, and the News, if any. My first Demarch you See, is on the Princes Birth day, which is no doubt a good omen both to his Highness and your servant. You will please to put a Wafer under the Seals. LbC...
4682From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have recd Condorcet, in good order and your favour of 20th. Ult. Enfields History of Philosophy, is worth many Condorcets. This great Work is drawn up from Brucker’s “Historia critica Philosophiæ”; an immense Work in half a dozen folio Volumes of Greek and Latin. Can you give me the Sketch of this Brucker? Who was he? Neither Brucker nor his Abridger, had Seen the Asiatic Researches; nor...
4683John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 14. Jan. was brought me Yesterday. I have been obliged to come here, in order to raise Money, for the Payment of Bills to a large amount, which M r Morris drew, at a venture, and have at length Succeeded, but it is So lately, that I have not yet joined my Colleagues in Paris, and I am undetermined, whether I Shall go there before the Commission you mention arrives, to treat with...
4684From John Adams to William Vaughan, 13 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
My Friend Mr Thaddeus Mason Harris who has for many years been Ordained Minister of Dorchester the next Town to me, and is every Way worthy of the Friendship of all Men of Letters and of Virtue, is bound to England upon interisting Business And as I wish him to be known I have taken the Liberty to give him this line of Introduction to you recollecting as I do with Pleasure many agreeable hours...
4685From John Adams to John Marshall, 10 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Newbury Port Herald in which is quoted “A letter from John Adams dated Amsterdam 15 of Dec. 1780 to Thomas Cushing Lieutenant Govenor of Massatts.” This letter has been for some years past reprinted & quoted in many American pamphlets & newspapers as genuine & imposes on many people by supposing & imputing to me sentiments inconsistent with the whole tenor of my life & all the...
4686From John Adams to Jeremiah Allen, 2 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of 26. Dec r. is come safe to hand, & I thank you for your Care of my dispatches. M r. Storer will write to M r. Williams to pay You the ten Louis for the Expence of the Express which You sent, and I shall pay the Money to M r. Storer. It is not in my Power to give you any Information, whether there will be Peace or War.— I am afraid the English will be again overseen, so far as to...
4687From John Adams to John Manners, 15 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
As every Candid inquirer after truth whether personally known, or unknown to me, is very dear to me; I cannot forbear to acknowledge my obligations to you for your kind favour of June 30th.— The field before you is very intensive; it would be arrogance and presumption in me, to pretend tantas Componere lites, when such names as Ellsworth Washington, Peters, and Cooper, are arrayed on one sid,...
4688From John Adams to Richard Rush, 10 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
It does not Signify, to grow old. You never can get rid of worldly Affairs. I never was more distracted with Business. It pours in upon me from all quarters. I want to write you every day, and two or three times a day. I have read your speculations with pleasure, but with Some grains of reserve. I Send you a Richelieu, upon the Fisheries, Said to be from Connecticut. That State is a rich bed...
4689From John Adams to United States Senate, 22 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
Having Sent the Report and Documents which accompany this Message, to the House of Representatives in Compliance with their desire expressed in their Resolution of the tenth of this Month, I think it proper to Send Duplicates to the Senate for their Information. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
4690John Adams to Baron von Thulemeier, 19 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter which you, did me the Honour to write me the twelfth of this Month: We also received the Honour of your Letter to M r: Franklin, Jefferson, and me, and agreed readily upon an answer, which I hope will be satisfactory, although M r: Humphreys our Secretary of Legation has not yet transmitted it. We have been cautious of sending it by the Post, in these inquisitive...
4691From John Adams to Robert Smith, 6 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received from the Post Office in this Town, your favour of the thirtieth of November in answer to mine my Letter to you of the twenty fifth of that month I thank you Sir, for the Promptitude, Punctuallity and Accuracy of your Reply, which is fully Satisfactory. It is Such indeed as I know, it must be, from the immutability of Truth. With much respect, I have the Honor to / be Sir,...
4692From John Adams to John Trumbull, 18 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
I had indeed no doubt of the Truth of the Letter relative to the Capture of Cornwallis. My Confidence in the honor of the Writer was such, that the violent Philippic against it only convinced me of the Malevolence and Prejudice of the orator. But as I had heard it not only called in question but vehemently contradicted, I thought it might be well to hear some testimony in corroboration of it....
4693From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 21 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
His Excellency, Dr. Franklin, lent me the inclosed Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, upon Condition, that I would send a copy of it to you. A privateer from Boston had the good Fortune to take the Packet bound to London, and the Mail, in which among others this letter was found. It was sent from Boston to Philadelphia and there published in a Newspaper of the 8th of April....
4694From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 14 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Some of those publications, which in France, as you very well know, are called foreign Gazettes & journals, announced to the world in 1782 that the Congress of the United States of America had directed Dr Franklin, and Mr Adams to request the Abby de Mably to furnish them with a plan, or a code of laws for their future government. By whom so ridiculous a fiction was imagined, and how it found...
4695From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 31 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of the 28th. Inclosed are Some Papers I received from the City of Washington. They are Duplicates of Such as I received Several Weeks ago. I have delayed an Answer because I was not Satisfied and wished to take Advice.—After you have examined them I wish for your Opinion, 1st. whether I ought to Sign the Warrant of Attorney without limitation of time. 2d. Whether the...
46961774 Aug. 17. Wednesday At N[ew] Haven. (Adams Papers)
We are told here that New York are now well united and very firm. This Morning Roger Sherman Esqr., one of the Delegates for Connecticutt, came to see us at the Tavern, Isaac Bears’s. He is between 50 and 60—a solid sensible Man. He said he read Mr. Otis’s Rights &c. in 1764 and thought that he had conceeded away the Rights of America. He thought the Reverse of the declaratory Act was true,...
4697From John Adams to Albert Gallatin, 4 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have a Grand Son the oldest Child of J Q Adams whom we are desirous of sending to Petersburg to his father according to his fathers repeated request to us. He is 12 years old and an ingenuous youth. We are anxious to know whether you Gentlemen will condescend to take him under your protection; and whether it will be possible to send him to you before your ship will sail. His father will pay...
4698From John Adams to William Keteltas, 25 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received your polite letter of the 6th of the month and your present of “The Crisis.” You will excuse a question or two. In page 1st you say “Our administrations with the exception of Washingtons have been party administrations.” On what ground do you except Washingtons? If by party you mean majority his majority was the smallest of the four in all his legislative and executive acts...
4699John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I inclose for your Amusement, a Publication, made here within a few days. Somebody has inserted in the Amsterdam Gazette, that this Gentleman lodges with me. This is done with a political design, but whether it was intended to do honour to me, or him or both, I dont know.—It is not true.—However there is a good Understanding between him and me, and therefore I did not trouble myself to enquire...
4700From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 6th & thank you for the intelligence from the Southward. The effervescence at Madrid as well as the news from Naples coincides with Mr. King’s letter & the news from Trieste confirms or rather favors the account that Buonaparte’s destination was the Adriatick not Egypt. But we must wait for further eclaireissement. Mr. Sullivans letter gives me apprehension that...
4701Adams’ Minutes of Paine’s Authorities: 29 October 1770 (Adams Papers)
Paines Autho rities . Foster 278. Plea of self Defense. Nailors Case. 290. 291. §2. Slight provocation and ——. Instances in Illustration. 295. A uses provoking Language. &c. 298. Ld. Ray. 1489. Oneby’s Case. 1 Hawk. 73 page. §25. Foster 296. §4. Har Thus in MS. 1. H.H.P.C. 485. 486. Cokes Case Cro. Car. George Croke, Reports of Cases in King’s Bench and Common Bench , Part 3, Charles, London,...
4702From John Adams to Edward Rutledge, 4 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
I do my self the Honour to inclose these Papers relative to the Chester, to you, and to beg the Favour of your Attention and Advice, to the Gentleman who bears them. The owners are very confident that Injustice has been done them. There was no Claim; and they say that the Privateers, contrary to their Bonds, Sent away the Master, and other Persons who could have claimed for them. That no...
4703From John Adams to David Sewall, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I beg pardon for postponeing to this time an answer to your favor of the 30th. Sept. I have run over all the names, Hooper Lee, Orne, Gerry, Sewal, Otis and twenty others & if you prefer any of them you may give the name. But upon the whole, I have thought that Fort Fisherman would be better than any other. The twelve apostles were fishermen and Marblehead is chiefly inhabited by fishermen....
4704From John Adams to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 4 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you Sir for your Condolence in my great affliction.— And for the Copies of the two letters from your Uncle to you Father—the first in 65. and the last in 76. Cæsar Rodney your Uncle was in my opinion a judicious and Sagacious Judge of men and things—I knew only three of the Delegates to the Congress of 65.—General Timothy Ruggles was a Man of a strong mind—but devoted to great...
4705John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Our good Friend General Lincoln gave me this morning your favour of the 7 th which compensated in Part of my Disappointment by Mondays Post. I sett my heart on one Letter a Week and as many more as you please. I cannot say that my desire of Fame increases. It has been Strong in some Parts of my Life but never so strong as my Love of honesty. I never in my Life that I know of sacrificed my...
4706From John Adams to Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, 24 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have but just Time to inform you by the Return of our Guide, that We all arrived in safety and in rather better Health than When We took our Leave of you, at this Place, last night. After 8 or 9 Leagues of bad Way, We found the Roads excellent, and the Accommodations at the Taverns all the Way, very comfortable. I assure you We discovered two or three fine Chimneys, besides that which you...
470730 Friday. (Adams Papers)
Still, foggy, damp Weather. Kept School and dined at Mr. Greenes.
4708Toast to John Adams, 4 July 1824 (Adams Papers)
John Adams being invited to attend a celebration of the late anniversary, declined what it would have been the “joy of his heart” to have done, on account of his advanced age and increased infirmities of body. When his note was read to the company, the following toast was given— “ John Adams . Eternity yet lingers, withholding its bright rewards, till Time shall complete his earthly joy in the...
4709John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Last Week I received through M r Izard a kind Invitation to dine with M rs Powell, whom I had not before seen Since her Loss of M r Powell. Yesterday I had the Pleasure of dining with her and her Brother & sister Francis with their Children and M r & M rs Harrison among the rest—M r & M rs Morris & M r Izard— M rs Powell sends many Compliments to you and regrets that she cannot enjoy your...
4710From John Adams to Martinus Van Marum, 24 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me in July 1805 inclosing a Diploma by which I have the honor to be constituted a member of the very respectable Society of the Sciences at Harlem, signed by Teding van Berkhout as President and yourself as Secretary. As this distinction conferred by a learned Society in that Country where I formerly received so many kindnesses is not...
4711John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have this Day, by Special Permission from their Majesties obtained by Mr. West the Painter who with Mr. Copely do so much honour to our Country, Seen the Appartements in the Queens House, as it is called, or Buckingham House. It is a great Curiosity indeed. There is an inestimable Collection of Paintings by the greatest Masters, Raphael, Rubens, Vandyke, and many others. There is one Room...
4712From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never was more amuzed with political Speculations, than Since my Arrival in this country. Every one has his Prophecy, and every Prophecy is a Paradox. One Says America will give France the Go By. Another that France and Spain, will abandon America. A Third that Spain will forsake France and America. A Fourth that America, has the Interest of all Europe against her. A Fifth that She will...
4713John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 25 Ult. is rec d. — Thomas is to Sett off from N. York to day for Quincy and I wish him a pleasant Journey, which the fine Weather and convenient Snow promises. An happy Sight of his Friends, will come of course, without Accidents. He found his Father, forty Years Older than when he left him, and if he finds his Mother advanced only ten, it may be an agreable disappointment to him.—...
4714From John Adams to James Madison, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I ought to make an apology to you for the trouble I give you to read so many of my letters upon subjects with which perhaps I should have nothing to do. but as I am requested to give a simple letter of introduction to a gentleman going to Washington, I could not refuse it. Mr Andrew Eliot a respectable Merchant of Boston has a petition to present to the Administration or to the legislature or...
4715[May 22 Fryday.] (Adams Papers)
May 22 Fryday. We sent the following Letter. Mr. Joseph Parker of London has made Application to Us concerning a Claim, that he has of Property in a certain Vessell, which has been as he informs Us, in the Custody of the Public, since the Spring of the Year 1775, requesting Us to write to your honours, on the Subject. From what some of Us know and all of Us have heard of Mr. Parker, We have...
4716From John Adams to John Bondfield, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the Cloathing, is a great Disappointment and Misfortune in America. The British Ministry are never at a Loss. You see they were very ready to discover how Mr. Laurens was to be treated. They will easily know how to treat Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler. If Americans had understood...
47177 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
A Fair warm, day. Dined at the Judges. Drank Tea at Major Gardiners.
4718From John Adams to John Vaughan, 23 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
I regret that your kind Letter of Oct. 11. has been so long unanswered. Mr Colman needed no recommendation or introduction from me to you. He is delighted with his Visit to Philadelphia and the liberal Society he found there. I will hazard Something to you. In my Opinion Something was wanting in Philadelphia, to irradiate the Solemn gloom of the religion of that City, on one hand: and to check...
4719[June 1779] (Adams Papers)
Dined on Shore at the Coffee House with Jones, Landais, the two Aids de Camp of the Marquis de la Fayette, Capt. Cotineau. Dined on Board the Sensible, at the Invitation of the Captn. Mr. Chavan Chavagnes , with Mr. Thevenard, Mr. Grandville, Mr. Chaumont, &c. &c. On fait, et defait—mande et contremand. “A Strong Fleet is necessary to defend the Port of Brest.” This Observation, which I had...
4720[Wednesday August 21. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday August 21. 1776. A Petition from Prudehome La Junesse was read and referred to the Board of War. The Committee to whom part of the Report from the Committee on Spies was recommitted, having brought in a report, the same was taken into Consideration where-upon Resolved, That all Persons, not Members of, nor owing Allegiance to any of the United States of America, as described in a...
4721From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 15 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Do not expect to escape so, I have a hundred if not a thousand letters to write you. which however I shall never write, upon the restoration of the tories to this Country, and their subsequent Conduct towards me—of that host of Vagabond Foreigners who have tormented and deceived this Simple American people for four and forty years—for the secret Correspondences’s and Corruption—Civil political...
4722From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 2d of this month. I am sincerely sorry for the resignation of Capt Truxton. Although you have not explained to me his motives, I presume the decision which gave rise to them, was founded in principles of sound policy and eternal justice, as it was made upon honor & with conscientious deliberation. If it were now to be made, it would be the same, tho my...
4723To John Jay from John Adams, 24 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
I received last Week your friendly private Letter of the tenth.— The assurance of the continuance of your friendship was unnecessary for me, because I have never had a doubt of it.— But others invent and report as they please. They have preserved hitherto, however more delicacy to wards the friendship between you and me than any other. The last Mission to France, and the consequent dismission...
4724John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
There is a Clock Calm, at this Time, in the political and military Hemispheres. The Surface is smooth and the Air serene. Not a Breath, nor a Wave. No News, nor Noise. Nothing would promote our Cause more, than Howes March to this Town. Nothing quickens and determines People so much, as a little Smart.—The Germans, who are numerous and wealthy in this state and who have very imperfect Ideas of...
4725To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, 17 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received, last night, a Letter from His Excellency Governor Jay, inclosing a Copy of an Act of the Legislature of New York for the further Defence of that State and for other Purposes. The Governor Observes that it appears to be the intention of that Act, that the Money appropriated in it, 150,000 dollars, Shall be laid out only in the manner which the National Government will recognize...
4726From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 January 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter inclosing the letters from Mr Basset and Mr. Custis Congress had resolved, but I believe not passed int o a law, to erect a monument to President Washington; but they passed resolutions requesting the then President to write a letter to Mrs. Washington soliciting her consent to have her remains removed, to be entombed with those of her Husband in the City of...
4727From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your kind Letter of the 10th of this month, and am happy to find that you are pleased with your situation at Bush Hill. I hope soon to hear of the Birth of a peaceable son of Mars, and that Mrs Knox is as well and in as good Spirits as you appear to be. The Paragraphs in the New York Papers I know nothing of: The Lyes in the New Haven one I never heard...
4728From John Adams to Susanna Boylston Adams Clark Treadway, 8 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
If I could write I should sooner, have answered your letter of the 10th June. I am very much pleased with all your letters, they discover an attentive observation and proper reflection. you have great opportunities to see the fashionable World and I hope you will not be too much fascinated with its delights and Charmes, Moral and intellectual beauties are the only ones that never fade;...
4729[May 26. Tuesday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
May 26. Tuesday. 1778. Dined at the Seat in the Country of Monsieur Bertin, a Secretary of State. Madam Bertin, the Lady of the Ministers Nephew, invited Dr. Franklin, Mr. William Temple Franklin and me to ride with her in her Coach with four Horses, which We did. This was one of the pleasantest rides, I had seen. We rode near the Backside of Mount Calvare, which is the finest Hill near Paris,...
4730From John Adams to Jacob Roorda, 16 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received the Letter, which you did me the Honour to write me, on the twelfth of this Month, and am much obliged to you, for your Congratulations on an Event, which is So much to the Honour and Interest of the two Republicks, to me an abundant Reward for all the dangerous Voyages, fatiguing Journeys and other disagreeable Circumstances, which I have been obliged to Submit to in...