5341To John Adams from Theodore Lyman, Jr., 31 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I am certainly very glad, Sir, that the Baron de Grimm with his 16 big tomes has been able to amuse You for a few hours, and So far at least one feels disposed to forgive him his philosophy, though upon the whole it may be senseless and unprofitable enough.—Indeed, I readily beleive, that You will also forgive him a few weak paragraphs about his holy Church philosophir, since he has indited so...
5342To John Adams from J. J. Van der Kemp, 30 September 1808 (Adams Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write to me, reached this place during my absence on a visit to my esteemed Parents and that beloved Sister, whose letter to me accidentally fell into your hands, and which you had the goodness to enclose.—I returned only a few days ago from Oldenbarneveld, or I should have embraced an earlier opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks for your kindness and...
5343To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of March last I have but lately received. It was Sent by the Post, I suppose from Newport. When the Gentleman you recom mend in it, Monsr. Petry, comes here, it will give me pleasure to make Boston agreable to him. I wish we could have had more of your assistance in compleating the plan of government. Some of the alterations made in it after you left us, were by no means for the...
5344From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and two press copies: Library of Congress; two copies, press copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: Columbia University Library Mr. Grand has communicated to me a Letter from your Excellency to him, relating to certain Charges in your Account, on which you seem to desire to have my Opinion. As we are all new in these Matters, I consulted...
5345To John Adams from Francis Henderson, 6 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
I did Myself the honor to write you, on the 3d. January last, from Newport,—Rhode Island; with sundry accompanying documents for your perusal, relative to the Claim of Myself & Family on the United States, as the Heirs and Representatives of the late Lieut. Colo. John Laurens. Myself and Son, soon afterwards, arrived here, to spend the remainder of the Winter and Spring, and attend to the...
5346To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
I can Scarce persuade myself, that I Staÿ’d with you So manÿ daÿs—and conversed on So few, Subjects onlÿ, upon which I did want your information. I could onlÿ glance at your Librarÿ—had no time to Satisfÿ my greedy curiosity—and forgot even to look at the consolato del mare and other rare Publications in your possession but I am apprehensive, this would have been the case had I protracted my...
Account of Bills of Exchange drawn by the Comm rs. of Loans in America on Henry Laurence & John Adams Esq rs. at Amsterdam.— 1780 Feb y. 25 In whose favor Charles Harady N o. 5 . . . . 1100 . . . . . . . . 1.100 July 6 th. Joseph Carlton from T Smith 137 Bills of 550 Guilders N o. 32 @ 41— 44 @ 61— 65 @ 75 77 @ 79— 82 & 83— 86 @ 103 105 @ 139— 144 @ 152— 167 @ 190 192 & 193 . . . . . say...
5348To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I must answer your favours of Dec. 14 ult. and Jan the 3th. Want of time will once have the happy effect, to emportune you not with a Long Letter. How can you insinuate, that your correspondence is of no value? Is not every line of you then an act of kindness towards me? Not to saÿ, that I never received one, without some kind of instruction. But why Should I use any motif—to entreat you to...
5349To John Adams from John Farmer, 20 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour was received last evening, and the subject of it shall receive immediate attention. For some time past, I have entertained the idea that the late Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, was a descendant from the well known Rev. William Tompson of Braintree. In November, last year, I communicated my conjecture to Mr. Baldwin, of Chelmsford, son of the late Col. L. Baldwin of Woburn, and...
5350To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 7 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Il nostro degno amico Sig r: Jefferson mi comunicò tempo fa i progressi di Vostr’ Eccellenza nella lingua toscana, e il suo desiderio ch’io Le scrivessi nella detta lingua, ogni qual volta mi prendessi la libertà d’incomodarla, facendo uso d’uno stile semplice e chiaro. Eecomi dunque ad obbedire ai suoi comandi, e secondo il solito per chieder favori. Il Sig r: Jefferson ed io abbiamo pensato,...
5351From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Franks and Mr. Randolph [Randall] arrived last night. This enables me to send copies of all the Barbary papers to Congress by the Mr. Fitzhughs, together with the Prussian treaty. They wait till tomorrow for this purpose. Considering the treaty with Portugal as among the most important to the U.S. I some time ago took occasion at Versailles to ask the Portuguese Ambassador if he had yet...
5352To John Adams from John D. Winslow, 6 December 1820 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to have the honor of tendering my services to the Electors of President and Vice President of the United States.—for the purpose of carrying on the Votes of thier board to the seat of Government. very respectfully / I have the honor to be / Your Most humble Servant MHi : Adams Papers.
5353To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 28 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate you on the accession of N o. Carolina to the general Government. our Antis are Thunderstruck at the News more especially as the Majority was so large. I have waited several Days to find out what they intend to do wheather to agree to Call a Convention, or stand out longer; in hopes that something would Turn up to perplex the New-Government. They are not well agreed among...
5354To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
We had the pleasure of waiting on you in may & in Oct r. A o . D o: in forming you by the latter of your good luck of your number 995. of the Obligat s. of 4 per C t. wh ch. had a price drawn of f 1000:— one thousand Guild s. among those drawn Last Year conform the agreem t. wh
5355To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 20 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
Mr Dallas goes off with our Dispatches at three O’Clock to-morrow morning; and the John Adams is to sail from the Texel; if possible on the 25th.—I take the last moments before his departure to enclose you a press-copy of my last, which I sent by the way of England, with some other Letters for my Mother, my brother and my Children—I expect shortly to return to St: Petersburg—Peace is to be...
5356To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this Letter, Mr. D’Hauteval, is a french Gentleman from the Island of St. Domingo, where he had lately the misfortune to lose a plantation of great value, by the devastation of the insurgent negroes. He has been about two months in this town, where I have frequently had the pleasure of meeting him in Company, and where his amiable manners have entitled him to as much esteem, ás...
5357To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 29 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Near five months have elapsed since I have been favoured with a line from you. Your letter of the 4th. of March is the last that has as yet found its way to America. Let me entreat you, Sir, to reflect on the disgrace and discredit it brings upon this department to be kept thus in the dark relative to matters of the utmost moment, and how impossible it is without better information to declare...
5358John Adams’ Commission as Justice of the Peace in Massachusetts Counties, 8 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
Watertown, 8 November 1775. Printed form with spaces filled in appropriately ( Adams Papers ); signed by Perez Morton, Deputy Secretary, and fifteen Council members. This commission is identical to that received by JA dated 6 September appointing him Justice of the Peace of Suffolk County (see calendar entry, above) except that it broadened his powers to include all of Massachusetts. Like the...
5359To John Adams from Eliphalet Fitch, 10 October 1794 (Adams Papers)
I frequently hear of your kind Attention to my Family; and must beg Leave to express my best Wishes to you Mrs. Adams and the young Folks.—Supposing that you are almost wearied with long Debates about political Events, and many wise Conjectures about Probabilities, I shall decline all Matters of that kind.—I am glad to find that the good Sense of our Countrymen has continued you in that...
5360Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 25 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
At the Very instant of Sailing for America, I stop to Send You the New Modelled Regulations of the Cincinnati— My principles Ever Have Been Against Heredity, and While I was in Europe disputing about it with a few friends, My letters to the Assembly, and still more Particularly to the president, Made them Sensible of My Opinion Upon that Matter— Untill Heredity Was Given Up, I forbeared...
5361Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Thanks to the Father of the Rain, and the Bountifull dispencer of the dews of Heaven, who has plentifully waterd the dry and thirsty Earth. the Fields recover their verdure, and the little Hills rejoice. the drooping vine rears its head and the witherd flower Blooms anew. Indeed my dearest Friend it would rejoice your Heart to behold the change made in the appearene of all Nature, after one of...
5362To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 March 1803 (Adams Papers)
I send you mÿ Lett. on the use of copper among the Greeks—I can not flatter me, that it Shall procure you either much information, or amusement, but I maÿ have opened a new road for investigation, and then mÿ endeavours will have Some merit—at least in your eÿe. If it happened, that it deserved your approbation, that you deemed it worth a Public view, I Should intend it for the Pennsylvanian...
5363To John Adams from John Devereux De Lacy, 21 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
The declining state of my health together with the advice of my physicians having determined me to go to a southern climate, and being bred to the Law in the practice of which I am now setting out; I take the liberty of humbly soliciting to be appointed by your excellency to the office of Attorney General of the Mississippi Territory. The various duties of which office (should your excellency...
5364To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 9 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
We have Your Excellency’s favor of 1 st: Ins t: advising it as most safe and prudent in your Opinion from what you had learned of the unfortunate and critical Situation of public Affairs in our Republic and particularly in this City, that we should pay into the Bank of Amsterdam, the Money we have in hand belonging to the United-States; A Measure dictated no doubt by Your Excellency’s Zeal for...
5365To John Adams from Sc., Citizens of Charleston, 18 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Memorial of the Subscribers, Citizens of Charleston in the State of South Carolina respectfully Sheweth— That having been very considerable sufferers by the depredations committed by the British in the West Indies on their Vessels and Property; and having patiently waited for relief—they are once more induced to entreat Congress to take the same into consideration— Your Memorialists beg...
5366To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 17 de ce mois. Je l’ai luë avec la plus sérieuse attention, et pour rendre ma réponse d’autant plus éxacte, je l’ai placée en marge de chacun des articles qui m’a parû mériter des observations de ma part. Vous y verrez, Monsieur, que je persiste à penser que le moment de communiquer au Lord Germaine vos pleinpouvoirs,...
5367Abigail Adams to John Adams, 29 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received mr Cuttings Letter on Monday morning, and was glad to find you had stoped Short of Hardwick. I prognosticated from the wind on saturday that you made your passage by nine or ten on sunday morning. I commisirated your sickness, and that I might feelingly sympathize with you, used mr Hollis’s prescription yesterday morning, finding a return of some of my former complaints. the effect...
5368To John Adams from James Warren, 16 October 1774 (Adams Papers)
I Recd yours of the 18th Sepr with A pleasure and satisfaction that render my Negligence in not Answering it before almost Inexcusable. I shant trouble you at this Time with any Apologies, but leave your Candour to Excuse me till I have an Opportunity to do it on A Social Evening att Braintree or Plymouth and Improve the Short Time I now have in Another way. Great has been my Anxiety since you...
5369Royall Tyler to John Adams, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of the Third of April, Two Days since. Whether from the very great Interest I have in the Subject, or some more latent cause; I never Felt more at a loss to Express myself with Propriety, than on the present Occasion. I can only generally Desire you, to accept from me, all those returns of Gratitude, which, a Man of Ingenuity may be supposed to render to the person, to...
5370To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 27 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully reports, to the President of the United States. That it appears from the enclosed letter of Henry Miller Esquire, Supervisor for the District of Pennsylvania dated June 18th and the letter of William Nichols Inspector of the Revenue for the first survey of the said District, dated the 27th of June instant, that the said William Nichols has misapplied...