5671John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday the Senate advised the Appointment of M r short to Madrid, but there has as yet been no nomination to the Vacancy at the Hague. The Person however is determined on, and the Nomination will probably be made as soon as I am gone homewards— I have but one night and an half more to stay here. This Nomination, which is the Result of the Presidents own Observations and Reflections, is as...
5672From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 19 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thank Mr De Wint for his Box of New york Cider Grove champaigne—Accept my thanks for the two Newspapers—my Introduction or rather presentations to the King and Queen of England have been heretofore published in broken scraps, mutilated and misrepresented. They have never before appeared with Official Authenticity Who has now brought them to light I cannot conceive. I cannot Suspect Mr Jay—for...
5673John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters concerning Mr. T yler are never out of my Mind. He is of a very numerous Family and Connection in Boston who have long had great Influence in that Town and therefore if his Education has been regular to the Bar, as it must have been if he followed his Studies regularly, under two Such Masters as Mr. Dana and Mr. Angier, if he has been admitted and Sworn with the Consent and...
5674From John Adams to John Jay, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday, in your Ministerial Capacity as well as mine, my ulltimate Determination to revisit my Country, this time twelve months.— I now write you this private Letter to intreat you as a Friend, to promote in every Way in your Power, an Arrangement as early as possible, by which I may be permitted to return, with Decorum.— It is not from a desire to stimulate any Body to vote for...
56751775 Septr. 26. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Wrote to Mrs. A. and Mr. and Mrs. W. The letter to AA is in the Adams Papers and is unpublished; those to James and Mercy Warren are in MHi and are printed in Warren-Adams Letters Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren (Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, vols. 72–73), Boston, 1917–1925; 2 vols. , 1:115–118.
5676John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
I think I have sometimes observed to you in Conversation, that upon examining the Biography of illustrious Men, you will generally find some Female about them in the Relation of Mother or Wife or Sister, to whose Instigation, a great Part of their Merit is to be ascribed. You will find a curious Example of this, in the Case of Aspasia, the Wife of Pericles. She was a Woman of the greatest...
5677To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been deeply afflicted with the account of your accident—At first your leg was broke—I shuddered, I feared that I should have no more letters from Monticello—Next came the account that it was only a small bone in the Arm. My hopes revived the difference between the leg and the Arm was immense. To illustrate this difference, and for your consolation and amusement; I will give you an...
5678From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 19 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have been informed, that the State of Maryland, have named Mr. Charmichael, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Williams, Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Jennings, as proper Persons, out of whom they have desired, your Excellency to choose one, in order to draw out of the English Funds a Sum of Money, they have there, for which the Agent is to have two and an half per Cent. Mr. Charmichael, is otherwise employed, Mr....
5679John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
We are lodged in our old Chamber at Amsterdam, and Sleep as soundly as if there were not a dozen houses plundered every night. The two nights before the last were very Seditious. last night was quiet, and the Precautions which Secured the Peace then, will be continued, so t[hat] all will be still.— dont be anxious for Us, nor believe half the Reports that will be circulated. Such Events are...
5680From John Adams to Wilson Miles Cary, 28 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address, presented to me by Your Representative in Congress Mr Evans. With you I believe the Prosperity of America to be consistent with the Good of all. But there are some, who will have Us as Tributaries and Dependents or Ennemies. They have it in their Power to make Us Ennemies. But they cannot make Us dependent. I thank you for your Applause to my Predecessor and to...
5681From John Adams to William Tudor, 9 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for your favour of 28. Ult.— There is an entire harmony, between the two Persons you Speak of, and there is no probability of its interruption. The first is modest and the Second at least Shall be unassuming. The Constitution has furnished him with a justification of a cautious conduct, and imposed it on him as a duty. Cæsar would never have been displeased, at a Compliment on his...
5682From John Adams to Commissioners of Washington City, 17 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured by your Letter of the eleventh. Sensible of the difficulty of obtaining Loans of Money in Europe at this time, and equally with my Predecessor aware of the evil of Stopping the public Buildings, I shall have no hesitation to approve of your Plan of employing Agents to Sell Lotts, for the best Prices they can obtain, provided they be not lower, than the Standard that you Shall...
5683Harvard Colledge June 8th. 1753. (Adams Papers)
At Colledge. A Clowdy, Dull morning, and so continued till about 5 a Clock, when it began to rain m o derately But continued not long, But remained Clowdy all night in which night I watched with Powers. The first day of the first quarter of the 1753–1754 academic year ( MH-Ar : Steward’s Records, Quarterbill Books, 1720–1756). For a discussion of the impulses and influences leading JA to start...
5684From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 15 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Copies of Papers, which have passed between M r. Hartley and the American Ministers. We have not thought it prudent to enter into any written Controversy with him, upon any of these Papers. We have recieved whatever he has offered us.— But he has offered nothing in the Name of his Court, has signed nothing, and upon Enquiry of him, we have found that he has never had Authority to...
5685From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 14 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 5th has distressed me; because it has made me apprehend that I expressed myself in mine to you of the 29th Ult. with too little caution. But be assured that I never had a suspicion that you were actuated by any mean, mercenary, or even mercantile motive in this business. You have not sent me one copy too many; You have deserved well of your Country, and will merit the thanks...
5686From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 10 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment recd. the letter which You did me the honor to write me yesterday, with a letter inclosed from Mr. Franklin. The Approbation of Monsieur Le Comte de Vergennes is a great satisfaction to me, and I shall be very happy to learn from You, Sir, at Amsterdam the details You allude to. I have a Letter from Diggs at London 2d. April, informing me that he had communicated what had...
5687To James Madison from John Adams, 11 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
Francis C. Gray a Son of our late Lt. Governor, after an Education at Colledge, two years travels in Europe under the Protection of your Minister in Russia and three years Study of the Law has been called to the Barr, and now has the laudable curiosity and noble Ambition of Seeing his native Country. And who should he naturally wish to see in it so much as its first Magistrate. I hope he will...
5688[Wednesday March 13. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday March 13. 1776. Although the System had been so long pursued to postpone all the great Political Questions, and take up any other Business of however trifling Consequence; Yet We were daily urging on the order of the day: and on this day We succeeded. Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the whole to take into Consideration the Memorial of the Merchants &c. of Philadelphia...
5689From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 18 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Mr Pope, the Collector of New Bedford requesting to be appointed to Superintend the Building a Light House on Gayhead, to which I request your attention. I am, Sir with great regard / Your Most Obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
569016. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning the Governor of the Province of Gallice, and the Governor of the Town of Corunna came to my Lodgings at the Hotel du grand Amiral, to return the Visit I made them last Evening. His Excellency invited me to dine with him tomorrow with all my family. He insisted upon seeing my Sons. Said I run a great Risque in taking with me, my Children. Said he had passed not far from my Country,...
5691[Notes of Debates, Continued] Oct. 12. (Adams Papers)
Report, on Trade, considered in a Committee of the whole. Lee. It has been moved to bring the debate to one Point, by putting the Q. whether the Custom houses shall be shut up, and the officers discharged from their several Functions. This would put N. York, N.C., lower Counties and Georgia upon the same Footing with the other Colonies. I therefore move you, that the C ustom Houses be shut,...
5692From John Adams to Joseph Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 9 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Honour of your Billet of this Days Date: and will do myself the Honour, to wait on his Excellency the Comte de Vergennes, at his office, on Wednesday next at Nine of the Clock in the Morning, according to his Desire. I have the Honour to be with much Esteem sir Your humble and obedient servant RC ( Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol. , E.-U., vol. 17:312); endorsed: “ na...
5693From John Adams to United States Senate, 23 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Thomas Baker of Pennsylvania to be first Lieutenant— Thomas Wilkey of Pennsylvania to be second Lieutenant James McKnight of Pennsylvania to be Lieutenant of Marines, for the ship of War the Delaware. Andrew Sterret of Maryland to be third Lieutenant of the Frigate Constellation; Simon Gross, having resigned DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
5694Donation for the Boston Poor from Chesterfield County, Virginia, 17 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Virginia, Chesterfield County, 17 December 1774. LbC ( MHi :Donations to Sufferers by the Boston Port Bill, p. 97–98); addressed: “To the Honble Thomas Cushing, Esq., Jno. Adams, Esqr. Mr. Sam Adams and Robt Treat Pain, Esqr. Boston”; signed: “Archibald Cary Benja. Watkins.” Virginia Chesterfield County. This letter notes that “Subscriptions have been made for the unhappy Inhabitants of...
5695From John Adams to New Hampshire Legislature, 29 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
My most respectful and affectionate Thanks are due to your two Honorable Houses, for an Address, transmitted by your excellent Governor, and presented to me by your Representatives in Congress. The American Nation appears to me, as it does to you, on the point of being drawn into the Vortex of European War— Your entire satisfaction, in the administration of the federal Government, and in the...
5696From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 13, 5 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 Oct. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 281–282). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:82. In this letter, received by Congress on 29 Jan. 1781, John Adams indicated that he had no news regarding his commission to negotiate a Dutch...
56971783. Paris January 1. (Adams Papers)
Went to Versailles, made my Visit and Compliments of the Season to M. Le C. de Vergennes and delivered him a Copy of our Treaty and Convention with the States General. He received me with Politeness, made me the Compliments of the Season, tres sincerement, and was sensibly obliged to me for the Copies and invited me to dine. I went to see the Ceremony of the Knights of the St. Esprit, in the...
5698From John Adams to James Warren, 12 February 1777; 15 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Certificates and Cheque Books for the Loan Office, I hope and presume, are arrived in Boston, before this Time, and notwithstanding the discouraging Accounts, which were given me, when I was there, I still hope that a considerable sum of Money, will be obtained by their Means. It is my private opinion, however, that the Interest of four per Cent, is not an equitable Allowance. I mean, that...
5699From John Adams to Johann Ulrich Pauli, 11 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 5th. instant, and thank You for your polite Invitation to Hambourg, a Journey which it would give me pleasure to make, but which various Occupations will oblige me at least to postpone for sometime. In Answer to your Inquiries, Sir, I have only to say that at present I have no Powers from the United States of America to treat with the Hanseatic Cities: but...
5700From John Adams to James McHenry, 20 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday your favor of the 13th have read the papers inclosed voluminous as they are & return the commission for Col. Butler & the talk to the Indians signed. The Indians have been taught to misunderstand The advice against selling their lands to individuals, for advice against selling to the United States. I am Sir / your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.