6521[Fryday March 22. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Fryday March 22. 1776. Congress took into Consideration the Declaration brought in by the Committee, and after debate, the further Consideration of it, at the request of a Colony was postponed till tomorrow.
6522From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 13 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to acknowledge that I received your kind Letter, in due time, and have not answered it before: My apology is that I was on the Point of Setting out for Brest when I received it and have been travelling ever since. I am much obliged to you for the Letter and very happy to find that one Gentleman is to be found in France whose sentiments will give some Countenance to my own. I have...
652326. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
At half after two, We mounted our Carriages and Mules, and rode four Leagues to Betanzos, the ancient Capital of the Kingdom of Gallicia, and the Place where the Archives are still kept. We saw the Building, a long Square stone Building without any Roof, opposite the Church. There are in this Place two Churches and two Convents. The last League of the Road was very bad, mountainous and rocky...
6524To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, 9 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honor to write me this morning and as the Secretary of State accidentally fell in before I had opportunity to answer it, we agreed to propose a meeting at his House at two o’Clock on Monday next. If that time and place are agreeable to you, and the Secretary at War, they will be particularly so to me who have the honor to be with great regard, Sir your...
6525[Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress] 1775. Octr. 30th. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Ross. We cant get Seamen to man 4 Vessells. We could not get Seamen to mann our Boats, our Gallies. Wythe, Nelson , and Lee for fitting out 4 Ships. From D/JA/25, which then has a gap until 24 Jan. 1776. The present fragment is from a debate on resolutions, agreed to this day, to fit out four armed vessels for Continental service. Another resolution added JA to the committee to execute this...
6526From John Adams to United States Senate, 16 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Certain matters touching the public good, requiring that the session of the Senate, for Executive business, should be continued, and that the members thereof should convene on Tuesday, the 17th day fo July, inst., you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber, in Philadelphia, on that day, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, then and there to receive and deliberate on such communications as...
6527From John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 19 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter. The Elections in Massachusetts have done honour to the Principles and Dispositions of the People. The Error of my old Friend is no surprise to me, for although I knew his the Abhorence of Jarvis in his heart, I have lately seen his Versatility in so many Instances, that his Character, always Subtle fine and and Slippery, is now become lubricated to a degree...
6528From John Adams to James Bowdoin, 1 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have lately written to Congress, An Account of the Sentiments and Conduct of the Lords of the Admiralty, upon Captain Stanhopes Letters, which will no doubt be transmitted to you from N. York. It consists in Substance in the Signification to Capt. Stanhope of the “Sensible Displeasure” of their Lordships, and in his Recall from the American Station. In a late Visit to the Hide a Country Seat...
6529From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a letter from McNeil of August 1st & 3d with two inclosures. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
6530From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 23 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 15th is alarming. Remember the fate of Cassandra. The prophet of ill ’tho’ as true as a goose’s bow is always detested. I also have been now and then reckoned among the minor prophets. Not a bone of any Goose ever picked by Jo Green, Nick Boylston, & Master Lovel on a Christmas eve, tho’ they had Nat Gardner for a guest, and exhausted all their wit, Gibes, & Jokes upon it, ever...
6531From John Adams to Richard Rush, 15 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
In the middle of a Letter to Petersbourg this Morning Mrs Adams came in and invited me to take a ride, in the beautiful Sleighing We have at this moment, to last perhaps two days like two Such Opportunities as We have had before this Winter and then be melted away; We took the Post office in our Course, and there I found your beautiful Letter of the 4th of this month, on my return I continued...
65321771. Jany. 10. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at the Honble. John Ervings, with Gray, Pitts, Hancock, Adams, Townsend, J. Erving Jur., G. Erving, Boardman. We had over the Nominations of Nat. Hatch to be Judge of the common Pleas, and Ed. Quincy to be a Justice of the Quorum, and H. Grays Story of a Letter from a repentant Whigg to him. H. Gray. “The general Court is a good School for such Conversation as this”—i.e. double Entendre,...
6533To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams: Two Letters, 24 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels sales catalogue no. 1415 (May 22, 1928), p. 8. I have this moment the Honour of your Letter of the twentyeth of this Month and it is, as cold Water to a thirsty Soul. I have been busily employed in making Enquiries, in forming Acquaintances and in taking Advice.— In hopes of Mr Laurens’s Arrival, and wishing...
6534To John Jay from John Adams, 31 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20 th your letter to M r Duane comprehends every thing necessary to be said upon this occasion, and I presume will remove all difficulties— I congratulate you on the firmness of your nerves fully demonstrated by your hand writing, the beauty and firmness of which is equal to the best of your former days Mine are so debilitated that I can neither write— or...
6535From John Adams to United States Senate, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Thomas Martin of New Hampshire to be Collector for the District of Portsmouth in New Hampshire in the Place of Joseph Whipple Samuel Adams to be Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Portsmouth in the place of Thomas Martin nominated to be Collector John Pierce to be Commissioner of Loans for the State of New Hampshire in the place of William Gardner. Thomas Perkins...
6536[1758] (Adams Papers)
In 1758 my Period with Mr. Putnam expired. Doolittle and Baldwin visited me in the office, and invited me to settle in Worcester. They said as there were two Sides to a question and two Lawyers were always wanted where there was one, I might depend upon Business in my profession, they were pleased to add that my Character was fair and well esteemed by all Sorts of People in the Town and...
6537From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 19 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
The greatest part of the History in your last Letter was well known to me, and I could write you Six Sheets for your three, full of Anecdotes, of a Similar complexion. I wanted no Satisfaction. If I had, your Letter would have given it. The great Character, was a Character of Convention . His first Appointment was a magnanimous Sacrifice of the North to the South: to the base Jealousy, Sordid...
6538Committee Report on Abraham Clark’s Motion, 27 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
Resolved That General Washington’s Proclamation of the Day of does not interfere with the Laws or civil Government of any State: but considering the Situation of the Army was prudent and necessary. MS in JA ’s hand ( PCC , No. 36, I, f. 5); docketed: “brot. in 27 Feby. 1777 ordered to lie.” The spaces for the day and the month are left blank. Dated 25 Jan., the proclamation, in an effort to...
6539From John Adams to James McHenry, 21 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you the duplicate talk signed & congratulate you on your recovery. I am Sir your most humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
6540From John Adams to James Lovell, 19 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
It is unhappy that So many People in America, should perswade themselves that the Ennemy intend to evacuate New York and Rhode Island. This opinion cannot fail to damp their Ardour, and Slacken their Nerves. But you may depend upon it, they mean no such Thing. On the Contrary it is their unalterable Resolution, to maintain the Possession of both, as long as they can. Indeed either without the...
6541From John Adams to Richard Rush, 25 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 29th of September has not been answered by me as it ought to have been. Your Excursion Horseback gave me high hopes; and excited vain Recollections. Dean Swift bragged; and why Should not I.? Swift crowed over Pope Arbuthnot &c and boasted that he could ride 500 miles upon a trotting Horse. In 1777 I rode on Horseback from Penn’s Hill in this Town to Baltimore, more than 500...
6542John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
Have only Time to send by this Opportunity a Token of Remembrance. The Fast was observed here with a Decorum and solemnity, never before seen ever on a Sabbath. The Clergy of all Denominations, here preach Politicks and War in a manner that I never heard in N. England. They are a Flame of Fire. It is astonishing to me, that the People are so cool here. Such sermons in our Country would have a...
6543From John Adams to United States Senate, 6 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Joseph Pitcairn of New York, to be Consul of the United States, at Hamburgh in the Place of Samuel Williams removed to London. John Church to be Consul of the United States at Cork in the Kingdom of Ireland DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
6544From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with yours of 27. Dec r. and am obliged to you for what you Said to the Count De Vergennes in the Case of the Chevalier De Mezieres.— You may always very Safely depend upon it, that I never have given and never shall give any Opinion against the Letter or Spirit of the Treaty with France. In this Case I have never given any Opinion at all. indeed I have never been consulted. The...
6545Decr. 31. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Rode from Galliego to Sebrero, Seven Leagues. The Journey Yesterday and to day has been very agreable. The Weather, remarkably fair, and dry, and the Roads not so bad as We expected. There is the grandest Profusion of wild irregular Mountains, that I ever saw—Yet laboured and cultivated every one, to its Summit. The Fields of Grain, are all green. We passed a Rang of Mountains that were white...
6546From John Adams to James Madison, 2 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am very apprehensive that the liberties I so frequently take of writing to you will appear importunate if not impertinent But I beg it may be fully understood that none of my letters are to be answered; and that I shall perfectly acquiesce in your decisions well knowing the multiplicity of Candidates, the difficulty of making the selections & that the President is the only ultimate and...
6547From John Adams to John Adams, 2 November 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for two letters written at two notable periods of your life one at the happy meeting of your family at Providence and New York, the other at Washington all in health written with the vivacity, and spirit for which you are so remarkable. They gave me and the whole family a great deal of pleasure and excite an appetite for your account of the first part of your journey. We have...
6548From John Adams to James McHenry, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you, in your opinion expressed in your favour of the 12th, that both an Army and Navy Establishment is essential to the present and future Interests & Greatness of the United States and that We must run the Risks which other Nations have run. It appeared to me that Offices were created and salaries made necessary in the Plan for supplying the Army, which would require the...
6549From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 26 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letter to me from Mr. Gerry I received last night, and pray you to have it inserted in a public Print. It will satisfy him and do no harm to any one. It explains some circumstances advantageously. He came to me, upon the Publication of your answer to the Address, and seemed uneasy at some expressions in it. I read him the extract of General Marshalls Letter to you, which was in...
6550From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 25 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
As Mr Wirt has filled my head with James Otis; and as I am well informed that The Honourable Mr Benjamin Austin alias Honestus alias Old South alias Old North alias Politicastor roundly asserts that Mr “Otis had no Patriotism”; and that “he acted only from Revenge of his Fathers disapointment of a Seat on the Superior Bench” I will tell you a Story which may make you laugh, if it should not...
6551From John Adams to Comfort Sands, 26 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, you did me the honor to write me on the 21st of this month, enclosing the Resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce of New York unanimously adopted on the 20th, approving the neutral policy of the Government of the United States, the sincere, impartial, and persevering pursuit of it, the Overtures made to the french Republic, and declaring their intention to Support...
6552Monday [23 October]. (Adams Papers)
Monday 23 October .
6553From John Adams to United States Senate, 6 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I lay before You for your Consideration a Treaty of Amity and Commerce between The United States and The King of Prussia, signed by their Ministers on the Eleventh of July last. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
6554From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 16 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10 feb 1823 I have the satisfaction to find that every body gives as good a character to of your book as I have done in my letter to you. Judge Quincy our friend Shaw & all, who have read it, speak of it as I do—And to my little surprize the daily advertizer speaks of it as it ought and let me add one circumstance more I am well informed that it sells...
6555From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I had the Pleasure of writing to you. I have been, to the very gate of the other Mansion. My Feet had well nigh Stumbled on the dark mountains: but by the Skill of Dr Osterdike and the Barks wondrous Virtue, I am returned here to take two or three more Lessons of Politicks. If your affairs will admit of your Spending Some time at Amsterdam, I should be obliged to you,...
6556From John Adams to United States Congress, 15 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Message to the House of Representatives; Respecting the suspension of a French decree In pursuance of the request in your resolve of yesterday, I lay before you such information as I have received, touching a suspension of the arrêt of the French republic communicated to your house by my message of the 28th of January last. But if the execution of that arrêt be suspended, or even if it were...
6557John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
We may ever remember The Thirtieth of November because it was the Day on which We were absolved from Infamy; in 1782 and because it was the Day on which I entered this City in 1793. Finding by all accounts that the Pestilence was no more to be heard of, and that M r Otis had returned to his House, I drove directly to Market Street and took Poss n. of my old Chamber and bed. The principal...
6558From John Adams to United States Senate, 25 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Louis C Baily of Maryland, now acting as Lieutenant on board of the eagle, to be promoted from the rank of midshipman to be a Lieutenant in the navy. Jacob Jones of Deleware a midshipman to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy. Robert Greenleaf of Rhode Island to be a second Lieutenant in the marine corps vice Lieutenant Bell resigned Robert Hamilton Nicholls of Mary...
6559From John Adams to James Kemp, 7 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for an ingenious sermon from a well chosen text on the death of my predecessor, which I received with your letter of the 26 March & have read with pleasure. I am happy that my frail endeavors to respect the religion, of my Country have met your approbation. The detestable pains that have been taken to promulgate the age of reason & other publications as pernicious in this Country...
6560[July 4. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
July 4. 1778. This being the Anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence, We had the honour of the Company of all the American Gentlemen and Ladies, in and about Paris, to dine with Dr. Franklin and me, at Passi, together with a few of the French Gentlemen in the Neighbourhood, Mr. Chaumont, Mr. Brillon, Mr. Vaillant, Mr. Grand, Mr. Beaudoin, Mr. Gerard De Rayneval, the Abby’s...
6561From John Adams to James McHenry, 16 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 7th May and since there appears a difference of opinion concerning the Construction of the Constitution and the Law, and as I see no necessity for an immediate appointment, I am content to suspend it for the present, perhaps till the meeting of the Senate— I think well of Mr. Williams as a gentleman of Science & Literature, as a good Citizen & brave man But...
6562[Town Officer, 1761–1765] (Adams Papers)
Now become a Freeholder I attended the Town Meetings, as a Member, as I had usually attended them before, from a Boy as a Spectator. In March when I had no suspicion, I heard my name pronounced in a Nomination of Surveyors of Highways. I was very wroth, because I knew no better, but said Nothing. My Friend Dr. Savil came to me and told me, that he had nominated me to prevent me from being...
6563John Adams to Arthur Lee, 31 January 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 12 th. August from New York, and by the Marquis de la Fayette who visited me last night, I have the Pleasure to learn that you have finished your Negotiations with the Indians, to the Satisfaction and Advantage of the Publick. I learn too with great Pleasure that your Brother has accepted a Seat in Congress and in the Chair. permit me to congratulate you upon...
6564From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 21. March, Suggests Topicks enough, as all your Letters do for writing Folios. I cannot call the Review, in the Anthology “luminous” nor judicious. “The Silent Votes in our deliberative Assemblies.” I would Scarcely part with this part of the Lectures, to Save all the rest of the two volumes. Vanderkemp, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams, have had experience enough, to have a...
6565From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have been so perplexed with Ceremonials, Visits Removals and eternal applications from Beggars of one Species and another, besides the real Business of my Department, that I fear I have not answered your favour of the second of June, which I received in Season— I have received from M r. Garvey all but my wine & have written him to day to forward that and will run the risque of it, as I...
6566From John Adams to Jan Willink, 30 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have duely received your Letter of the 5th. of July and thank you for your Care of my little Interest recommended to you in my Letter of the 30th of April last. I have Since received your friendly favour of the 29th. of December last and thank you for your Information concerning our American Affairs in holland. For my own Part, I wish that our money Negotiations might be continued in your...
6567From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 13 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
By the Treaty of Alliance of the sixth of February 1778, his Majesty and the United States agreed, in Case of War, to join their Councils and Efforts against the Enterprises of the common Enemy: to make it a common Cause, and aid each other mutually with their good Offices, their Councils and their Forces, according to the Exigences of Conjunctures, and each of the contracting Parties, in the...
6568From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 24th of June & thank you for transmitting to the Secretary of the Treasury a commission for Mr. Smith. If Mr. Smith for any reason should decline this appointment, my opinion is that Mr. William Morris of N. York, at present Deputy collector is next in the line of merit & you may send a commission to him.—I concurred with you & the gentlemen you consulted in...
6569John Adams to Carmarthen, 13 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Adams presents his Compliments to the Right Honourable The Marquis of Carmarthen and acquaints his Lordship that Mr. Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, is now here, and as they have something to Communicate to His Lordship relative to the affairs of the United States, they request a Time when they may have the honor to pay their respects to...
6570From John Adams to John Randolph, Jr., 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have read your letter, and thank you for the Amusement it has afforded me. We in Massachusetts, however, know not why the Name of Adams Should be thought “ of evil omen .” The Rumors you heard in Washington, of a disposition in Massachusetts, to declare for Neutrality, were not well founded. If an Individual or So, in the Agony of his heart has suggested such an Idea, this would no more...