66911760. Saturday July 5th. (Adams Papers)
Last Night Cranch explained to me, the Water Works in the River Thames which convey water, all round the City of London. There is first, a long water Wheel, like the Water Wheel of some saw Mills, which is carried round by the River. On the End of the Axis of this water Wheell are Coggs, which carry round a cogg Wheel. This Cogg wheel has upon the End of its Axis, a Number of Cranks and each...
6692John Adams to Richard Cranch, 17 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
“I can tell you no secrets about Peace—a Mr. Forth, a Mr. Aswald Oswald and a Mr. Greenville have been at Paris, to sound the Dispositions, but I cannot learn that they have sufficient Powers, or that they have made any serious Propositions. The work of Peace is very difficult to accomplish. The pretentions of so many Nations, are to be adjusted, that my Hopes are faint. It serves the Stocks...
6693From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Will you accept a curious Piece of New England Antiquities. It was a tolerable Chatechism for the Education a Boy of 14 Years of Age, who was destined—in the future course of his Life to dabble in So many Revolutions in America, in Holland and in France. This Doctor Mayhew had two Sisters established in Families in this Village which he often visited and where I often Saw him. He was intimate...
6694From John Adams to Nh., Citizens of Portsmouth, 25 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
This handsome Address from the Youth of Portsmouth, shows evinces the same Spirit and the same Principles which animate the rising Generation in general throughout the United States and is not less agreable to me than any I have before received. The opinion you have formed of the Wisdom Prudence, Firmness Perseverance and Bravery of your Fathers is not exagerated, and their Example is worthy...
6695Adams’ Notes of Authorities: Suffolk Inferior Court, Boston, January 1771 (Adams Papers)
The Jury found a Verdict for the Sum sued for. Kent moved that the Verdict should be rejected. I deny’d the Power of the Court to reject it, and said if he would move for a new Tryal, that would not be without a Precedent in the Superiour Court tho it would in an inferiour Court. 13 Ed. 1. c. 30. Barrington Obs. on Stat. 103. “Item ordinatum est quod Justitiarii ad Assisas capiendas assignati,...
6696From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Pamphlet and Papers I have received this Week from the Author, with his request to transmit them to you. I have before transmitted in the Course of this Winter, another Packet from the Same Writer; but have as yet no answer from you: so that I am uncertain whether you have rec d it— M r Jays Treaty with Britain is not yet arrived at the Secretary of States office; though there is...
6697From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
The English, by the capture of St. Eustatia, seem to have committed the most compleat blunder of all. There was found in that Island a greater quantity of Property belonging to the Britons themselves, than to the French, Dutch, or Americans. They have broke up a Trade, which was more advantageous to them, than to any of their Enemies, as it was a Channel through which British Manufactures were...
6698From John Adams to Citizens of Mississippi Territory, 7 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure, I have received, through your able and faithful Governor your obliging Address of the fifth of January. As your situation on a frontier of the United States near a Nation, under whose Government many of you have lived, and with whose Inhabitants you are well acquainted, qualify you in a particular manner, to maintain a benevolent pacific and friendly conduct towards your...
6699John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Presidents Speech is so important to the Public that I know you will be anxious to See it as early as possible. When the Answers of the two Houses come to be debated We shall See whether there are any Apologists for Rebellion, in these Sanctuaries. As M r Edwards of Kentucky appeared in Senate to Day, We can do Business if one Member should be Sick, but it will be very inconvenient to have...
6700From John Adams to Ezra Stiles, 27 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received with Pleasure, your Letter by Col. Humphreys whom I have found in all respects the Man of Merit and Taste whom you describe, well qualified for the Office to which Congress has appointed him. The last Letters from New York have given me, some Anxiety on his Account. If the Commissions to which he is attached Should be dissolved, and no Provision be made for him, he will be in a...
67012 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Agreably to the Design laid last night, I arose this Morning before the sun. Dined at Pains. Lodgd at Putnams.
6702From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 24 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged to you for your excellent Letter of the 14 of this Month. As The British Administration have made it their Business for 8 or 10 Years, to propagate in the Nation false News from America, and conceal the true, it is not Surprising that People are in Ignorance: But they must think seriously and inform themselves truly, now, or they will be the Loosers. I regret the Delays...
6703From John Adams to Francis Dana, 16 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of July 28. I duely received. Am glad to hear that your third Freshmanship is a busy one. I think you commence a fourth, at Philadelphia, very Soon. I have presumed to lay before the General Court a Proposal, to choose Nine Delegates. That their Duty may be discharged here in Rotation. The Service here is too hard, for any one, to be continued So long; at least for me. Who...
6704From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 17 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your pleasing letter of Sept. 12. Your Situation is indeed delightful: But I hope you think more of the Musick of the Swan of Thames, than of the house of Dr Todd or the Miss Porters. Twickenham and Chiswick deserve your respect. Richmond Hill is familiar to me. There I visited Governor Pounall and Mr Richard Penn. M.P. I rambled about the place and Saw its beauties. But I...
6705John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Colman goes off for Boston Tomorrow. I have seized a Moment, to congratulate you on the great and glorious Success of our Arms at the Northward, and in Delaware River. The Forts at Province Island and Red Bank have been defended, with a Magnanimity, which will give our Country a Reputation in Europe. Coll. Green repulsed the Enemy from Red bank and took Count Donop and his Aid Prisoners....
6706From John Adams to Wilhem Willink, 4 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Coupons to the amount of one thousand Eight hundred florins, part due in Feb ry & part in June as I shall embark with my family on the latter end of March or begining of April. I shall not be here when the Latter become due. Let me beg the favour you to anticipate this matter, so much as to send me the amount of them either in cash, or in two other obligations, as you think...
6707From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 3 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had, two days ago the Honour to inclose to the Minister a Boston Gazette of 21 February, in which is a Relation of a glorious Combat and Cruise of my Countryman Captain Waters of the Thorn. Let me beg of you sir, to insert this Account in the Gazette and the Mercure. There has not been a more memorable Action this War, and the Feats of our American Frigates and Privateers have not been...
6708From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 4 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
Mr Greanleaf and his Colleague in our Quincy Town Meeting thoght fitt to recommend all the Amendments, not as passed, but as the best that could be obtaind. I Said a few Words upon Some of the Articles and referred to my honourable Colleague to explain the reasons more at large. Peter Boylston Adams my Brother got together two or three Octogenarians half deaf though not half blind like him...
67091776 March 1. (Adams Papers)
How is the Interest of France and Spain affected, by the dispute between B. and the C olonies ? Is it the Interest of France to stand neuter, to join with B. or to join with the C. Is it not her Interest, to dismember the B. Empire? Will her Dominions be safe, if B. and A merica remain connected? Can she preserve her Possessions in the W.I. She has in the W.I. Martinico, Guadaloupe, and one...
6710From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I received, last night your kind favour of the 7th. Your design of writing to Mr Duane for Copies of our “very Short journals” as he calls them, is judicious, and all that is necessary. I am under no concern about Mr Duane’s Extracts or Copies, because Congress has ordered our Journals to be printed and they are in a course of publication. Although I am ashamed of mine, yet I know that Shame...
6711John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 December 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Answer my Lettr Letters at your Leisure. Give yourself no concern. I write as for a refuge and protection against Ennui. The fundamental Principle of all Phylosophy and all Christianity is “ Rejoice Always in all Things . Be thankfull at all times for all good and all that We call evil.” Will it not follow, that I ought to rejoice and be thankful that Priestley has lived? Aye! that Voltaire...
6712VII. “Letters from a Distinguished American,” No. 9, 5 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
The American Refugees, in England, are so great an obstacle in the way of peace, that it seems not improper for me to take notice of them. The first and greatest of them, the late Mr. Hutchinson, is no more. He was born to be the cause, the object, and the victim of popular rage; and he died the day after the commencement of the insurrections in London, and just soon enough to escape the sight...
6713From John Adams to Richard Rush, 6 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
If G. B. did not mean to acceed to the Russian mediation G. B. has acted the part of a Jocky, or a Gypsy, or a Jilt: for She must have received the proposition from the Russian Ambassador long before, our President received it from Mr Dashkoff, and She ought to have made her refusal known, instead of giving Passports to Mr Gallatin and Mr Bayard. I am not apprehensive of a disgraceful peace,...
6714From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 12 August 1809 (Adams Papers)
WE will now return to Mr. Laurens, on the correspondence upon other subjects. On the 14th of October, 1780, wrote to Dr. Franklin—“The extracts of letters you were so good as to send me, have been inserted in the public papers, and I should be obliged to you for future communications of the same kind. Notwithstanding the flow of spirits and vigorous exertions of our countrymen, this year, I am...
6715From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 11 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
This Morning I recd your favour of the Eighth but I am not able to inform you, what is the Amount of the Bills drawn upon Mr Lau rens which are not yet arrived. I have never been exactly informed myself. They cannot I think amount to more than 100000 one two hundred Thousand Guilders. I hope not half that sum, but cannot say positively. I am obliged to you for the Trouble you have taken to...
6716John Adams to the president of Congress, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
As I had the Honour to observe in a former Letter there is a Fermentation in the Courts of the two Empires and those of Bourbon, which appears in Several Particulars which may be explained hereafter. A Question of Etiquette, which amounts to no more, than which of two Persons Shall enter or leave a Room the first may Set all Europe in a Flame. The Prince de Gallitzin, the Russian Ambassador,...
6717To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 4 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday our Friend Mr. Short arrived. Mr. Dumas had never any Commission from Congress, and therefore can have no Title under the United States. He never had any other Authorization than a Letter from Dr. Franklin and another from the Committee of Secret Correspondence, in the year 1775. I wish he had a regular Commission. I direct my Letters to Monsieur C. W. F. Dumas a la Haye, only. I...
6718John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
It is a common Observation of Old People, that as they advance in Life time appears to run off faster, and the Years grow shorter. I cannot, I am Sure, Say the Same of the time which has passed of late. I took Possession of this Chamber on the 8 th. of this Month, and the time has seemed at least as long to me as any fifteen days of my whole Life. tedious days! and lonesome nights! I am weary...
6719Decr. 24th. (Adams Papers)
Who are to be understood by the better Sort of People? There is in the Sight of God and indeed in the Consideration of a sincere Xtian or even of a good Philosopher, no Difference between one Man and another, but what real Merit creates. And I mean, by real Merit, that I may be as well understood as my Adversary, nothing more nor less than the Compound Ratio of Virtue and Knowledge. Now if the...
6720John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
With a great deal of snow upon the Ground it is now plentifully snowing. There must be an unusual Quantity upon the Earth. I suppose you have it very deep. our Men and Teams must have had a terrible Jobb to get the Lumber home: but I hope it is all compleated e’er this. To Day at two D r Ewing & M r snowden are to dine with me and tomorrow at four about 30 senators and Reps.— I have not had as...