6931From John Adams to United States Senate, 31 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Timothy Pickering Secretary of State, Oliver Wolcott Secretary of the Treasury & Samuel Sitgreaves Esqr: of Pennsylvania;—To be Commissioners, to adjust and determine, with Commissioners appointed under the legislative authority of the State of Georgia, all interfering claims of the United States and that State, to territory, situate west of the River Chatahouchee, north of the...
6932John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Bass arrived this Day, with the joyfull News, that you were all well. By this Opportunity, I shall send you a Cannister of Green Tea, by Mr. Hare. Before Mr. G erry went away from hence, I asked Mrs. Yard to send a Pound of Green Tea to you. She readily agreed. When I came home at Night I was told Mr. G. was gone. I asked Mrs. Y. if she had sent the Cannister? She said Yes and that Mr. G....
6933To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 18 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favours of June 22d. and July 7 and 11th. are before me. The delay of Mr. Lamb’s arrival is unfortunate, but I think with you that the sooner a project of Treaties is prepared the better, and I will give the earliest attention to it whenever you shall send it. I shall go this morning to Stockdale, to talk with him about sending you the News Papers, and Pamphlets through the Channell of...
6934Adams’ Notes of Authorities: Suffolk Court of General Sessions, Boston, November 1768 (Adams Papers)
Prov. Law. Page 23. Names returned. 2. Salk. 482. Anonimous. 3 Men and families. 2 Salk 485. Sylvanus Johnson. Foleys Poor Laws 427. Lenham vs. Peckham. Foley 426. Flixton vs. Roston. Form of an order of Removal, Burn V. 3, P. 378. V. 3, Page 377. 13 & 14 Car. 2, Chap. 12, cited in Burn V. 3, P. 375. Prov. Law, 4 W. & M. c. 12. Justice shall not act in his Town. 2 Strange 1173 Great Charte and...
6935John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your Favour of Yesterday and am very Sorry to find by it that my Express is arrested at Brussells. This Express was Sent to Paris Solely upon Affairs of the United States of America and my private Affairs. In the three Trunks he has with him there is nothing but my Manuscript Books and Papers, Cloaths of myself, Son & servants and Ninety Six Spoons and Forks larger and...
6936From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 9 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for sending me the Centinel containing the peices upon neutrality signed by Marcellus which I have long been seeking without success—I hope you will be able to lend it to me long enough to get Copied those papers—for no human being knows the value of them so well as I do—not accepting the Auther of them himself— I hope you have not forsaken us—the time seemes very long since...
6937To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 22 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, September 22, 1778: In examining our joint accounts I find some articles for which I have paid separately. For future planning I propose we pay jointly for the wages and expenses of the maître d’hôtel, cook, coachman and other servants, the hire of horses and carriage, postage and expresses, and other common expenses. If Dr. Franklin chooses...
6938From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men, by these Presents, that I John Adams of Quincy, in the County of Norfolk, in the State of Massachusetts, Esquire, in Consideration of Twelve thousand Eight hundred and Twelve dollars paid me by John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and State aforesaid, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give grant Sell and convey unto the Said John Quincy Adams...
6939July 10. 1784 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
May not the Ascent of Vapours be explained, or rather accounted for upon the Principle of the Air Balloon? Is not every Bubble of Vapour, that rises, an Air Balloon? Bubbles are formed at the Bottoms of Canals, Rivers, Ponds, rise to the Top, and mount up. These Bubbles are particles, or small quantities of inflammable Air, surrounded with a thin film of Water. Champaign Wine, Bottled Porter...
6940John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
L’Ambition dans l’oisiveté, la Bassesse dans l’orgueil, Le Desir de s’enrichir Sans travail, l’Aversion pour la vérité; la flatterie, la Trahison, la Perfidie, l’Abandon de tous Ses Engagemens, le mépris des devoirs du Citoyen, la Crainte de la Vertu du Prince, l’espérance de Ses foiblesses, et plus que tout cela le ridicule perpétuel jetté sur la vertu, forment, je crois, le caractère du plus...
6941To John Adams from John Adams, 4 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Ego recepi tua epistolam a te scriptam Vigesimo tribus mensis Julii. ubi nuntius te a bombardâ matutinâ expavi actum fuisse dicis quoque tibi propinationês plamusque nullo modo placeve et frateribus mihi qua valda placent. Discipulus sum in Schola Doctoris Nicholas, ad Ealing, ubi docenti Septuaginta quisque condiscipulos habeo—Magister noster Universitatis Oxonii alumnus est, et mihi maxima...
6942John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of the 5th. came by Yesterdays Post, and I intended to have answered it by this Mornings Post, but was delayed by many Matters, untill he gave me the slip. I am sorry that you and the People of Boston were put to so much Trouble, but glad to hear that such Numbers determined to fly. The Prices for Carting which were demanded, were detestable. I wish your Fatigue and...
6943From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter & the Proceedings of Auvergne— The Provincial assemblies, if they act only as Councillors of the King must operate for the benefit of the Nation— Le nombre des personnes choises dans les deux premiers Orders ne puisse surposer le nombre des Personnes choiseis pour le trois etats et les voix seront recueillies par tête, alternativement entre les Membres des...
6944Nov. 5th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
I presume upon the common sense of the World that no offence will be taken at the Freedom of the following Sentiments while the utmost Deference for Authority and Decency of Language is preserved, as Persons of obscure Birth, and Station, and narrow Fortunes have no other Way, but thro the Press to communicate their Tho’ts abroad, either to the high or the low. The Vacancy, in the highest seat...
6945John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 29 [30] March 1785 (Adams Papers)
last night on my return from Versailles and the Sight of the gallant young Duke of Normandy. I found your Favour of the eighteenth with its Enclosures which I delivered as soon as I had read it to our Secretary M r Humphreys as I propose to do all of your future letters to be by him transmitted regularly every Month, with our Dispatches to Congress, who are now Sitting at New york with his...
6946From John Adams to Francis Dana, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This day was brought me, your kind favour of August 28th. the first Line I have received from you, Since We parted. A Line from my dear Son, aug. 21. O.S. which I recd 3 days ago, was the first from him. The publick News from America, you have before now. It is grand and I congratulate you upon it, with a gratefull Heart. Our allies have this year adopted a System, which you and I have long...
6947From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 3 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
In your third Volume page 169, you say that “on the twenty Second of April 1782, Mr. Adams was admitted at the Hague and with the Usual Ceremonies received as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America. ” This mistake of a few days in Chronology is Scarcely worth a Remark, but I suppose you would wish to be correct. It was on the Nineteenth day of April, not the twenty Second....
6948From John Adams to Jared S. Russell, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Our social and political compacts are indeed threatened with dissolution and with them all the moral, religious scientific and literary principles and institutions which have converted the wilderness into a fruitful field— If it is only a part it is a Very respectable part of the young Men of New-Ark who are sensible of the danger of their Country, they will long rejoice in the virtuous and...
6949John Adams’ Reply to George Washington’s Queries Regarding Presidential Conduct, [17 May 1789] (Adams Papers)
The Vice President of the United States has the honour to present his humble Opinion, on the Points proposed, for his consideration. 1. That an Association with all kinds of company, and a total Seclusion from Society, are extreams, which, in the actual Circumstances of this Country, and under our form of Government, may be properly avoided. 2. The System of the President, will gradually...
695018 Monday. (Adams Papers)
At Colledge, a warm morning, at 11 ’Clock read Theses on this question, (viz) antliarum et siphonum phaenomina solvuntur ex gravitate aeris. “The phenomena of pumps and siphons are explained by the weight of air.” The theses were outlines prepared earlier by tutors or sophisters, generally of single-page length, listing points relevant to the question posed and thus providing material for...
6951January 20. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Franklin and I met the Comte de Vergennes at his office at Ten. He told us, he was going to sign Preliminaries and an Armistice. At Eleven the C. D’Aranda came in, and Mr. Fitsherbert. After examining the Papers, D’Aranda and Fitsherbert signed the Preliminary Treaty, between the Crowns of G. Britain and Spain. De Vergennes and Fitsherbert that between Britain and France. Then Fitsherbert...
6952Draft Definitive Peace Treaty between the United States and Great Britain, [ante 19 July 1783] (Adams Papers)
(Project for) the definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, concluded at the Day of 1783. In the name of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, & Holy Ghost. So be it. Be it known to all those, to whom it shall or may, in any Manner, belong. It has pleased the most high to diffuse the Spirit of Union & Concord among the...
6953From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 21 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been highly gratified by your obliging letter recd Yesterday. You need not give yourself any concern about my Name in your future Edition. I desire no more than Neighboursfare. A memoir from me, would amount to little more, than the Soliloqui of the Fly upon the Chariot Wheel “What a Dust We raise”? And would excite many little Strong Passions, that we might injure rather than Serve the...
69541779. April 14. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
At Nantes, Hotel de la Comedie, Rue Bignonestar.... Walked, this Morning with my Son over all the Bridges. There are several Islands in the River and they have built Bridges from one to another, and Houses upon the Islands. There are fine Meadows on each Side, and the mixed Appearance of Houses, Meadows, Water and Bridges is very uncommon and amuzing. The first Island is built on with very...
6955[March 1783] (Adams Papers)
In the Morning Chronicle of Saturday February 22, Mr. Secretary Townsend in the Debate upon the five Propositions of Lord John Cavendish, is represented to have said “He was willing to give his full Assent to the first Proposition, because such a Declaration from Parlia ment was, after the Address voted on Monday last, indispensably necessary. To the second, and to the third Resolutions,...
6956[Monday the 25 of March 1776] (Adams Papers)
On Monday the 25 of March 1776 I made a Motion and laid it in Writing on the Table in these Words Resolved That the Thanks of this Congress, in their own Names and in the Name of the thirteen United Colonies, whom they repre sent be presented to his Excellency General Washington and the Officers and Soldiers under his Command, for their wise and spirited Conduct in the Seige and Acquisition...
6957John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Late last night I received Your Report and your translation of Tracy , for both of which, tho’ I have read neither I thank you, but the full pro o f of your returning health has given me more Pleasure than both. I envy your Eyes and hands and Horse. Mine are too dim, too tremulous and my head is too dizzy for the Sovereign Doctor . All is now Still and tranquil. There is nothing to try Mens...
69581779. Decr. 28. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Went from Castillan to Baamonde. The first Part of the Road, very bad, the latter Part tolerable. The whole Country We have passed, is very mountainous and rocky. There is here and there a Vally, and here and there a Farm that looks beautifully cultivated. But in general the Mountains are covered with Furze, and are not well cultivated. I am astonished to see so few Trees. Scarce an Elm, Oak,...
6959From John Adams to William Bentley, 28 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
The Essex Register, its Editors, and Printers are not only Innocent but meritorious for Publishing the pretended Meclengburg Resolutions—I have transmitted to Mr Jefferson the National Register, for his Satisfaction.—Such impostures, which our Polished English friends call Hoaxes, and boares—I am unpolite enough to think; ought to be called forgery’s, and Villany’s, and the Authers of them...
6960From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 15 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 15 February 1780. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:248–249 . John Adams thanked Williams for his letter of 1 Feb. (above) and briefly commented on events in America and the settlement of Williams’ accounts. He applauded Williams’ stated determination to eschew any party spirit,...
6961From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I ought, before now, to have acknowledged the Receipt of your favours and even now I can do no more than acknowledge them, for what Subject have I for a Letter? Shall I Send you diagrams of my Grounds, which the fine Weather of November and December has enabled me me to plough, for Corn, Potatoes, Barley Clover and Timothy? But what a Miniature picture of a Lilliputian Plantation, would Six...
696229 [June 1753–January 1754?]. (Adams Papers)
Sat out from Boston, home where having tarried 7, or 8 Days I set out on a journey together with Mr. Adams to Piscataqua, to which I went By way of Litchfeild, going firstly from Boston over Charlston ferry through Charlestown, Mistick, Menotomy, Lexington, Bedford, Bilerica, Chensford, Dracut to which I passed from Chensford over the river. From Dracut I proceeded to Nottingham, Londonderry,...
6963Adams’ Argument and Report: Special Court of Admiralty, Boston, June 1769 (Adams Papers)
But, the first Question that is to be made, according to my Opinion, is, whether Impresses in any Cases, are legal? For if Impresses are always illegal, and Lt. Panton acted as an Impress Officer, Michael Corbitt and his Associates had a Right to resist him, and if they could not otherwise preserve their Liberty, to take away his Life. His Blood must lye at his own Door, and they be held...
6964John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the 30 Nov. our Peace was Signed. On the 28. March We dont know that you have Yet heard of it. A Packet Should have been Sent off. I have not yet received the Ratification of the my Dutch Treaty. I know not when I Shall be able to embark for home. If I receive the Acceptance of my Resignation, I Shall embark in the first ship, the first good ship I mean, for I love you too well, to venture...
6965From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Reverend Dr Belknap and Dr Morse being upon a Journey into your Neighbourhood I have been desirous that they Should have an Opportunity of Seeing you, and that you Should have an Opportunity of Seeing them. They are clergy men of great Fame and what better of great Merit. I have not add any Thing more , assurances of unva esteem humble sert PHi : John Adams Papers.
6966From John Adams to United States Senate, 30 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate J. Phillips of Maryland to be a Captain in the Navy— Josias M: Speake of Maryland to be Lieutenant in the Navy— John West of Virginia to be a Lieutenant in the Navy These Gentlemen are intended for officers on board The Baltimore, a twenty gun Ship, fitting out at the City of that Name—It is hoped the Senate will consent, that the rank of these officers shall be settled hereafter,...
6967From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received your number 27. 15 October, 13. The large quarto Pamphlet entitled “Principes de Chronologie pour les temps anterieurs aux Olympiades,” by Count John Potocki I never received. It has miscarried. That the Count may have seen me, in London in France or Holland, is not improbable. I also have “plunged into the abyss of Antiquity” and have been “hunting for the books of the wars of...
6968[Braintree Lawyer, 1761] (Adams Papers)
On the 25 of May in this Year 1761, my venerable Father died in his 71st Year, beloved, esteemed and revered by all who knew him. Nothing that I can say or do, can sufficiently express my Gratitude for his parental Kindness to me, or the exalted Opinion I have of his Wisdom and Virtue. It was a melancholly House. My Father and Mother were seized at the same time with the violent Fever, a kind...
6969Adams’ Minutes of the Trial: Suffolk Superior Court, Boston, August 1772 (Adams Papers)
S amuel Q uincy . Prov. Law. 1st in the Book. Obsolete. Against common right. Not to be done by Legislature. Must be strictly pursued. Not a total desolation. The Bricks Wall and Chimney standing. Dont appear that the Justices and Select Men were notified. The Law says the Major Part of both. It must have been preceded by a Notification of all the Justices and select Men. Not mentioned any...
6970From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is the general opinion here both among the Members of the States, and the Hotel de la France, that the Delays of the definitive Pacification, are contrived by the Court of London, in order to set all their Instruments at work, in this Republic, to induce it to renew its ancient connections with Great-Britain, particularly their Alliance offensive and Defensive, by which each Power was bound...
6971From John Adams to James McHenry, 2 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return Mr. Tracy’s letter as you desire in yours of the 27th Both Badger and Tracy recommended as subaltern officers are wholly unknown to me I am disposed to give great attention to the recommendation of Mr Tracy the Senator and Col Taylor, but if there is any considerable difference of sentiment about the appointment, among the gentlemen of Connecticut, perhaps it might be wise to write to...
6972From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
De Pradt, I Suspect is a descendant of that Arcbishop Bishop of Clermont, the Bastard of Cardinal du Pratt, and the Oputent Protector of the infant Society of the Jesuits in 1545. See Duprat in the Dictionaire historique. The Archbishop of Matines I Suspect is of that Breed and worthy of his Race. See also The History of the Jesuits Vol. 1. Our national Sympathy with the Patriots of South...
6973John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
IT is now almost three Months since I left you, in every Part of which my Anxiety about you and the Children, as well as our Country, has been extreme. The Business I have had upon my Mind has been as great and important as can be intrusted to One Man, and the Difficulty and Intricacy of it is prodigious. When 50 or 60 Men have a Constitution to form for a great Empire, at the same Time that...
6974From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am very glad to learn by your Kind favour of the 9 th. that Boylston has sold his oil to sangrains Correspondent because this will both shew the Bostonians that a Markett may be found in france, much better than in England, & the Parrissians that this oil is much better & Cheaper than any other M r. Barretts Contract bids fair to compleat the business & to introduce a regular Exchange of...
6975From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 3 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you, & your state and our Nation on the Acquisition of such a secretary of the Navy as you represent Sir honourable William Jones to be. I shall certainly write him a letter, before long; for I am recommender general of Midshipman & Pursers & Ensigns. I have not dared as yet to rise to a Lieutenant in Navy or Army. Talk not to me of dignity. Nothing can be more ridiculous and...
6976From John Adams to Thomas Mifflin, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the fifth of this month, with the copy of Chief Justice Mc Keans letter to your Excellency & two letters of Mr Liston. These last I shall transmit to the Secretary of State to be restored to the writer of them, according to the idea of your Excellency, with the best apology that the subject will admit of, for the...
6977From John Adams to Ebenezer Tucker, 27 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The ardor of patriotism, which is expressed in this unanimous address of the Citizens, inhabitants of the township of Little Eggharbour in the state of New Jersey, is the Natural Result of Insults and cruelties practised by Arbitrary Power, on injured unoffending Innocence— The Enemies of our Country have a more dangerous and pernicious Instrument in their hands in the licentiousness of their...
6978From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 18 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Whether it is that the Art of political Lying is better understood in England than in any other Country, or whether it is more practised there than elsewhere, or whether it is accidental that they have more Success in making their Fictions gain Credit in the World, I know not. But it is certain that every Winter, since the Commencement of the present War with America, and indeed for some Years...
6979Wednesday [25 October]. (Adams Papers)
Went in the morning to Mr. Gridleys, and asked the favour of his Advice what Steps to take for an Introduction to the Practice of Law in this County. He answered “get sworn.” Ego . But in order to that, sir, as I have no Patron, in this County. G . I will recommend you to the Court. Mark the Day the Court adjourns to in order to make up Judgments. Come to Town that Day, and in the mean Time I...
6980From John Adams to James Gardner, 14 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your joint Letter of the 10th with great pleasure. Nothing could give me more Satisfaction than to learn from you that Col Smith in his office has conducted well. I know his Capacity for Business and that he is capable of great Exertions of Industry. I pray you Gentlemen to assist him with your Experience and I think I can assure you that you will not find him ungrateful. I am /...