6991From John Adams to Charles van Notten, 29 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of Yesterday and I wish it were in my power to give you a Sattisfactory answer, and to remove all your apprehensions for the fate of your Friends. but it is not I have not any reason however to increase them as I have not received from America any Intelligence like that you mention to me. If the Article of the 15 of August from N Y—which you Saw, was in an American...
6992From John Adams to John Marshall, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Samuel Parkman, a very respectable citizen of Boston & a member of our Massachusetts legislature, recommending Mr George A Cushing to be Consul at Havanna. You will find in your office the papers referred to. This letter you will please to file with them to be considered in case. I know nothing of the probability of the office being vacant. A letter is also...
6993John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
This is the first Time, I have been able to write you, since my Sickness.—Soon after my Return from Paris, I was seized with a Fever, of which, as the Weather was and had long been uncommonly warm, I took little notice, but it increased very slowly, and regularly, untill it was found to be a nervous Fever, of a dangerous kind, bordering upon putrid. It seized upon my head, in such a manner...
6994From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I here Send you three great Authorities, James Otis Oxenbridge Thatcher and Samuel Adams, all Supported by almost an unanimous Vote of the Town of Boston, all containing every Principle, every Sentiment and every Idea in Mr Henry’s Resolution at least a Year before he moved them or composed them. Indeed this was common Place Language in Boston and Massachusetts in the mouths of all Men but the...
6995John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 23 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you and myself on your recovery from the three Illnesses that have distressed you, the means that have been used to preserve you, may, and I hope will have laid a foundation for good Health, and many more years of an already long Life.— My Health is astonishing to myself, I can say, like Deborah Queen Ann Dutchess of Marlbourgh —who in one of her letters, after innumerating a...
6996From John Adams to François D’Ivernois, 11 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your kind Letter of the 29th. of July, and have presented the two Pamphlets to the President as you desired. Accept of my best Thanks for those you were so good as to inclose for me. I have read nothing for a long time with so much pleasure as the Refexions sur la Guerre. It seemed to me like the returning dawn of Reason among Mankind. While I am flattered with the Compliment you...
6997From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 10 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, October 17, 1781—wrote to congress: “There is at present a fermentation in this nation which may arise to violent extremities. Hundreds of pamphlets have appeared, some against the Court, some against the city and sovereign magistrates of Amsterdam, all of which must be adjudged to be seditious libels. At length a large pamphlet has appeared in Dutch; and having been distributed...
6998From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this address. I wish you all possible success and satisfaction in your deliberations on the means which have a tendency to promote and extend our national interests and happiness, and I assure you that in all your measures directed to those great objects you may at all times rely with the highest confidence on my cordial cooperation. The praise of the Senate, so judiciously...
6999From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 6 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that I have received from Congress a Commission, to their High Mightinesses with full Powers and Instructions to treat with their high mightinesses, concerning to conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. I have also received Letters of Credence as a Minister Plenipotentiary to their High Mightinesses , the states General, and to his Most Serene...
7000From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter you request copies of my letters to Dr Price. They are inclosed. These letters and many others & other writings & conversations to the same effect destroyed my popularity, with mankind. The Turgoites the Reondoccettians — Roachfocaution the Brissotians, the jacobins & the Sans Cullots, in france took offence & pronounced me an aristocrat, & would have guillotined me if I...
7001From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 22 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th. I should be much obliged to You for your sentiments, of what is to be understood by accepting the Mediation of a Power or Powers? Is a Mediator to be an Arbitrator, and is the Power that accepts the Mediation bound to submit to the Award? Is the great question of the War submitted to the discussion and final Judgment of the Mediator? For...
7002From John Adams to James Warren, 22 December 1773 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, the Governor called a Council at Cambridge. Eight Members met at Brattles. This no doubt was concerted last Saturday, at Neponsit Hill, where Brattle and Russell dined, by Way of Caucass I Suppose. Sewall dined with their Honours Yesterday. But Behold what a falling off, was there. The Governor, who last Fryday, was fully persuaded, and told the Council, that some late Proceedings...
7003From John Adams to George Washington, 19 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Although I received the Honor of your Letter of the first of this month in its Season, I determined to postpone my Answer to it, till I had deliberated, on it, and the Letter from Barlow inclosed in it, as well as a multitude of other Letters and Documents official and unofficial, which relate to the Same Subject, and determined what Part to act. I Yesterday determined to nominate Mr. Murray...
7004From John Adams to Nathaniel Mitchell, 18 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this generous Address presented to me by your Representative in Congress Mr Bayard. The cordial approbation to you assert of the Administration of this Government, from the beginning of it, is highly satisfactory. Where is the Man of Honor or Virtue or public Spirit, who can hesitate, between dishonourable Peace and necessary War? between a moment of false security, purchased...
7005John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
Congress have rec d from the President all the Negotiations with France and England as well as those with the Indians. On Monday We expect those with Spain and all the Intelligence rec d respecting the Algerines. The whole forming a System of Information which Shews our dear Country to be in a critical Situation. So critical that the most sanguine are constrained to pauze and consider. The...
7006From John Adams to James McHenry, 10 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed resolution of the Senate of the 9th of this month is referred by the President of the United States to the Secretary of War, who is requested to report to the President, to be laid before the Senate, conformably to their request as early as possible. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7007From John Adams to William Carmichael, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment, the Honour of your Letter, from Madrid of the 29 of February as I suppose, altho the month is not mentioned. I thank you, Sir for commencing a Correspondence which I have Sometime wished to begin. I wrote to Mr Jay at Madrid the 22d of February, and wish to know if he has received the Letter. It is certainly proper, that those who are intrusted abroad, Should maintain a...
7008From John Adams to Charles Lee, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10th. I am told that Mr Lewis is of opinion that Fries Crime amounts not to Treason. Can you give me a minute of his reasons? I am MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7009John Adams to Richard Cranch, 6 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have long wished for an Opportunity to write to you but the thousand things that have surrounded me have prevented. Mr. Williams has promised me to write you concerning your Affairs and I suppose he has done it. I am not able to inform you of anything concerning them. There is a Society here resembling the Society of Arts &c. in London. It is called “Le Societe libre d’emulation.” It gives...
7010Adams’ Minutes of the Trial: Essex Superior Court, Ipswich, June 1772 (Adams Papers)
Mem. examine civil Law, and Villenage, to see what Rules are to govern these Negro Causes. Sergeant. Tim. Fuller. Known Caesar between 20 and 30 years. I bought him, about 12 years old. A new Negro, right from Guinea, could not talk English. Tayler bound him, 3 Years. He came to me to buy him when Hircum owned him. I hired him of Tayler, a Month. He gave me Liberty to hire him, and I paid the...
7011John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
Through the finest Fields of Wheat Rye, Barley Oats and Clover, but very indifferent Roads We arrived on Saturday all well The Senators to the Number of five or six and twenty are in Town and will meet in this Chamber at Eleven O Clock. I can form no Judgment how long We shall sitt. I congratulate you and all good People on the favourable decision of the Elections in New York which indicates a...
7012I. John Adams’ Draft of the Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 20 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Certain The Some late Proceedings of the common Ennemy, are of a Nature so extraordinary, and may if not in some Way or other controuled, produce Consequences so disagreable injurious not only to all the belligerent Powers France and the United States , but by their Example to other Nations, that We have thought it our Duty, to Submit a few observations upon them, to the your Excellency’s...
7013From John Adams to John Marshall, 11 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received only last night your favor of the 30th of June. There is no part of the administration of our government, which has given me so much discontent, as the negotiation in the Mediteranean—our ill success in which I attribute to the diffidence of the agents and ministers employed in them, in soliciting aid from the French & the English and the Prussians. Mr. D’Engestrom has too much...
7014From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I think I have not answered particularly your favor of the 4th June. The letter of Mr. Adams to me shews by its number, that seven precedeing letters have miscaried or at least not arrived. His dispatches to you have probably not been more fortunate. I return you the letter from Mr. Murray. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7015From John Adams to Joseph Lyman, 20 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have received your respectful letter of the 21 March. It is not now necessary for me to say any thing concerning many of the Topics. To explain myself fully and enter into the Histories of past occurrences alluded to would require a Volume. I have forsaken the persons and Interest of none of my Friends. The Leaders to whom the Federal Party has now blindly abandoned itself were never my...
7016August 25. 1796. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Billings, Bass and the two Lothrops all this Week upon the Wall over the Way. They make about a Rod and a half a day. Captn. Beale began Yesterday to clear his Brook. So much for the Exemplary Influence of ploughing my Meadow. The Benediction of Ulysses to The Pheacians, B. 13. 1. 60. “Sure fix’d on Virtue may your nation stand and public Evil never touch the Land” comprehends the Essence and...
7017From John Adams to Richard Rush, 16 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
I perceive by your Letter of the 7th. that Mr Hay is married to a beautiful little girl, that I once Saw in Philadelphia, at her Fathers Apartments when She was not more than three or four years old. Before I proceed farther I must congratulate you on your transmigration. The Office of Att. Gen. must be more congenial, less confined and more liberal than that of Controuler. But your...
7018London July 16, 1786. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
At Hackney, heard a Nephew of Dr. Price, who is settled at Yarmouth. It may be of Use to minute miscellaneous Thoughts like Selden, Swift &c. It is an Observation of one of the profoundest Inquirers into human Affairs, that a Revolution of Government, successfully conducted and compleated, is the strongest Proof, that can be given, by a People of their Virtue and good Sense. An Interprize of...
7019[Marginalia in Winthrop’s Lecture on Earthquakes, December 1758?] (Adams Papers)
“O! there is no getting out of the mighty hand of GOD!” This Exclamation was very popular, for the Audience in general like the rest of the Province, consider Thunder, and Lightning as well as Earthquakes, only as Judgments, Punishments, Warnings &c. and have no Conception of any Uses they can serve in Nature. I have heard some Persons of the highest Rank among us, say, that they really...
7020Decr. 21. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Visited Mr. Jay and then went out to Passy to shew Dr. Franklin, Mr. Dana’s Letter. The Dr. and I agreed to remit Mr. Dana the Money, to pay the Fees to the Russian Ministers according to the Usage, upon the Signature of a Treaty. Six Thousand Roubles to each Minister who signs the Treaty. The C. de Lynden told me the other Day that the King of Sweeden was the first Inventer and Suggester of...