7251To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., July 1821 (Adams Papers)
After waiting nearly in vain to obtain further documents for the biography of James Otis, I have resolved to begin to make the most of the materials, I now possess—I hope in the course of a few days to have completed, the first part of his life, embracing his youth, & what may be called the private part of his professional career—It will all be comprized in a few pages, so few are the...
7252To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 16 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I write this note just to inclose you a couple of newspapers. Such is the variable & distracted state of affairs at present here and all over Europe that it is impossible to form an opinion one day that events of the next will not overturn. The cabinet of St Jame’s having involved this nation in the fortunes of Prussia—it is next to impossible that a general war shou’d not ensue. France has...
7253To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 28 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
In my preceding of the 21st. ultmo. I acquainted your Excellency, that Mr. Maddison had written me from Philadelphia, that my cipher had been lost in the late confusions in Virginia, for which reason all I had written in cipher since that time, as well to him for the use of Congress, as to the Governor and Council of my State, still remains unlocked, and must be so untill I get there myself,...
7254To John Adams from Henry Knox, 4 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor to submit to the Senate, the instructions to the Commissioners appointed to treat with the hostile Indians North of the Ohio, and their report in the form of a journal of their proceedings. And also, a statement of the troops in the Legion of the United States, and certain intelligence from major general...
7255Baron von Thulemeier to John Adams, 25 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
Vous avez desiré, Monsieur, d’être instruit des marchandises & productions qui pourroient faire l’objet d’un négoce réciproque entre les Etats de Sa Majesté Prussienne & ceux des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique. Je suis trop flatté d’établir ces nouvelles liaisons de commerce de concert avec vous, pour ne pas m’empresser à vous communiquer les notions que j’ai recueillies, soit d’après les...
7256VI. Amendment to Article 4: A Translation, 29 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The addition at the end of Article 4 should be done in the following manner. And the two contracting parties shall provide, each one in his jurisdiction, that their respective subjects and inhabitants may henceforward obtain the requisite certificates in cases of deaths in which they shall be interested. Consenti. MS ( Adams Papers ); endorsed: “Amendment of the 4. Article proposed to me, by...
7257To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams yesterday received a Letter from you in which you are so kind as to send me a permission to write you confidentially as I used to do the last winter—Nothing but the fear of appearing obtrusive could have prevented my writing you sooner, and having obtained the permission to pursue the old form I will continue my journal writing according to the feelings of the moment; soliciting at...
7258To John Adams from Paul Ferdinand Fevot, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency will be surprised to receive a letter from a Stranger unknown to You; But Your high public character makes me hope to be taken some notice of by Your Excellency if Your leasure permits you to peruse my letter. I am a native of Lausanne in Switzerland where I followed the Law 10 years; I had a comfortable situation when the French Revolution broke out; great number of my...
7259To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 18 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your letters are always welcome, the last more than all others, it’s subject being one of the dearest to my heart. to my granddaughter your commendations cannot fail to be an object of high ambition, as a certain passport to the good opinion of the world. if she does not cultivate them with assiduity and affection, she will illy fulfill my parting injunctions. I trust she will merit a...
7260To John Adams from Elkanah Watson Jr., 10 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Circumstances I flatter my self will plead my Excuse for addressing to you this letter. Agreable to the advise of my friends and my own Inclinations, I Embarked ab’d of the Mercury Packett last Augt. with an Intention of persuing my mercantile proffession (till the war is happily terminated) in France; and of travelling in Europe, previous to this resolution in the years 77 and 78, I made a...
7261To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 13 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I hope to make a proper use of your observations in the relation to the pretended nomination of the American Commissioners, and am very oblig’d to you for the trouble you have had to write out that account. As for the Treaty, I never would presume to publish it, were it not a translation of a publick and printed paper, and the more So as you may have Seen a copy of it verbatim in the Lond. Ev....
7262Charles Adams to John Adams, 30 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters accompanying the trials of Gerrald Muir and Margarot. I am perfectly of your opinion that Gerrald’s is worth all the rest, his defence is able eloquent and pathetic. Muir also discovers marks of a great mind Posterity will give very little praise to the independence or candour of Scotch Judges. In a former letter you ask why I suppose M r Jay...
7263To John Adams from James Greenleaf, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor some months past of intimating to you my wishes to become usefull to my Country in some public capacity—a variety of unforeseen events have since occurred to bar my liberation from confinement, and of course my marking personally the respect I bear you—the late Supplementary Insolvent law passed by Congress, has fixed the 10th. proximo, as the ultimate period of my...
7264To John Adams from Philip Wilson, 7 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Petition of Philip Wilson, their Citizen; late a Merchant of the City of Philadelphia: Most humbly—Sheweth That your Petitioner has long prayed, and forwarded papers, that your honourable Senate will take under your consideration the Case of one of your Citizens, now above thirteen Years depending;—A Merchant of good Credit made insolvent, and every way plunged into deplorable distress and...
7265To John Adams from Hendrick W. Gordon, 23 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Having had business lately at Portsmouth I call’d on and spent an afternoon & Evening with the late Governor Langdon, he enquired very particularly after you and your Lady, on parting with him he desired me “to present to his venerable friend & early associate President Adams & his Lady his best respects,” and to say, that he had before the exit of his bosom Companion thots of visiting Quincy...
7266To John Adams from C. Mends, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
In Feby last, my Son B. Mends took the liberty of sending yr Excellency a few Lines, with a Petition from the poor American prisoners, in which yr Excellency was inform’d of the good intentions of Coll. Richardson to apply to Docr Franklin in Paris, which he did, as I was inform’d by a Letter from him just as he was going to America: in which he inform’d me his Excellency seem’d rather Cool ,...
7267To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received a letter from Callohill Memis (an officer of our revolution war) covering the inclosed address, which he desired me to present to you, from the Inhabitants of Bedford County in Virginia. I am with great respect, / sir,your obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
7268To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 5 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
There are so many rumours concerning the present state of the dispute between Spain and Britain and so many individuals interested to misrepresent it that it is with much diffidence that I venture to offer you any opinion on that subject. The british parliament the members of which are now chiefly elected will not be assembled before the middle of august. Till then very little that can be...
7269To John Adams from the Duc de La Vauguyon, 4 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
J’ay recu Monsieur La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire d’amsterdame Le 1er. de ce mois. Je ne suis pas en mesure d’avoir celui d’y repondre comme ministre Du Roy, n’etant muni d’aucune instruction ulterieure sur L’obet qui y est developé; mais puisque vous voulez bien me demander Mon sentiment personel je vous L’exposerai avec La plus entiere sincerité. Après avoir tres...
7270To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is long, since I took any Opportunity of repeating Assurances of my sincere and very great Esteem for you. Tired most heartily of the Jealousies & Animosities which are almost inseperable from governmental Emploies, and very hardly put to it to find Bread to eat or Rayment to cloathe myself and my numerous Family, I have rarely felt any proper Disposition of Mind for an Attempt to write...
7271To John Adams from John Sinclair, 5 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
You will herewith receive, Copies of a Publication, in which I am persuaded you will feel yourself deeply interested, & which, I trust, will be viewed by the People of America in General, in a favourable light; I mean the letters of your illustrious Countryman General Washington, on Agricultural and other interesting topics. It is the only work, hitherto published, in any Age or Country, where...
7272To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 29 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I wish, with you, that N. England may not fail to furnish their Quota of the Continental Army even to a single man; but am afraid we shall not be able to accomplish it soon. Some Towns have already rais’d and sent forward their full Proportion. This has done much more, besides Manning the State Vessels and Privateers: but others are yet greatly deficient; and yet all Circum stances...
7273To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 26 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Barclay is here, and produces an original letter from Lord Grenville, informing him that His Britannic Majesty had appointed him his Consul General for the Eastern States, in the room of Sir John Temple, and that his commission would be sent to him; desiring at the same time that he would repair to New-York. The letter is dated in January; and as the Commission is not yet arrived, there is...
7274From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 21 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have received your two Favours of the 13th. Inst. I am much obliged to you for undertaking the Trouble of contenting the Officers and People of the Alliance. I must now beg leave to make a little Addition to that Trouble, by requesting your Attention to the Situation of the Officers and Sailors, late Prisoners in England, which...
7275Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Cold has been more severe than I can ever before recollect. it has frozen the ink in My pen, and chilld the Blood in my veins, but not the Warmth of My affection for Him for whom my Heart Beats with unabated ardor through all the Changes and visisitudes of Life, in the still Calm of Peace Feild, and the Turbelent Scenes in which he is about to engage, the prospect of which excite, neither...
7276To John Adams from Samuel Williams, 9 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wish to present to the Royal Society of London the memoirs of our American Academy of Arts and Sciences: and to convey to Manheim the inclosed packet of papers. As we have no direct conveyance from America, may I take the liberty to commit them to your care? It gives us much pleasure to have two of your Sons in this University. Both of them are young Gentlemen from whom their friends have...
7277To John Adams from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 28 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
In the late irreparable loss, you have sustained by a severe dispensation of Divine Providence, I sincerely sympathise with you; but hope that time, reason & religion have administered their consolations, and restored your mind. Permit me to enclose you copies of two letters, from my uncle to my father, at memorable epochs in our Revolutionary annals. The first from New–York when the Stamp Act...
7278To John Adams from Charles B. Cochran, 27 May 1795 (Adams Papers)
Under–cover of the introduction which I had through Doctr: Franklin to you while under his Guardianship at Passy permit me to solicit your Suffrage and interest on the occasion of supplying the vacancy made in the Officers of the Revenue by Col: Motte’s death. I flatter myself the education which I received under his eye during Six year’s residence in France, fully qualifies me to give...
7279To John Adams from François D’Ivernois, 30 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Lord Lansdown ayant satisfait mon impatience en me confiant votre defense of the American Constitutions ; j’ai commencé cet ouvrage avec un plaisir et une attention, qui (dans le cas ou il y aurait une 2 de edition) me feraient desirer d’avoir avec l’auteur un entretien sur la suisse en general et sur Geneve en particulier. En attendant cet honneur, j’ai celui Monsieur de vous envoyer un petit...
7280To John Adams from Richard Stockton, 17 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
The probable success of the Judiciary bill now before Congress, and the short time that will remain to select proper Characters to be appointed Judges thereto it be enacted into a Law, induces me take the liberty respectfully to mention to the President of the United States the name of William Griffith Esqr. of Burlington as a Candidate for the office of a Circuit Judge. The President is in...
7281From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 23 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I congratulate your Excellency on the late great Event. I received yours of the 12th. I wrote my Mind fully on the Subject of the Goods in mine to you by Mr. Fox, which I suppose must have come to your hands soon after that Date. Gillon wrote to me that Mr. Searle & Jackson were gone to France. As it is so long...
7282To John Adams from John M. Gill, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
The address and memorial of Sundry Inhabitants of the Town and County of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania Respectfully Sheweth That we sincerely regret that any circumstances should have given any foreign government ground to believe that when the safety of the government, liberty independance or prosperity of the United States is menaced there can be a division of opinion among the...
7283To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 6 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
You may tell your friend Mr Cranch that I included my Correspondent among the men who were so prominent in madness as to undertake the Cure of the madness of mankind by Appeals to their Reason. I have been a fellow labourer with you in this irrational business. But we will console ourselves with the comfortable reflection that we have aimed well. Were we to live our lives over again, and...
7284To John Adams from Alexander Hamilton, 9 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have just received a letter from Mr. Short which I wish to submit, in order to certain measures being taken upon it, to yourself and the heads of the executive departments, in pursuance of the President’s letter of the 4th. instant, which I take it for granted has been communicated to you by the Secretary of State. I request therefore that you will please to name a time and place for the...
7285To John Adams from Augustus Elias Brevoort Woodward, 16 October 1801 (Adams Papers)
Having learnt from the resolution of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which has just appeared in the gazettes of the Territory of Columbia, that their attention is about to be directed, in a particular manner, to the subjects of light and of heat ; I do myself the honor to transmit you, as President of that institution, a work lately published by me, having an intimate connection...
7286To John Adams from James McHenry, 9 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured with your letters of the 19th & 27th, and this morning with that of the 29th of April ulto. The inclosed list of names to fill up the vacancies in the 16th Regiment of Infantry, and the vacancy of Major in the 12th Regiment is respectfully submitted. The recommendations which governed in forming the list for the former Regiment are also inclosed. With respect to the...
7287From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the US. and will have the honor of waiting on him to dinner on Thursday next RC (Gary Hendershott, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1992); addressed: “The President of the US.” Not recorded in SJL .
7288Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I suppose some obstruction of Ice in the North river, prevented the southern post from arriving last wednesday, which prevented me from getting any Letters from you, of a later Date than Jan ry 20 th the receipt of Which I have already acknowledged. I hope to receive a large packet tomorrow. You will learn before this Letter reaches you I presume, the Fate of Jarvis & the Virginna resolutions....
7289To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the copy of a letter from Robert Morris Esqr. dated yesterday, accompanied with information from a Mr. Rees who is attending the treaty held at his request with the Seneka Indians at Genesee River, where doubtless the Chief of others of the six Nations are assembled. It confirms our other accounts of the attempts of the Spaniards to seduce the Indians from our Territory, with a view...
7290To John Adams from Francis Dana, 29 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have already advised you of my determination to return to America. In pursuance of that I sailed in the Ship Kingston Capt: Norwood, from Cronstadt for Boston, on the 28 th. of August O. Stile. We arrived here yesterday afternoon in good order, having been twenty days from Cronstadt, eight of which we lay in the Baltic harbour, about 60 Leagues from thence, wind bound. We shall sail from...
7291To John Adams from Alexander Hamilton, 5 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
By order of the President of the United States, I have the honor to transmit herewith... I. Copies of a power given by him to the Secretary of the Treasury for the time being dated the 28th of August 1790, for the negotiation of the loans authorized by the laws of the 4th and 12th of August 1790 and of certain instructions relative thereto dated on the same day. II. Copies of an authority...
7292To John Adams from James Warren, 5 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
You will perhaps wonder that you have not heard from me for so long a time. I have had so little time at home of late, and found so much to do there, that I did not Attend Election, and returned to this town not before Yesterday. On my way I had the pleasure to find Mrs. Adams and family well. I left Mrs. Warren to spend this week with her friends at Braintree. I dare say every hour of it will...
7293From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Ere you can have arrived at Baltimore my beloved Children I address you in the hope that my Letter may find you immediately after your arrival at Boston in good spirits and safety and to thank you both for the many happy hours which you have caused your Mother to enjoy by your good conduct and affectionate attentions during your visit. Life is a scene so mixed so full of pleasure and pain that...
7294To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
In the letter in which I submitted the draught of a proclamation, I had the honor to observe, that the arrangements then expected from Doctor Stevens and General Maitland, might render some changes very proper or necessary. A consideration of those arrangements confirmed that opinion, and suggested the alterations which you will notice in the printed copy inclosed in my official letter which...
7295John Thaxter to John Adams, 25 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was recieved this morning. I suspect it was opened before it came to my hands. The Seal appeared to have been good at first, but when delivered to me, it the Impression was very faint in many places—perhaps it may be accidental. The Hymn to Ceres was forgotten at the time that I inclosed the fundamenta Jurisprudentiae Nat:—I shall send it by this Opportunity. I shall...
7296To John Adams from Anonymous, 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
From a desire of seeing every department of the federal Govt filled by respectable characters I am induced to make an observation or two on the pretensions of the persons who I have heard are candidates for the naval office of this port, vacant by the recent death of the late excellent Mr Russell—Mr. Nath. Folsom, & Capt Geo Turner, I have heard are desirous of obtaining it— From enquiry Sir...
7297To John Adams from Rufus King, 2 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
A confidential intimacy with our common friend M r. Gerry, with whom I have served during the last year has given me full information of the correspondence which has lately passed between you and him: and it is in consequence of a Sentence in your last letter to M r. Gerry, that I take the Liberty of addressing this to you— if M r. Gerry remained in Congress, I should suppose that the...
7298To John Adams from Jonathan Williams III, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I arrived at Brest last Wednesday, in twenty five days Passage from Boston, and had the Pleasure of spending a day with Mrs. Adams the week before, at Braintree; She was then well and wrote the inclosed for my Care. Mrs. Adams had occasion for some solid Coin to answer some particular Purposes and I had it in my Power to afford her ten Guineas, for which She gave me the inclosed Bill; I know...
7299To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 18 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
I was going to trouble you with a letter on the subject of a continuation of the remarks on the Jesuits, which it would I presume be desireable for the Editor to receive by the first of next month, as the number for July will then go to press, when my Father gave me your letter of the 15th inst. to read. The pamphlet you mention of Hutchinson’s I have never seen. I am going to prepare an...
7300Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I Received two Letters from you this week one of the 13 and the other the 19 of March. I know not where one of my Letters is gone, unless you have since Received it. I certainly wrote you in Febry. and the first Letter I wrote I mention that I had not wrote before. I have write four Letters before this. Believe I have Received all yours Except one you mention writing from Framingham which I...