7501From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Adams’s letters No 121, 122, 123 & one not numbered, dated June 5 together with Mr. Pitcairns of June 1st. I agree with you in opinion concerning Mr. Adams idea of a contingent stipulation with Sweeden, respecting neutral ships, neutralising the goods on board, & if the heads of department agree with us, you may send an instruction to that purpose. I have the honor to be Sir...
7502From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 18 th. did not reach me, till last night.— I am glad the D r has arrived Safe and in so good health, and would fain hope he may contribute to compose the jarring Parties in Pensilvania, as well as assist in improving the Union of the States.— M rs Rucker has a Letter from her Sister at New York, which mentions the Arrival of M r Otto, So that I think Madame la Comtess de...
7503From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 14 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit you, three Letters, received by the Marquiss de la Fayette. I send you the Letters from Mr. Adams and Mr. Lee that you may know their Sentiments. All that is said of Mr. me, in both these Letters I hope you will omit. They are only Compliments, and I fancy Mistakes. What is said also, of General Sullivan in Mr. Adams’s Letter should also be omitted. And what is...
7504From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of your Letter of the 4th of this Month, and I thank you for your obliging Congratulations on my Return, which gives me Happiness, whatever Passions or Reasonings produced it. You have Cause to thank Heaven, that the state of Europe is so favourable. It is Scarcely possible it should be more so. France is already elevated to the highest Degree of Reputation and England...
7505From John Adams to John Marshall, 9 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Stevens’s letter inclosed in yours of the 30th seems to require a proclamation to open the trade between the United States & the ports of St Domingo which were lately in the possession of Rigaud, & I am ready to agree to it whenever you & the heads of department shall be satisfied. Mr. Mitchell of Charleston promises great things, & he may be able to perform them, for any thing that I know....
7506From John Adams to James McHenry, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Col. Hawkins’s Letter of 23 of May inclosed in yours of 29. July and am happy to find that all Accounts Agree in holding out Expectations of a continuance of Peace with the Indians. Inclosed is a Letter to me from Gen. S. Smith of Baltimore, dated 24 July with an Address to the Citizens of Baltimore from the Marine Committee in a Slip of a Newspaper. I wish that Justice may be...
7507From John Adams to Samuel L. Knapp, 26 January 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have too long neglected to acknowledge my thanks for your volume of Biography. I am well pleased with the general spirit of this work, and the style is agreeable. I am glad to see so many circumstances preserved of the history and character of several men, illustrious in their time; but you have omitted many names, once important at our Bar, and in our Courts of Justice. For example John...
7508From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 1809 (Adams Papers)
There are two Sentences in Talleyrand’s Letter of the 28th of August, 1798 which ought not to pass unnoticed, the first “In France it was Supposed that the Government of the United States, wished only the appearances of a Negotiation, whence resulted a certain demand for Pledges of good Faith” The Second is “Can it be believed that a Man who should profess a hatred or Contempt of the French...
7509Monday. 10th. 1766. (Adams Papers)
Last Week went to Boston, and to Weymouth, &c. I hear that Mr. Benjamin Cleverly has already bespoke Mr. John Ruggles Jur., against May Meeting. Promis’d him, as much as he can eat and drink of the best Sorts, if he will vote for Captn. Thayer. Told him he would not have acted as he did at March, if it had not been for Thos. Newcomb, and that he would vote for Thayer at May, if it was not for...
7510Thurdsday January 24th. 1765. (Adams Papers)
I rode to Boston on Purpose to meet at Fitchs. Gridley came. We read the 3 first Titles of the feudal Law, and We read Gothofreds Notes and We looked into Strykius for the Explanation of many hard Words in those 3 Titles—The Valvasors, Capitanii, Guardia and Guastaldi. This Strykius wrote an Examen Juris feudalis, by Way of Question and Answer. His account of the original of the Consuetudines...
7511Friday June 20th. (Adams Papers)
I must not say so much about my self, nor so much about Hollis and Thayer by Name. I may declaim against Strife, and a litigious Spirit, and about the dirty Dablers in the Law. I have a very good Regard for Lt. White, but he must allow me to have a much greater Veneration for the Law. To see the Forms and Processes of Law and Justice thus prostituted, (I must say prostituted) to revenge an...
7512From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 24 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your No 33. has pleased me much and I beg you to continue your observations on the cavilling and chicanery of the quarterly review. I grow more and more every day in love with Stuart and the Scottish school. I have had read to me three volumes of Browns lectures on Metaphysics and ethics and I recommend them to your careful perusal as well as to your brothers. They are a rich mine and mass of...
7513From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Friesland has at last taken the Provincial Resolution to acknowledge the Independence, of which United America is in full Possession. It is thought that several Cities of Holland will soon follow their Example, and some say it will be followed forthwith by the whole Republick. The first Burgomaster of this City has said within a few days past, that in six Weeks at furthest, the Independence of...
7514From John Adams to David Perry, 29 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have not been less surprised than delighted with an address from one hundred and thirty Students of Williams College presented to me by the President of the Senate pro tempore Mr Sedgwick. So large a number in so recent an Institution, as it shows the flourishing circumstances of our Country at present, affords a most pleasing prospect of young Citizens, in a course of Education, for the...
7515From John Adams to Noah Worcester, 6 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of the 23d of January and I thank you for the Pamphlets enclosed with it. It is very true, as my excellent Friend Mr Norton has informed you that I have read many of your Publications with pleasure. I have also read, almost all the days of my life, the solemn Reasonings and pathetic Declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon, of St Pierre and many others against War,...
7516June 11th. 1761. (Adams Papers)
I have been for a Week or fortnight engaged in a Project. Have remarkably succeeded hitherto. Mr. Niles approved in all Things. Major Crosbey approved in all Things. Deacon Palmer approved in all Things. They have given under their Hands a very full and handsome Character and Recommendation of my Brother—much more ample than I expected. They have really Spoken in Hyperbole. They have expressed...
7517From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 11 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Our country is in a high fever. So in all Europe—so are the four quarters of the globe. Who first contracted, or first generated the disease? Montreal was no sooner surrendered in 1759 than the conqueror of Canada was discarded from the English Cabinet—a simple maniac ascended the throne, and a machivilian maniac who had been his preceptor became his prime minister. The design was conceived of...
7518[March 1761] (Adams Papers)
Mem. To enquire of Tufts, Gould, Whitmarsh, Hunts, Whites, &c. about their Method of mending High Ways by a Rate. And to enquire at Worcester, whenever I shall get there of Chanlers, Putnam, Willard, Paine, Swan &c. about their Method. They mended their Ways by a Rate, I am sure. Saml. Clark, Jo. Field, Eb. Newcomb Danl. Nash, the Mirmidons of Thayer. Luke Lambard, Ben Hayden, Saml. Clark &c....
7519John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 18 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I Received yesterday your kind Letter of the 13 th and Return you and yours the Compliments of the Season and Thanks of your Congratulations on the Probability of a Cartain Election the felicities or infelicities of what Events however are Hidden from our Vew by that impenetrable Veil which Covers Futurity the Prospect at Present is not very bright a Country Impotent at Sea tho Powerful at...
7520From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 20 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted my Account to the Board of Treasury, according to their Directions together with my Vouchers, and have desired that these last may be delivered to you after the Board should have done with them. I must beg the favour of you to receive them and transmit them to me by a safe Hand. I see that Congress have allowed to their Commissioners, one half of what they voted in the...
7521From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 10 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received and will communicate to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, your Prospect of exterminating the Small Pox. I have read this History of the Kine Pox with pleasure. Your Zeal and Industry to give these Experiments fair play in America deserve the thanks of all the Friends of science and Humanity. To disarm the Small Pox of its contagion is an enterprize worthy of a Hercules...
7522From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 6 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favours of the 3d. and 5th. with their Inclosures all in good order. I have but one Copy of the Treaty of Alliance, otherwise I would send you one with Pleasure. I am of your opinion that no Propositions should be yet made to the States General, as a Body, but Hints and Ideas may be suggested to Individuals, in order to prepare Mens Minds by familiarizing them with Such...
7523From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters of the 29th & one of the 30th of July are before me. I know not who are meant by G & C in Capt. Perrys letter, but I think there ought to be some enquiry into the justice of his insinuations.—I fear that the offices & crew of the Gen. Green were too long on Shore at the Havanna, & there caught the infection, which has obliged him to leave his station, & bury so many The news...
7524Sunday Morning [13 or 20] July 1760. (Adams Papers)
The week before last Salome Pope appeared before Coll. Quincy, to confess herself with Child, by Jos. Ryford. Her Intention was to complain against Jos. Ryford and charge him before the Justice with being the father of the Bastard Child with which she is now pregnant. Now what Occasion for taking her Examination upon Oath?—By the Province Law. Here a line is drawn across the page in the MS and...
7525John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your charming Letters of April 10 and 22d were brought me, Yesterday. That of 22d is upon Business. Mr. Hill is paid I hope. I will honour your Bill if you draw. But be cautious—dont trust Money to any Body. You will never have any to lose or to spare. Your Children will want more than you and I shall have for them. The Letter of the 10 I read over and over without End—and ardently long to be...
7526From John Adams to United States Senate, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Thomas Truxton of Pensylvania and Samuel John Elbert of Georgia to be Midshipmen in the Navy of the United States DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
7527From John Adams to Rev. Horace Holly, 22 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have rarely, if ever, read a Letter with more Pleasure than yours of July the 3d. you could not have fallen into Families more interesting to me than those of Carrol Jefferson and Madison.— I have always regretted that constant Employment and Res anguste domi, have limited my travels in North America to Mount–Vernon.— Mr Jefferson re t grets his misfortune in the loss of an opportunity to...
7528From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 1 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, June 12, 1781, wrote to Congress: “The States of Holland and Westfriesland are adjourned to the 27th. In their last session they consented to the augmentation of 17686 land forces, according to the plan which the council of state, in concert with the statholder, had formed on the 18th of April, and which had been carried on the 19th of the same month to the assembly of the states of...
7529From John Adams to United States Senate, 20 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I nominate John Marshall Secretary of State to be a Chief Justice of the United States in the place of John Jay who has declined his appointment DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
7530From John Adams to Joseph Willard, 21 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to communicate the inclosed Letter and Memorial to the American Accademy of Arts and Sciences at their ensuing meeting. Perhaps it may not be proper for me to give any Opinion on the subject, or to have any Agency in the Business but I saw nothing wrong in presenting the Papers to you which I do with pleasure as it gives me an Opportunity of repeating the Assurances of my Respect...