8601From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 25 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th & thank you for the information & opinion you give me respecting a dock yard which will be considered with all others upon the same subject in due time.—I thank you too for your letter, on a name for our Country. I have never thought much on this subject, & believe it had better be in silence for the present. Americans is a very comprehensive word, & has...
8602From John Adams to Christopher Gadsden, 16 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 11th. of March and, with a pleasure far exceeding all my powers of Expression perceive that your friendly Sentiments for me are as kind and indulgent as they were six and twenty years ago. I read with the Same Satisfaction your publication last fall, and with a tenderness which was almost too much for my Sensibility. While Wythe and Pendleton and McKean and...
8603From John Adams to Unknown, 31 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr John Adams, to whom the printed Paper herewith enclosed, is directed, certifies that he has the Honour to be a Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces, of the Low Countries, and as a public Minister of a Sovereign State, intituled to an Exemption from the Payment of Such Duties. Certified at Amsterdam the...
8604To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 28 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I do myself the Honour to introduce to your Excellency Mr William Cheever, a Citizen of Boston who proposes to Spend Sometime in France and will be very much obliged to you for your good Councils. Any Civilities you may shew him, will be so many obligations, conferred on, Sir your most obedient and respectfull humble Servant Notation: John Adams Decr. 28....
8605From John Adams to United States Senate, 16 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate the following Persons to be Commissioners under an Act of Congress passed in the present session to provide for the valuation of Lands and Houses and for the Enumeration of Slaves. Those Gentlemen whose Names have Asterisks before them are intended for first Commissioners New Hampshire* 1st Division. Nathaniel Gilman... Exeter 2d Do. Joseph Badger Junr... Gilmantown 3d Do. Joshua...
8606John Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 1 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
* * * * * * I have several letters from your mother, who, I thank God, appears to be in good health. Mr. Josiah Quincy is now in this town, and is bound to Savannah in Georgia; whether after the example of his father as a mere traveller to acquire information, or whether with some share of the spirit of his grandfather in pursuit of speculation, I know not. This young man is a rare instance of...
8607John Adams to Abigail Smith, 8 May 1764 (Adams Papers)
This Morning received yours by Mr. Ayers. I can say nothing to the Contents at present, being obliged to employ all my Time in preparing for Braintree. I write only to thank you, and let you know I come home Tomorrow.—But when I shall see Diana, is uncertain. In the Warfare between Inclination and Prudence, I believe Prudence must prevail, especially as that Virtue will in this Case be...
8608From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have read all the Dispatches inclosed in your favour of Aug 26 and have now time only to thank you and Col. McHenry for your Vigilant Attention and judicious Execution of all the Business relative to them. Your Letter to the Chevalier de Yrujo dated the 8 of August I have read with some Attention. The quotations and References I presume to be exact, and the Fact of his Intimacy with Blount,...
8609From John Adams to John Hancock, 28 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Hartley, his Britannic Majesty’s Minister Plenipotentiary for negociating the definitive Treaty, has requested of me in the Name of the Prince Carominico, the Neapolitan Ambassador at the Court of S t. James’s, Letters of Introduction for his Cousin Il Comte di Vermé, who is going to visit America. He will be happy in an Opportunity to see so illustrious an American as the Governor of...
861011 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
A pleasant day . The first Day of Court. Nature and Truth or rather Truth and right are invariably the same in all Times and in all Places. And Reason, pure unbiassed Reason perceives them alike in all Times and in all Places. But Passion, Prejudice, Interest, Custom and Fancy are infinitely precarious. If therefore we suffer our Understandings to be blinded or perverted by any of these, the...
8611From John Adams to James McHenry, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of 23 of this month relative to Col. Smith’s Letter: your letter of this 26th relative to appointments for Major Tousard: Your letter of this date. I shall omit appointing any officer in the Artillery at present excepting Mr: Robins Chamberlain. Your Letter also of this date inclosing a Petition from Robert Gilmore, Esqr: Chairman of the Committee, &ca. All these...
8612John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
A brave fellow from Boston Captn. Carr, gives me an Opportunity of writing one Line, to let you know that We are all very well thus far. Charles behaves quite as well as John, and lies in my Bosom a nights. Mr. Dana has been very sea sick but is now pretty well. We are now out of all Danger of the Romulus and Virginia, and I hope have little to fear, from the Ennemy. We have had one storm...
8613From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters From Judge Law of Connecticut & Capt Hinman recommending Capt Richard Law jun. to be a Capt in the navy & commander of the armed ship now building at Middleton or any other that shall be thought proper. You will of course put these letters on file & the name of the candidate on the list. I have / the honor to be Sir your most humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers,...
8614Sunday [22 December]. (Adams Papers)
At Home, with my family. Thinking.
8615Tuesday [27 May]. (Adams Papers)
At home. Read, in Naval Trade and Commerce.
8616From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 17 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
Have you read certain Strictures upon Painters and Paintings in the Newspapers? What do you think of them? I am pleased with his gratitude to Copeley, but I believe he was not perfect Master of Copeleys Merit. There is a Portrait of Justice Dana in his Robebands and Tie Wigg of a Barrister at Law, now no doubt in possesion of his Descendants. There is a full Length Portrait of Governor Adams,...
8617John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am often afraid you will think it hard that I dont write oftener to you. But it is really impossible. Could I follow the Inclinations of my Heart I should spend half my Time, in this most agreable and pleasing Employment: But Business presses me so close that I am necessitated to mortify my self. From 7 to ten in the Committees and from six to ten in the Evening in the same, and from 10 to...
8618From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 31 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your kind Inquiries concerning my health, in your favour of the 14th, I can inform you that I enjoy as good health as a Man in his fifteenth Lustre, can reasonably expect, except a little paralytic trembling in the hands, which does not much incommode me however in Writing. I have been engaged this Summer as you have in reading History. Voltaires Moeurs et Esprit des Nations and...
8619From John Adams to John Marshall, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 23d. My ideas are perfectly conformable to yours in your instructions to Mr. King, as you state them to me. The explanatory articles, if attainable, are preferable to any other mode. The next most eligible is the substitution of a sum in gross. That sum to be as small as can be agreed to or will be agreed to by the British government. But to agree to...
8620Adams’ Notes of Authorities: Essex Superior Court, Ipswich, June 1769 (Adams Papers)
Bac. 3. 599. Tit. Merchant. “Where a Policy is a perfect Cheat as where a Person, having certain Intelligence that a Ship is lost, insures so much, this shall not bind the Insurer.” Molloy. B. 2, c. 7, §5, bottom. “A Merchant having a doubtful Account of his Ship, insures her, without acquainting the Insurers of her danger; Chancery relieved against the Policy of this fraudulent Insurance.”...
8621From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
Accept my thanks for the comprehensive Syllabus, in your favour of Oct. 12. The Psalms of David, in Sublimity beauty, pathos and Originality, or in one Word, in poetry, are Superiour to all the Odes Hymns and Songs in any language. But I had rather read them in our prose translation, than in any version I have Seen. His Morality however, often Shocks me, like Tristram Shandy’s execrations....
8622From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 9 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have promised you, hints, of the heads of Mr Otis’s Oration, Argument Speech, call it which you please, again the Acts of Trade as Revennue Laws, and against Writts of Assistants as Tyrannical Instruments to carry them into Execution.— But I enter on the performance of my promise to you not without fear and trembling; because I am in the Situation of a Lady, Whom you know first as my Client,...
8623From John Adams to Joseph Ward, 14 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 2 n d is, like all your other letters, a cordial to me. I seem to be conversing with one of the ultimi Americanorum. Your sentiments and mine upon public faith and public credit are perfectly consonant and concordant. As long as old Tenor or new Tenor Land Bank Bills, Continental currency, or Bank Bills of any kind, are made the medium of trade and standard of value, there...
8624[The Case of Field v. Lambert, Continued, December 1758.]
(Adams Papers)
2 Horses—10th. of Octr. 1758. One Pound L.M. To answer J oseph F ield &c. in a Plea of Trespass, for that the said Luke Lambert , at Braintree aforesaid, on the 10th of last Octr. with Force and Arms entered the said Joseph’s Close there, and there and then with force and Arms drove away and rescued from the said Joseph Two Horses which the said Joseph had taken up in his Close aforesaid,...
8625From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 30 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 18th. It has been an invariable usage these twelve years, for the President to answer no letters of solicitation or recommendation to office, but with you in full confidence I will say that it is uncertain whether I shall appoint any consuls to France. Mr. Lee is represented to me as a jacobin, who was very busy in a late election, in the town of Roxbury on...
8626From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 11 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
On my first arrival at Paris I found my Colleagues engaged in Conferences with M r: Oswald. They had been before chiefly conducted by M r: Jay, M r: Franklin having been mostly confined for 3. m o. by a long & painful illness: At this time, however, he was so much better, altho’ still weak & lame, as to join us in most of the subsequent Conferences; and we were so constantly engaged, forenoon,...
8627From John Adams to Charles Lee, 19 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Congress have seen such a Necessity of an able Commander in Canada, as to destine you to that most arduous Service. I tremble for your Health, yet I hope the Campaign will rather promote it than otherwise. We want you att N. York. We want you at Cambridge. We want you in Virginia. But Canada seems of more Importance than any of those Places. And therefore you are sent there. I wish you as...
8628June 1756. 1 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Drank Tea at the Majors. The Reasoning of Mathematicians is founded on certain and infallible Principles. Every Word they Use, conveys a determinate Idea, and by accurate Definitions they excite the same Ideas in the mind of the Reader that were in the mind of the Writer. When they have defined the Terms they intend to make use of, they premise a few Axioms, or Self evident Principles, that...
8629From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 20 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have a great desire to read the olive branch of which you are the publisher and reputed author, I have in vain sought for it in Boston, it is not to be had there, will you do me the favour to send me the pamphlet, and the price, which shall be remitted you by— / your humble Servant PS send me all upon the subject. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
8630From John Adams to Louis André Pichon, 10 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 20th of April and in answer to the enquiry in it, I have the pleasure to inform you, that on the 16 of April I answered your former favor, acknowledging the receipt of it with the letter inclosed from my friend La Fayette. In this letter I inclosed an answer to that illustrious but unfortunate gentleman and requested the favor...
8631From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 18 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
In your favour of the 15th of November, you ask, in the Name of your eldest Son, the Liberty to take my Buste By Saturdays Mail I recd a Letter dated Philadelphia Decr. 6th. from Mr Joseph De la Plaine, a Gentleman whom I know not, who Says “A respectable Young Gentleman, Mr Morse, lately from London, Son of the Revd. Dr Morse is an excellent Artist I learn. I beg you to do me the honour of...
8632John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
In your Letter to D r Priestley of march 21. 1801 , you “tender him, the protection of those laws which were made for the wise and good, like him; and disclaim the legitimacy of that Libel on legislation , which, under the form of a Law, was for Sometime placed among them.” This Law, I presume was, the Alien Law, as it was called. As your name is Subscribed to that law, as Vice President, and...
8633From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 14 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I had a Letter from you. In the last I think you prophesied “Wonders in November.” I understood you to mean, a wonderful revolution in the sentiments of the people, and a restoration of the Federalists to the Government of the Nation. But the month of November is past, and there appears, notwithstanding all the terrors and horrors of the Embargo a wonderfull adherence...
8634From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of your letter of the 19th last night and have read the inclosures. Dr. Rushes letter gives me pleasure, because the number of dissappointed candidates is diminished by it by one. Mr. Sitgreaves letter is frank, candid and agreeable; but although this gentleman has merit and talents, held in high esteem by his country, as well as by me, I cannot help thinking that a few years...
8635From John Adams to Arnold Welles, 21 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honour to write me, on the fifth of this month and thank you for your obliging congratulation on the event of the votes of the Electors. as far as I am personally concerned in this Event it was not a subject of much congratulation: it was rather a mortification to me to see that in our first great Election, so great a portion of our Fellow Citizens had...
863626 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
At Colledge, a very rainy Day, as it has remained since yesterday-morning. By reason of my illness omitted Disputing from this question, generalia aestuum phaenomina solvuntur ab atractione solis et lunae. “The general phenomena of the tides are explained by the attraction of the sun and moon.” This “quaestio” had been one of the “Theses Physicae” disputed at commencement in 1746 and would be...
8637Monday [4 September]. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Evening at Dr. Peckers, with the Clubb. Mr. Otis introduced a Stranger, a Gentleman from Georgia, recommended to him by the late Speaker of the House in that Province. Otis indulged himself in all his Airs. Attacked the Aldermen, Inches and Pemberton, for not calling a Town meeting to consider the Letters of the Governor, General, Commodore, Commissioners, Collector, Comptroller &c.—...
8638Ap. 25. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Fair Weather again. My Time has been employed since I have been on board, in writing Answers to my Letters from Paris, Bourdeaux, Passy &c. and in assisting my Son to translate into English which he does in writing Ciceros first Phillippic against Cataline—which we have gone more than half thro. He is also translating into English the french Preface of the Abbey D’olivet, to his Translation of...
8639From John Adams to Joseph Priestley, 19 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I take an opportunity by part of my family bound to London, to remind you of a person who is taken once had an opportunity of knowing you personally, and to express my sympathy with you under your sufferings in the cause of Liberty. Inquisitions and Despotisms are not alone in persecuting Philosophers. The people themselves we see, are capable of persecuting a Priestly, as an other people...
Braintree 5 November 1760. Printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 1:167–168 . See above, JA to Jonathan Sewall, post 10 Sept. 1760 and note there. Printed : ( JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams
8641From John Adams to George Brinley, 19 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 16th. My letter to Col Daniel Putnam of the 5th. is at his and your disposal. You may publish any part of it, or the whole at your discretion. I wish the young Gentleman of the Age would undertake an analytical Investigation of the Constitution of the Army at Cambridge and of the detachment from it at Bunkers Hill and Breeds Hill on the 16 and 17th of June....
8642From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of October. 27. 1814. and that of 26 of November. I congratulate you on the harmony between you and your Colleagues, an inexpressible Felicity of which I have not always been so fortunate as to enjoy the Sweets. I congratulate you also on the Peace and the glorious moment in which the News of it arrived. The Raptures of Joy I leave the Newspapers to describe. It is...
8643From John Adams to United States Congress, 6 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of Congress, of the 21st of December last, I transmitted a copy of those resolutions by my Secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character, of their condolence in the late afflicting dispensation of Providence, and entreating her assent to the interment of...
8644John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have only Time to say, by Mr. Taylor, that I am not worse than I have been—that however, I think, the G eneral C our t might have sent somebody here, before now—and that it will not be many days before I shall sett off. I shall wait for the Completion of a few Things and then go—perhaps in a Week or ten days. RC ( Adams Papers ).
8645Wednesday Aug. [6 or 13] 1766. (Adams Papers)
Satt out from Mr. Bishops, oated, at Norwoods alias Martins, and reached Brother Cranches at 12 o Clock —dined and drank Tea, and then rode down to the Neck Gate, and then back thro the common and down to Beverly Ferry, then back thro the common and round the back Part of the Town Home. Then Walked round the other Side of the Town to Coll. Browns, who not being at Home, we returned. The Town...
8646John Adams to John Quincy Adams and Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 September 1794 (Adams Papers)
I once more wish you a prosperous Voyage an honourable Conduct and a happy Life. Remember your Characters as Men of Business as well as Men of Virtue, and always depend on the Affection and Friendship of your Father RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “My Sons”; internal address: “John Quincy and Thomas Boylston Adams”; endorsed by JQA : “My Father 14. Sept r: 1794. / Rec d: at Boston.” Tr ( Adams...
8647From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 21 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10th & 12th. I can only say that I wish you a pleasant voyage, & a happy fulfillment of your wishes and anticipations; I hope too that your Uncle, will find in you, an able, a faithful an attentive and industrious assistant in the arduous labours of his trying and distressing situation I am apprehensive however that you may be disappointed in your prospect of...
8648From John Adams to F. C. Schaeffer, 5 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Be pleased to accept my thanks for your polite and obliging letter—of the 30th December—and for the Report—to the Managers of the Society for the preventing of Pauperism in New York—by their Committee on Idleness and sources of employment— “Homo sum y ” a line of Menander translated by Terence which was echoed and resounded throughout the Vast extent of the Roman Theatre—with Reiterate’d and...
8649John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let this opportunity slip without sending you a Line, but the Gentleman waits and it can be but a Line. I have ordered you some Wine as you desired and a Present of some Tea and sugar—But cant tell you by what Vessell it will go. All Well. No Hopes of Peace, at least in my Mind. We must be taught to set an higher Value upon our Liberties before We shall obtain them. We are extreamly...
8650To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 25 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter Mr. Thomas Boylston, is one of the clearest and most solid Capitalists, that ever raised himself by private Commerce in North America. He seems to be desirous of assisting us, in introducing the knowledge and use of our white Sperma Cœti Oil, into France. His Judgment and Abilities to carry through whatever he undertakes may be depended on. Let me beg your Attention...