8641Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 5 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to You about the 17 or 18th. of last Month which suppose You have received. Yesterday People in Boston were openly inoculated for the Small Pox. The Business had been carried on in private for some Time amongst the Soldiery and others; the Selectmen represented the Impossibility of preventing its Spread any longer and leave was given by the general Assembly for Inoculation in...
8642Joseph Reed to John Adams, 7 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I should not have put you to the Expence of a Letter by the Post. But M r. Vanbibber a Gentleman of respectable Family & Fortune going over to Holland I could not resist the Temptation of renewing our friendly Intercourse which was suspended during the Winter. M r. De Berdt was so obliging as to communicate a Paragraph of his Letter respecting the Bills drawn by M r. Morris in the Fate of...
8643Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 10 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose for your perusal two of the latest letters received by me, from my Brother; although the last contains a conditional injunction, against the communication of it, to you, I am sure it will gratify your feelings, to discover the spirit, which dictated so much solicitude, on your account. That he should have felt all the anxiety, which he describes, both as it concerned the public &...
8644To John Adams from Asale Harris, 12 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
We Address our Selves to you As we are Natives of the United States of America their Bread & Born under our National Independence federal Constitution the Bill of Rights Sir we Humbley pertition to you to Consider our present Situation Being Impressed on Board of his Britannaic Majestys ship Sir as we have a Groing Navy of our own our Assistance is as Much wanted in our own Country Navy as...
8645To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 10 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your ever welcome & kind Letter of the 6th. Ultimo, did not reach me untill the 20th. since then my eyes has denied me the pleasure of acknowledeing it. What you quote as the precept of Confucius, does not apply in that Instance, to me, for I have always rec’d more gratification from you than I am able to return—and you are not able to estimate the value I put upon your kindness to judge how...
8646From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 30 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have had a severe Fit of the Gout which has confined me six Weeks; but is now going off, and I flatter myself that it has done me a great deal of Good. I have just received a Letter from Dr Ezra Stiles, of which the inclosed is an Extract. Please to communicate it to Mr Searle, and then give it to M. Dumas if you judge it...
8647To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 29th. ulto. enquiring about your son Thos. B. Adams at the Hague. On the day of the date of your letter I recd. one from him dated the 28th. of May, from which be pleased to receive the following extract, containing all the information I can give in answer to your enquiries, excepting that the latest letter from your eldest son is dated the 22d. of June...
8648To John Adams from B. de Cabarrus Jeune, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Jay reçu la Lettre que Vôtre Excélence m’a fait L’honneur de m’écrire Le 2 du courant. Je Suis bien Sensible, aux remerciements qu’elle à la bonté de me faire; elle à bien voullu avoir égard a mes disposition. Je me trouverai toujours trés heureux d’avoir des occasions à pouvoir Luy étre utille. Votre Excélence me demande un detail des differentes qualités de vins de cette province; nous en...
8649To John Adams from John Thaxter, 7 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The affair of surrounding the State House at Philadelphia terminated very differently from the expectations of our Enemies of all denominations— The Troops employed in this contemptuous daring Attack on the Civil Power have humbly solicited the forgiveness of Congress, while two of their Officers, the Ringleaders, have fled for safety to the Asylum of two of our choice Friends , D. & A.— They...
8650To John Adams from Tench Coxe, 8 July 1792 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter relative to the house, and have since confer’d with Mrs. Koppell on the Subject. She does not incline to take the lease off your hands, but is willing to let the house, if a satisfactory tenant shall offer, for a year after your time. If this can be effected the rent in the interum may be saved. I have therefore advised your Son by a note yesterday to put...
8651To John Adams from Jean Luzac, 22 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ the early part, I have taken in the struggles of America for the rights of Liberty and Mankind, would be a silent witness of my particular happiness at the present moment, when Your Excellency’s steady and prudent conduct in our Republic is crowned with the most glorious success, I should deem myself wanting in my duty, if I did not congratulate Your Excellency most sincerely in the...
8652To John Adams from Samuel B. Malcom, 24 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging favor of the 13th Instt I have had the honor to receive— By our public prints you will have observed that our Legislature had convened agreeably to the proclamation of the Governor— The first subject of consequence that has occupied their attention was the choice of a Senator, which became necessary from Mr. Norths refusal to continue longer in that capacity— Mr: Watson was...
8653Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 September 1775 (Adams Papers)
I set down with a heavy Heart to write to you. I have had no other since you left me. Woe follows Woe and one affliction treads upon the heal of an other. My distress for my own family having in some measure abated; tis excited anew upon the distress of my dear Mother. Her kindness brought her to see me every day when I was ill and our little Tommy. She has taken the disorder and lies so bad...
8654To John Adams from John Lathrop, 27 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your very obliging favour of the 4th I recieved, together with the late professor Luzac’s very learned and elegant Oration concerning citizen Socrates. As it is read with great pleasure by those members of the Academy who have had an opportunity to see it, we have a desire to know why that great man left the chair of Rector Magnificent, and whether he now sustains any relation to the...
8655To John Adams from John Jay, 3 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
My last to You was written the 2 d. Ult:— It acknowledged the Receipt of your Letters of 15. 17. 21. 25 & 27 th: October last—no others have since arrived. All those as well the Letters which accompanied your Draft of a Treaty with Britain, together with my Reports in favor of them and of that Draft are … under the Consideration of Congress, and as yet have produced no Instructions to you on...
8656To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 15 May 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd your favor Acknowledging the Receipt of Mine of the 24th of April, which seems to have been long while getting to you. I was sorry to hear of your Dissapointment in going in the Alliance, which some people here think woud be better Employed in convoying on the Coast of America the very important fleet now gone then any marading Scheme Whatever. I suppose you will Accompany the...
8657Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 8 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
You will hear by this Conveyance, itts probable that the small pox is likely to spread here chiefly by Innoculation As 4. or 500. I suppose are already received itt and people that have moved Out several times now tarry, Amongst which is Mrs. Edwards.—I am just agoing to set Out for Salem and am to meet Mr. Cranch and Mrs. Adams att Roxbury to settle About both families coming in and Cousin...
8658To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 6 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
As I believe there is no man in America who was more intimately acquainted with the late Capt John Paul Jones while he was in Europe than myself, I have thoughts of doing justice to the injured Character of that gallant Officer. There are two papers which would be of great use to my object, one of which is a letter written to you from Nantes by Capt Jones, stating the circumstances of an...
8659To John Adams from Barnabas Deane, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Boston. 10 February 1778. printed (virtually verbatim): JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 2:272 . Deane recommended his nephew Jesse, the only son of Silas Deane, to JA ’s care for the trip abroad. He cautioned against allowing the boy to associate “with the Common hands on board” lest he form bad...
8660To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Revd. Mr. Evens call to tender his services as a Chaplain to the troops now raising—In that Character he passed thro our long Contest with Great Britain to great acceptance. He joined my family during the seige of York town I not only became atteached to him as a friend, but as a Gentleman well qualified & disposed to discharge with fidelity the duties of his station. I think him now...
8661To John Adams from Oliver Whipple, 29 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Being in Portsmouth this day, I was credibly informed, that Mr. Nathaniel Folsom, was certainly recommended to your Excellency for the office of naval officer, in the Room of Mr. Russell deceased, by his Brother in Law Governor Gilman, altho’ I exceeding respect Governor Gilman, & value his Recommendations, yet Sr a Person who enjoys a high office from the Suffrages of the People, ought not to...
8662To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I plainly perceive that you are not to be converted, even by the eloquence of Massillon, to the Athanasian Creed—But when you recommend to me Carlostad and Scheffmacher; and Priestly, and Waterland, and Clark, and Beausobre—Mercy! Mercy! what can a blind man do to be saved by unitarianism; if he must read all this to understand his Bible? I went last Christmas day to Ealing church, and heard...
8663To John Adams from Rufus King, 3 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
You will undoubtedly hear much of the tumultuous and irregular conduct of a considerably numerous class of people in the western counties of massachusetts— the same temper which appears to have collected these illegal Assemblies in Massachusetts, has shewn itself in New Hampshire; but General Sullivan, who is now President of that State, by very proper and decisive Measures has put an End to...
8664Abigail Adams to John Adams, 8 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
I generally endeavour to write you once a week, if my Letters do not reach you, tis oweing to the neglect of the post. I generally get Letters from you once a week, but seldom in a fortnight after they are wrote. I am sorry to find that your Health fails. I should greatly rejoice to see you, I know of no earthly blessing which would make me happier, but I cannot wish it upon the terms of ill...
8665To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you so copiously, a few days since, that I can embrace the present opportunity only to offer the tribute of my duty and affection on the commencement of the new year, and to enclose a few papers and a review which may perhaps afford an hour of amusement. No news of importance has transpired since the date of my last Letter. The communication between the Continent and this island is at...
8666To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 12 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 9th february was receiv’d by me yesterday—It establishes beyond doubt that your memory at an age when that faculty fails in most men, is more vigorous than mine though I have not yet attained the age at which mental energy by the Constitution of New York is decreed to be ipso facto extinct— My recollection of what passed at the dinner referr’d to by you is too vague to enable...
8667To John Adams from Joshua Johnson, 30 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am this day honord with your polite favour of the 20 Idem covering two Letters one for the President of Congress and the other for Major Jackson, the first will go forward this day by the Sally Cap Worth for Rhode Island, the other shall be sent so soon as I can find out where Major Jackson is. You say there is no News but that of Commodore Gillon and that I must have heard off, this is...
8668Charles Adams to John Adams, 30 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
The effusions of our Jacobin spirit had been smothered if some evil minded person in Philadelphia had not published an extract of a letter from one of the party relating the circumstances The whole conduct of the feast had been carefully concealed nor was it possible to procure any information respecting it until the extract appeared. The partisans of M r Genet fall off daily. some still...
8669To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 18 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
J’ai le plaisir de pouvoir vous donner enfin de bonnes nouvelles de Mr. votre fils. Le billet suivant m’a été écrit avant hier matin par Mr. Visscher “J’ai vu une Lettre” Elle est de Mr. Van Der Borgh, Envoyé de cette rep. à Stockholm, à Mr. son frere ici. “de Stockholm du 31 e. Janv. dans laquelle je trouve les Lignes suivantes, qui peuvent interesser Mr. Adams:— Le jeune Adams est allé...
8670To John Adams from Thomas Cooper, 17 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
Being indicted for a supposed Libel in the circuit Court of the United States now sitting in Philadelphia, I find it necessary to apply for official Copies of the Papers of which I transmit an inclosed list. I applied yesterday afternoon to the Secretary of State, who has just now sent me word that they are not to be found in his Office. I beg therefore, that your Excellency would have the...