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Results 8651-8700 of 184,264 sorted by author
86511760. Novr. 26th Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Night before Thanksgiving.—I have read a Multitude of Law Books—mastered but few. Wood. Coke. 2 Vols. Lillies Ab ridgmen t. 2 Vols. Salk eld’s Rep orts . Swinburne. Hawkins Pleas of the Crown. Fortescue. Fitzgibbons. Ten Volumes in folio I read, at Worcester, quite thro—besides Octavos and Lesser Volumes, and many others of all sizes that I consulted occasionally, without Reading in Course as...
Your Letter of the 16 th. I rec d only by the Post of last Wednesday.— I am really much affected at the obstinate Infatuation of So great a Part of the People of Rhode Island. It is inconceivable how men of common Sense can reconcile Such a Conduct to their Understandings men of common Honesty, to their Consciences; or men of human Feelings, to their Hearts. Do the Antis of Rhode Island expect...
I am, this Evening favoured with yours of the 18. In Answer to your Question, I ask another.— Where is the Sovereignty of the Nation lodged? Is it in the national Government, or in the State Governmen[ts?] Are there more Sovereignties than one? if there is more than one there are Eleven. if there are Eleven there is no general Government—for there cannot be eleven Sovereignties against one.—...
Paris, 14 July 1780. Dupl , both text and signature in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 181–183). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:857. In this letter, read by Congress on 26 Dec., John Adams included reports from The Hague of 9 July indicating that the...
I believe I told you in my last, that I had given you all in Lindseys Memoirs, that interested you. But I was mistaken. In Priestleys Letter to Lindsey Decr. 19. 1803, I find this Paragraph “With the Work I am now composing I go on much faster and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the Press; though I Shall...
J ohn L owell . Receipt. Wm. Wingate. Serjeant. Mr. Webster. P orter said S teel owed him. Sued him for 100 dollars. S. paid ½ of it, and was sued again for the other 50. S. said he was never paid for Hoops. P. said he cheated me out of 6 dollars in the 1st settlement of the 50 dollars, if there was some Hoops. S. then sued Porter, for the Hoops. Writ. S. vs. P. & C rocker for Hoops. Jona....
Knowing the immense weight of your cares, it gives me pain to interrupt you a moment. But when a young Scholar, Lawyer and amiable character asks an introduction from me I cannot refuse it. Such is George Ticknor Esqr on his travels in his own Country first, and in foreign Countries afterward. He is ranked here, with our Everett & Buckminster, choice spirits, as we think them. With great...
8658[Tuesday April 9th. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday April 9th. 1776. No Committee of the whole.
8659Aug. 7. (Adams Papers)
Arrived at the Adelphi Buildings and met my Wife and Daughter after a seperation of four Years and an half. Indeed after a Seperation of ten Years, excepting a few Visits. Set off the next Day for Paris. On this date the Diary of AA2 , so far as it is known (no MS has been found), begins. The first entry reads: “London, Aug. 7th, 1784. At 12, returned to our own apartments; when I entered, I...
86601760. Decr. 8. (Adams Papers)
Began Machiavells Machiavell The illegible word begins with “D” but is not “Discourses.” JA ’s lining out is careless; it is possible that he intended to leave “Began Machiavell” as the entry for this day.
I am seated, in a large Library Room, with Eight Gentlemen round about me, all engaged in Conversation. Amidst these Interruptions, how shall I make it out to write a Letter? The first day of October, the day appointed by the Charter of Pensilvania for the annual Election of Representatives, has passed away, and two Counties only have chosen Members, Bucks and Chester. The Assembly is...
your letter of July 23d. is as yet unanswered, I thank you for the communications. I now return you, your Grandfathers letter to J. S.—which I long to see in print, it is a masterly sumeary of the reasonings of the Whigs at the time it was written and worthy of the pen of your Grandfather, his hand writing, is as familiar to me as my own I have sent your Oration, to Mr Jefferson Madison and...
There has been a very general Apprehension, during the last Week that a general Action would happen, as on Yesterday. But We hear of none. Our Army is incamped between Newport and White-Clay Creek on advantageous Ground. The General has harrangued his Army and published in General orders, in order to prepare their Minds for something great, and has held up the Example of Starks, Harkemer,...
8664Monday May. 10. (Adams Papers)
This Morning the Wind at S.E. The Pilot came on board, the Alliance unmoored and set Sail, for L’orient. A gentle Breeze, fair Weather, and moderately warm. The I Lt. I have made by this War £120 of Prize Money, for which I got six Months Imprisonment, and spent the little that I had. This is all I have got by the War. The Sand Droguers and Chimney Sweepers in Boston have all turned Merchants...
8665[August 1784] (Adams Papers)
Sett off, for London, had a tedious Passage from Helvoet, of near two days. Obliged to put in at Leostoff Lowestoft , and ride from thence 24 miles in a Cart. JA ’s sudden decision to go to London himself and take his family directly to Paris without a pause of some weeks at The Hague, was prompted by the news of Jefferson’s arrival in Europe a month or so before JA expected him; see JA to AA...
I had last evening some Conversation with D. Joas Theolonico de Almeida the envoy extraordinary of Portugal who desired to meet me to day at any hour at his House or mine. I promised to visit him at twelve, which I did. He said he had heard that the French Minister had proposed to the Duke of Manchester, at Versailles, to reduce the Duties upon French Wines in England, to the level of those...
Yours of the 16th. I got Yesterday. If Howe imagines that one fourth of Pensilvania are Quakers, he is mistaken one half: for upon the most exact Inquiry, I find there is not more than one in Eight of that Denomination. If he imagines that 99 in 100 of these are his Friends, he is mistaken again. For I believe in my Conscience that a Majority of them are Friends to Nobody but themselves—And...
Exhibited such Scaenes as were new to me. We lost Sight of our Enemy it is true but We found our selves in the Gulph Stream, in the Midst of an epouvantable Orage, the Wind N.E. then N., and then North West. It would be fruitless to attempt a Description of what I saw, heard and felt, during these 3 days and nights. To describe the Ocean, the Waves, the Winds, the Ship, her Motions, Rollings,...
Limiting the Bounds of States which by Charter &c. extend to the South Sea. Sherman thinks the Bounds ought to be settled. A Majority of States have no Claim to the South Sea. Moves this Amendment, to be substituted in Place of this Clause and also instead of the 15th Article— No Lands to be seperated from any State, which are already settled, or become private Property. Chase denys that any...
I recd. in due time your favor of May 31st, I thank You for the settlement of the Account contained in it, the Ballance of which being 86f. 9s., I recieved of Messs. Fizeaux Grand & Co, and gave them two Receipts to serve for one, on the sixth of June last. With the Wine, I wish You to drink “Success to the three combined or concerted Fleets,” and consequently, “A glorious Peace.” LbC in John...
Your obliging Favour of the fifth Inst. I this Moment received, and give me Leave to assure you that no Letter I ever received, gave me greater Pleasure. In truth sir I have been under some Apprehensions, that a certain Passage, in a very unfortunate as well as inconsiderate Letter, might have made Some disagreable Impressions on your Mind: I was indeed relieved in some Degree by Accounts...
Yesterday your favour of 25 of April came to Hand, but my dear sir you flatter me too much when you tell me that the Part I have taken gives me a right to influence and direct. I claim no other Right than that of being heard and having what I have to say considered: but According to present Appearances, even this is not like to be conceded to me. Content, in Gods name, if Persons of greater...
I had, Yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 22d of January, and beg Leave to assure you, I shall pay all proper Attention to its Contents, by rendering to the Gentleman whom you recommend, every service in my Power. I had before been introduced, to that young Gentleman by his Father, for whom I have conceived a great deal of Esteem, and from what I saw of the son and from...
I know not how it has happened that I have not found time to write you Since my return to my long home. The angry North East Wind, which has prevailed with little Interruption has pinched my faculties, I believe. We have been all, pretty well. This is the Day of our Election of Governor Lt Gov r. & senators. The Democrats are very Sanguine and the others are not So. The former Say that M r...
8675Saturday. Feby. 16. (Adams Papers)
Have had a pensive day. The next entry in the present Diary booklet (D/JA/16), curiously, is dated 21 Nov. 1772; this is followed by 18 blank leaves and then by scattered entries from ca. 20 July 1771 , through 28 i.e. 27 Nov. 1772 .
For this excellent address, so respectful to the memory of my illustrious predecessor, which I receive from the Senate of the United States, at this time, and in this place, with peculiar satisfaction, I pray you to accept of my unfeigned acknowledgments.—With you I ardently hope, that permanence and stability will be communicated as well to the government itself, as to its beautiful and...
The Dr. handed me this morning Mr Websters address delivered at Bunker’s Hill, upon condition that I would give you a slight notice of it. Among other avocations I have only found time to draw up the enclosed which I have scarcely reviewed—Do as you please with it— Yrs &c— DLC : Peter Force Collection.
I have the honor to inclose a Copy of a Letter I yesterday recieved from Corunna. I communicate it to your Excellency in Confidence. The Writer is a particular Friend of your’s. He has so good an Heart, and is so amiable a Man, that I would not expose him to the Resentment of any of the Gentlemen, and therefore pray your Excellency to keep his Letter secret. Yet his Opinion deserves some...
I nominate The Hon Thomas Johnson Esqr of Frederick in Maryland to be Chief Judge James Marshall Esqr of Alexandria and William Cranch Esqr of the city of Washington to be Assistant Judges of the territory of Columbia Thomas Swan Esqr of Alexandria to be Attorney for the district. I also nominate the three judges and Attorney to be justices of the peace in both Counties of the district James M...
Amsterdam, 19 March 1782. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, IV, f. 25–60). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:246–265. LbC in both JA ’s and John Thaxter’s hands ( Adams Papers ). The Letterbook text is divided between two Letterbooks, Lb/JA/16 and Lb/JA/18...
8681[In Congress, May 1775] (Adams Papers)
Congress assembled and proceeded to Business, and the Members appeared to me to be of one Mind, and that mind after my own heart. I dreaded the danger of disunion and divisions among Us, and much more among the People. It appeared to me, that all Petitions, Remonstrances and Negotiations, for the future would be fruitless and only occasion a Loss of time and give Opportunity to the Ennemy to...
Say what you will, that Man is in a poor case who is reduced to the necessity of looking to Posterity for Justice or Charity; and he who is obliged to fly to Newgate and to Cobbet for consolation, is in a more forlorn Situation Still. Col. P. is entertaing and instructing the Public by a new series of addresses to the People, the fourth number of which I read in Dr Parks Repertory last night,...
86831778. Feb. 28. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Last Night and this Day We have enjoyed a fine easy Breeze. The Ship has had no Motion but directly forward. I slept as quietly and as soundly as in my own Bed at home. Dr. Noel gave me a Phial of Balsamum fioraventi, for an Inflammation in my Eyes, which seems to be very good for them. It is very much compounded. It is very subtle and penetrating. Pour a few Drops into the Palms of your...
Thanks for your favour of the 14th. You urge me to explain the secret of Hutchinsons conduct. I have explained in my letter of the 11th. It was fear of explanations before the people of the doctrine of Impressments You may have but another nail upon the head; and there had been before and were afterwards many such nails, but they are too frivolous to be remembered one only, excepted, before...
I have signed the commission for Saunders, to be a lieutenant in the Navy, & sent the letter to him inclosed in yours of 26 June to Mr Jones to be conveyed to him MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
8686March 9. 1783 Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Lorsqu’un homme entre dans la carriere des Arts, n’ayant pour guide et pour Appui que son Genie; lorsque L’Intrigue et la Charlatanerie, ces deux grandes Ressources des petits talens, lui sont etrangéres, il doit s’attendre á être long tems persecuté, méconnu, arrêté á chaque pas. Mais qu’il ne perde point courage; tous les Obstacles s’applanissent peu-a-peu devant lui; ses Ennemis se lassent...
I nominate Thomas Waring of South Carolina to be Naval Officer for the District of Charleston, in the place of William Hort who has declined his Appointment. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
8688[Tuesday October 1. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday October 1. 1776. Resolved that a Committee of four be appointed to confer with Brigadier General Mifflin. The Members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Sherman, Mr. J. Adams and Mr. Gerry. Resolved that a Committee of five be appointed to prepare and bring in a Plan of a military Accademy at the Army: The Members chosen Mr. Hooper, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Williams and Mr. J. Adams. On this...
I have this Moment folded up a Magazine, and an Evening Post and sent it off, by an Express, who could not wait for me to write a single Line. It always goes to my Heart, to send off a Packett of Pamphletts and News Papers, without a Letter, but it sometimes unavoidably happens, and I suppose you had rather receive a Pamphlet or News Paper, than nothing. The Disign of our Enemy, now seems to...
The Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, composed almost wholly of gentlemen who are practical farmers, and established for the sole purpose of collecting and diffusing useful information on this important subject among their fellow-citizens, are anxious that the community should derive every possible benefit from the Institution of which they have the...
There are mysterious Movements, of various kinds, that ought to be observed and reflected on, although we cannot draw any certain Conclusions from them. General Faucett, is often at the Levee, not indeed, on Wednesdays, nor at the Drawing Room on Thursdays, on which occasions the Foreign Ministers attend, but on Frydays, when there are no Strangers, and when only the Ministers of State, and...
Last night I had the Honour of your Favour of 26 of October and congratulate you on your Arrival at Bilbao and your agreable Prospect of a Passage to America. I thank you sir, for your kind Attention to my Son, and wish you to take him home with you. Mr. Guardoqui will be so good as to furnish Charles with Stores, and draw upon me. What can be done with the Continental Property I know not,...
8693[July 1771] (Adams Papers)
At Falmouth, at Mr. Jonathan Webbs, who has removed to an House very near the Court House. Last Fryday Morning, I mounted with Brother Bradbury and his Brother Bradbury, at York for Falmouth, went over the Sands but could not ford Cape Nettick, and so was obliged to go round over the Bridge, by the Mill. Dined at Littlefields in Wells, drank Tea and lodged at Aliens at Biddeford. Coll. Ting...
His Excellency John Jay, Esq. Governor of New York, has informed me, that the Oneida tribe of Indians have proposed to sell a part of their land to the said State, and that the Legislature, at their late session, authorized the purchase; and to accomplish this object, the Governor has desired that a commissioner may be appointed to hold a treaty with the Oneida tribe of Indians, at which the...
I wish I could know, whether your season is cold or warm, wet or dry, fruitfull or barren. Whether you had late Frosts. Whether those Frosts have hurt the Fruit, the Flax, the Corn or Vines, &c. We have a fine season here and a bright Prospect of Abundance. You will see by the inclosed Papers, in a Letter from my Friend Parsons, a very handsome Narration of one of the prettiest Exploits of...
I yesterday had the honour of your’s of the seventh. The letter inclosed is a bitter satire on the nation which produced it. Is it possible that Arnold should shew his Face among Men after such a Letter? If it is not a bribe it is robbery committed in the American Service: for it is well known, that Arnold had no such Sum when the War began. He is now employed in stealing Tobacco and Negroes—...
In one of your letters if I remember right, you expressed a desire to see my letters to Mr. Calkoen, the history of those letters is this. At a dinner with a large company I met with that learned, civilian who came to me and seated himself by my side and expressed an ardent curiosity to converse with me upon the subject of the American war he asked me many questions in French in which language...
86981778. March 3. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Our Wind continued brisk and fresh all the last Night, and this Morning. Our Course is about N.E. Showers in the Night and this Morning. The Flocks of Gulls, still pursuing Us. This Morning, Mr. Parison breakfasted with Us. Our Captn. in gay Spirits, chattering in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Greek, and boasting that he could speak some Words in every Language. He told Us he had...
The Proposition of a fresh Negotiation with France, in Consequence of Advances made by the French Government, has excited so general an Attention and so much Conversation, as to have given occasion to many manifestations of the public opinion from which it appears to me, that a new modification of the Embassy, will give more general Satisfaction to the Legislature and to the Nation and perhaps...
Your Address and Memorial to the President Senate and House of Representatives has been presented to me. The Veneration you profess of the Blessings of civil and religious Liberty, and your Attachment to your Country and its Government under which you enjoy Such inestimable Advantages, are Sentiments worthy of the best of Men. The Confidence and Satisfaction you express in the firm and upright...