9401[April 19. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
April 19. 1778. Dined at home with Mr. Grand, our Banker, his Lady, his Niece and Ward Mademoiselle L’Abhard, his Sons, Mr. Austin, Mr. Chaumont and a great deal of other Company. Mr. Ferdinand Grand was a Protestant from Switzerland, who had a House in Paris and a small Country house near Us in Passi. Himself, his Lady, Niece and Sons composed as decent, modest and regular a Family as I ever...
9402From John Adams to William Ellery, 19 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 13 th , as I did that of march in due season— One wishes to be informed of all facts in which the public is interested: but the detail of Rhode Island manœuvres is distressing. The Senate yesterday passed a bill, which cutts off all communication with Rhode Island, if she chooses such a solitary selfish and unsocial system. The bill passed by a great majority,...
9403From John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 7 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of 24 th. May, by M r. Chew, and am very Sorry to hear of your ill Health, You must come to my remedy a Walk of four or five Miles every day; As we advance in Years Exercise becomes more and more necessary to us. The News from my son is very refreshing to us all. He Speaks warmly of your kindness to him at L’Orient. Rec’ d. at the same time your Letter of 26. May...
9404For the Port Folio., 27 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
In this Port Folio we have deposited some papers, illustrating the plan and criticising the execution of the celebrated "Lyceum" of La Harpe. We now present an extract of a literary letter from an ancient scholar, in our own country, and are delighted to discover, that men of learning and genius, at home and abroad, are unanimous in favour of a learned and virtuous Frenchman, who, disdaining...
9405[February 1759] (Adams Papers)
I intend a Journey to Worcester to morrow. How many observations shall I make on the People at West Town, and Worcester, and how many new Ideas, Hints, Rules of Law, and Eloquence, shall I acquire before I return? Let my Journal answer this Question, after my Return. At Westtown, in Dr. Webbs Chamber at Hammonds. His landlady is an odd Woman. She seems good Natured, and obliging to o , but she...
940614 [i.e. 15]. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
A lovely Day. Soft vernal Showers. Exercise invigorates, and enlivens all the Faculties of Body and of mind. It arouses our Animal Spirits, it disperses Melancholy. It spreads a gladness and Satisfaction over our minds and qualifies us for every Sort of Buisiness, and every Sort of Pleasure.
9407From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
We were very happy to have the definitive Treaty signed, altho’ We could obtain no Improvement Amendment or Alteration. The English had got so bewitched again, & began to appear to obtain such strange hopes, from the proceedings of the Army & the difference of Sentiments between Congress & some of the States, & discovered such an Inclination to sign with France & Spain without Us, that We were...
940812. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Mitchel, Mr. Luzac, Dr. Waterhouse, Mr. Thaxter and my two Sons supped with me at the Cour de Holland.
9409From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 14 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 7th. instant. If I agree with you that human knowledge ceases, where Metaphysics commence I must acknowledge that I am indebted to Metaphysics for the knowledge of this Truth after reading Lock and Malbranche Clark & Leibnitz Berckley & Hume, Condilac & Baxter Stuart & Brown have produced a pretty clear conviction of it—Your propensity to writing perhaps...
9410[Thursday June 15. 1776.] (Adams Papers)
Thursday June 15. 1776. Congress having proceeded to the Election of a Committee to form the Board of War and Ordinance, the following Members were chosen Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Wilson and Mr. E. Rutledge. Richard Peters Esqr. was elected Secretary of the said Board. From this time, We find in Almost every days Journal References of various Business to the Board of War,...
9411From John Adams to New York Legislature, 31 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received In a Letter written at your request by his Excellency John Jay the Governor of the State of New York, your unanimous Address. If an Address of So much Dignity, and Wisdom Authority could have received any Addition from the Channell of Conveyance, you have chosen that which is nearest to my heart, in his Excellency John Jay the Governor of the State of New York, of whose Purity...
9412Decr. 26th. 1765 Thursday. (Adams Papers)
At Home by the Fireside viewing with Pleasure, the falling Snow and the Prospect of a large one. The gallant Struggle in America, is founded in Principles so indisputable, in the moral Law, in the revealed Law of God, in the true Constitution of great Britain, and in the most apparent Welfare of the Nation as well as the People in America, that I must confess it rejoices my very Soul. For you...
94131760 May 31th. Saturday (Adams Papers)
Read in naval Trade and Commerce, concerning Factors, Consuls, Embassadors, &c., and the South Sea Company, &c. Went into Water. Talked with Wm. Veasey about Church &c. He will not allow that Dr. Mayhew has any uncommon Parts. He had haughty Spirits, and Vanity &c.—How the Judgment is darkened and perverted by Party Passions! Drank Tea with Zab. Ran over the past Passages of my Life. Little...
9414John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Novr. 12 is before me. I wish I could write you every day, more than once, for although I have a Number of Friends, and many Relations who are very dear to me, yet all the Friendship I have for others is far unequal to that which warms my Heart for you. The most agreable Time that I spend here is in writing to you, and conversing with you when I am alone. But the Calls of Friendship...
9415From John Adams to Joseph Bradley Varnum, 9 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
The following comments were written, within a few days after the appearance in public of this Text “The Proclamation of the King of Great Britain requiring the return of his Subjects, the Seamen especially, from foreign Countries, to aid, in this hour of peculiar danger, in defence of their own. But it being an acknowledged Principle that every Nation has a right to the Service of its Subjects...
9416From John Adams to Granville Sharp, 8 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I took the first opportunity to send your Present of Books to my friend the Marquis de la Fayette and have this Morning received the inclosed Letter for you from that Nobleman. Let me avail myself of this opportunity of presenting my thanks, for your obliging present of Books to me. you have merited the respect and Esteem of all Men amongst whom Liberty and Humanity are not disregarded by your...
9417From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Sam Freeman of Falmouth, in favor of Mr. Joseph Titcomb, but although Mr. Freeman is a very respectable man, & I doubt not Mr. Titcomb is so too, I still am of opinion in favor of Col Hunnewell for the office of Surveyor, for reasons mentioned in a former letter I am with sincere esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
9418[1780 January 17. Monday.] (Adams Papers)
1780 January 17. Monday. We dined with the two Messieurs Gardoqui, and a Nephew of theirs. The American Captains Babson, Lovat and Wickes dined with Us. I spoke to Mr. Gardoqui in behalf of Fifteen American Seamen, who had been Prisoners in Portugal, and he consented to furnish them Cloaths. I assured him that although I had no express and possitive Authority to interfere, I had no doubt that...
9419From John Adams to Charles B. Cochran, 11 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your favor of the 9th of Dec. I thank you for the expressions of your good opinion and have the pleasure to inform you that I had some time ago appointed you to be marshall. Your commission I hope has reached your hand before this day. I am Sir with / much esteem / your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
94205 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Dreamed away the afternoon.
9421From John Adams to John Taylor, 22 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
In my Apology, if you like that Word better than “Defence” I passed over England for more reasons than One. I very well knew, that there had been no nation that had produced so many materials for the illustration of my System and confirmation of my Principles as that in which I wrote. There was antiently no People, but Serfs; no House of Commons. The Struggles between Kings, Barrons and...
94221770. August. 9th. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
I received from Mr. Gill an Intimation, that a Letter from me would not be disagreable to you, and have been emboldened, by that Means, to run the Venture of giving you this Trouble. I have read with much Admiration, Mrs. Maccaulays History of England &c. It is formed upon the Plan, which I have ever wished to see adopted by Historians. It is calculated to strip off the Gilding and false...
9423[February? 1776.] (Adams Papers)
3. Jer. 12. Go proclaim these Words towards the North. Return thou backsliding Israel and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful and will not be angry forever. On 17 Feb. Congress “ Resolved , That a committee of three be chosen to prepare instructions for the committee appointed to go to Canada”; and the members chosen were JA , Wythe, and Sherman ( JCC Worthington C....
9424From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 22 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
You are examining me upon Interrogatories. I must tell you the Truth and nothing but the Truth. But to tell you the whole Truth is impossible. It would require more Volumes than I can calculate. I am as in capable of composing or Writing them as I am of commanding the Sun to Stand Still. I can only note a few broken Hints. In 1765 the Colonies were more unanimous than they ever have been...
9425Sept. 10. (Adams Papers)
Took with me to N.Y. 51 dollars and 5s. 8d. Pen. Currency in Change. An isolated entry in D/JA/25; an identical entry appears in D/JA/27 and is the last in that booklet. This is the only allusion in JA ’s Diary to his journey from Philadelphia to Staten Island and back, in company with Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge, a committee appointed by Congress on 6 Sept. to confer with Admiral...
9426To John Adams from Nathanael Greene, 7 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 27th of April I am to acknowledge. I cannot concur with you in Sentiment because the Enimy did not go to Philadelphia last December that they had no intention then or since of going there. I am of opinion if the Enemy could have got over the Delaware immediately after our Army crosd it, it would have been agreeable to their wishes. Had they effected it before the Junction of our...
9427From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 17 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
With high spirits I received the hand writing and the journal of the 1st. of this Month. I opened gay hopes before me for the Winter I rejoice in the recovery of you health, and to hear of the good health of you all— Mr. Adams, his Lady and Son appear to enjoy a serene and patient tranquility under the pelting of this pitiless Storm of political hail the thunder is not loud, and the Lightning...
9428John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have had an Escape again: but are arrived safely in Spain. As the Frigate will probably not get from this place these two Months, I must go by Land to Paris, which I suppose is a Journey of between three and four hundred Leagues. That part of it, which is in Spain is very mountainous. No Post—bad Roads—bad Taverns and very dear. We must ride Mules, Horses not being to be had. I must get...
94291765. Decr. 30th. Monday. (Adams Papers)
We are now concluding the Year 1765, tomorrow is the last day, of a Year in which America has shewn such Magnanimity and Spirit, as never before appeared, in any Country for such a Tract of Country. And Wednesday will open upon Us a new Year 1766, which I hope will procure Us, innumerable Testimonies from Europe in our favour and Applause, and which we all hope will produce the greatest and...
9430From John Adams to John Jay, 17 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
It has been the general Sense of our Country, Since the Peace, that it was their Duty and their Interest, to be impartial between the Powers of Europe, and observe a Neutrality in their Wars. This Principle is a wise one, upon the Supposition that those Powers will be impartial to Us, and permit Us to remain at Peace. but it is natural for England And France to be jealous of our Neutrality,...