MS not found. Printed from facsimile in WSS ’s hand in Magazine of American History, with Notes and Queries , [1879], 3:44–45; addressed: “His Excellency John Adams, &c., &c., &c., corner Brooks Street, Grosvenor Square.” The signatures were written in a circle and attached on a separate foldout page. The address was provided only in the Magazine article’s text. Published as “A Diplomatic...
2To John Adams from Richard Peters, 10 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
I should be wanting in those Evidences of my very sincere Respect & Esteem for you which I shall ever be happy in shewing, if I did not take the Oppertunity your Election to the honourable & respectable Station you now fill affords me of joining my Congratulations with those of the great Numbers of our Fellow Citizens who are gratified by your Appointment. I very truly wish you every...
3To John Adams from Richard Peters, 28 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Until I met with your Letter to Day I could not conceive I had been so remiss as not before this Time to have acknowledged the Favour of it. It lay in Town for some Days & I was mortified at not receiving it soon enough to pay the wished for Attention to M r Beal who left the Letter at a Friend’s House in the City & tho’ I made every Enquiry after that Gentleman I had not the Pleasure of...
4To John Adams from Richard Peters, 15 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 5 th. instant I thank you for your kind & polite Offers of Hospitality. Experience has convinced me of your Friendship on this Head— I find from the Reflexions occasioned by the just Observations in your Letter that I have expected too much & am therefore not entitled to the Right of complaining under Dissappointment. Tho’ placed in a new Situation, we are the...
5To John Adams from Richard Peters, 8 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
From motives of humanity towards the objects of the act of Congress entitled “An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt,” I have, under several disagreeable circumstances, endeavored to carry that law into effect; but I find it deficient in many essential provisions. It is doubtful whether the district judge is vested with judicial powers, or those of a bankrupt commissioner. It...
6To John Adams from Richard Peters, 6 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Understanding that the Judiciary Bill is likely to pass the Senate as it came up from the House of Representatives I beg to mention to you, without any formal Application in any official Capacity, the 25th. Section of that Law. It is in the Opinion of every legal Character here a most flagrant Violation of the Constitution; & must have been overlooked in this Point of View by the Gentlemen who...
7To John Adams from Richard Peters, 25 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 12th. roused all my Sympathies & recollections of the pleasures & pains of “ olden times ”. Little do the present generation know of our anxieties, labours, & vicissitudes. What was then feeling , has now become history ; & that distorted in many instances, & almost fabulous in others. The actors in the scenes which originated & ensured the present prosperity of this...