1To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to introduce to you Captain Joseph Ingraham, who waits on you with a desire of stating his qualifications and pretensions to an appointment in the navy—Having been heretofore permitted to mention to you the name of this Gentleman, & his nautical reputation, I will only subjoin that I have the honor to be / with the greatest Respect / Sir, / Yr most obedt: Servt MHi :...
2To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 12 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter has been submitted to my perusal by my friend Mr Rutledge. Presuming it may be satisfactory to you to know that Genl Pinkney and the Federalists in So: Carolina adhered with honor to your interest, an I have taken the liberty to borrow it from him and send it to you, with a request that it maybe returned to my lodgings this afternoon as Mr R will have occasion to reply to...
3To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 21 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
The idea suggested by you last evening, that you may possibly think it expedient to appoint a Secretary of Legation to the embassy to Paris, induces me to say that if upon reflection such a measure should finally be adopted, and no person occurs to you as likely to accept the appointment whose experience and qualifications should not give him superior pretensions; I should be glad of it, if it...
4From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
The information you gave me in your favour of the fifth of this month; for which I kindly thank you, has given me great pleasure, as it affords me a hope of once more embracing my Son. I feel a curiosity to know, the “dissenting Voice”; because a Singular Vote, against a multitude, I am always inclined to consider as a violent presumption; both of Integrity, and Fortitude. As I never had the...
5From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 12 March instant—the contents of which are entirely satisfactory to me. Your memory is quite as particular as I could expect any gentleman of the company to retain except myself. I must confess I was very sore on the subject of my mission to France. I was attacked by two armies—a french army & an English army—each working warring upon me to conquer me...
6To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Upon perusing with more attention a letter from Judge Lowell which I had the honor to mention to you, it appears to me to be a duty not only to him but to the Executive, to communicate the letter itself under his hand, as it seems to contain not merely an expression of his wishes in relation to the office of Circuit Judge, but an eventual resignation of his office, which he relies upon me to...
7To John Adams from Harrison Gray Otis, 5 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have the satisfaction to inform you that John Quincy Adams Esq. was this morning nominated Secretary of State, and forthwith agreed to, in Senate, with only one dissenting vote—Mr Crawford continues in the Treasury and Gov Shelby is appointed Secy of War;—Mrs: Otis unites with me in respects to Mrs. Adams and yourself, and hope you have experienced no material inconvenience from the rigour...
8To 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...
9From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 17 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 12th. march instant—The contents of which are entirely satisfactory to me—Your memory is quite as particular as I could expect any Gentleman of the company to retain, except myself. I must confess I was very s ure on the subject of my mission to France I was attacked by two armies, a french army and an English army—each warring upon me to conquer me into...
10From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 4 April 1823 (Adams Papers)
Ridendo dicere verum quid vetat. Mr. Simon has given us a factitious sketch of the last years of the last Century, and the first years of the present—And why should not I add a few commentary’s, still ridendo, for I cannot review that tragicomico farce, grave as it was to me, without laughing—I was President a mere cipher, the Government was in the hands of an oligarchy consisting of a...