1From John Adams to Henry Marchant, 2 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received your kind letter of Febry: 19, and I thank you for the handsome charge to the Jury in the Newspaper inclosed. With sincere pleasure I learn from you, that Rhode Island is become in heart as well as voice one of the family again. Nothing gives me so much satisfaction as the prospect of peace and harmony among ourselves. The accession of Vermont & Kentucky are in my...
2From John Adams to Hannah Adams, 10 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have this day received your obliging Letter of the twenty first of February, inclosing a Copy of a proposed Dedication. Your request of my permission to dedicate to me, the Second Edition of your View of Religion is very flattering to me: because, although I am ash to acknowledge I have never seen the Book, I know its reputation to be very respectable, not only in country but in Europe....
3From John Adams to Perez Morton, 10 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have received this day the letter you did me the honor to write on the 23 of Feb, with a Letter from Miss Hannah Adams. It has very oddly happened that I have never seen Miss Adams’s works, tho I frequently heard it mentioned in England with great respect and applause by Gentlemen of Letters, who had read it. Her request to me is the more flattering, because tho’ personally unknown, she is a...
4From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 15 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for yours of Feb. 27. You seem to threaten me with a Place in the Pages of some Tory Historian. If the Party “to a man supposed me the most energetic Plotter and intrepid Projector of all the Authors of the Revolution” I shall no doubt have it. The Papers signed Novanglus, and the Controversy with Brattle about the Independence of the Judges they could be no strangers to. Nor could...
5From John Adams to Charles Storer, 16 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
The letter to your Counsel at Boston, inclosed in yours of the fifth of March is gone on by the Post. Your reflections on the day of the date of your Letter are natural and just. It is a day that I have more reason to remember than any one of my Life. It is a day that has occasioned me more obloquy and slander, than any other, or all the other days I have beheld. It is a day that brought me...
6From John Adams to Samuel Allyne Otis, 28 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
I believe you may with propriety deliver to Mr Macpherson all his Papers except the Petition which was read in Senate, and a Copy of that if he desires it. I am Sir, with great regard / your most obedient OFH .
7From John Adams to John Trumbull, 31 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
The Secy. of the Treasury is so able and has done so well that I have Scarcely permitted myself to think very closely whether he could or could not have done better. I may venture however to Say to you, that I have always been of your Opinion, that a System a little bolder would have been more Safe: and that it would have been better to have begun at once with a small direct Tax, a pretty...
8From John Adams to Alexander Hamilton, 9 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honor to write me this morning and as the Secretary of State accidentally fell in before I had opportunity to answer it, we agreed to propose a meeting at his House at two o’Clock on Monday next. If that time and place are agreable to you, and the Secretary at War, they will be particularly so to me, who have the honor to be with great regard, Sir your...
9From John Adams to Alexander Hamilton, 25 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I do my self the honour to transmit to you my Accounts which remain unsettled, for the last two years and Eight months of my Administrations abroad in the service of the United States. I have left a Blank for my Salary. In my own opinion it is but Justice that it should be filled up with the sum of two thousand five hundred Pounds sterling a year, because this was the contract under which I...
10From John Adams to Tench Coxe, 19 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I am under obligations to you, for two kind Letters, in one of which was inclosed Observations on Lord Sheffield, made with So much Candour, Politeness, and Force as must command the Attention and Esteem of all Men. The Trouble you have taken to inform me of the two hundred Dollars paid to my Steward has my best Thanks. Unfortunately I am obliged to give you a little more trouble. The Bill for...
11From John Adams to Henry Knox, 19 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your kind Letter of the 10th of this month, and am happy to find that you are pleased with your situation at Bush Hill. I hope soon to hear of the Birth of a peaceable son of Mars, and that Mrs Knox is as well and in as good Spirits as you appear to be. The Paragraphs in the New York Papers I know nothing of: The Lyes in the New Haven one I never heard...
12From John Adams to Tench Coxe, 14 July 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the thirtieth of June, with a continued Bill of the Treasurers Set of exchange No. 1351 for five hundred Dollars in my favour bearing date the 4th. day of May 1791 and drawn on Benjamin Lincoln Esq Collector of Boston, and I thank you for the trouble you have taken in this Affair.—I shall certainly hold myself bound to indemnify the United States for any Injury...
13From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 July 1791 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, at Boston, I received your friendly Letter of July 17th. with great pleasure. I give full credit to your relation of the manner, in which your note was written and prefixed to the Philadelphia edition of Mr Paines pamphlet on the rights of Man: but the misconduct of the person, who committed this breach of your confidence, by making it publick, whatever were his intentions, has sown...
14From John Adams to John Lathrop, 1 August 1791 (Adams Papers)
With this, you will receive a Box of Books containing the Byzantine History in 28. Vols. and Muratori’s Collection in 29, which I pray you to present to the American Accademy of Arts and Sciences, and place in their Library, in behalf of / Sir your most obedient / and most humble Servant MBAt : American Academy of Arts and Letters Collection.
15From John Adams to Tench Coxe, 20 August 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have determined in all Events to remove my family into Philadelphia from Bush hill, on Account of the many Inconveniences We experienced last year in passing and repassing. I write this to beg the favour of you to give my Steward John Brisler, your Advice and Assistance in procuring a house in Town. As the time is short, I expect to be obliged to some disadvantage. But any house and any rent...
16From John Adams to Tench Coxe, 13 September 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of the 3d and pray you to accept of many Thanks for your obliging Attention to my Affairs. Although the Rent is very high, I am perfectly Satisfied that nothing better could have been done. The House I hope will be deemed Democratical enough, although the Rent is quite princely: rather too much for a simple Duke. Mrs Adams joins with me in presenting our best...
17From John Adams to Henry Knox, 13 September 1791 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favour of the 4th. and am much obliged by your Account of Affairs in this as well as in the Letter you wrote the Week before which I have also received. Mrs Adams joins me in friendly regards to Mrs Knox and yourself. We are very Sorry for any unpleasant Circumstances you have found at Bush Hill: and very happy that it happened to be in our Power to accommodate your...
18From John Adams to George Washington, 31 October 1791 (Adams Papers)
The Senate of the United States have received with the highest satisfaction the assurance of public prosperity contained in your Speech to both Houses: the multiplied blessings of providence have not escaped our notice or failed to excite our gratitude. The benefits which flow from a restoration of public and private confidence are conspicuous and important and the pleasure with which we...
19From John Adams to United States Congress, 7 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
The Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, The Chief Justice, the Secretary of State, The Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General respectfully report to the Congress of the United States of America. That pursuant to the Act intitled an Act making provision of the reduction of the public debt and in conformity to two resolutions agreed upon by them one on...
20From John Adams to Joseph Brown, Jr., 8 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
By what accident it happened I know not, but your kind letter of the 6th. of August never came to my hand till the 7th of this month of Novr. before which time the vacancy in the Office of Collector of the Port of Charleston was filled. But if even that event had not happened it is probable that no representation of mine concerning a Gentleman in your State, of whose character and...
21From John Adams to George Morgan, 20 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning, Receiv’d your kind letter of the 15 of May, from the hand of Mr: Cazinave, who arrived here from Bayonne a few days ago. Among the many mourners for Dr. Price, I believe myself to be one of the most sincere in America because my esteem and affection for him was the result not only of his writings, but of a personal knowledge of his many virtues and endearing social...
22From John Adams to Benjamin Vaughan, 20 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged to you for your kind letter by the Earl of Wycombe, a Nobleman who in his short visit to America, has acquired much esteem, and excited no regret but that his residence was no longer. Mr. Hammond too has been publickly received, and will be much respected in his public, and greatly esteemed in his private character. Your letters Sir would have allways given me pleasure;...
23From John Adams to Oliver Hart, 26 November 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have received from you an agreeable present of your Thanksgiving Sermon, and have read it with pleasure; The text I think was very appositely chosen; for every Balaam in the World, I think, unless a more abandoned deceiver of himself than the original prophet of that name must cry, “How shall I curse, when God has not cursed,” when he is called upon to prophecy evil concerning America....
24From John Adams to John Jay, 4 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
As the Week is approaching when you are to be expected at Philadelphia, I take this opportunity to present to you and your Lady the Compliments of the Season, and request the honour and pleasure of your Company at our House during your Visit to this City. We live in Arch Street at the Corner of fourth Street where your old bed is ready for you in as good a Chamber and much more conveniently...
25From John Adams to Anonymous, 19 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
At a time when all the Men of Letters in the World are or ought to be employed in researches after the Principles of Society, although my friends and my Ennemies, (for I must at length acknowledge that I have such) concur in forbidding me to publish any of my Speculations, I see no reason why you and I may not exchange a few Letters, upon these important Subjects. A Society can no more Subsist...
26From John Adams to Pseudonym: "The Recluse Man", 19 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post a sheet subscribed, “A Recluse Man” enclosed with another in Print, and have read both with feelings and reflections, some of which I should not choose to commit to paper. The printed one, I had read with much pleasure in its season, and felt myself obliged to the writer, altho’ I had no knowledge or suspicion of the Author. I have sometimes thought of collecting...
27From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 19 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I ought not to neglect an opportunity by Colo. Smith to assure you by a few lines, of the continuance of my regard. I received last Spring a Box of Books from you, for which I fear I have never before expressed my gratitude. The best apology, I have to make for this seeming negligence is continual ill health, in my own person & all my family. Your friend, my dear Mrs: Adams, is now dangerously...
28From John Adams to Joseph Priestley, 19 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I take an opportunity by part of my family bound to London, to remind you of a person who is taken once had an opportunity of knowing you personally, and to express my sympathy with you under your sufferings in the cause of Liberty. Inquisitions and Despotisms are not alone in persecuting Philosophers. The people themselves we see, are capable of persecuting a Priestly, as an other people...
29From John Adams to Henry Marchant, 3 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read with much pleasure your kind letter of the 20th: Ult; Your sympathy with me under the Case effusions of mallice and falshood ought to be converted into shame for your Country, which wanted virtue, sense and spirit to discountenance what will remain a lasting disgrace to America to the Press and to letters. A Brown, a Markoe, & a Finley, suffered to insult for a whole...
30From John Adams to Nathaniel Hazard, 10 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging favor of the 29th. of January would not have remained so long unanswered had not sickness in my family of a long continuance and distressing nature interrupted my inclination to acknowledge my obligations to you. The “Anticipation” which you observe to have retarded an “heavy attack”, I do not fully understand. Such is the constitution of the human mind, that nations and other...
31From John Adams to John Jay, 21 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
A difference of opinion having arisen among those of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, who are now in this City, respecting the construction of their authority under the Act making provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt, by which they are equally divided, your presence here towards settling the principle which is in question, in order to the future conduct of the business, has become...
32To John Adams from Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 5 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, from and after the third day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, the House of Representatives shall be composed of one hundred and twenty members, elected within the several States according to the following apportionment; that is to say: Within...
33From John Adams to Jan Willink, 30 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have duely received your Letter of the 5th. of July and thank you for your Care of my little Interest recommended to you in my Letter of the 30th of April last. I have Since received your friendly favour of the 29th. of December last and thank you for your Information concerning our American Affairs in holland. For my own Part, I wish that our money Negotiations might be continued in your...
34From John Adams to Tench Coxe, May 1792 (Adams Papers)
The first Thing I have to communicate to you, must be an Explanation of the Date of my Letter. The Legislature of Massachusetts, last Winter, upon a Petition of the North Parish in Braintree, Seperated it from the rest of the Town, erected it into a new one and gave it the name of Quincy. By this Measure you See they have deprived me of my Title of “Duke of Braintree,” and made it necessary...
35From John Adams to Rufus King, 11 October 1792 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged, Sir, by your kind Letter of the 30th of Septr, and for the important Intelligence contained in it There is Such a Complication of Tragedy Comedy and Farce, in all the Accounts from France that it is to me, to the last degree, disgusting to attend to them in detail. I read over the Accounts in general and then endeavour to divert my own Attention from y very Serious,...
36From John Adams to John Singleton Copley, 16 November 1792 (Adams Papers)
Your polite and obliging Favour of April the 10th I duely received at this Place and I pray you to accept of my best Thanks for your very elegant and acceptable Present of a Print of the Death of Lord Chatham, a Masterpiece of the Fine Arts which does as much honour to America which produced the Artist as it does to great Britain which produced the Statesman. Nor am I less Sensible of the...
37From John Adams to Lot Hall, 1 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Received of Lot Hall, Esq. A Packet Certified by the Electors of Vermont to contain a List of their Votes for President and Vice President of the United States Catalog--RAAB Collection.
38From John Adams to Joseph Willard, 1 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Mr Taylor one of the Senators from Virginia, as it contains Information which may become useful to the Agriculture of the Northern Parts of America I request the favour of you to communicate it to the American Accademy of Arts and Sciences. I am Sir with great / and Sincere Esteem, your most / obedient Servant MBAt : American Academy of Arts and Letters Collection.
39From John Adams to David Bull, 7 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I thought I had contracted with Mr. Frederick Bull to take my Horses & send them on to N York from your Stables where I expected to hear of their arrival in three or four days, and at an expense of four or five Dollars, or at most of seven or eight, for this was the amount of the conversation between him & Mr. Briesler who attended me. You may easily immagine, then, how much I was surprised,...
40From John Adams to Frederick Bull, 7 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I thought I had agreed with you at Hartford that you would take my Horses from r David Bulls and send them on to N. York where I expected to hear of thier arrival in three or four days, and at an expence of four or five dollars, or at the utmost of seven or eight for this was the amount of the conversation between you and Mr. Buisler who attended me. You may judge then how much I was surprized...
41From John Adams to James Hutchinson, 24 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honour to write me on the twenty Second of this month and I pray you to present to the American Philosophical Society established at Philadelphia for promoting Useful Knowledge, my Thanks for the honour they have done me, by my Election into that Body on the Eighteenth instant. My best acknowledgements are also due to you, Gentlemen for the polite and...
42From John Adams to John Singleton Copley, 27 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have it, at length, in my Power to inform you that I have received the two Copies of your admirable Picture of The Death of The Earl of Chatham. The Copy designed for the President of the United States I had the honour to deliver to him in Person, who requested me to make you his Compliments and present you his Thanks for your obliging Attention. Soon afterwards he desired me to transmit you...
43From John Adams to John Trumbull, 31 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
Are you acquainted with the natural History of Mother Careys Chickens ? I know not the Latin Name of these chattering Birds, having never consulted the Dictionaire D’Histoire naturelle, nor Buffon nor Tournefort for information concerning this important Subject: but as a Mariner I have had frequent Occasion to curse the rascally Species of Mischief makers. In the calmest Moments at Sea, they...
44From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 18 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of January 31, and thank you for your obliging Congratulations, as well as for the monthly Publication. Will you do me the favor of having my name Subscribed and the Magazine Sent to Quincy regularly as it comes out? I am no doubt obliged to Capt. Ingraham, and I Suppose also to Mr Barrel, my old Friend for the Compliment. The Time has been when such a feather...
45From John Adams to Jan Willink, 1 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 19th. of October 1792 informing me that my Number 1026 is entitled to the Premium of one Thousand Guilders. This Sum, together with the amount of all the Coupons inclosed I pray you to ship for me by the first good vessel for Boston, to the address of the Honorable Cotton Tufts Esqr of Weymouth near Boston, either in Spanish or Portugal Gold or in Spanish milled...
46From John Adams to John Sinclair, 2 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I received the letter you did me the honour to write me last summer, with your projects of a Natural History of Sheep, and a Survey of Scotland. You could not have made a wiser choice. The natural history of that animal, so useful to man, must be very useful as well as very curious: and a detail of particulars relative to your native country, must be interesting to all, but especially to the...
47From John Adams to Benjamin Russell, 10 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
Vice President United States to Benjamin Russel, Dr. L.s.d. To the Columbian Centinel, from March 10, 1793 to 1. Jany. 1794 two Setts 1-0-8 Received Payment, MHi : Adams Papers.
48From John Adams to John Trumbull, 10 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
Mr Adams’s regards to Mr Trumbull and asks the favour of his Company to Spend the Evening at Mr David Bulls. As Mr A. must go out in the Morning with the stage he cannot have any other opportunity of seeing Mr Trumbull and he should long regret the necessity of passing through Hartford without it. NjP : DeCoppet Collection.
49From John Adams to John Trumbull, 11 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to Mr. Frederick Bull for keeping a pair of Horses last fall and for storing a Chaise, Harness, Saddle and Bridle for me, through the winter. Inclosed are twenty Dollars, in a Bank Bill which I must beg the favour of you to apply to the payment of his demand. And will you be so good as to Subscribe The Vice President for the Hartford Paper, and get the Printer to address it to...
50From John Adams to John Trumbull, 18 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday night, Mr. John Quincy Adams my Son, and no doubt your friend, brought me from Boston your letter of the 25th. of Feb. returned by the Pact. from Philadelphia. I thank you Sir for your friendly congratulations, which with Some others contribute, not a little to animate me, under the dull Aspect of jolting journeys and tedious sessions which in my old Age would otherwise be rather...