2681John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 12 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I know not whether you intend to serve in Congress again or not: but whether at Trenton, or Boston or Marblehead it would be very bad oecomony, in me, not to write, you, because I have ever found your Letters replete with Information and the most judicious Reflections. D r: Franklin is so bad with the Stone, that he has not been to Versailles nor Paris these twelve months; he has ventured to...
2682John Adams to James Lovell, 12 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to confess that your Letter of the 5. of July is unanswered. But my dear Sir, I have been So roughly handled by various Climates, Voyages Journeys, Scurveys and Fevers, and So tossed about from Post to Pillar, by the Business assigned me from time to time, and amidst all this, So overloaded with Business, that I have for Sometime past, been constrained to prefer Indolence and Ease...
2683Francis Dana to John Adams, 12 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
This day twelve months I arrived at Boston from Europe, and when I consider that I have never written to you since, I am almost ashamed to do it now; indeed I shou’d be quite so, if I did not recollect that you yourself have been guilty of the like omission towards me. Being persuaded that neither of us have waited for the ceremony of a first address from the other, before we renewed our...
2684John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We are assembled under our new Commissions, and have begun our Negotiations at least by announcing our Mission to most of the Courts through their Ministers at this. As We were not limited to any Place, it may be Supposed in America, that the first Question would have been, concerning the Feild of Battle. But, circumstanced as We were, this Could be no Question. D r F. was So bad with the...
2685John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Favour of 18 August with its Accompaniments. We are all well and very happy. I should have been very glad to have received M rs: Macaulay. if I had been in Braintree and am much surprized to learn that 60 to 25 makes a greater odds in lawful Wedlock than out of it. This celebrated literary Character professes political Principles so nearly like those which we profess that I...
2686John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 1 st. of June, has not, I fear been answered. I have indeed been very happy ever Since I received it. I live here, on a kind of Pens Hill. It is a Village, remarkable for the Residence of Dauguesseau, Boileau, Molliere and Helvetius, and for nothing else. I choose it merely for my Health, as my Constitution is not able to Sustain, the nauseous Air of a great City. Amsterdam...
2687John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. at present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. none of their more important...
2688Joseph Willard to John Adams, 14 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your obliging letter of September 8, which I received in November. I now take the first opportunity that has offered of making you a return. What you say of this University is very flattering to us; especially, as coming from so excellent a judge of the merits of literary Societies, and one who has had so good an opportunity of comparing the mode of education in this, with that...
2689John Adams to John Jay, 15 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I venture to address myself to you as Minister of foreign Affairs, because I Sincerely hope you have accepted that important Office. The Emperor of Morocco, Sent an Abassador last Winter to Holland to demand Materials for some Frigates, and as none of the great Maritime Powers, have the Courage or the Will to refuse Such Requisitions, obtained them. it now appeas probable, that they have been...
2690John Adams to William Knox, 15 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your kind Letter of the 7. and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. M r Jackson and M r Tracy will take all our Letters and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyance by Captain Young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards. It is hazardous...