1[Novanglus Papers, 1774–1775] (Adams Papers)
Upon our Return to Massachusetts, I found myself elected by the Town of Braintree into the provincial Congress, and attended that Service as long as it sat. About this time, Drapers Paper in Boston swarmed with Writers, and among an immense quantity of meaner productions appeared a Writer under the Signature of Massachusettensis, suspected but never that I knew ascertained to be written by two...
2John Adams, List of Private Papers, Deeds, and Other Vouchers of Estate, 20 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
List of the private Papers—Deeds and other Vouchers of Estate, left by John Adams, late of Quincy, at his Decease 4. July 1826. Wills. (Copies.) of Joseph Adams Senior 18. July 1694. Joseph Adams. 23 July 1731 John Adams (with Probate) 10. July 1761. Inventory of the Estate of said John Adams. Deeds. Joseph Adams to John Adams. 6. April 1731. 1. Piece of Land—8. Acres. in Braintree—for £30 2....
3John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you for M r: Oldschool a letter commencing the review of a new publication of M r: Gentz— You will perhaps enquire, why I begin upon this before I have finished the examination of the Etat de la France — The reason is that this last book was lent to me; that the owner called upon me to return it and that I have been unable to procure me a copy of it either in this town or at the...
4Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have lived to see the close of the third year of our seperation. This is a Melancholy Anniversary to me; and many tender Scenes arise in my Mind upon the recollecttion. I feel unable to sustain even the Idea, that it will be half that period e’er we meet again. Life is too short to have the dearest of its enjoyments curtaild. The Social feelings grow Callous by disuse and lose that pliancy...
5From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 24 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
You will imagine that the place from which I now write you has been thus named by us; but so it was not—We found the names already settled—Ealing is a parish in the immediate neighbourhood of Brentford, that “town of mud”—immortalized in the Poetry of Pope and Swift; and the house in which we reside has been thus named by its proprietor, in honour of a kinsman of his, one Lord Boston, who has...
6Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 7 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you from Cadiz the 2 nd: of last month, a Copy of which goes under the cover of this and the original, with the papers mentioned therein, will I hope be very soon deliver’d to you by Colonel Franks.— On my arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving M r. Jefferson’s letter of the 26 Sep r. informing me that for the present any farther attempts to arrange matters with the Barbary...
The information in your last letter, of your return to your garden and your records has given me great pleasure. The records are very interesting, and your translation of them will be an honourable and a durable Monument to your Memory Your friend and my friend Mr Tyng has told you truely that I am “constantly employed” and may add, beyond my Strength of body or mind. Never in my whole life...
8From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss, who loves Us, will deliver You this. He will tell You every thing. Arbuthnot, Rodney and Walsingham are to be pitted against de la Motte Piquet, Guichen and Ternay in the West Indies. So that I hope, You will be pretty quiet. Prepare however to co-operate and rout them out of the Continent if possible. Above all let me beg of You to encourage Privateering. The French will be...
9Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
On 19 April the States General recognized the United States as independent and John Adams as its minister at The Hague. Four days later, to cement the relationship between the United States and a nation he hoped and expected would become an important trading partner, Adams presented a draft treaty of amity and commerce to their High Mightinesses. By 26 April the draft was translated into...
10Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
A private opportunity offering by way of Hamburgh to write to you, I eagerly embrace it, and hope it may reach you safely notwithstanding the various Chances it may run. your arrival at Berlin was made known to us from your Letters to the secretary of state of Nov’ br the 10th and 17 th . no private Letter has yet been received, nor the publick Letter which you mention having written from...