1To John Adams from François D’Ivernois, 30 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Lord Lansdown ayant satisfait mon impatience en me confiant votre defense of the American Constitutions ; j’ai commencé cet ouvrage avec un plaisir et une attention, qui (dans le cas ou il y aurait une 2 de edition) me feraient desirer d’avoir avec l’auteur un entretien sur la suisse en general et sur Geneve en particulier. En attendant cet honneur, j’ai celui Monsieur de vous envoyer un petit...
2From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Last night, I received the Card your Lordship did me the Honour to write me Yesterday, inclosing a Petition, to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury, from John Hales, relative to Sixteen Chinese Seamen who are alledged to have informed M r. Hales that they came from India in the Hyder or Hydrea Captain Clark belonging to the United States of America, to Ostend...
3From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
D r White has been So obliging to me, as to take with him to America, two Volumes, one for your Excellency and one for the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, of a Production of mine, Suggested by the late popular Phrensy in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It contains my Confession of political Faith, and if it is Heresy, I shall I Suppose be cast out of Communion. But it is the only...
4From John Adams to Benjamin Hichborn, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received with pleasure your obliging Letter of the 24 of october and am much affected with the disagreable State of things in the Massachusetts— It is indeed news to me that there is any such fixed determination as you mention in the minds of men of greatest Influence. Perhaps I am not a proper confident of those Gentlemen, As to my comeing home it is not possible for me to come home...
To His Excellency, Sidi Hadg Jaher Ben Abdelhack Fennish, in the service of His Majesty the Emperor of Morocco— We have received, with high satisfaction the Letter, which Your Excellency, by the Command of His Majesty the Emperor of Morocco did us the honor to write Us, on the 1 st. day of the blessed month Ramaden 1200 and transmitted to us by the Honourable Thomas Barclay Esquire, who was...
6The American Commissioners to John Jay, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of transmitting to Congress, Copies of the Commission and Instructions, which in pursuance of the Authority delegated to Us, were given to M r Barclay, to conduct a negotiation with Algiers Morocco. M r Barclay has conducted that Business to a happy Conclusion, and has brought with him Testimonials of his prudent Conduct, from the Emperor of Morocco and his Minister, So clear...
7To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have read over most part of your book with no less satisfaction than pleasure and gained much information. In conversation the other day you advanced a doctrine which appears to me new & extraordinary. neither are the consequences so evident as to prevent me thinking otherwise and that facts make against the Idea. attention to stile would ruin America. The practice of all ages has been...
8From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 26 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your Directions, I do myself the honor to inclose to you, a List of all the Draughts of money, which have been made by me, whether on a public or private account since the first day of August 1785. Sometime ago, I transmitted to M r. Barclay according to the Resolutions of Congress, all my Accounts up to that Day, —after the Examination he made a settlement of them and...
9The American Commissioners’ Provisional Ratification of the Moroccan-American Treaty, [1–25 January 1787] (Adams Papers)
Now know Ye that We the said John Adams & Thomas Jefferson Ministers Plenipotentiary aforesaid do approve & conclude the said Treaty and every Article and Clause therein contained, reserving the same nevertheless to the United States in Congress assembled for their final Ratification. In testimony whereof we have signed the same with our Names and Seals, at the Places of our respective...
10From John Adams to John Jay, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday, in your Ministerial Capacity as well as mine, my ulltimate Determination to revisit my Country, this time twelve months.— I now write you this private Letter to intreat you as a Friend, to promote in every Way in your Power, an Arrangement as early as possible, by which I may be permitted to return, with Decorum.— It is not from a desire to stimulate any Body to vote for...
11From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters of December 20. and Jan. 11. by Coll Franks.— The whole of the Business shall be dispatched, and Coll Franks Sent to Congress as you propose, as soon as possible. I have prepared a Draught of a joint Letter to M r Barclay, and Signed it, concerning M r Lamb, and shall inclose it to you with this. As to the Treaty with Portugal, the Chevalier De Pinto’s Courier whom...
12The American Commissioners to Thomas Barclay, 25 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
We have transmitted to M r. Lamb a Resolution of Congress vacating his Commission & Instructions & we had long before written to him, that we had no further service for him in Europe, and advising him to embark by the first oppertunity for America & lay his accounts before Congress— But by his Letter of october the 10 th. to M r. Jefferson dated Alicant he say’s “he is not able to take passage...
13From John Adams to the Marquis of Carmarthen, 24 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I took the first Opportunity of transmitting to Congress, the Letter which your Lordship did me the Honour to write me on the Eleventh of December last: and as I wished it might be considered, by Congress and by the States of South Carolina and Georgia in the Same light as if it had been presented to Congress by a British Minister Plenipotentiary, I transmitted it without any Remarks of mine....
14From John Adams to John Jay, 24 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I must beg the Indulgence of Congress, while I Sollicit their Attention, for a few moments to Some Particulars which are very interesting to me personally and have Some relation to the foreign Affairs of the United States.— It is now, in the Beginning of the tenth Year Since I embarked first for Europe in Obedience to the Commands of the United States. The various Services to which they have...
15To John Adams from Benjamin Hitchborn, 16 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Some weeks Since I took the freedom to communicate to you a few of my political Conjectures —since which every circumstance has concured to establish my Opinion; our State Concerns will at a Crisis in seven days— The Insurgents have threatend to assemble on Tuesday day at Worcester to prevent the sitting of the Common pleas to be held thereby adjournment on that day— the Governor & Council...
16From John Adams to Richard Cranch, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
D r Tufts will give you a Strange Book. I know not whether, the Sentiments of it, will be approved, by the Men of Sense and Letters in America.— if they are, they will make themselves popular in time. if they are not, our Countrymen have many Miseries yet to go through. if the System attempted to be defended in those Letters, is not the System of the Wisest Men among Us, I shall tremble for...
17From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of the 5 th. of this month is just now brought to me, & I beg leave to reciprocate to you & your amiable family all your obliging wishes— the latest accounts from the massachusetts assure us of a returning tranquility, altho the spirit of sedition in the County of Worcester was not wholly suppressed— I have no doubt it will all soon subside. With equal surprize & satisfaction I...
18To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
M r. Jay, in his last letter to me, observes that they hear nothing further of the treaty with Portugal. I have taken the liberty of telling him that I will write to you on the subject, & that he may expect to hear from you on it by the present conveyance. the Chevalier del Pinto being at London, I presume he has, or can inform you why it is delayed on their part. I will thank you also for the...
19From John Adams to John Jay, 9 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am unable to give you any Account, of the Reasons, which have prevented the Treaty with Morocco from reaching London. But it has not yet made its Appearance. The Tripoline Ambassador, Sent me a polite Message and desired a Conference. it was agreed to, and his Excellency was pleased to inform me, that he had received repeated Letters to return home, and Should depart in a few Weeks. desired...
20From John Adams to James Warren, 9 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received, Your Favour of October the 22 d. and am Sorry to find you so true a Prophet.— Yet I am happy to perceive that Government arrouses itself with some degree of Dignity, and is likely to prevail.— It is apparent however that Discontents, and a restless Temper, have taken a deep root and will require much Prudence as well as firmness, to guard against their Tendency.— When We find...
21To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 7 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
The most of my leasure hours since I have resided on the Hill at Milton have been devoted to my pen. Yet I have never adventured to lay any of the productions before the public Eye. But I have such full confidence in your judgment & Friendship that I now submit to you Either to dispose of to the best advantage or to return by some safe hand a Dramatic Work Composed about two years since, &...
22To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 5 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Expected to write to You By c ll franks, But as His departure Has Been daily differed, I will not delay Any longer My Hearty Wishes of an Happy New year to You, mr̃s Adams, mr̃s Smith, Your Sons, the Adoptive one I will write to By in Bye— May this New Year Afford You, and Your Worthy family and friends Every kind of Public and Personal Satisfaction! Had I Been less Acquainted With the forms...
23To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 5 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor to receive in due time Your Excellency’s ever respected Favor of advising us to pay in Specie the Premiums of CPl ƒ60,000:—:—, drawn last October at the Charge of the United-States. We shall immediately publish the same, together with the Payment of the Interest due 1 st proximo on the Loan of Two Millions: Which will we trust have the good effect upon the Credit of America...
24To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
Col o. Franks will have the honor of delivering you the treaty with the emperor of Marocco, & all it’s appendages. you will perceive by mr̃ Barclay’s letters that it is not necessary that any body should go back to Marocco to exchange ratifications. he sais however that it will be necessary that Fennish receive some testimony that we approve the treaty: and as, by the acts of Congress, our...
25From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 18 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment the honor of your Letter the 12 th. of Dec r. I am not able to say what orders Congress may give about the farther disposition of the remaining part of the 80.000 Dollars but I am of your opinion that the Treasury board directed the payment of the premiums in new Bonds from an apprehension they should not be able to provide timely for the february interest, I know of no...
26To John Adams from Thomas Pownall, 18 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have often wished, since I came here into the Country, to fancy I could find a time when I might suppose you at leisure & Liberty having a few daies that you might pass in the Country. Christmass is a kind of Saturnalia when, for a week or ten daies, nothing but eating drinking & gambolling about is done in London I wish to seize this interval to claim a kind of promise You made me to come &...
27To John Adams from James Sullivan, 16 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have neglected writing to you perhaps more than I Should have done had I not supposed that your Numerous correspondents had become a burden to you. indeed our Country has afforded but little lately to write upon. I have been here seventeen days on a mission to settle by a way of Compromise with the State of N York a Controversy between our Commonwealth and them respecting the Western...
28To John Adams from John Jeffries, 15 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
Encouraged by the high opinion I entertain of your personal character, and persuaded, that in the important publick one, which you now hold, you will be actuated as much for the justice & honour, as you are by your wishes to promote any other interests of America in general Permit me Sir, to address you in that honourable publick character, & claim your Excellency’s attention to the following...
29To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 13 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
A croud of thanks to You for the pleasure and instruction I have received from your defence of the american constitutions. I have as yet read it but three times, because I wish to forget it a little before I read it a fourth; but I find that impossible: I shall therefore only wait till you give us the augmentation promised. Let me intreat You for the sake of mankind in general and the united...
30To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 12 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
We are honored by your Excellency’s respected Favor of 1 st. Ins t: with an Enclosure from the Board of Treasury of the United-States, whereof we transmit a Copy for Your Excellency’s Perusal and Government. In directing the Payment of the Premiums f 60,000:—:— to be effected in new Bonds, the Commissioners appear to have been apprehensive, they should not be able to provide timely for the...
31To John Adams from the Marquis of Carmarthen, 11 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
You will be pleased to recollect that, in the Month of May 1783, M r. Hartley communicated to You, and the other Plenipotentiaries then residing at Paris, pursuant to the Instructions he had received, a Memorial from the Merchants trading to South Carolina and Georgia, representing their just Claims to an Indemnification for Debts due to them from the Creek and Cherokee Indians, for the...
32To John Adams from John Wingrove, 6 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
Agreeable to the kind intimation You was pleased to do me the Honor of making the last time I was with You, has induced my taking the liberty of troubleing you to acquaint that I am on the eve of my Departure to the East Indies, and God knowes I hope to be of some usefulness to the United States in that Country—if sincerity of Attachment to them can have any influence over the People I am...
33From John Adams to François Adriaan van der Kemp, 1 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter, and am much concerned to perceive your Apprehensions that Affairs might take an unfavourable Turn. The Questions you do me the Honour to propose to me, are very difficult to Answer. I have ever been Scrupulous of advising Strangers to emigrate to America. There are difficulties to be encountered in every Exchange of Country. Arising from the Climate soil, Air,...
34From John Adams to John Jay, 30 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the fourth of october, I have had the Honour to receive, and have dispatched the Resolution inclosed in it to Paris to go from thence to Spain: but I hope M r Lamb is already on his Passage for America. The Commotions in New England, will terminate in additional Strength to Government, and therefore they do not allarm me I have lately received from Lord Carmarthen officially the...
35From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
By D r Gibbon a young Gentleman of Philadelphia whom I beg Leave introduce to you, I have the Honour to send you a few more Copies of the Prussian Treaty: and to inclose in this, a Resolution of Congress of september 26. annulling M r Lambs Commission & Instructions. M r Jay desires me to transmit it to him, and although I hope M r Lamb is on his Passage to New York or already arrived there,...
36From John Adams to Rufus King, 29 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
The tumultuous Conduct of many People in New England which is mentioned in your obliging Letter of the 3 d of October, does not I hope arise from any Competitions for the Government. If the People who wish for Hancock, or those who prefer Bowdoin, those who vote for Sullivan—or such as desire Langden, are Capable of exciting such kinds of Discontent, and Convulsions in order to keep out—or to...
37Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 15 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I came here a few days ago to deliver a Letter from the Emperor of Morocco to the King, which I put into the Hands of the Count de Florida Blanca, acknowledging the Sense I had of his Attention & thanking him with great sincerity on the Part he had taken in our business at Morocco, He seemed very much pleased with our Success, and smiling replyed “Now that we have happily finished this Treaty...
38To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 14 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Rec t. of your Favor, which I should have answered sooner, had any Thing within the Compass of my Knowledge occurred, of sufficient Consequence to inform you of.— The present Secretary for foreign Affairs, I have no Doubt, keeps you well informed of all the political Occurances here.— But in a Government, where expedients only keep up its Existence; it is impossible...
39Thomas 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...
40To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
My last to you was dated 4 th: Ult: since which I have been honored with yours of the 15 th. July last, which was immediately communicated to Congress.— My Report on the Answer of the british Minister to your Memorial respecting our frontier Posts is under the Consideration of Congress. Your Ideas and mine on those Subjects very nearly correspond, and I sincerely wish that you may be enabled...
41To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
accept my thanks for your Letter mentioning the Marriage of your Daughter, and my cordial Congratulations on that pleasing Event.— they who best know the Col l: speake of him as brave and honorable; and Strangers to the Lady draw the most favorable Inferences from her Parentage, and from the attention and Example of a Mother whose charater is very estimable. I sincerely wish my dear Friend...
42To John Adams from the Board of Treasury, 31 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of the 19 th May last, you were pleased to inform us that you had already accepted Bills which had been drawn on you to a considerable amount by M r. Barclay and Lamb, in consequence of the appropriation which had been made by Congress for forming Treaties with the Barbary Powers; but as we have no advice from you since that date, we are at a loss to know whether the whole or...
43To John Adams from François Adriaan van der Kemp, 31 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
L’accueil, dont vous m’avez honorés pendant votre Sejour dans cette Republique et les marqúes d’estime et d’amitie, avec lesquelles vous m’aves daigné de favoriser, m’ont animé, d’interrompre vos occupations Serieuses, et d’implorer en vous les secours d’un ami, qui je hesiterai de vous communique en qualite d’Ambassadeur, n’etant point accoutumé, de faire la cour aux gens en place, et ne...
44From John Adams to John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
When the Ratification of Congress, of their Treaty with the King of Prussia, arrived here, the Term limited for the Exchange of it was near expiring. as a few Members of the States general, had discovered Uneasiness at my coming to London without going to the Hague to take Leave, it Seemed a convenient Opportunity to go over and Shew them as much of the Respect they required as remained in my...
45To John Adams from Edward Augustus Holyoke, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose Your Excellency a Vote of the Massachusetts medical Society; by which You will percieve the grateful Sense they entertain of your Excellency s. Favours: and, in Compliance with their agreable Injunction, to return You the Thanks of the Society, for the fresh Instance of your Excellency s. Attention to their Interests, in forwarding the Extract from the Register of...
46To John Adams from John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Rev d. Doctor Provost is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter together with other Dispatches which he will deliver to you.— This Gentleman being elected by the Convention of episcopal Congregations in this State, and having the most express Recommendations from that Body, as well as from a general Convention lately held at Wilmington, is going over to be consecrated a Bishop.—...
47To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
I formerly had the honour of mentioning to you the measures I had taken to have our commerce with this country put on a better footing; & you know the circumstances which had occasioned the articles of whale oil & tobacco to be first brought forward. latterly we got the committee, which had been established for this purpose, to take up the other articles, & on their report the king & council...
48To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honor to acquaint Your Excellency, that agreeable to the Conditions of the Loan of Two Millions raised for the United-States, the Second Drawing of Premiums was effected the 25 th: Instant to the Amount of Sixty Thousand Guilders; Which it is at the Option of the United-States, to pay in New Bonds the 1 st: February 1787 or in Specie Six Months after the Drawing. The first drawing...
49To John Adams from Benjamin Hichborn, 24 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have long intended to write you, but the fear of giving you more trouble than Information, has hitherto prevented me— the present critical Situation of public Affairs, & the probable issue of them, so different from what is conceived by most of our Polititians, have at length overcome every other Consideration & I have now taken my Pen to communicate a Sentiment which I must entreat of you,...
50To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Sept. the 11 th. came to hand in due time & since that I have recieved the copies of the Prussian treaty you were so kind as to send me. I have recieved a short letter from m r. Barclay dated Cadiz Sep t. 25 th. only announcing his arrival there & that he should proceed immediately to Madrid. At this latter place he would meet my letter informing him that we did not propose any...