1To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with Your favour By Mr̃ Joy to Whom I Will Readily Render Every Service in My power, and am also to thank You for the Valuable Books You took the trouble to Collect for me—in the Cause of My Black Brethren I feel Myself Warmly interested, and Most decidedly Side, so far as Respects them, Against the White part of Mankind— Whatever Be the Complexion of the Enslaved, it does...
2To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 10 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
J’apprends dans l’instant par l’une de nos Gazettes Hollandoises que Votre Excellence est actuellement à la Haye; & je m’empresse de vous faire passer le renouvellement du respect & de la venération que j’ai toujours eus & invariablement fait éclater pour votre Personne & vos vertus. La confiance & l’amitié dont vous avez bien voulu m’honorer dans les tems de votre Residence dans ce Pays-ci,...
3To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on the 7 th: of last Month, and also on the 18 th: of this enclosing some Papers respecting an american Vessel seized at Barbadoes by a british Man of War. I have been honored with yours of 16 th. 25 th. and 28 th. May and 6 th. June last, which with the Papers accompanying them were immediately laid before Congress.— The Situation in which the Want of an adequate Representation...
4To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
While in the silent watches of the Last night I was Contemplating the Vicissitudes of Life, the Fickleness of Mankind & the Instability of human Friendships.— I determined to take up my pen in the morning & inquire if it was possible that M r Adams should never have directed one line to his frends at Milton since he held the Rank of Minister at the Court of Britain. I have been always...
5To 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...
6To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of July 31. was lately delivered me. the papers inform me you are at the Hague, and, incertain what stay you may make there, I send this by mr̃ Voss who is returning to London by the way of Amsterdam. I inclose you the last letters from mr̃ Barclay & mr̃ Carmichael, by which we may hope our peace with Marocco is signed, thanks to the good offices of a nation which is honest, if it...
7To John Adams from Thomas McKean, 1 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I do not write to you now as a Public Minister, tho’ I have a heartfelt pleasure in your being so, and at the very court where I long wished you to reside. The office of Chief Justice of this State now engages my principal attention; having quit the Congress in 1783. The affairs of our University, Philosophical & Agriculture Societies &c. employ my vacant time; and I enjoy a good state of...
8To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you in August last relative to the conduct of Captain Stanhope; and twice since on the subject of British Encroachments upon territory of the United States, adjoining the newly established Province of New Brunswick. I hope those Letters came to your hand. New complaints from our people in those parts have been received, particularly from the Inhabitants of Moose...
9To John Adams from Isaac Stephens, 15 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Sir. I take the Liberty to enclose a line to you as we receivd one from you, by the hand of M r. Lambe which came here to make peace for America & to redeam the Americans in slavery But not power to do either as the price was so high as six thousand Dollars for a Master and four ditto for a mate and fifteen hundred for sailors the King will not bate one six pence and will not have any thing to...
10To John Adams from Matthew Robinson-Morris, 27 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I sincerely want words to express my sense of the honor done me by your letter; which I shall preserve as a valuable remembrance in my favor: I esteem no qualities or circumstances of any private person equally with understanding and integrity nor respect any public character more than the Representative of thirteen free Governments or perhaps so much. I recollect on reading the favor of yours...
11To 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...
12To John Adams from Richard Henry Lee, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
My Presedential year being ended I had left New York for this place (from which and from my family I had been thirteen months absent) before the Letters which you did me the honor to write me on the twenty six of August, the six and seventh of September came to hand; which has preventd me from shewing the Civilities to M r Storer and M r Wingrove that I should otherwise have taken pleasure in...
13To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of the 11 th. instant I had the honour of inclosing you copies of letters relative to the Barbary affairs. others came to hand three days ago, of some of which I now send you copies, & of the others the originals. by these you will perceive that mr̃ Randall and mr̃ Lamb were at Madrid, that the latter means to return to Alicant & send on a courier to us. mr̃ Randall does not...
14To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 23 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have just been honored with your Excellency’s favor of 15 ult o. , & am extremely obliged to you for your discussions on the several topics therein mentioned. As to News-papers, I beg leave to transcribe for your perusal the conclusion of a paragraph, which Marquis de la Fayette, to contradict a false assertion in which he had been named, sent to several Gazeteers in various parts of Europe,...
15To John Adams from Charles Storer, 16 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wish you would finish your business in London & return home—We want you here more than a little— Every thing seems to be going wrong, and there is great reason to fear that we soon shall be in a state of anarchy & confusion— When Government has not energy eno: to enforce the laws, what is to be done? When our executive Officers have not power to suppress Mobs, Riots & armed associations,...
16To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 12 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
A few Days since, I rec d your Letter of the 13 th of Decr last, without either of the Arrets therein referred to. from the Cover of the Letter, which is inclosed for your Inspection, I suspect it has been opened, previously to my receiving it; if so, I should be well pleased to know who the person is that is so very curious as to loose his Sense of Honor in this Matter. When I left New York,...
17To John Adams from the Marquis of Carmarthen, 28 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to the Memorial You did me the Honour to deliver to me on the 8 th. Dec r: , I have to observe to You, Sir, that it is His Majesty’s fixed Determination, upon the present, as well as on every other Occasion, to act in perfect Conformity to the strictest Principles of Justice and good Faith. The Seventh Article both of the Provisional and of the Definitive Treaties between His Majesty...
18To 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...
19To 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 &...
20To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 27 th. of August, since which I have recieved yours of Sep. 11 th. — The letter to m r. Lamb therein inclosed I immediately signed & forwarded. In mine wherein I had the honor of proposing to you the mission of m r. Barclay to Algiers, I mentioned that my expectations from it were of a subordinate nature only. I very readily therefore recede from it in...
21To John Adams from Richard Price, 2 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been wishing to call upon you all this week, but the weather has been so discouraging as not to Suffer me to go much from home. I have communicated your request to the Gentlemen who manage the affairs of the meeting at Hackney. They agree with me in thinking the Society much honoured by your attendance; and they have directed me to inform you that, as the pew lately made is a permanent...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the papers I sometime ago sent you, relative to the encroachments made upon our Eastern boundary by our Neighbours of New Brunswick, I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency copies of other Letters & papers upon the same subject— By Mess rs. Smith & Bowles’s Deposition it appears, that the Province of New Brunswick is by its Charter bounded on the Western shore of...
25To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 5 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I return you my sincere thanks, Sir, for the petition from the City of Bristol in 1775, which I have found here on my return from Holland in the letter you did me the honor to write me the 29 th. of December. It will be of great service to prove, that the conduct of our Countrimen has been & is continually misrepresented. The petition, memorial, or address to the King, or some body else from...
26To John Adams from Rufus King, 1 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
Seven States only have been represented in congress since October, of consequence very few questions of national importance have been under the examination of this Assembly— The meetings of the Legislatures have probably detained many of the Delegates, but it is expected, that Ten States will, within a short period, be represented—There is some ground to expect that several of the Southern...
27To John Adams from James Warren, 30 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I was a few days ago honoured with your favour of the 12 th: of Dec r. I am much Obliged to you for your Attention to my Son & your favourable, if not partial opinion of the Merits of his Family. Winslow left Lisbon, & returned Home last fall: after a disagreable residence there for more than Twelve months, at a great Expence, fully convinced of the futility of Court promises, which his former...
28To John Adams from John Jay, 4 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter in which you mention M r Warren. Your opinion of that Gentleman, added to the Merits of his Family, cannot fail to operate powerfully in his Favor. I have communicated that Letter to M r King, an able & valuable Delegate from Massachusets; who I have Reason to think wishes well to you, and to all who like You, deserve well of their Country. our Friend Gerry...
29To 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, &...
30To John Adams from John Jebb, 20 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have been prevented from paying my respects to you hitherto by the feeble State I have been in for some time— I am now still further prevented by an operation on my leg.— but I cannot help referring you to a publication intitled observations on a late publication intituled Thoughts on executive Justice printed for Cadell in the Strand & Faulder in New-Bond street—which must please you— if...
31To John Adams from John Paul Jones, 10 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
On the other side is a Copy of a Letter I had the honor to write you by M r. Bingham the 7 th. of Feb y. last. As I have long expected to see D r. Bancroft here I was led to conclude that he would have been able to give me some satisfaction respecting the application to the Court of Denmark. I find however that he is not acquainted with the effect either of your correspondence to Denmark, or...
32To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 23 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have before ús Your Excell s. most Esteemed favour of the 13 h. Inst t. , and have taken Duely Notice of the Acceptances made by Yoúr Excell y. to Whom all honoúr Will be done by Mess s. Puller. We observe What yoúr Excell y. is pleased to Say aboút the Credit of £1000 St g. in favoúr of M r. Jefferson, of Which We made mention in Our last letter, Mess s. Van den Yver freres & C
33To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Our instructions relative to the Barbary states having required us to proceed by way of negotiation to obtain their peace, it became our duty to do this to the best of our power. whatever might be our private opinions, they were to be suppressed, and the line marked out to us, was to be followed. it has been so honestly, & zealously. it was therefore never material for us to consult together...
34To John Adams from the Board of Treasury, 7 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
We do ourselves the Honor of transmitting to you the Resolves of Congress of the 15 th. day of February last from which you will observe the Embarrassments under which the United States labor to Comply with their Foreign Engagements through the want of Exertions in the several States to pay in their Quotas of the Annual Requisitions.— The present State of the Treasury is in Consequence so...
35To John Adams from John Jay, 2 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I lately wrote you a few hasty Lines just as the vessel which carried them was departing; and enclosed a Pamphlet containing my Correspondence with a M r Littlepage, who was formerly in my Family. The attack which produced that Pamphlet, was not only countenanced but stimulated by some of the Subjects of our good allies here. It is no Secret either to You or me that I am no favorite with them:...
36To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 12 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
Autant nous avons été en peine de Vous savoir avec Madame en mer par la tempête qu’il faisoit, autant nous a réjoui la nouvelle de votre arrivée à Londres, laquelle écrite ici par Mr. De Lynde, me fut com̃uniquée en son temps par Mr. Fagel, avec qui j’eus occasion de m’entretenir de V. E. à l’hôtel de France, & qui m’a chargé de vous faire parvenir ses complimens. Mr. Jrujo, mon très cher ami,...
37To John Adams from Rufus King, 2 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
M r. Alsop of this city, whom you must recollect as a delegate from this State to congress in 1775 & 1776, and whose daughter I have lately married, requests me to ask your Opinion, “whether a Refugee, whose Estate has been confiscated here, and to an amount exceeding that of his Debts, can by the British laws, or the Treaty of peace between G. Britain & the united States of america, be...
38To John Adams from Paul R. Randall, 4 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I should have addressed your Excellency long e’er this, since my Arrival from Algiers —but being in Expectation of bringing on M r: Lamb’s Letters—was entirely without Suspicion of the many Impediments which retarded my Progress thus far. M r Lamb must undoubtedly have given your Excellencies the Reasons of sending me from thence—and however repugnant to my Inclinations, I must be necessitated...
39To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 16 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you the copy of a letter received from mr̃ Barclay dated Cadiz May 23. by which you will perceive he was still on this side the Mediterranean. has mr̃ Lamb written to you? I hear nothing from him nor of him, since mr̃ Carmichael’s information of his arrival in Spain. mr̃ Randall gave reason to expect that himself would come on. yet neither himself nor any letters from him arrive....
40To John Adams from Richard Cranch, 3 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Gen l Court met here last Wednesday being called together much sooner than was expected, on acc t. of the Disturbances that have taken place in several Counties by unlawfull Assemblies of armed-Men to stop the Courts of Justice. I herewith send you the News-Papers in which you will find a general account of the Proceedings in the Counties of Bristol, Hampshire, Worcester, and at Concord in...
41To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 7 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with yours of Jan. 19. mine of Jan. 12. had not I suppose at that time got to your hands as the receipt of it is unacknoleged. I shall be anxious till I receive your answer to it. I was perfectly satisfied, before I received your letter, that your opinion had been misunderstood or misrepresented in the case of the Chevalier de Mezieres. your letter however will enable me to say so...
42To John Adams from John Singleton Copley, 15 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the loan of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, they have afforded me much entertainment particularly those written by Governor Bowdoin on the structure of the Heavens, and on Light; I feel my-self happy that my Countrymen are inspired with a thirst after knowledge, and to see them emulating the Nations of Europe in the cultivation of the Arts and...
43To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 5 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honor to inclose Your Excellency, a Letter from the Honb̃le the Commissioners to the Board of Treasury of the United-States; Which came open to us, with a Resolve of Congress of 15 th. February last; Submitting them to your Consideration, We have to acquaint you the Board of Treasury has wrote to us in conformity.— Co-inciding fully with the Resolve of Congress & Opinion of the...
44To John Adams from Richard O’Bryen, 25 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
your letter by M r. Lamb I received and wrote you shortly Afterwards Informing you of the Unfortunate event of M r. Lambs Voyage to Algiers. the particulars long Ere to this you have known. M r. Lamb Signified to the Dey that he would try & Get the Money for our Redemption in four Months. but three is past and we have heared nothing particular Since But hopes that our Country will Shortly...
45To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 17 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I received in due time, from the Count of Sarcefield, the letter you honored me with, dated 20. ult o. According to your obliging direction, I have perused Hutchinson’s compilation, which the Count had of you & has been so good as to lend me. I have likewise perused Douglass’s, which I have borrowed of M r. Jefferson. I cannot find in any one of them, that “les sauvages devoient être...
46To 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...
47To John Adams from Charles Storer, 30 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I made a mistake in my other letter respecting the Medical Society— ’Twas you who settled the Correspondance between the Society of Medicine at Paris & our Medical Society here— I well remember the notes that passed on the occasion between you & Mons r: Vicq d’Azir, perpetual Secretary— Our medical Society were extremely pleased at what you had done for them, & wrote them, (immediately on your...
48To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 21 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
There are two great Objects which I think should engage the Attention of Patriots here, & which appear to me to involve every thing else—to preserve entire our political Liberties, & to support our National Faith. To effect either of these Capital Ends, we must counterwork the Designs of Great Britan, who to say the least does not appear to be our most cordial Friend, by her Emissaries amongst...
49To John Adams from John Paul Jones, 7 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
On the 8 th. of October last M r. Jefferson wrote me a Letter approving of a proposition I had made to him that I should deputize D r. Bancroft to sollicit the Court of Denmark, through the Danish Minister at London, for the Compensation due for the Prizes made by the Squadron I commanded in Europe and given up to the British by the Danish Government, in the year 1779 in the Port of Bergen in...
50To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I hear of a conveyance which allows me but a moment to write to you. I inclose a copy of a letter from mr̃ Lamb. I have written both to him & mr̃ Randall agreeable to what we had jointly thought best. the Courier de l’Europe gives us strange news of armies marching from the U.S. to take the posts from the English. I have received no public letters & not above one or two private ones from...