61To John Adams from Board of Treasury, 6 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
We do ourselves the Honor of transmitting to you a Duplicate of our Letters to yourself, and the Commissioners of the Dutch Loans of the 7 th: and 22 d: March last. The latter together with one of this Date addressed to the same Gentlemen & Enclosing a Bill in their Favor on Mess rs: Wilhem, and Jan Willink of Amsterdam, we Request the Favor of you to forward by the first Mail— Our Letter to...
62To 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...
63To John Adams from Rufus King, 10 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Hancock has accepted as President of Congress and will be here in a few days; Seven States have been represented for a few days only since November commenced— Six states only are now represented, I inclose a list of the Names of the Delegates— A Bill passed the house of representatives of massachusetts during their autumn Session, repealing all the Laws preventing the Return or Residence...
64To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 12 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
You were here the last year when the interest due to the French officers was paid to them, and were sensible of the good effect it had on the credit & honor of the U.S. a second year’s interest is become due. they have presented their demands. there is not money here to pay them, the pittance remaining in mr̃ Grand’s hands being only sufficient to pay current expences three months longer. the...
65To John Adams from John Jay, 18 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a Copy of a Report on the Case of the Brig Jane and Elizabeth of Portsmouth in New Hampshire seized by a british man of War at Barbadoes; together with Copies of the Papers on that Subject annexed to it.— The Conduct of the Captain of the Boreas as stated in these Papers appears very exceptionable, but unfortunately for the Brig, her...
66To John Adams from Charles Storer, 7 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
To send a number of letters under cover to you without one line to yourself, were it only by way of apology, would, I think, have rather an unseemly appearance, & might be somewhat inexcusable— I know you do not like to be baulked in this manner—and to prevent this disappointment, I write a few lines, if it be only to assure you of my good will & to wish that I had wherewithal to afford you...
67To 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...
68To John Adams from Paul R. Randall, 25 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
The last Letter I had the Honor to address to your Excellency was of the 17 th: instant—conveyed by M r Harrison, who has resided in Cadiz, I believe in Quality of Consul—in which I suggested some small Difficulties embarrassing M r Lamb’s Embarkation—but as I had not received Intelligence of their Removal until M r Harrison was on the Point setting out—he will supply to your Excellency, that...
69To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob Staphorst, 23 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
We have the honor of your Excellency’s favor of 19 th Instant, with a letter of the Hon ble: Commissioners of the Treasury Board, conveying a Remittance of ƒ144,000:–:–, as M r. Morris is used to convey always a letter of advice with his drafts, we pray you will look among your papers for it, as mess rs. Willink want the Same. We know of the endeavours bestowed to make Newyork concurr with the...
70To John Adams from Granville Sharp, 21 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Books which I had the honour to request your Excellency’s acceptance of, (viz t. My—Grandfathers Works) are but this moment returned from my Bookbinder, or I should have fulfilled my promise sooner. I had an opportunity of making some Enquiries concerning the Reports which I mentioned to your Excellency about the supposed backwardness of Government to permit the Bishops to consecrate...
71To John Adams from Charles Storer, 19 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
Excuse me if I only enclose letters to your family— I have not wherewithal to gratify you in the News way, as our brightest prospects are but gloomy—and I know you have enough to vex you where you are— I mentioned to M rs: Adams a County Convention forming here in the County of Bristol— They have called upon almost every other County to join them— Worcester however has given them a positive...
72To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 30 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
We are honored with Your Excellency’s Favor of 19 th: Ins t: mentioning You had perfected the Congress Bond N o: 4543 and returned it by M r: Daniel Parker, Who has delivered same to us— We take the Liberty, to inclose Your Excellency, the Edict of His Most Christian Majesty, appointing us in conjunction with Mess r: Henry Fizeaux & C o: the Treasurers of his Finances in these...
73To John Adams from Samuel Williams, 9 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wish to present to the Royal Society of London the memoirs of our American Academy of Arts and Sciences: and to convey to Manheim the inclosed packet of papers. As we have no direct conveyance from America, may I take the liberty to commit them to your care? It gives us much pleasure to have two of your Sons in this University. Both of them are young Gentlemen from whom their friends have...
74To 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...
75To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 13 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Doctor Gordon is to deliver you this Letter. He is going to the Land of his Nativity, wishing for the best Happiness of his own Country & ours and hoping that mutual Affection will be at length restored, as the only Means of the Prosperity of both. As he determines to spend the Remainder of his Days in the Country where he was born, what rational Man who considers the Ties of human Nature will...
76To 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...
77To John Adams from Joel Barlow, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
My friend M r Trumbull has done me the honour to mention my name to you in a letter which is herewith enclosed. The Poem which he mentions is likewise forwarded thro’ the hands of Col—Humphrey to Doct Price with an assgnment of the Copy Right. I have requested the Doctor to use his discretion in procuring an impression & disposing of the copy-Right. Out of the first impression I wish to have...
78To John Adams from Tristram Dalton, 23 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Under the 18 th of last October I did myself the honor and pleasure of addressing you, com̃itting the Letter to the Care of Doctor Gordon, who since tells me that He put the same into a safe Channel of Conveyance— I hope you received it in due time—as I therein acknowledged the Satisfaction given to me and my family, by your good & worthy Son, who had passed a day with us—and was the bearer of...
79To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 28 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I think you will make no Impression upon the Court of Great Britain. And it is probable little Impression will be made on Algiers, while Britain on one hand may be inciting them to stand on too high Terms for us, & we on the other hand send Characters too trifling for so important a Negotiation. Was the Levant Trade open to America, the Profits to us would soon be very great, as we could...
80To John Adams from the Comte de Sarsfield, 26 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Je ne comptois pas avoir lhonneur de vous ecrire aussi tot après avoir recu une lettre de vous, Je ne veux pas mettre dans notre Correspondance une vivacité qui puisse Vous Etre incommode; n’ayez aucune inquietude, Je Serai mesuré et Je commencerois des aujourdhuy Sans une diable d’expression de Massachusets’ bay que Je n’entens point. C’est celle de Rider of Hobby Horses. Expliquez la moy...
81To John Adams from Benjamin Vaughan, 20 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
M r B Vaughan presents his respectful comp ts. to M r Adams, and having waited for the inclosed, wishes for the favor of an answer upon the subject of it. D r. Gray makes a private party for M r V:, and of course will be happy to see M rs & Miss Adams, with Col Jefferson & Col smith. M r V: is endeavoring to procure M r Bolton’s permission to see the immense machinery at Blackfriars Bridge
82To 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...
83To John Adams from the Marquis of Carmarthen, 6 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received His Majesty’s Commands to inform You, that, in order to prevent the Abuses to which the Indulgence given by the Foreign Ministers is frequently liable, by granting that Protection which their Compassion often inclines them to afford to Persons who solicit it for the sole Purpose of screening themselves from the Laws of their Country, His Majesty has instructed His Secretary of...
84To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 30 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
My Nephew Tho s. Lee Shippen wishes to be recommended to your patronage; & I am satisfyd he cannot be under better protection. I therefore entreat you to let him find favor in your sight, & that you will have the goodness to assist him with your advice, in the conduct of his legal Studies which he purposes to finish at the Temple. Our finances are unhappily at as low an ebb, as they who think...
85To John Adams from Nathaniel Barrett, 29 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have delayed for some Time writing to your Excellency, being desirous of compleating some g. of Importance.— I have now the pleasure of informing you, that I have contracted in my own Name, & in behalf of others in America, for Oil to the Am t of 400,000 Livres per annum, for 6 years, at a price which I think will answer, I have the Guarrantee of Mess Le Couteulx, for accepting 1/3 bills on...
86To John Adams from Matthew Robinson-Morris, 25 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am honor’d with your letters both by M r. Partridge and by the post and am proud to observe; that we so much concur in our public and political sentiments. I am particularly pleas’d to agree with you in the reciprocal opinion; that the closest union and connection between our two countries is one of their very first and greatest mutual interests. I do for that and other reasons so...
87To 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...
88To 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...
89To John Adams from Christian Lotter, 16 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
It is with the greatest reluctance, most honor ble: Sir! that Your continuing Silence, forces me to incumber You again, to weary Your patience, with Sollicitations of which Your Excellency knows too well, that they ought to be granted, because it is Salary, made by Your own agreement, and for which I have Served. Your Excellency will be graciously pleased, to consider that it is too hard to be...
90To John Adams from Cotton Tufts, 21 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of Sep t. 9 t I rec d. and Your Present of Neckar for which I return You Thanks and am much gratified with Your Sentiments on the Whale Oil Fishery, to this Branch of Business, the General Court have given Encouragement as You will find by a Bill sent you by M r Cranch— Every Day more and more convinces me, that the commerical Restraints of Great Britain, so far as they respect...