1From John Adams to John Jay, 3 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote a few Days Since by Col Franks who embarks in the French Packet from Havre De Grace, with the Morocco Treaty. There is no further Intelligence of the Portugal Business, nor any better Prospect, or more agreable Disposition in this Country, whatever Artifices may be employed in America to keep up delusive hopes. Parliament opened with an uncommon Gloom, and has been Sitting in a...
2To John Adams from John Jay, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Congress at length begins to do Business—seven States are represented, and Gen l: S t: Clair was three Days ago chosen President.— Since my last to you of 17 th: Ul t: I have not had the Pleasure of receiving any Letters from you.— You will herewith receive a Letter from Congress to the Queen of Portugal, which you will be pleased to transmit in the Manner suggested in my Report, of which you...
3To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your favors by Col o. Franks have come safely to hand. he will set out from hence the 8 th. inst. the packet being to sail from Havre the 10 th. I inclose you the copy of a letter lately received from mr̃ Barclay, & of the paper it inclosed. in a letter from mr̃ Carmichael is a postscript dated Dec. 25. in the following words “since writing the preceding, the Portuguese Ambassador has pressed...
4To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 7 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
J’ai Recue, monsieur, avec bien de la Reconnoissance les detaïls que vous avis la Bonté de m’envoïer; ils sont alarmans même pour Ceux qui Connoissent l’amerique; ils ne peuvent que paroitre encore plus dangereux à Ceux qui ne la Connoissent pas; on nous dit qué la tempéte s’est appaisée; puissent les sages mesures que prendront le Congrès, les etats, et la Convention de philadelphie Retablir...
5To John Adams from Richard Price, 8 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
When I writ to you last week to return you my thanks for the instruction and pleasure given me by your Defence of the American Constitutions I had no reason to expect that you Should give yourself the trouble of making any reply to it. I am therefore the more obliged to you for your letter; and I cannot make myself easy without Sending you a few lines of acknowledgm t: — The circumstance you...
6To John Adams from Rufus King, 10 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Letters are this moment receivid from Gen l. Lincoln giving the pleasing intillegence that he dispersed the Party under Shays on the morning of the 5 th. instant— the Insurgents had marched on the 4 th. from Pelham to Pitersham distant 30 miles, with about 1500 Men— Gen l. Lincoln moved after them at Eight OClock on the same Evening and came on them by Surprize at 9. OClock the next Morning,...
Since I wrote to you from hence the 6 th. of last month I have been much aflicted with the Rheumatism in my Loins, which confin’d me to my bed with pains great beyond Description. I am now free of them, and Shall leave this place in a few Days. Upon further reflection, I thought it best not to abandon the Idea of meeting M r. Lamb, and therefore I wrote to him, at Port Mahon, that I woud go to...
8To John Adams from Richard O’Bryen, Zaccheus Coffin, Isaac Stephens, Andrew Montgomery, and Alexander Forsyth, 13 … (Adams Papers)
Your three Letters to us, dated London the 29 th. September, we received the 7 th. Instant, and is exceeding Sorry to find by the Tenor of your Letters to us that you can give us no comfortable Hopes or Assurances of speedy Relief. Respecting the erroneous Report you suppose we might have heard of what M r: Lamb said to the Dey, and that it is not likely that he made any Promises to the Dey,...
9To John Adams from Thomas Brand Hollis, 15 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have continued to read your defence of the American states and admire the intelligence sagacity & firmness contained in it. at first it appeared to me that where there was no distinction of rank in the people there was no necessity of a balance. but you have proved your point most satisfactorily & the impractability of one general assembly. all that remains is to secure that balance...
10To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am now to acknoledge the receipt of your favor of Jan. 25. Col o. Franks sailed in the packet of this month from Havre for New York. this arrangement of the packets opens a direct communication between Paris & America, and if we succeed as I expect we shall in getting Honfleur made a freeport, I hope to see that place become the deposit for our Whale oil, rice, tobacco & furs, & that from...
11To John Adams from John Jay, 21 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of receiving two Days ago your Letter of the 30 th. November by M r. Mitchel —it was the next Morning laid before Congress.— Nine States are now represented, but as yet little Progress has been made in the Business before them. My Report on the Infractions of the Treaty complained of by Britain, has been referred to a new Committee, and I think a very good one; various...
12To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Notables met yesterday. the king opened the assembly with a short speech, wherein he expressed his inclination to consult with them on the affairs of his kingdom, to receive their opinions on the plans he had digested, and to endeavor to imitate the head of his family Henry IV. whose name is so dear to the nation. the speech was affectionate. the Guarde des sceaux spoke about 20 minutes,...
13To John Adams from Theophilus Lindsey, 23 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
M r Lindsey presents his due and most sincere respects to M r Adams, was much mortified that he shou’d do him the honour to leave his name at Essex house before M r L. had an opportunity of returning thanks for his kind and most valuable present of A Defence &c; a work which is the result of deep thought and of the largest experience and observation of what is now passing or has ever passed on...
14From John Adams to John Jay, 24 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to transmit to Congress, a Letter from M r Harrison, with an Account of Disbursements for Captain Erwin and his Associates on their return to Cadiz from their Captivity in Morocco. Situated as M r Harrison was he had every motive of Humanity, and love of his Countrymen to relieve their necessities, and it would be too Severe, if not unjust, to leave the burthen upon him....
15To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 24 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I took the liberty to trouble you with a letter by Col. Franks, in which I desired the favor of you to inform me ab t. a law of Massachussets, which (according to M r. Jefferson’s memory) D r. Franklin told him it was enacted in the beginning of this Century, & tended to discourage the introduction of emigrants. I would be glad to Know the epoc, as near as possible, if not exactly; whether the...
16From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favours of Feb. 20. and 23 by M r Carnes, and the curious Pamphlets. Opening a direct Communication between Paris and America will facilitate the Trade of the two Countries, very much, and the new Treaty between France and England, will promote it still more. John Bull dont see it. and if he dont See a Thing at first, you know it is a rule with him ever...
17To John Adams from the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, 4 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
C’est du choc des idées, Monsieur, que naît la vérité: M. Turgot ne pouvoit pas être combattu par un plus digne adversaire; tous deux amans de la liberté et du bonheur des hommes, vous tendez au même but par differens moiens, et vous les avez tous les deux éclairés. C’est M. de Valnais qui m’a apporté votre Livre, et mon Séjour habituel à Versailles pour l’Assemblée de Notables ne me permet...
18To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 10 March–25 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my Answer to the Letter I had the honor of receive g from you last Fall by D r Wales, I expressed my Apprehension that the Abbe Mably and some other of our European Friends entertained too gloomy despairing & desconsolate Ideas and Fears, least our Amer̃ Republic should tumble to pieces and come to nothing. Even our worthy & ever to be venerated Friend D r Price has his Fears for us; and so...
19To John Adams from Matthew Robinson-Morris, 14 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I receiv’d yesterday the favor of your letter together with the Defence of the American Constitutions; for which I beg, that you will return to the Author my very respectful compliments: Be pleas’d to assure his Excellency; that I highly value his gift and flatter myself, that it has proceeded from his opinion of my regard for the happiness and liberties of mankind; of which I heartily hope,...
20From John Adams to Benjamin Vaughan, [ante 2 April 1787] (Adams Papers)
I am very much mortified to loose the Pleasure and Advantage of an Excursion to Windsor, to see M r Herschell in Such Company: but the State of my Family is such that I cannot justify leaving it.— M rs Smith is in Travel and the Anxiety occasioned by this Event has made M rs Adams so much worse, that I should be very bad Company at Windsor, and what is more decisive, it becomes my Duty to stay...
21To John Adams from John Jay, 2 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you of 25 th. February I have not been favored with any Letters from you.— Congress have made some Progress in my Report on your Letter of 4 th. March 1786 and the Papers that accompanied it— they lately passed the Resolutions of which you will find a Copy herewith enclosed. Having been ever since and still being too much indisposed to prepare Instructions for you on these...
22From John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved in due time with great Pleasure all your Letters & Dispatches: But the Reason why I have not answ’ d. them regularly, was the uncertainty where you was to be found indeed I have been buisy in other things, & nothing from you seemed to require any other answers, than acceptance & payment of your Draughts, which has been punctually done, Give me leave my dear sir to congratulate...
23From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 13 of March was brought in to me but this moment— I am not able to give you any information you desire— a Gen t. by the Name you mention & with the title of Colonel has been introduced to me & has dined with me at this House & I saw him in Holland— His Behaviour is Genteel and his Character is in all respects unexceptionable, as far as I know, having Never heard any...
24From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 13 th. of March with the three obligations inclosed: & I thank you for your care in the Business— inclosed is an order on the Company of Willinks & Vanstaphorsts, for five hundred & sixty five Guilders being the Ballance due to you from me on account of these obligations— with great esteem & c. LbC in WSS ’s hand ( Adams Papers ); internal address: “Mess rs....
25To John Adams from Thomas Barclay, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter for M. Jay Covering Copies of sundry letters to M. Lamb and of one to M. Carmichael, If you will take the Trouble of perusing them, You will see My situation and intentions as Clearly as I Do my self, and I shall, unless I am prevented by some unforeseen accident, have the pleasure of taking Your Commands in person for America, Early I hope in July, I will be obliged to...
26To John Adams from the Board of Treasury, 4 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honor of Enclosing to you a Letter to Mess rs: Wilhelm and Jan Willink, and Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst on the Subject of the Interest, which will become due on the Dutch Loans in the month of June next— This Letter, after Perusal, you will be pleas’d to seal and forward; together with the Enclosed Bills of Exchange, when Accepted by the Gentleman on whom they are drawn— Viz...
27To John Adams from David Ramsay, 7 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
By this time I suppose that the fame or rather the infamy of our new instalment law has reached you. I wish that it may not embarrass your hands in negotiating with the British ministry. I can only say that it was forced on the legislature by polical necessity. Our necessities were great at the close of the war. Our negroes were carried away & our plantations laid waste. 700,000 sterling of...
28To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Have long wished for a private opportunity to write to you, And while Expecting it, Have deprived myself of the pleasure to tell you my Opinion of Your Admirable Book— I Cannot Express, my dear Sir, the Satisfaction I felt in Reading of it—let those who study Constitutions in their Closet Say what they please—to Any one who Has Experience, Yours must Ever be the true principles— there is in...
29From John Adams to John Jay, 10 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Public Councils of this Country, as far as they regard America, remain So exactly the same as to afford nothing new to communicate to Congress. The Members of Parliament, have been so long irritated and tormented on that subject, that they detest to hear the Name of America mentioned, and the political System and national humour Seems to be, neither to Speak nor think of it.— a seemingly...
To William Stephens Smith Esquire Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America to the Court of Great Britain— The Secretary of the United States of America for the department of foreign affaires, His Excellency John Jay to whom was referred a letter to him from the Honourable John Adams of the 27 th. of June last, informing that the Queen of Portugal had ordered her squadron in...