January 14, 1814

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Reverend Colman

Adams in retirement to Colman (also called Coleman by Abigail Adams in GLC 2515), a minister in a neighboring Massachusetts town. References various works of literature and says Spencer's Fairy Queen is a work of genius. Jokingly says his life has become wrapped up in books, "I have the Vanity to claim a distant remote kindred to the Family of Searches ... But this drop of Searches blood has drawn up on me a flood of Volumes from all quarters." Says his granddaughter is reading to him from "Tuckers Vision," a book Colman loaned Adams.

GLC02852

20 May 1797

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Broadside

Title: Centinel extraordinary.

Prints a speech given to Congress by President John Adams on Tuesday, March 16, 1797. Speech discusses suspending relations with France and the XYZ Affair. Printed in four columns.

GLC03180

09 December 1808

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Isaiah L. Green.

Written after retirement to Congressman Isaiah L. Green concerning repeal of Embargo Act and arming of ships.

GLC03511

24 December 1782

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles W. F. Dumas re: need to conclude a peace treaty (treaty of Paris)

Written as American Peace Commissioner in Paris. Dumas served as an American agent in the Hague. Requests a copy of G. Pownal's Pensees sur la Revolution &c. Adams writes "We cannot say whether we are to have Peace or not. I wish the definitive Treaty were Signed or the Negotiations broken off that I may return to you."

GLC03296

29 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Pickering

President Adams approves the appointment of James Reid of New Hampshire as Vice Consul in Canton (Guangzhou, China). One black and white bust engraving of John Adams included.

GLC03297

January 16, 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Commissioners of City of Washington

Congratulates the board on obtaining a $100,000 loan from the state of Maryland. Referring to their activities superintending the construction of Washington, D.C., suggests the commissioners present a "full and candid statement on the whole in a Memorial to Congress."

GLC03865

6 July 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: to the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati

President Adams expresses gratitude for the New Jersey Cincinnati's memorial of support as the country faces imminent war with France. On July 4th Adams had announced his appointment of George Washington ("that renowned, Veteran, and beloved Chief") as commander-in-chief of the army being raised to defend the country. Federalist fear of internal dissent (alluded to here as "intestine divisions") led to the passage of the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts in the midst of the crisis.

GLC03866.01

12 June 1789

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cotton Tufts re: political matters: state debts, excise bill

Written as Vice President. In closing, Adams writes "[t]he Note inclosed in your Letter I burned as you directed as soon as I had read it: but not untill it had made too deep an Impression on my heart as well as Memory. -- What shall I do, with that tender hearted Fool?" Adams closes: "When will Mrs. A. come on? I suffer, very much for want of her assistance."

GLC03861

15 November 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Henry Lee

Adams outlines the government that he envisions for America, that it should have executive, legislative and judicial branches, similar to the colonial government of Massachusetts. He also argues for a bicameral legislature and insists that judges not have overlapping offices in the other branches. Adams draws to an end with comments about human nature and tyranny. He concludes "if such a Trifle will be of any service to you or any gratification of Curiousity, here you have it...." On the evening of 14 November 1775, Lee, a delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia, visited Adams…

GLC03864

21 August 1818

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Tudor

Adams argues repeatedly from James Otis's work concerning Parliament's attempt to exercise control of the American colonies. He concludes with the statement "[t]hat Parliment had not Authority over America in any case Whatever."

GLC03625

22 June 1797

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Charles C. Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry ministers

Appointment of the three as ministers plenipotentiary to France, countersigned by Secretary of State Pickering. The negotiations resulted in the XYZ affair.

GLC03592

September 11, 1779

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Adams talks about his efforts to persuade France to send reinforcements for D'Estaing's fleet, his discussions with Genêt, his relations with Lee and Franklin, and describing Lafayette's arrival in Paris to plead America's cause.

GLC03726

16 July 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: to William North

Adams as president asks North as Senator from New York, to attend an important session of the Senate where he will communicate new information, probably in relation to the creation of the Provisional Army or the Quasi War with France. On 19 July 1798 North was appointed adjutant general of the army, which carried the rank of brigadier general. In March 1799 he became chief of staff to General Alexander Hamilton. North left the Senate in August 1798 after the New York legislature voted in James Watson.

GLC03757

14 May 1784

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Cranch

Written as ambassador at The Hague, Adams discusses waiting for his family to arrive and how walking six or seven miles per day has helped him overcome the "Disorders into which Voyages Journeys and too much application had thrown me." He concludes by mentioning Mr. Tyler, who was involved with courting a woman. Cranch was the husband of Abigail Adam's sister; Adams greets him as "dear brother."

GLC03759

1794

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Book

Title: A Defence of the Constitutions of the government of the United States...

New Edition, with a preface extracted from Jedediah Morse's American Geography, describing Adams. Printed by John Stockdale. Bound in contemporary tree calf with gilt edges.

GLC03771.01

29 March 1813

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Adams, in retirement, to Rush, who was to die three weeks later. Forwarding a packet of eight papers on the revolution, including a letter from Vice President Elbridge Gerry and a letter of Benjamin Austin's to Gerry. These letters are not included here. Says he may show them to Carey (probably Philadelphia publisher Matthew Carey) if they help him with his plan. Mentions the incident around the Island of St. John's (Prince Edward Island) during the Quebec campaign in 1775 when Captains Selman and Broughton overstepped their orders and captured private property as well as prominent…

GLC03890

19 December 1782

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ferdinand Grand

Writes to Grand, a banker, about the repayment funds used for diplomatic purposes. Also noted additional funds may be needed. Adds the comment: "God grant us peace that we may no longer be plagued with so many demands for money."

GLC04350

19 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holden Parsons

Written by Adams as a delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts to Parsons, who became a Brigadier General on 9 August 1776 and was to take part in the fighting at the Battle of Long Island on 27 August 1776. References Parsons's letters of 13 and 15 August 1776 and says his recommendations for appointments in the army will be considered by the Board of War, which Adams sat on. Also references Parsons observations of officers Patterson, Shepherd, and Brooks, but says he is unfamiliar with all of them. Says the issues of promotion make him "so vexed sometimes as almost to resolve to…

GLC04424

7 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel C. Crafts as Commissioner for fifth division of Vermont]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Crafts was given power to act as one of the five commissioner in Vermont under "An Act provide for the valuation of lands and dwelling-houses and the enumeration of slaves within the United States." The act was passed on 9 July 1798 after the XYZ Affair became public and the public clamored for war. Five days later, on 14 July 1798, another act was passed to lay and collect a direct tax within the United States. The monies collected from this tax were designated to help arm the country for an impending war with France. Crafts was…

GLC04426

24 July 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter

Title: to Nathaniel Barber

A secretarial copy of Continental Congressman Adams's response to Barber as Deputy Commissary in the Department of the Commissary General of Military Stores. References Barber's letter of 15 July 1776 in which he asked to be given pay at the rank of captain. Says the best way to succeed would be to go through Generals Artemas Ward or George Washington. Not knowing the nature of his duties, he would not help Barber by bringing it up in Congress. Says success is likely if he goes through the chain of command.

GLC04538

6 June 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Ohio land grant of 1200 acres made by Congress to Brigade Chaplain Alexander Balmain for three years military service].

This document is a record of lands given to Alexander Balmain for three years of military service. It is signed by John Adams as President and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. A grant made in accordance with a 1790 act called "An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the River Ohio, between the little Miami and Sciota," and an unspecified amendment to that act passed June 9, 1794 are mentioned as precedent for the certificate's authenticity. The document contains a…

GLC04675.09

21 June 1821

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith Shaw

Discusses his interest in Native American religion and his difficulties in learning about it because of Indians reluctance to speak on the topic. Describes his attempts to learn about Native American religion from a Mr. Alexander McGillivray, the son of a "Scotchman by an Indian queen." Adams closely questioned the man concerning Indian beliefs including their ideas about an afterlife, but the man was not forthcoming, and Adams finally concluded "that his father was one of those wandering Scottish epicurean philosophers who had taught him to seek for pleasure and not to disquiet…

GLC04880

14 November 1793

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Adams as vice president to Lincoln after his unsuccessful mission to make peace with the Northwest Indians. Says he read with interest Lincoln's report on why peace was not achieved. Says the report fits with the facts he learned while in Europe and that he has not "the least difficulty in believing that you have develloped the true Causes of the Continuance of the Indian War." Praises America's policy of neutrality toward the European powers and says "while they are exhausted I hope we are safe." Says he is jealous of the English-Spanish alliance and would like to be able to work with France…

GLC07101

January 18, 1800

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the territory North West of the river Ohio

John Adams in his last days as president to the government of the territory of Ohio. Expresses gratitude to them for their kind letter, which apparently thanked him for his job while president. Mentions Arthur St. Clair, Edward Tiffin, and H. Vanderburgh. Says "Your sincere attachment to the Constitution and Government... do you honor." Pages are separated and there are two holes in the document, creating some text loss.

GLC06399

25 December 1816

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Adams in retirement to Rush as Attorney General. Written from "Montezillo," a playful reference to Adams' own home in Quincy, Massachusetts. References Rush's letter of 29 September 1816. In that letter Rush related a story about a horseback excursion to Monticello to visit Jefferson. Tells Rush about a 500 mile journey he undertook by horseback from Massachusetts to Baltimore in 1777. Tells of treacherous crossings of the Hudson and Raritan Rivers. Mentions that he has heard high praise of Monticello from various travelers. Tries to tempt Rush to make a trip to visit him, saying the journey…

GLC05573