1784 Letters

Richmond, VA - 6 January 1784

It gives me great pleasure to inform that the Assembly yesterday, without a dissenting voice, complimented you with fifty shares in the Potomac Company, and one hundred in the James River Company

Philadelphia, PA - 10 January 1784

Your attachment to America, when removed from it, is the old story of travellers ; but when it comes from one in whose feelings we feel an interest, decies repetita placebit.

London, ENG - 21 January 1784

I am at a loss what to conclude on, whether my letter might have failed, or that you do not incline to favour me with an interview ; and hence I am induced to trouble you with this

New York, NY - 25 January 1784

Our parties are, first, the tories, who still hope for power, under the idea that the remembrance of the past should be lost, though they daily keep it up by their avowed attachment to Great Britain.

Madrid, ESP - 10 February 1784

You suppose that ill health induces me to resign. You are mistaken. It seldom happens that any measure is prompted by one single motive, though one among others may sometimes have decisive weight and influence.

New York, NY - 18 February 1784

I think I hear you wish to be advised of what is passing in your native country, at a juncture when the decisions of government must determine the philosophers and politicians of Europe to form their opinion of our wisdom or our folly.

Boston, MA - 21 February 1784

Your calm retreat of Mount Vernon must be a source of ineffable delight to you. You can from thence take a retrospective view of the critical exigencies of the war, and see a thousand ways by which the issue might have been the reverse of what it is.

New York, NY - 22 February 1784

My Aaron had scarce quitted the door when I regretted my passiveness. Why did I consent to his departure? Can interest repay the sacrifice?

Chaillot, FRA - 23 February 1784

It is painful to say disagreeable things to any person, and especially to those with whom one has lived in habits of friendship ; but candour on this subject forbids reserve.

Madrid, ESP - 25 February 1784

I have never broken the bands of friendship in my life, nor when once broken, have I ever been anxious to mend them.

Paris, FRA - 9 March 1784

Had I not so perfect a confidence in your friendship, I should very much fear to tire you with my scribbling of this day ; but cannot leave my pen before I have again mentioned my tender, respectful affection to my dear General.

Orange, VA - 10 March 1784

I have perused, with both pleasure and edification, your observ.ions on the demand made by the Executive of South Carolina of a citizen of this State.

Orange, VA - 16 March 1784

Another question which several times during my serv.e in Congress exercised their deliberations was, whether seven States could revoke a Commission for a Treaty issued by nine States, at any time before the faith of the Confederacy should be pledged

Chaillot, FRA - 21 March 1784

The violence of your political storm seems to have abated, but I should not be surprised if you should frequently have March weather.

Hague, NED - 2 April 1784

By leading a quiet life, and by great care and regular exercise, I have happily recovered a little health, and if you think it necessary, I might now venture on a journey to Paris.

Chaillot, FRA - 6 April 1784

The public, with us, are, in my opinion, so deeply interested in the education of our citizens, that universities, &c, ought no longer to be regarded in the light of mere private corporations. The government should extend to them their constant care

Chaillot, FRA - 7 April 1784

God only knows what futurity may have in store for us, or what adverse events may still continue to teach us lessons of resignation. It is happy for us, however, that hope is our constant companion

Chaillot, FRA - 7 April 1784

While I stay, Mr. Norris shall perceive that he could have brought few recommendations to me so acceptable as yours, and those amiable qualities for which you commend him.

Annapolis, MD - 16 April 1784

Thomas Jefferson letter to George Washington... The way to make friends quarrel is to put them in disputation under the public eye.

Lebanon, CT - 20 April 1784

A month more, I trust, will bring me to the haven of retirement ; in the tranquillity of which I hope to have leisure to attend to and cultivate those seeds of private friendship, which have been planted during the tumults of war

Orange, VA - 25 April 1784

Will it not be good policy to suspend further Treaties of Commerce till measures shall have taken place in America which may correct the idea in Europe of impotency in the federal Government in matters of Commerce?

Richmond, VA - 15 May 1784

The sanction given by your favor of the 12th to my desire of remunerating the genius which produced "Common Sense," has led to a trial in the Legislature for the purpose.

Annapolis, MD - 28 May 1784

I have now been here nearly one week, and nothing of importance has been decided upon, owing to the contrariety of sentiments concerning the powers vested in Congress to raise troops, in time of peace, for any purpose.

London, ENG - 6 June 1784

John Quincy Adams letter to father... Mr. Pitt is upon the whole the best and most pleasing speaker of them all.

, NC - 10 June 1784

I have the honor to inclose to your Excellency some acts passed at the last session of our Legislature, by which you will see, in some measure, the disposition of this State to comply with the views of Congress

London, ENG - 18 June 1784

John Quincy Adams letter to father... I was in the House of Commons the day before yesterday again, and heard the debates upon the subject of parliamentary reform.

Richmond, VA - 2 July 1784

The arrangement which is to carry you to Europe has been made known to me by Mr. Short, who tells me he means to accompany or follow you.

Richmond, VA - 3 July 1784

A trial was made for a State Convention, but in a form not the most lucky. The adverse temper of the House, and particularly of Mr. Henry, had determined me to be silent on the subject.

On Board Ship Active - 6 July 1784

I have been sixteen days at sea, and have not attempted to write a single letter. 'T is true, I have kept a journal whenever I was able ; but that must be close locked up, unless I was sure to hand it you with safety.

Chantilly, VA - 22 July 1784

The very great respect that I shall ever pay to your recommendations, would have been very sufficient to have procured my exertions in favor of Mr. Paine, independent of his great public merits in our revolution.

Hague, NED - 26 July 1784

YOUR letter of the 23d Has made me the happiest man upon earth. I am twenty years younger than I was yesterday. It is a cruel mortification to me that I cannot go to meet you in London

Philadelphia, PA - 10 August 1784

I have already had the pleasure to acquaint you with my arrival in America, and am endeavouring to reach Mount Vernon as soon as possible.

Orange, VA - 20 August 1784

The act which produces most agitation and discussion is that which restrains foreign trade to enumerated ports.

New York, NY - 2 September 1784

The health of my family and myself is better than usual, and I begin to flatter myself that if you and Mrs. Vaughan could enjoy this country in only half the degree that I do, you would not greatly regret leaving Old England.

Auteuil, FRA - 5 September 1784

Auteuil is a village four miles distant from Paris, and one from Passy. The house we have taken is large, commodious, and agreeably situated, near the Woods of Boulogne, which belong to the King, and which Mr. Adams calls his park

Auteuil, FRA - 5 September 1784

I promised to write to you from the Hague, but your uncle's unexpected arrival at London prevented me. Your uncle purchased an excellent travelling coach in London, and hired a post-chaise for our servants.

Philadelphia, PA - 7 September 1784

The relation in which the Marquis stands to France and America has induced me to enter into a free conversation with him on the subject of the Mississippi.

New York, NY - 15 September 1784

The information I have here received convinces me that I cannot accomplish the whole route I had planned

Albany, NY - 7 October 1784

Until a few days ago, I had no doubt but to hear you had accepted the appointment conferred upon you. My fears, however, have been raised, and with my usual frankness I assure you that your refusal could not but be attended with very bad circumstance

Albany, NY - 8 October 1784

Everywhere I have met with delays; but so agreeable were they in their nature, that I cannot complain of them. It is not quite the same with the Indian treaty, although the hope to he useful has kept me there longer than I had expected.

New York, NY - 11 October 1784

The Marquis was received by the Indians with equal proofs of attachment as have been shewn him elsewhere in America.

Paris, FRA - 16 October 1784

I hope your public appointment will prove an agreeable surprise to you on your arrival, and that you will be able to reconcile the acceptance of it to every consideration of private interest and convenience, as well as public duty.

New York, NY - 17 October 1784

It seems that most of the Indian tribes, particularly those of the Iroquois, retain a strong predilection for the French

Paris, FRA - 20 October 1784

Thomas Jefferson letter to Uriah Forrest... It is, however, our private opinion, which we give as individuals, only, that Mr. McLanahan, while in England, is subject to the laws of England.

Boston, MA - 22 October 1784

On my arrival at Boston, I have been so friendly received, that no words can express my truly affectionate gratitude.

Richmond, VA - 0 November 1784

It inclosed a cypher, for which I thank you, and which I shall make use of as occasion may require

Richmond, VA - 14 November 1784

I had intended by this post to commence our correspondence with a narrative of what has been done and is proposed to be done at the present Session of the General Assembly

Richmond, VA - 27 November 1784

The umbrage given to the Commissioners of the United States by the negociations of New York with the Indians was not altogether unknown to me

Richmond, VA - 27 November 1784

I inform you that the Bill for confirming surveys against subsequent entries has been negatived by a large majority

Philadelphia, PA - 30 November 1784

A sufficient number of members to form a Congress not having arrived at Trenton, I passed on to this place ten days ago, to visit my friends.

Richmond, VA - 4 December 1784

On Saturday last a proposition was agreed to for establishing Circuit Courts throughout this Commonwealth

Auteuil, FRA - 9 December 1784

I go into Paris sometimes to the plays, of which I am very fond ; but I so severely pay for it, that I refrain many times upon account of my health. It never fails giving me a severe headache

Auteuil, FRA - 14 December 1784

From the interest you take in every thing which concerns your friends, I hear you inquiring how I do, how I live, whom I see, where I visit, who visit me.

Trenton, NJ - 16 December 1784

it is to be deplored that federal attachment, and a sense of national obligation, continue to give place to vain prejudices in favor of the independence and sovereignty of the individual States.

Richmond, VA - 17 December 1784

Our progress in the Revisal has been stopped by the waste of time produced by the inveterate and prolix opposition of its adversaries, and the approach of Christmas.

New York, NY - 21 December 1784

No, my beloved General, our late parting was not by any means a last interview. My whole soul revolts at the idea ; and could I harbour it an instant, indeed, my dear General, it would make me miserable.

Richmond, VA - 24 December 1784

The act empowering Congress to surrender Citizens of this State to the Sovereign demanding them, for certain crimes committed within his jurisdiction, has passed.

Richmond, VA - 25 December 1784

Be pleased to accept my congratulations on the event which has given to your talents a station in which they cannot fail to be equally useful to the public and honorable to yourself.