1786 Letters

Paris, FRA - 2 January 1786

Several conferences and letters having passed between the Count de Vergennes and myself, on the subject of the commerce of this country with the United States, I think them sufficiently interesting to be communicated to Congress.

Paris, FRA - 3 January 1786

He showed me his first invention; the price of the machine was twenty-five guineas: then his second, which he had been able to make for about half that sum. Both of these had a mainspring and a balance-wheel, for their mover and regulator.

Richmond, VA - 4 January 1786

Although I was compelled, by duty, to lay before the Council your answer to my notification of your appointment to Philadelphia, I was happy to find them concurring with me in the propriety of entreating you not to decide on a refusal immediately.

Boston, MA - 4 January 1786

I have since my return, my dear General, been looking, agreeably to your request, among my young friends, to see whether I could find among them one who would answer your purpose as a private Secretary

Paris, FRA - 4 January 1786

have been honored with your letter of September the 26th, which was delivered me by Mr. Houdon, who is safely returned. He has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work with his workmen to come by some other

Paris, FRA - 7 January 1786

The very few of my countrymen who happen to be punctual, will find their punctuality a misfortune to them. Of this I shall give you a proof by the present application, which I should not make to you, if I did not know you to be superior to the torpid

Paris, FRA - 12 January 1786

I immediately made inquiries on the subject of the frigate you had authorized your relation to sell to this government, and I found that he had long before that sold her to government, and sold her very well, as I understood.

Paris, FRA - 13 January 1786

The reason I have not written to you for some time, has been the constant expectation of receiving an order for your discharge. I have not received it however.

New York, NY - 19 January 1786

Congress has been composed of so few States actually represented, as not to have it in their power to pay that attention to their foreign affairs which they would doubtless have otherwise done.

Richmond, VA - 22 January 1786

The only one of these which was pursued into an Act is the Bill concerning Religious freedom.

Richmond, VA - 22 January 1786

The bill which is considered at New York as a compliance with the requisitions of Congress, is more so in appearance than reality. It will bring no specie into the Treasury, and but little Continental paper.

Paris, FRA - 26 January 1786

I had the honor of writing to you on the receipt of your orders to procure draughts for the public buildings, and again on the 13th of August. In the execution of these orders, two methods of proceeding presented themselves to my mind.

Paris, FRA - 7 February 1786

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.

Paris, FRA - 8 February 1786

I have purchased little for you in the book way since I sent the catalogue of my former purchases. I wish, first, to have your answer to that, and your information, what parts of these purchases went out of your plan.

Paris, FRA - 9 February 1786

The Mr. John Ledyard, who proposes to undertake the journey through the northern parts of Asia and America, is a citizen of Connecticut, one of the United States of America.

Paris, FRA - 10 February 1786

The inclosed, my dear General, is a vocabulary which the Empress of Russia has requested me to have filled up with Indian names, as she has ordered a universal dictionary to be made of all languages.

New York, NY - 16 February 1786

It is very doubtful, how our Commissioners may succeed with the Indians. We have too much reason to fear a war, which, among other evils, will increase our finance embarrassments.

Paris, FRA - 20 February 1786

America cannot but be flattered with the choice of the subject, on which you are at present employing your pen. The memory of the American Revolution will be immortal, and will immortalize those who record it.

New York, NY - 22 February 1786

Nine States are not yet represented in Congress, and therefore the affairs of this department continue in the same state that they were in at the date of my last.

Paris, FRA - 28 February 1786

Circumstances of public duty calling me suddenly to London, I take the liberty of mentioning it to your Excellency, and of asking a few minutes audience of you, at as early a day and hour as will be convenient to you

Richmond, VA - 2 March 1786

You may possibly be surprised, that a work, which has already expended a considerable sum of money, should be delineated in so few words as the copies now sent contain.

New York, NY - 2 March 1786

In December, a young man, under the influence of more important advisers, made an attack in the papers, which rendered the publication of my correspondence with him expedient.

London, ENG - 4 March 1786

I seldom feel a sufficient stimulus for writing until I hear that a vessel is just about to sail, and then I find myself so deep in debt, that I know not where to begin to discharge the account ; but it is time for me to be a little more provident

Paris, FRA - 8 March 1786

His Excellency, Count de Vergennes, having been pleased to say that he would give orders at Calais, for the admission of certain articles which I wish to bring with me from England, I have thought it best to give a description of them, before my depa

New York, NY - 10 March 1786

I have been favoured with your letter of the 22d ult., and immediately communicated it to the committee of our society for promoting the liberation of slaves, and protecting such as may be manumitted.

London, ENG - 12 March 1786

The date of a letter from London will doubtless be as unexpected to you as it was unforeseen by myself, a few days ago.

London, ENG - 14 March 1786

It is with sincere concern that I meet this event, as it deprives me not only of your aid in the office in which we have been joined, but also of your society, which has been to me a source of the greatest satisfaction.

New York, NY - 16 March 1786

An opinion begins to prevail, that a General Convention for revising the articles of Confederation would be expedient.

Orange, VA - 18 March 1786

Since I have been at home I have had leisure to review the literary cargo, for which I am so much indebted to your friendship. The collection is perfectly to my mind.

Orange, VA - 19 March 1786

The Question of policy, you say, is whether it will be better to correct the vices of the Confederation by recommendation gradually as it moves along, or by a Convention.

Orange, VA - 19 March 1786

The step taken by New Jersey was certainly a rash one, and will furnish fresh pretexts to unwilling States for withholding their contributions.

London, ENG - 2 April 1786

The social affections are and may be made the truest channels for our pleasures and comforts to flow through. Heaven formed us not for ourselves but others

London, ENG - 6 April 1786

When a body has attended one of these parties, you know the whole of the entertainment. There were about two hundred persons present last evening. Three large rooms full of card-tables

New York, NY - 16 April 1786

Your lordship's conjectures respecting the new principles of trade and finance will probably be realized. We hear of several circumstances which look and promise well.

New York, NY - 20 April 1786

I perfectly agree in sentiment with your lordship, that it much concerns the honour and future intercourse of both countries to have the treaty of peace duly and faithfully executed.

Orange, VA - 12 May 1786

Your notes having got into print in France, will inevitably be translated back and published in that form, not only in England but in America, unless you give out the original.

Orange, VA - 13 May 1786

I think, with you, that it would have an odd appearance for two Conventions to be sitting at the same time with powers in part concurrent.

Cambridge, ENG - 21 May 1786

John Quincy Adams letter to father... I am strongly confirmed in your opinion, that this university is upon a much better plan than any I have seen in Europe.

London, ENG - 21 May 1786

I thank you most sincerely for all your kindness to my dear sons, and hope they will ever bear a grateful remembrance of it ; the account you give of their behaviour and conduct is such as I hope they merit.

New York, NY - 27 May 1786

Of late, there has been a tolerably full representation; but the time of Congress has been chiefly taken up with an investigation of the Connecticut cession of western territory.

Orange, VA - 4 June 1786

I expected I should by this time have been on the journey which promises the pleasure of taking you by the hand in New York.

New York, NY - 10 June 1786

Successful revolutions and victorious arms have always a degree of splendour about them, which shines at a great distance, and excites admiration, whether well or ill founded.

Orange, VA - 21 June 1786

I cannot, however, forbear in the mean time expressing my amazement that a thought should be entertained of surrendering the Mississippi, and of guarantying the possessions of Spain in America.

Philadelphia, PA - 27 June 1786

Our affairs seem to lead to some crisis; some revolution ; something that I cannot foresee, or conjecture. I am uneasy and apprehensive ; more so than during the war.

New York, NY - 14 July 1786

Considering the importance of our commerce with Portugal, it gives me pleasure to learn that a treaty with that kingdom was so nearly concluded. Until our affairs shall be more perfectly arranged, we shall treat under disadvantages

London, ENG - 20 July 1786

the other day a gentleman presented me with a card to go and see the corpse of the Duke of Northumberland, who died at his house in the country, but was brought here to be laid in state.

Albany, NY - 0 August 1786

Why are you so cautiously silent as to our little Sally? You do not say that she is better or worse; from which I conclude she is worse.

Albany, NY - 0 August 1786

We began our Catskill causes this morning, and have this minute adjourned to meet at seven in the morning. We shall be engaged at the same disagreeable rate till Saturday evening.

New York, NY - 0 August 1786

If you finish your causes before court is over, cannot you look at us, even should you return to the manor?

New York, NY - 7 August 1786

My mind has no doubt of the extensive good consequences that would result to the Union from a commercial connection with Spain

Philadelphia, PA - 12 August 1786

My ride through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, was in the midst of harvest. I found the crops of wheat in the upper parts of the two former considerably injured by the wet weather

Philadelphia, PA - 15 August 1786

I did not see General St. Clair, and if I had, my acquaintance is too slender to have warranted my broaching a conversation with him.

Philadelphia, PA - 17 August 1786

It has occurred to Grayson and myself to propose to Congress that negociations be carried on with Spain upon the following principles: ...

Cambridge, ENG - 30 August 1786

John Quincy Adams letter to father... Boston I should for several reasons wish to avoid. The principal ones are that it is unfavorable to study, and that it would be almost doubly expensive.

Annapolis, MD - 11 September 1786

Our prospect here makes no amends for what is done with you. Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia, alone are on the ground; two Commissioners attend from New York, and one from Pennsylvania.

London, ENG - 12 September 1786

By the last vessels, I wrote some of my friends that I was going to visit Holland. That I had a desire to see that country you will not wonder at

London, ENG - 27 September 1786

Since I wrote you last, I have made two excursions, one to Holland, and one of a week to the Hyde, the seat of Mr. Brand-Hollis. Here I was both entertained and delighted.

Philadelphia, PA - 5 October 1786

he predominance of temporary and partial interests over those just and extended maxims of policy which have been so much boasted of among us, and which alone can effectuate the durable prosperity of the Union.

Knightsbridge, ENG - 10 October 1786

There are few persons in Europe who would not be highly flattered by a correspondence with General Washington

New York, NY - 11 October 1786

The Eastern States consider a commercial connection with Spain as the only remedy for the distresses which oppress their citizens ; most of which, they say, flow from the decay of their commerce.

Paris, FRA - 26 October 1786

I have been travelling through some garrison towns, in order to preserve the habit of seeing troops and their tactics. Now I am mostly at Fontainbleau, where the Court is residing for a few weeks.

New York, NY - 27 October 1786

A spirit of licentiousness has infected Massachusetts, which appears more formidable than some at first apprehended. Whether similar symptoms will not soon mark a like disease in several other States is very problematical.

Richmond, VA - 30 October 1786

I find, with pleasure, that the navigation of the Mississippi will be defended by the Legislature with as much zeal as could be wished.

Richmond, VA - 1 November 1786

The Report from the Deputies to ANNAPOLIS lies on the table, and I hope will be called for before the business of the Mississippi begins to ferment.

Richmond, VA - 1 November 1786

Paper money was the subject of discussion this day, and was voted, by a majority of 84 against 17, to be "unjust, impolitic, destructive of public and private confidence, and of that virtue which is the basis of Republican Government."

New York, NY - 1 November 1786

When government, either from defects in its construction or administration, ceases to assert its rights, or is too feeble to afford security, inspire confidence, and overawe the ambitious and licentious, the best citizens naturally grow uneasy and lo

New Haven, CT - 1 November 1786

The troubles in Massachusetts still continue. Government is prostrated in the dust. And it is much to be feared that there is not energy enough in that State to reestablish the civil powers.

Richmond, VA - 8 November 1786

The intelligence from General Knox is gloomy indeed, but it is less so than the colours in which I had it through another channel.

Richmond, VA - 16 November 1786

The House of Delegates have done little since my last, and what was then done is still ineffectual for want of a Senate.

London, ENG - 21 November 1786

This being so wholly groundless, it roused the quick feelings of Mr. Adams, who replied, a little warmly, Give me leave to tell you, Sir, that people who hold this language, betray a total ignorance of the subject.

Richmond, VA - 24 November 1786

The House of Delegates have just passed a bill making Tobacco receivable in the tax at the market price at the several Warehouses to be fixt by the Executive.

Richmond, VA - 4 December 1786

The recommendation from the meeting at ANNAPOLIS, of a plenipotentiary Convention in Philadelphia in May next, has been well received by the Assembly here.

Richmond, VA - 6 December 1786

What our enemies have foretold, seems to be hastening to its accomplishment ; and cannot be frustrated but by an instantaneous, zealous, and steady union among the friends of the Federal Government.

Richmond, VA - 7 December 1786

In admitting Tobacco for a commutable, we perhaps swerved a little from the line in which we set out. I acquiesced in the measure myself as a prudential compliance with the clamours within doors and without

Richmond, VA - 12 December 1786

The inclosed paper will give you a knowledge of the mode and terms on which Tobacco is made a Commutable. It also contains some Resolutions of importance relative to the navigation of the Mississippi.

New York, NY - 12 December 1786

The recess (if I may so call it) of Congress gives their officers too much leisure at present ; and there is reason to fear, that the members will be as long in convening this year as they were last.

Richmond, VA - 21 December 1786

We hear nothing from any of the other States on the subject of the federal Convention. The ice seems to have intercepted totally the Northern communication for a considerable time past.

Richmond, VA - 24 December 1786

Your observ.ions on Tobacco as a commutable in the taxes are certainly just and unanswerable. My acquiescence in the measure was against every general principle which I have embraced

London, ENG - 25 December 1786

An old man, you see, may comfort himself with such a virgin as much as David did with Abishag, and not give the least jealousy even to his wife, the smallest grief to his children, or any scandal to the world.

London, ENG - 27 December 1786

The news from Boston is very well. The court has set at Cambridge in great pomp, guarded by three thousand men and a train of artillery.

Cambridge, ENG - 30 December 1786

John Quincy Adams letter to mother... As for public affairs I have a great aversion even to thinking of them