1787 Letters

New York, NY - 7 January 1787

Shall we have a King ? Not, in my opinion, while other expedients remain untried. Might we not have a Governor-General, limited in his prerogatives and duration ?

Richmond, VA - 9 January 1787

The district bill, of which I formerly made mention, was finally thrown into a very curious situation, and lost by a single voice. I refer you for its history to Col. Pendleton, who was here at the time, and is now with you.

New York, NY - 14 January 1787

With respect to the Convention proposed to meet in May, there are different sentiments. Some suppose it an irregular assembly, unauthorized by the Confederation, which points out the mode by which any alterations shall be made.

London, ENG - 20 January 1787

I will now give you some account of my late tour to Bath, that seat of fashionable resort, where, like the rest of the world, I spent a fortnight in amusement and dissipation, but returned, I assure you, with double pleasure to my own fireside

New York, NY - 15 February 1787

The principal proceedings of subsequent date relate, as nearly as I can recollect, 1 st , to a rejection of the Bill on crimes and punishments, which, after being altered so as to remove most of the objections, as was thought, was lost by a single vo

New York, NY - 21 February 1787

The objects now depending and most immediately in prospect are: 1. The Treaty of Peace. The Secretary of foreign Affairs has very ably reported a view of the infractions on both sides, his exposition of the contested articles, and the steps proper to

New York, NY - 24 February 1787

If the contents of the newspapers of this place find their way into the Gazettes of RICHMOND, you will have learnt that the expedition of General Lincoln against the insurgents has effectually dispersed the main body of them.

London, ENG - 25 February 1787

I think I should not feel more anxious if I was in the midst of all the disturbances, than I do at this distance, where imagination is left at full liberty. When law and justice are laid prostrate, who or what is secure ?

New York, NY - 18 March 1787

Recollecting to have heard you mention a plan formed by the Empress of Russia for a comparative view of the Aborigines of the new Continent, and of the N. E. parts of the old, through the medium of their respective tongues

New York, NY - 19 March 1787

What may be the result of this political experiment cannot be foreseen. The difficulties which present themselves are, on one side, almost suflficient to dismay the most sanguine, whilst on the other side the most timid are compelled to encounter the

New York, NY - 1 April 1787

The general attention is now directed towards the approaching Convention. All the States have appointed deputies to it except Connecticut, Maryland, and Rhode Island.

New York, NY - 16 April 1787

Conceiving that an individual independence of the States is utterly irreconcileable with their aggregate sovereignty, and that a consolidation of the whole into one simple republic would be as inexpedient as it is unattainable, I have sought for midd

New York, NY - 19 April 1787

No definitive steps are yet taken for the transportation of your furniture. I fear we shall be obliged to make use of a conveyance to Norfolk as soon as one shall offer. I have examined the workmanship of the man in Chappel street.

New York, NY - 22 April 1787

I do not learn that any symptoms yet appear of a return of the insurgent spirit in Massachusetts. On the contrary, it is said that the malcontents are trying their strength in a more regular form.

unknown - 23 April 1787

The vigorous measures finally pursued by the Government of Massachusetts against the insurgents had the intended effect of dispersing them. By some it was feared that they would re-embody on the return of favorable weather. As yet, no symptom of such

London, ENG - 23 April 1787

We have accounts, by way of New York, to the 8th of March, which inform us that General Lincoln had met with more resistance from the insurgents than we had reason to expect from former accounts

Paris, FRA - 5 May 1787

he persuaded the King to assemble notable persons of each order, to please them with a plan of Assemblies in each Province, which was much desired, and to get their approbation for new taxes, with which he durst not, by himself, saddle the nation.

Philadelphia, PA - 15 May 1787

The number as yet assembled is but small. Among the few is General Washington, who arrived on Sunday evening, amidst the acclamations of the people, as well as more sober marks of the aifection and veneration which continues to be felt for his charac

Philadelphia, PA - 27 May 1787

Contrary to every previous calculation, the bare quorum of seven States was not made up till the day before yesterday.

Philadelphia, PA - 27 May 1787

Every reflecting man becomes daily more alarmed at our situation. The unwise and wicked proceedings of the Governments of some States, and the unruly temper of the people of others, must, if persevered in, soon produce some new scenes among us.

Philadelphia, PA - 6 June 1787

The day fixed for the meeting of the Convention was the 14th ultimo. On the 25th, and not before seven States were assembled, General Washington was placed, una voce, in the chair. The secretaryship was given to Major Jackson.

Braintree, MA - 30 June 1787

John Quincy Adams letter to father... On the 2Oth of the present month I concluded my collegiate course and returned here

New York, NY - 3 July 1787

The prevailing apprehension among thinking men is, that the Convention, from the fear of shocking the popular opinion, will not go far enough. They seem to be convinced, that a strong, well-mounted Government, will better suit the popular palate, tha

New York, NY - 15 July 1787

I have the honor to inclose to you an ordinance, that we have just passed in Congress, for establishing a temporary Government beyond the Ohio, as a measure preparatory to the sale of the lands.

London, ENG - 16 July 1787

I have had with me for a fortnight a little daughter of Mr. Jefferson's, who arrived here with a young negro girl, her servant, from Virginia.

Philadelphia, PA - 18 July 1787

The Convention continue to sit, and have been closely employed since the commencement of the session. I am still under the mortification of being restrained from disclosing any part of their proceedings.

Philadelphia, PA - 28 July 1787

I am sorry that I cannot gratify your wish to be informed of the proceedings of the Convention. An order of secrecy leaves me at liberty merely to tell you that nothing definitive is yet done, that the Session will probably continue for some time yet

Braintree, MA - 6 August 1787

John Quincy Adams letter to Jeremy Belknap... I wish equally to avoid giving any just ground for a charge of presumption or of obstinacy

New York, NY - 14 August 1787

I have hitherto forborne the pleasure, my dear Sir, of writing to you since my return from Philadelphia. I have been apprehensive, that the stages of the business of the Convention might leak out, and be made an ill use of by some people.

Philadelphia, PA - 4 September 1787

The Convention has not yet broken up, but its session will probably continue but a short time longer. Its proceedings are still under the injunction of secrecy.

Philadelphia, PA - 6 September 1787

A Government will probably be submitted to the people of the States, consisting of a President, cloathed with Executive power; a Senate chosen by the Legislatures, and another House chosen by the people of the States

London, ENG - 15 September 1787

When I wrote you last, I was just going to set out on a journey to the West of England. I promised you to visit Mr. Cranch's friends and relatives. This we did, as I shall relate to you.

Philadelphia, PA - 20 September 1787

The privilege of franking having ceased with the Convention, I have waited for this opportunity of inclosing you a copy of the proposed Constitution for the United States.

New York, NY - 30 September 1787

I arrived here on monday last. The act of the Convention was then before Congress. It has been since taken up, and by a unanimous vote forwarded to the States, to be proceeded on as recommended by the Convention.

London, ENG - 3 October 1787

I have given your mamma and sister some account of my late excursion to Devonshire. We returned home through Bristol, and took Oxford in our way

New York, NY - 3 October 1787

The new Constitution is received with great joy by all the commercial part of the community.

New York, NY - 11 October 1787

We have the pleasure to see the first act of Congress for selling federal lands, north-west of the Ohio, becoming productive very fast, a large sum of public securities being already paid in upon the first sales

London, ENG - 12 October 1787

I cannot begin my letter by thanking you for yours. You write so seldom that you do not give me the opportunity. Yet I think you would feel disappointed if you did not get a few lines from me.

New York, NY - 14 October 1787

No decisive indications of the public mind in the Northern and middle States can yet be collected. The reports continue to be rather favorable to the act of the Convention from every quarter

Paris, FRA - 15 October 1787

My dear General, I have a few days ago written to you by M. de Moustier, the new Minister from this Court. He is a sensible and honest man, with whom I think that the people of America will be satisfied.

New York, NY - 28 October 1787

The remarks which you make on the act of the Convention appear to me to be in general extremely well founded.

unknown - 30 October 1787

I am much obliged to your Excellency for the explicit manner in which you contradict the insinuations mentioned in my last letter. The only use I shall make of your answer, will he to put it into the hands of a few friends.

Philadelphia, PA - 30 October 1787

The States eastward of New York appear to be almost unanimous in favor of the new Constitution, (for I make no account of the dissension in Rhode Island.)

New York, NY - 0 November 1787

What language can express the joy, the gratitude of Theodosia? Stage after stage without a line. Thy usual punctuality gave room for every fear; various conjectures filled every breast.

New York, NY - 0 November 1787

My health is better. As I fondly believe this the most interesting intelligence I can give thee, I make it my preamble.

Richmond, VA - 6 November 1787

A resolution this day passed for an absolute prohibition of all imported spirits, with some others, in my opinion, almost equally impolitic, and calculated to subject the eastern part of the State to the arbitrary impositions of the western.

New York, NY - 18 November 1787

All my informations from RICHMOND concur in representing the enthusiasm in favor of the new Constitution as subsiding, and giving place to a spirit of criticism.

New York, NY - 20 November 1787

The latest authentic information from Europe places the Dutch in a wretched situation.

New York, NY - 7 December 1787

I understand that the Constitution will certainly be adopted in Connecticut, the returns of the Deputies being now known, and a very great majority found to be its declared and firm friends.

New York, NY - 9 December 1787

The annexed list of trees will shew you that I have ventured to substitute half a dozen sorts of apples in place of the pippins alone, and to add 8 other sorts of American Trees, including twenty of the Sugar maple.

New York, NY - 14 December 1787

I find by from RICHMOND that the proceedings of the Assembly are, as usual, rapidly degenerating with the progress of the Session; and particularly that the force opposed to the act of the Convention has gained the ascendance.

Newburyport, MA - 23 December 1787

John Quincy Adams letter to mother... In the beginning of September I came to this town, and began the study of the law with Mr. Parsons.

New York, NY - 26 December 1787

I am just informed by a Delegate from New Hampshire that he has a letter from President Sullivan, which tells him that the Legislature had unanimously agreed to call a Convention