1796 Letters

Philadelphia, PA - 7 January 1796

The President appears great in Randolph's vindication throughout, excepting that he wavered about signing the treaty, which he ought not to have done one moment.

New York, NY - 19 January 1796

I am much obliged to you, sir, for this vindication ; but it being summary and in general terms, and comprehending only one of the points, I think it best, in order to obviate all further questions, to state particularly my sentiments relative to the

Philadelphia, PA - 20 January 1796

THIS is one of my red letter days. It is the anniversary of the signature of the declaration of an armistice between the United States and Great Britain in 1783. There are several of these days in my calendar, which I recollect as they pass in review

Philadelphia, PA - 23 January 1796

The southern gentry are playing, at present, a very artful game, which I may develope to you in confidence hereafter, under the seal of secrecy.

Philadelphia, PA - 26 January 1796

YESTERDAY I came to the Senate, as usual on a Monday morning pleasing my imagination and my heart with the hope and expectation of a letter from my dearest friend. No letter for the Vice President!

New York, NY - 26 January 1796

For the debts, it seems to me best to take some sensible merchant, north of the Potomac, and particularly of Philadelphia, if one of acknowledged weight and character could be found willing to serve.

Boston, MA - 28 January 1796

Mr. Adams, the Governor, may console himself with his good intentions, but he has no credit for them in the opinion of the wise and enlightened part of his countrymen.

London, ENG - 0 February 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to father... I confess I should never have thought that even the delirium of guilt could publish such a production, and imagine it would injure the reputation of the President...

New York, NY - 8 February 1796

What will you think of the taste of New-York when I shall tell you that Miss Broadhurst is not very generally admired here?

Philadelphia, PA - 8 February 1796

IT is Monday, the time to expect the eastern mail. Other men have letters, I have none. Humiliated and mortified, and, at the same time, irritated, I feel sometimes a disposition to abuse the post offices

Philadelphia, PA - 10 February 1796

I don t love slight, neglect, contempt, disgrace, nor insult, more than others. Yet I believe I have firmness of mind enough to bear it like a man, a hero, and a philosopher.

Philadelphia, PA - 13 February 1796

There is a Dr. somebody here from Connecticut, who pretends, with an instrument made of some kind of metal or composition of metals, by a sort of mesmerian rubbing, or stroking, or conjuration, to cure rheumatisms, headaches, pleurisies, and I know n

New York, NY - 14 February 1796

I am much obliged to you for the books you have been so kind as to send me, and which, with your friendly letter of the 11th inst., were delivered to me yesterday.

Philadelphia, PA - 15 February 1796

The subject which you think will excite all their feelings is well known to every body in public life, but is talked of by nobody but in confidence.

Philadelphia, PA - 20 February 1796

My mother's relief from her fears respecting her arm is a great pleasure to me. I hope to see her in good health in June. Have you given her my barrel of flour ?

Philadelphia, PA - 27 February 1796

I DINED yesterday with Mr. Madison. Mrs. Madison is a fine woman, and her two sisters are equally so.

New York, NY - 29 February 1796

Considering the nature of our governments, a succession of demagogues must be expected : and the strenuous efforts of the wise and virtuous will not cease to be necessary to frustrate their artifices and designs.

Philadelphia, PA - 1 March 1796

YESTERDAY the President sent his carriage for me to go with the family to the theatre. The Rage and the Spoiled Child were the two pieces. It rained and the house was not full.

Philadelphia, PA - 12 March 1796

I DINED yesterday with Mr. Burr, who lives here in style. A number of members of the House, the Speaker Mr. Dayton, among the rest.

Philadelphia, PA - 13 March 1796

I COVET the harp of Amphion. What would I not give for the harp of Amphion ?

Cleaveland Row, ENG - 17 March 1796

I have, since you left us, taken one occasion to renew to you my assurances of the sincere esteem and friendship with which your whole conduct has impressed me, and of the high sense which I entertain of your virtues and talents.

Philadelphia, PA - 19 March 1796

I cannot see a ray of hope before June. If the House should be frenzical, we must sit till next March, and leave it to the people to decide by choosing a new President, Senate and House

London, ENG - 20 March 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to father... The people indeed everywhere ardently sigh for peace. Everywhere they perceive that they have been made the victims of their own passions and follies.

Philadelphia, PA - 25 March 1796

After dinner the gentlemen drew off after the ladies, and left me alone with the President in close conversation. He detained me there till nine o clock, and was never more frank and open upon politics.

Philadelphia, PA - 31 March 1796

The purport of it is pleasing ; but the conduct of the British armed vessels in the West Indies is intolerable beyond all forbearance.

London, ENG - 4 April 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to father... I have some reason to suppose that the anti-neutral views of the French government extend even to Hamburg and Bremen, but their principal object will be the United States.

Philadelphia, PA - 9 April 1796

I am so fatigued and disgusted with the insipidity of this dull life, that I am half of a mind to vow that if Washington don t resign, I will. The old hero looks very grave of late.

Philadelphia, PA - 13 April 1796

I DINED on Monday at the Presidents with young La Fayette and his preceptor, tutor or friend, whatever they call him, whose name is Frestel.

Philadelphia, PA - 16 April 1796

They have appointed committees to correspond with the merchants in all the seaports. I expect that the citizens will also be called together in the state house yard and it is said that the gentlemen will turn out

Philadelphia, PA - 19 April 1796

THE sensations of 19th April, 1775, and those of this morning, have some resemblance to each other. A prospect of foreign war and civil war in conjunction, is not very pleasant.

Philadelphia, PA - 24 April 1796

The charming letter from our son I return. I know very well all his meaning. He will see man kind in his youth.

Philadelphia, PA - 30 April 1796

The proceedings of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia now, compared with their in temperate folly last July or August, is a curious specimen of negotiations with foreign courts and nations by the people at large in town meetings.

New York, NY - 1 May 1796

The great questions which have agitated this country since my arrival, may now, I think, be considered as determined. I will therefore no longer postpone thanking your lordship

Philadelphia, PA - 3 May 1796

THE result of Saturday's debate in the House of Representatives removes all anxiety for the remainder of this session, and leaves me at liberty to ask leave to go home.

New York, NY - 26 May 1796

I shall always be happy in opportunities of manifesting to the family of the late Governor Hancock, my respect for his memory.

New York, NY - 26 May 1796

As to political reformations in Europe or elsewhere, I confess that, considering men as being what they are, I do not amuse myself with dreams about an age of reason, prior to the millennium

Philadelphia, PA - 0 June 1796

Timothy Pickering letter to John Quincy Adams... the President with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, has appointed you their Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal...

Hague, NED - 4 June 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to Timothy Pickering... If the war by land be thus brought to a close, the whole force and attention of the French government will of course be turned towards the means of balancing the British naval force...

Hague, NED - 6 June 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to John Adams... At length I have been released from a situation equally remote from all public utility and all personal satisfaction.

Hague, NED - 9 June 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to brother Charles... That a dissolution of the union would be the consequence of a war with Great Britain, I think very probable...

Philadelphia, PA - 10 June 1796

SALLY McKEAN letter to Anna Payne...we will speak a little about Philadelphia and the fashions, the beaux, Congress, and the weather. Do I not make a fine jumble of them?

New York, NY - 15 June 1796

I thank you for making to Lord Grenville the intimation I requested relative to the intended present. I shall deem myself sufficiently honoured and gratified, if my endeavours should prove conducive to permanent peace and conciliation between our cou

Hague, NED - 24 June 1796

John Quincy Adams letter to John Adams... If the accounts received here are well founded, the House of Representatives have at last passed the laws necessary to execute on our part the treaty with Britain...

Dropmore, ENG - 9 July 1796

With respect to the impressments, I am confident that such orders as you speak of have been more than once repeated.

Philadelphia, PA - 27 July 1796

Mr. Donaldson had gone to Leghorn with orders from Mr. Barlow to transmit two hundred thousand dollars to Algiers, which would procure the redemption of our captive citizens

New Utrecht, NY - 18 August 1796

On first setting my foot on American soil, I was visited with sensations which I certainly never experienced in the old country.

Philadelphia, PA - 3 September 1796

SALLY McKEAN letter to Anna Payne...You can have no idea, my dear girl, what pleasant times I have...

New York, NY - 3 September 1796

The article in the treaty, to which you allude, viz. the last, was proposed by me to Lord Grenville, because it seemed probable that when the treaty should for some time have been in operation, defects might become manifest

New York, NY - 20 October 1796

You are now placed, as you well observe, in a situation delicate and important. Your reflections on it are just and proper.

London, ENG - 12 November 1796

The declaration of war by Spain, at a moment when England appeared to be making serious efforts to conclude a general peace, strengthens the belief of many that France prefers still to continue the war.

Stratford, CT - 27 November 1796

It will purify me from all envy of Mr. Jefferson, or Mr. Pinckney, or Mr. Burr, or Mr. any body who may be chosen President or Vice President.

Philadelphia, PA - 4 December 1796

Yesterday I dined with the President, in company with John Watts, the king of the Cherokees, with a large number of his chiefs and their wives

Philadelphia, PA - 8 December 1796

ENCLOSED are some signal accomplishments of prophecies. Be cool and discreet in your communications of them.

Vienna, AUT - 19 December 1796

It is certainly unnecessary for me, Madam, to express here the interest, which I take in your fate, and in that of your unfortunate friend, and to tell you how happy I should be, could I procure for him his liberty.

Philadelphia, PA - 30 December 1796

The President says he must sell something to en able him to clear out. When a man is about retiring from public life, and sees nothing but a ploughshare between him and the grave, he naturally thinks most upon that.

Vienna, AUT - 31 December 1796

It would, however, be a most praiseworthy action on your part to suppress the letter, and to send me, in place of any answer to it, an order for the release of the unfortunate individual in question.