John Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain. During the latter part of the Revolutionary War and in the early years of the new nation, he served the Continental Congress of the United States as a senior diplomat in Europe. Adams was the first vice president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with contemporaries, including his wife and advisor Abigail Adams and his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson.
Amsterdam November 17. 1780 Sir From the Time, of the Arrival of my Commission, I have been constantly employed in forming Acquaintances, making Inquiries and asking Advice; but am Sorry…
Amsterdam Novr. 18th. 1780 1 Sir I have recieved the letter which You were so good as to write me on the 15th. of this Month. The Translation of the…
Amsterdam Novr: 30th 1780 Sir I was duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the eighth of October by Mr. Searle. I thank You, Sir, for inclosing the Resolution of…
Amsterdam November 30th 1780 Sir The State of Parties in this Republick is still critical. Many anonymous Pamphlets appear on both Sides. Those which proceed from the English Party, are…
Amsterdam Nov. 30. 1780 Sir Your kind Favour of the 24 with the two elegant Copies of the Pensees I have received, with Gratitude. The Republick appears to be, at…
Amsterdam Decr. 1st 1780 Dear sir I thank You for your favour of the 20th. of November. I am really weary of reading such Follies as Motions to address the…
Amsterdam, 1 Dec. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand (PCC, No. 84, II, f. 321–324). LbC almost entirely in JQA ’s hand (Adams Papers). printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer.…
Amsterdam 6 Decr. 1780 Sir I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the…
Amsterdam Decr. 6. 1780 Sir I have received your very agreable Letter of the 8th of September. 1 Nothing could give me more Satisfaction than to learn the peaceable Establishment…
Amsterdam Decr. 9. 1780 Dear Sir Your Favour of July 25th was received in Paris in my Absence, and I have never had opportunity, to acknowledge it, till now. You…
Amsterdam December 14th. 1780 Sir I am every day accepting the Bills of Exchange, which were drawn upon Mr. Laurens: but I have no prospect of obtaining Money to discharge…
17th. Decr. 1780 I regularly recieve the Newspapers, but have not recieved the Books or Pamphlets of any kind. If a Majority of the People your Way think America still…
Amsterdam Decr. 18. 1780 My dearest Portia I have this morning sent Mr. Thaxter, with my two Sons to Leyden, there to take up their Residence for some time, and…
Amsterdam Decr. 18. 1780 Dear Sir I have received your Favour of the 11. The Inclosures I have packed with my Dispatches, and the Duplicate of Mr. Amorys, to go…
Amsterdam December 18th. 1780 Sir War is to a Dutchman the greatest of Evils. Sir Joseph Yorke is so sensible of this, that he keeps alive a continual Fear of…
Amsterdam Decr. 20. 1780 My dear John I have just received a Letter from Mr. Thaxter and another from your Brother, 1 and should have been equally pleased with one…
Amsterdam December 30th. 1780 Sir The Province of Zealand having been opposed to the other Provinces in so many Instances and having lately protested against the Resolutions of the States…
Amsterdam Decr. 31. 1780 Dear Sir I have the Honour of yours of the 28. We have no Letters or Papers from London later than the 19 or 20, which…
Amsterdam December 31st. 1780 Sir It will scarcely be believed in Congress, that at a Time when there are the strongest Appearances of War, there has not been a Newspaper…
Amsterdam 1 January 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC, Misc. Papers, Reel No. 1, f. 204–211. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins The Revolutionary Diplomatic…
Amsterdam January 14th. 1781 Sir In an Excursion, which I have lately made through the principal Cities of this Province, Haarlem, Leyden, the Hague and Rotterdam, I have had an…
Amsterdam Jan. 14 1781 Dear Sir Last night, on my arrival home, I found your Favour and Thank you for the Intelligence it contains, which I shall transmit, as you…
Amsterdam, 15 January 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC, No. 84, III, f. 29–32. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of…
Amsterdam Jan. 22. 1781 Sir I have received your favour of 19 and am much obliged to you for your frank and candid Account of the Paragraphs mentioned. I could…