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.
à la Haye le 11. Octobre 1785. 1 Monsieur, Le Roi m’ayant fait adresser la Ratification du Traité de Commerce & d’Amitié que j’ai eu l’avantage de négocier avec Vous,…
Braintree Octr. 15. 1785 Sir It has not been without Anxiety, that I have refrained from addressing a Letter to you for some months past. But not having the Advantage…
Paris, 29. October 1785. Dear Sir, The Marquis de la Fayette is just returned from Germany, where he has been in the way of observing, that the many lies &…
New York 1 Nov r. 1785 Dear Sir The enclosed Letter from President Lee to you (of the Subject and Contents of which I am informed) will explain to you…
At sea, [ ante 29 ] 1 Nov 1785— sir The generous Exertions of the Marquis de la fayette, having obtained prosals for introducing a Quantity of Oil into the…
New York 2 d Nov: 1785 Sir, A confidential intimacy with our common friend M r. Gerry, with whom I have served during the last year has given me full…
New York 26 th: Novem r. 1785 D r: Sir Congress on Wednesday last made a House and chose M r. Hancock President but he being absent they appointed M…
Philadelphia Nov r 26. 1785. Sir I presume on the Circumstance of being not intirely unknown to your Excellency, to offer to you the inclosed Papers: knowing, that the President…
Paris Nov. 27. 1785. Dear Sir Your favor of the 5 th. came to hand yesterday, 1 and Col o. Smith & Col o. Humphries (by whom you will receive…
Devonshire Square 28 Novem r 1785 Sir I beg pardon for troubling You on a very disagrable Subject, but not being able to procure a sufficient Information in any other…
Germantown 28 th Nov r 1785. Dear Sir Your very friendly Lett r of the 26 th August ’84, wou’d not have lain so long unnoticed, had not my embarrassments…
Lahaie 29 Nov. 1785 Monsieur Je dois réponse aux honorées vôtres des 1 er. & 10 du cour t. J’écris ce fois à Mr. Cerisier afin de savoir pourquoi l’insertion…
S t James’s Novem r: 30 th 1785. Sir, The Commissioners for American Claims having notified to me, that, by Virtue of the Power given to them by the Act…
Papestraat Hage December 16. 1785. May it please Your Excellencÿ! It is with the greatest reluctance, most honor ble: Sir! that Your continuing Silence, forces me to incumber You again,…
Salem Dec r. 20th, 1785 Sir Having an acquaintance with your good brother M r. Cranch, from being a fellow member of the same Legislative body; at his request and…
Parl t. Street 20 t Dec— 85. D r. Sir I have been prevented from paying my respects to you hitherto by the feeble State I have been in for…
Weymouth Decemb r. 21 t. 1785 1 Dear S r. Your Favour of Sep t. 9 t I rec d. and Your Present of Neckar for which I return You…
Boston Decr. 29th. 1785 Dear Bror. When the Senate was last sitting I desired the Honble. Mr. Goodhue≠ of Salem, to answer your Request to me about the Cod-Fishery, and…
Boston January 12 th. 1786 sir, I am honored by your Excellency’s Letter of the 2 d. of Sept. by M r. Storer. 1 The navigation Act of Massachusetts having…
Paris Jan. 12. 1786. Sir You were here the last year when the interest due to the French officers was paid to them, and were sensible of the good effect…
Lisbon 14 Jan y 1786 1 Much hon d. & esteemed Sir Notwithstanding the deep wound which one branch of our fishery had rec’d by an act of the british…
Old Jewry 21 January 1786 Sir The Books which I had the honour to request your Excellency’s acceptance of, (viz t. My—Grandfathers Works) are but this moment returned from my…
Newburyport Janu y 23 d. 1786 Dear Sir Under the 18 th of last October I did myself the honor and pleasure of addressing you, com̃itting the Letter to the…
Paris Feb. 7. 1786. Dear Sir I am honored with yours of Jan. 19. mine of Jan. 12. had not I suppose at that time got to your hands as…