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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) TO JONATHAN MASON. - The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811)
TO JONATHAN MASON. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811) [1854]Edition used:The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 9.
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- Official Letters, Messages, and Public Papers. Continued.
- 23 July 1799: To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- T. Pickering, Secretary of State, to John Adams.
- To J. Mchenry, Secretary of War.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- T. Pickering to John Adams. (private.)
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Stoddert. (private.)
- T. Pickering, Secretary of State, to John Adams.
- (inclosed.) C. Lee, Attorney-general, to T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- T. Pickering, Secretary of State, to John Adams. (private.)
- B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, to John Adams.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To J. Mchenry, Secretary of War.
- Oliver Ellsworth to John Adams.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To the Heads of Department.
- To Chief Justice Ellsworth.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- T. Pickering to John Adams.
- To B. Stoddert Secretary of the Navy.
- O. Ellsworth to John Adams.
- C. Lee, Attorney-general, to John Adams.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State. (private.)
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- To A. J. Dallas.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- Notes
- To Tobias Lear.
- To Mrs. Washington.
- 13 Jan, 1800: To the President.
- To Henry Knox.
- To Benjamin Lincoln.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To J. Mchenry, Secretary of War.
- Thomas Johnson to John Adams.
- To Thomas Johnson.
- To the Secretary of State, and Heads of Department.
- J. Mchenry, Secretary of War, to John Adams.
- To T. Pickering, Secretary of State.
- T. Pickering, Secretary of State, to John Adams.
- To Timothy Pickering.
- To J. Mchenry, Secretary of War.
- To the Attorney-general, and the District-attorney of Pennsylvania.
- To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- To the Heads of Department.
- The Heads of Department to the President.
- To C. Lee, Secretary of State, Pro Tem.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To W. S. Smith.
- To Benjamin Stoddert.
- B. Stoddert to John Adams.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To S. Dexter, Secretary of War.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To B. Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy.
- To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To John Trumbull.
- To S. Dexter, Secretary of War.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- To Barnabas Bidwell.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To John Trumbull.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To S. Dexter, Secretary of War.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- To S. Dexter, Secretary of War.
- O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury, to John Adams.
- To Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
- John Jay to John Adams. (private.)
- O. Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury, to John Adams.
- To John Jay.
- To John Jay.
- 24 Jan. 1801: To George Churchman and Jacob Lindley.
- To Elias Boudinot.
- To Richard Stockton.
- To J. Marshall, Secretary of State.
- To S. Dexter, Secretary of War.
- John Marshall to John Adams.
- To John Marshall.
- To Joseph Ward.
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- To the Secretary of State.
- Oliver Wolcott to John Adams.
- To Oliver Wolcott.
- Speeches and Messages to Congress, Proclamations, and Addresses.
- 4 March 1797: Inaugural Speech to Both Houses of Congress,
- Speech to Both Houses of Congress,
- Reply to the Answer of the Senate.
- Reply to the Answer of the House of Representatives.
- Speech to Both Houses of Congress,
- Reply to the Answer of the Senate.
- Reply to the Answer of the House of Representatives.
- 8 Dec. 1798: Speech to Both Houses of Congress, 1
- Reply to the Answer of the Senate.
- Reply to the Answer of the House of Representatives.
- 3 Dec. 1799: Speech to Both Houses of Congress,
- Reply to the Answer of the Senate.
- Reply to the Answer of the House of Representatives.
- Reply to the Address of the Senate, On the Death of George Washington.
- 22 Nov. 1800: Speech to Both Houses of Congress,
- Reply to the Answer of the Senate.
- Reply to the Answer of the House of Representatives.
- Messages to Congress.
- 31 May 1797: Message to the Senate; Nominating Envoys to France.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Respecting the Territory of the Natchez.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; On Affairs With Algiers.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Communicating Information Respecting Spain.
- 8 Jan. 1798: Message to Both Houses of Congress; Announcing the Ratification of an Amendment of the Constitution.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Relative to a French Privateer.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Transmitting Despatches From France.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Transmitting Despatches From France.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Transmitting Despatches From France.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; On the State of Affairs With France.
- Message to the Senate; Transmitting a Letter From George Washington.
- Message to the House of Representatives; Respecting Certain Acts of British Naval Officers.
- Circular, to the Commanders of Armed Vessels In the Service of the United States, Given At the Navy Department, December 29 Th, 1798.
- 28 Jan. 1799: Message to Both Houses of Congress; Transmitting a French Decree Respecting Neutral Sailors.
- Message to the House of Representatives; Respecting the Suspension of a French Decree
- Message to the Senate; Nominating an Envoy to France.
- Message to the Senate; Nominating Three Envoys to France.
- Message to Both Houses of Congress; Announcing the Decease of George Washington.
- 8 Jan. 1800: Message to Both Houses of Congress; Transmitting a Letter of Martha Washington.
- Message to the House of Representatives; Transmitting a Letter of John Randolph, Jr.
- 21 Jan. 1801: Message to the Senate; Transmitting a Report of the Secretary of State.
- Message to the Senate; On the Convention With France.
- Proclamations.
- 25 Mar. 1797: Proclamation 1 For an Extraordinary Session of Congress.
- 23 Mar. 1798: Proclamation For a National Fast.
- Proclamation Revoking the Exequaturs of the French Consuls.
- 6 Mar. 1799: Proclamation For a National Fast.
- Proclamation Concerning the Insurrection In Pennsylvania.
- Proclamation, Opening the Trade With Certain Ports of St. Domingo.
- 9 May 1800: Proclamation, Opening the Trade With Other Ports of St. Domingo.
- Proclamation, Granting Pardon to the Pennsylvania Insurgents.
- Addresses.
- 23 Aug. 1797: To the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- April 1798: To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of the City of Philadelphia.
- To the Citizens of Philadelphia, the District of Southwark, and the Northern Liberties.
- To the Inhabitants of Providence, R. I.
- To the Inhabitants of Bridgeton, In the County of Cumberland, In the State of New Jersey.
- To the Citizens of Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland.
- To the Young Men of the City of Philadelphia, the District of Southwark, and the Northern Liberties, Pennsylvania.
- To the Inhabitants and Citizens of Boston, Massachusetts.
- To the Inhabitants of the County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- To the Inhabitants of the County of Burlington, New Jersey.
- To the Inhabitants of the Town of Hartford, Connecticut.
- To the Inhabitants of the Borough of Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania.
- To the Young Men of Boston, Massachusetts.
- To the Grand Jury For the County of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- To the Soldier Citizens of New Jersey.
- To the Inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, Massachusetts.
- To the Young Men of the City of New York.
- To the Inhabitants of Quincy, Massachusetts.
- To the Inhabitants of the Town of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- To the Legislature of Massachusetts.
- To the Inhabitants of Arlington and Sandgate, Vermont.
- To the Legislature of New Hampshire.
- To the Students of Dickinson College, Pennsylvania.
- To the Students of New Jersey College.
- To the Governor and the Legislature of Connecticut.
- To the Cincinnati of Rhode Island.
- To the Inhabitants of Dedham and Other Towns In the County of Norfolk, Massachusetts.
- To the Inhabitants of Concord, Massachusetts.
- To the Students of Harvard University, In Massachusetts.
- To the Freemasons of the State of Maryland.
- To the Inhabitants of Washington County, Maryland.
- To the Inhabitants of the County of Middlesex, Virginia.
- To the Committee Composed of a Deputation From Each Militia Company of the Forty-eighth Regiment, In the County of Botetourt, Virginia.
- To the Inhabitants of the Town of Cincinnati and Its Vicinity, In the North-western Territory.
- To the Inhabitants of Harrison County, Virginia.
- To the Young Men of Richmond, Virginia.
- To the Inhabitants of Accomac County, Virginia.
- To the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York.
- To the Boston Marine Society, Massachusetts.
- To the Cincinnati of South Carolina.
- To the Grand Jury of the County of Dutchess, New York.
- To the Grand Jury of the County of Ulster, New York.
- To the Inhabitants of the Town of Newbern, North Carolina.
- To the Officers and Soldiers of the Sixth Brigade of the Third Division of North Carolina Militia.
- To the Grand Jurors of the County of Hampshire, Massachusetts.
- To the Inhabitants of Machias, District of Maine.
- To the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts.
- To the Officers of the Guilford Regiment of Militia, and the Inhabitants of Guilford County, North Carolina.
- To the Officers of the Third Division of Georgia Militia.
- 3 April 1799: To the Grand Jury of Morris County, In New Jersey.
- To the Citizens, Inhabitants of the Mississippi Territory.
- 5 June 1800: To the Inhabitants of the City of Washington.
- To the Citizens of Alexandria.
- To the Corporation of New London, Connecticut.
- To the Inhabitants of the County of Edgecombe, North Carolina.
- 26 Mar. 1801: To the Senate and House of Representatives of Massachusetts.
- Correspondence.
- Correspondence Originally Published In the Boston Patriot.
- Preliminary Note.
- To the Printers of the Boston Patriot.
- The Inadmissible Principles of the King of England’s Proclamation of October 16, 1807, Considered.
- General Correspondence.
- 9 Aug. 1770: To Catharine Macaulay. 1
- 17 Dec. 1773: To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- 9 April 1774: To James Warren.
- To William Woodfall.
- To James Warren.
- To John Tudor.
- Joseph Hawley 1 to John Adams.
- To William Tudor.
- To Edward Biddle. 1
- To James Burgh.
- 3 Jan. 1775: To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- To Moses Gill. 1
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- To George Washington. 1
- To Josiah Quincy.
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- Joseph Hawley to John Adams.
- To James Otis. 1
- To Joseph Hawley.
- To Mrs. Mercy Warren. 2
- 6 Jan. 1776: To George Washington.
- Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- To James Otis.
- R. H. Lee to John Adams.
- To James Sullivan.
- To Benjamin Hichborn.
- To Samuel Cooper.
- To Isaac Smith.
- To Henry Knox.
- To Patrick Henry.
- To Hugh Hughes.
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To William Cushing.
- To John Lowell.
- To Oakes Angier.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Samuel Chase.
- To James Warren.
- To Zabdiel Adams. 1
- To Benjamin Kent.
- To Nathanael Greene.
- To Samuel H. Parsons.
- To John Sullivan.
- To John Winthrop.
- To William Tudor.
- To Samuel Chase.
- To Archibald Bullock.
- To Samuel Chase.
- To Mrs. Adams.
- To Samuel Chase.
- To Joseph Ward.
- To Jonathan Mason.
- To J. D. Sergeant.
- To the Deputy Secretary of Massachusetts.
- To James Warren.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Samuel H. Parsons.
- To Jonathan Mason.
- To Joseph Hawley.
- To William Tudor.
- To Samuel Cooper.
- To James Warren. 1
- To Samuel Adams.
- Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- To Samuel Adams.
- Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- 9 Jan. 1777: Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- To John Avery, Junior.
- To William Tudor.
- To William Gordon.
- To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- Thomas Jefferson to John Adams.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- B. Franklin to James Lovell. 1
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- To James Lovell.
- 8 Feb. 1778: To Benjamin Rush.
- To James Lovell.
- To Mrs. Warren.
- 20 Feb. 1779: To James Lovell.
- To Samuel Cooper.
- James Lovell to John Adams. (confidential.)
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- To Thomas Mckean.
- James Lovell to John Adams. (confidential.)
- James Lovell to John Adams. (confidential.)
- Elbridge Gerry to John Adams.
- Henry Laurens to John Adams.
- To James Lovell.
- To James Lovell.
- To Henry Laurens.
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- 23 Sept. 1780: To Edmund Jenings.
- To Jonathan Jackson.
- 17 June 1782: To James Warren.
- To James Warren.
- To Jonathan Jackson.
- 12 April 1783: To Arthur Lee.
- Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- 14 Jan. 1784: Elbridge Gerry to John Adams.
- To A. M. Cerisier.
- To Charles Spener.
- To James Warren.
- To Francis Dana.
- To Mrs. Warren.
- 25 Feb. 1785: The AbbÉ De Mably to John Adams.
- To Benjamin Waterhouse.
- To Samuel Adams.
- To John Jebb.
- To Arthur Lee.
- To John Jebb.
- To John Jebb.
- R. H. Lee to John Adams.
- 3 Feb. 1786: To Count Sarsfield.
- Samuel Adams to John Adams.
- To Cotton Tufts. 1
- To Cotton Tufts.
- 27 Jan. 1787: To Benjamin Hichborn.
- To Philip Mazzei.
- R. H. Lee to John Adams.
- Arthur Lee to John Adams.
- 2 Dec. 1788: To Benjamin Rush.
- To Thomas Brand-hollis.
- 20 May 1789: To Richard Price.
- To Henry Marchant.
- To Silvanus Bourn.
- To James Sullivan.
- To Marston Watson.
- 19 April 1790: To Richard Price.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- To Alexander Jardine.
- To Thomas Brand-hollis.
- To Thomas Brand-hollis.
- To Thomas Welsh.
- 23 Jan. 1791: To John Trumbull.
- To Hannah Adams.
- 6 April 1797: To Joseph Ward.
- 3 Jan. 1800: To Henry Guest.
- 3 Dec. 1800: To Dr. Ogden.
- To F. A. Vanderkemp.
- To Elbridge Gerry.
- 11 Mar. 1801: Christopher Gadsden to John Adams.
- To Samuel Dexter.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To Benjamin Stoddert.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Christopher Gadsden.
- 26 Jan. 1802: To Samuel A. Otis.
- To Thomas Truxtun.
- To Joshua Thomas, James Thacher, and William Jackson.
- 3 Mar. 1804: To F. A. Vanderkemp.
- 5 Feb. 1805: To F. A. Vanderkemp.
- 1 May 1807: To Benjamin Rush.
- To William Heath.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- 3 Sept. 1808: To Benjamin Rush.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- To J. B. Varnum.
- 16 Feb. 1809: To F. A. Vanderkemp.
- To Skelton Jones.
- To Daniel Wright and Erastus Lyman.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- To Joseph Lyman.
- To Samuel Perley.
- To F. A. Vanderkemp.
- 21 Jan. 1810: To Benjamin Rush.
- 29 Jan. 1811: To David Sewall.
- To Josiah Quincy.
- To Josiah Quincy.
- To Benjamin Rush.
- Appendix.
- A.
- “ Broken Hints, to Be Communicated to the Committee of Congress For the Massachusetts.
TO JONATHAN MASON.
Philadelphia, 21 August, 1776.
I had by yesterday’s post the pleasure of your letter of the 12th instant. The account you give me of the books you have read and studied is very agreeable to me. Let me request you to pursue my lord Coke. The first Institute you say you have diligently studied. Let me advise you to study the second, third, and fourth Institutes with equal diligence. My lord Coke is justly styled the oracle of the law, and whoever is master of his writings, is master of the laws of England. I should not have forgotten his Reports or his Entries. These, equally with his Institutes, demand and deserve the attention of the student.
It is a matter of curiosity rather than use, of speculation rather than practice, to contemplate what Mr. Selden calls the antiquæ legis facies. Yet I know a young mind as active and inquisitive as yours will not be easy without it. Horne, Bracton, Britton, Fleta, Thornton, Glanville, and Fortescue will exhibit to you this ancient face, and there you may contemplate all its beauties.
The Year-Books are also a great curiosity. You must make yourself sufficiently acquainted with law-french and with the abbreviated law-hand, to read and understand the cases reported in these books, when you have occasion to search a point. The French language will not only be necessary for you as a lawyer, but, if I mistake not, it will become every day more and more a necessary accomplishment of a gentleman in America.
There is another science, my dear Sir, that I must recommend to your most attentive consideration, and that is the Civil Law. You will find it so interspersed with history, oratory, law, politics, and war and commerce, that you will find advantages in it every day. Wood, Domat, Ayliffe, Taylor, ought to be read. But these should not suffice. You should go to the fountain-head, and drink deep of the Pierian spring. Justinian’s Institutes, and all the commentators upon them that you can find, you ought to read. The Civil Law will come as fast into fashion in America as the French language, and from the same causes.
I think myself much obliged to Mr. Martin for his politeness to you, and should advise you to accept of his kind offer, provided you do not find the practice of his office interferes too much with your studies, which I do not think it will.
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