Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 12

From Robert R. Livingston

To the President of Congress
165 From James Lovell, 26 December 1781 Lovell, James JA From James Lovell, 26 December 1781 Lovell, James Adams, John
From James Lovell
Philadelphia 26th: December 1781 Sir

I have not yet been made certain, that you comprehend that Cypher which I used in my Letters to you, and which will yet awhile be used.

You are to form Alphabets equal in number and of the same commencement and Range, as the Letters of the first sixth part of the family Name where you and I supped last with Mrs. Adams, and you are to look alternately into those constructed Alphabets opposite to my figures, for the Elements to spell with, some figures however I may have used as Baulks.1

James Lovell

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “John Adams Esquire.” Sent as an enclosure in Robert R. Livingston to JA, 26 Dec., above.

1.

For Lovell’s previous efforts to explain his cipher, see Lovell to JA, 21 June, and references in note 4 (vol. 11:381–383).