51John Adams. (Adams Papers)
Begun Oct. 5. 1802. As the Lives of Phylosophers, Statesmen or Historians written by them selves have generally been suspected of Vanity, and therefore few People have been able to read them without disgust; there is no reason to expect that any Sketches I may leave of my own Times would be received by the Public with any favour, or read by individuals with much interest. The many great...
52Notes on the History of Mt. Wollaston, 19 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
Mount Wollaston Hutchinson’s Hist. of M. Bay. Page 7. In 1625 one Capt. Wollaston with about 30 Persons began a Plantation near Westons. They gave it the name of Mount Wollaston. It was known by that name some years after, but at length the name was lost in that of Braintree, of which Town it is a part. The particular Hill, which caused the name of Mount is in the farm of John Quincy Esq late...
53From John Adams to James Lovell, 20 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
I return you "The Messenger" with many Thanks. The Politicks of Europe are written with a Splendid display of ancient and modern Information, and a Studied Elocution: but like almost all other political Writings of those Times betray an Insincerity, a Want of Candor and Integrity, which to me, I own, is extreamly disgusting. In France before the Revolution they had their "Ecrivains des...
54From John Adams to Ma., Citizens of Quincy, 30 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
I should rejoice in the prolongation of my life for another year, were it only for the pleasure of seeing and embracing so many of my Friends.— As every Gentleman here is at least as independent of me, as I can pretend to be of him; as there is no imaginable motive of hope Apprehension or any Sinister or private Interest, which could have prompted you, to such a manifestation of your friendly...
55For the Port Folio., 27 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
In this Port Folio we have deposited some papers, illustrating the plan and criticising the execution of the celebrated "Lyceum" of La Harpe. We now present an extract of a literary letter from an ancient scholar, in our own country, and are delighted to discover, that men of learning and genius, at home and abroad, are unanimous in favour of a learned and virtuous Frenchman, who, disdaining...
56From John Adams to Bernard Hubley, Jr., 30 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have received our favor of 30 October & return the subscription paper for Hubly’s journal with my name to it. The journals of officers who served with reputation in the revolutionary war must be valuable and authentic original documents for history. I rejoice in the prosperity of your family and pray for blessings on your promising and deserving children—As to the dedication you may do as...
57From John Adams to Thomas Truxtun, 30 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have many apologies to make for omitting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 10 of July— The copy you have done me the honor to present to me, of the medal voted by Congress, and executed according to my directions, to the Secretary of the Navy, I accept with great pleasure, not only from a personal regard to the giver, but because I esteem every laurel bestowed...
58From John Adams to David Humphreys, 1 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 28 from Boston has remained through a multiplicity of agricultural occupations unacknowledged to this hour and notwithstanding the lively sensibility it excited both in Mrs. Adams & myself, we sincerely regretted that we were not to have the pleasure of receiving you and Mrs Humphreys at Quincy as we had hoped & expected. If in the course of your affairs you should again...
59From John Adams to David Ramsay, 2 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
You may very justly be surprised to receive under this date my acknowledgment & thanks for your review of the improvements, progress & state of medicine in the eighteenth century. The truth is I could never find time to read it till yesterday when I had much pleasure in the perusal of it & I sincerely think it a very valuable acquisition to American Literature. Medicine anatomy chemistry &...
60From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
"Il ne vaut pas un sou d’etre votre ami" Said Count Sarsofield to me, on day in London.—Upon a curious occasion which I will explain to you another time. Mean while I believe you will find that he estimated my Friendship at as much as it was worth. My Correspondence is not worth one groat. I am more occupied in gathering Seeds and preparing Fields than you are if I may judge by the fruits of...
61From John Adams to Joshua Thomas, 20 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
Nothing could afford me, more pleasure than to visit my Friends in Plymouth (where I formerly so much delighted to reside) on the 22d instant, according to your polite and obliging Invitation: but various circumstances will oblige me to denay myself that gratification. I feel a well grounded conviction that the best principles of sure great and glorious Ancestors, are inherited by a large...
62From John Adams to David Sewall, 22 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
When I resolved, if I could, to give Peace to my Country in Opposition to the Selfish and ambitions Views, of a few of the Federalist, who never knew the Character and temper of the American People, nor their true Interest a Peter Porcupine and a John Ward Fenno, under the direction of McDonald the British Commissioner and William Smith the Agent for British Creditor, began to Squirt their ink...
63From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 15th of December.—I am not disappointed, through I regret the answer you have received from Mr Mifflin. I believe it impossible to get a Printer in America to undertake the publication of your Work. Such Studies are not to the Taste of our People. There is a Gentleman in Philadelphia, Mr Joseph Dennie, Editor of the Portfolio, who I believe would print it by...
64From John Adams to David Sewall, 12 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I recd last night yours of the 6th.—I read the Account of the Small Globe rolling in a little Pool of Mercury: but have heard no more of it. The Powers of the Magnet are indeed among the Arcana of Nature: and what is not? Nature itself is all arcanum: and I believe will remain So. It was not intended that Men with their Strong Passions, and weak Principles, Should know much. Without a more...
65John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 18 th and congratulate you, on the Success of your labours. Thank you for the Print of D r Smith, and Should not dislike to have one of my old Friend M c Kean. Whatever may be said of that Gentlemans Consistency of Conduct, his Uniformity of Principle and System, his Fidelity to his Friends, his conjugal Felicity, his Constancy in his...
66John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, ante 25 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
In my last I attempted to prove that Goverment and Society are inseperable from each other. In the case that was Stated the Government of the Mother over her Infant, was proved to be coeval with the first Act of Society or Sociability between them. Without the Government of the Mother there could have been no Connection or Intercourse between them: and the Child must have perished in the first...
67John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 26 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
I duely rec d yours of the 16 th with the Paper enclosed. I had given no Attention to the Attack upon you in Cheethams Paper, because I know that no Integrity of heart, no Purity of Conduct, or Innocence of Life can protect any Man from the Shafts of Calumny, in these times of party rage and under an elective Government, which breeds Passions and prejudices as fast as ever the sun upon the...
68From John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 15 March 1803 (Adams Papers)
KNOW ALL MEN by these Presents, That I John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire do make, constitute and appoint Cotton Tufts of Weymouth in the County aforesaid Esquire my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my Name to sell, assign and transfer the whole or any Part of the Six Pr. Cent Stock of T whatever Description standing in my Name in the...
69John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 April 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet acknowledged the Receipt of yours of 25. feb. I think you right in not noticing Paine, and in present Circumstances in not disputing with Callender. I remarked the Port folio N 2. and was much pleased. I Suspected the hand.— I have heard, that an Intrigue against Washington did exist in the latter end of 1777 and beginning of 1778, but know nothing of it.— I obtained leave of...
70From John Adams to John Beale Bordley, 25 April 1803 (Adams Papers)
At the request of our mutual Friend Mr van der Kemp, I have inclosed to you his learned Memoir, on the Use of Copper among the Greeks. I hope you have got the better of that painfull disorder which once afflicted you, and that your Friends are all prosperous and happy. With great Esteem and regard / your most obedient PHi : Adams Papers.
71From John Adams to Rufus King, 10 July 1803 (Adams Papers)
I duly received, his Britannic Majestys Declaration and the List of Papers presented to Parliament with the kind Letter you did me the Honor to write me on the twenty Second of June. With great Sincerity I thank you, Sir for this instance of your polite Attention to me, and for a great number of others of a like kind, during your Embassy in England. I was then So Situated that I could not...
72From John Adams to Samuel B. Malcom, 22 July 1803 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledge with Sincere pleasure, the Receipt of a handsome and a friendly letter from you, of the 14th. of this month: and congratulate you on your marriage into a connection, abounding in oppulence, Influence and Talents. The news of this Event gave me more pleasure, than I should have received from hearing of your, election into any legislature, or appointment, to any office under any...
73From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of July 17th. on Saturday. I received and read with pleasure your Essay on the use of Copper among the Greeks and inclosed it immediately by the Post, to Mr Bordley of Philadelphia as you directed. The Remarks on Jefferson and Buffon I presented with my own hand to the Accademy at their last Meeting, which was in May. It was referred to the Committee, to whose...
74From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men, by these Presents, that I John Adams of Quincy, in the County of Norfolk, in the State of Massachusetts, Esquire, in Consideration of Twelve thousand Eight hundred and Twelve dollars paid me by John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and State aforesaid, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give grant Sell and convey unto the Said John Quincy Adams...
75From John Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men by these Presents, that We John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, and Abigail Adams his Wife, In consideration of one Dollar to each of us paid by John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid Esquire, the Receipt whereof We do hereby acknowledge and for diverse other good and...
76From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 30 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received, with much pleasure, late, the last evening your kind Letter of the 28th. of the month, and Should have answered it Sooner if it had come earlier to my hand We have been in great affliction in this Family for more than three months, on account of the dangerous illness of your Friend my Companion, on whose preservation all my hopes of Comfort in this World, Seem to be Suspended. An...
77From John Adams to William Cunningham, 28 November 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday your favor of the 25—had before received the copy of your oration, which you mention in it and since that have received the other that you sent first—for all these favors I thank you. The brochure which contains much valuable matter I have read with a lively interest and high pleasure—I wish I had patience and leisure however to make a few friendly remarks—But as I have...
78From John Adams to William Cunningham, 16 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I ought to acknowledge my fault in having two of your kind letters to answer at once. I return you with thanks, Mr: Thomas’s Spy in which my poor "Thoughts on government," are wickedly and libellously imputed to "the greatest man in America." This was received in your letter of Dec 2d: I thank you for the trouble you have taken to ascertain that Mr: Zabdiel Adams’s Sermon on the validity of...
79From John Adams to William Cunningham, 24 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 15th: with its inclosures. I thank you for the outline as well as the eulogy. I am sorry you had the trouble of transcribing the former, which I see was written as the Italians speak con amore . Speaking of the classification of Scholars in our Colledge, before the Revolution, you consider rank & wealth as anti-republican principles of precedence; Is this...
80John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
I will write to you, if it be only for the Pleasure of giving you a Proof under my hand, that I am alive.— We have had no Topicks this Winter but Banks, Insurance offices, Toll Bridges and Turnpike Roads, till lately a Manifesto has appeared of the Republican Democrats against Governer Strong, made up partly from Dallas’s and partly from the Connecticutt one which Mr Tracy answered. Your...
81From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
Last night I recd your favor of 15 of Feb. At the two last Meetings of our Academy I made Inquiry concerning your Manuscript, and found that the committee had referred it to a Sub committee who were not then present and had not reported. I will endeavour to get this matter settled at the next meeting, in May. Buffon, I presume from all that I have heard or read of him believed in nothing but...
82From John Adams to William Cunningham, 15 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. is received. I beg you would not say a word about me in relation to the subject, which you say now engages the public attention. I am no match for these times, nor for the Actors, who now tread the Stage. You say this awful spirit of Democracy is in great progress. I believe it and I know something of the nature of it. It is a young rake, who thinks himself handsome and...
83From John Adams to John Davis, 11 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your favour of the ninth. Of Mr Baron I know neither the Person nor the Character: but it Seems to me that a demonstration will not be the less mathematical for the Nation or the Morals of the Author. The Accademy can not know the Manners of all their correspondents, and if the Cause of Truth and Science is really promoted by a bad Man even whom they know to be Such, I...
84[January 1804] (Adams Papers)
July 2d. Mowed, over vs. Yard and Garden 3 One Load, from the road to the ditch and from the cart path to the pasture Lane 1 4 Four Loads, over the Way and between the ditch and orchard 4 5 One Load from Chris Webbs House Lott 1 6 One from the 10 Acre Lot on the hill 1 7 Two in Cranchs Barn and two from the 10 Acre Lott 4 Sunday 8
85[July–August] 1804. (Adams Papers)
July 2d. Mowed, over vs. Yard and Garden 3 One Load, from the road to the ditch and from the cart path to the pasture Lane 1 4 Four Loads, over the Way and between the ditch and orchard 4 5 One Load from Chris Webbs House Lott 1 6 One from the 10 Acre Lot on the hill 1 7 Two in Cranchs Barn and two from the 10 Acre Lott 4 Sunday 8
861784 [i.e. 1804]. Aug. (Adams Papers)
The last Week in August We ploughed a ditch and brought the Earth into the Yard and 32 loads of Mud from the Cove.
87From John Adams to John Davis, 14 August 1804 (Adams Papers)
The disposition of every member of the Accademy to Show every respect and do every honor to the Memory of their Reverend and Learned Associate Dr Howard is unquestionable, and nothing but the heat of the Season in my present State of Health should prevent me from having the Honor of attending his Funeral with the other Members. It is my request to you, Sir to give public Notice of the...
88From John Adams to Thomas Perkins, 14 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am quite ashamed to have neglected to this time any acknowledgement of the various civilities I have received from your friendly hand. I very heartily thank you for the fromage de Rocford, which was a high regale to me and Some of my friends, who had learned in france to estimate the value of it. The Segars are excellent, as well as those heretofore received. I Shall never be able to make...
89From John Adams to Columbian Centinel, 22 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
“J. Adams presents his compliments to the Committee of arrangements—Friendship for Mr. King and respect for the Company would have been more than sufficient to have induced him to have accepted with pleasure the obliging invitation to the dinner in honor of a gentleman whose wisdom, independence and integrity have done so much honor and real service to his Country ; but the present ill state...
90From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of October 15 and all the others that you mention, I believe, although I have not been able regularly to acknowledge the receipt of them. I thank you for the two Lectures. I have not been able to procure any information relative to the N.W. Coast, which might be usefull to you. Mr Barrell is no more and I never could learn whether Mr Ingrahams Journal has been...
91From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for my Letter from N.Y and the Pamplet inclosed. Commodore Morris’s Defence contains Information which appears to be wanted by our President and all his Ministers, by his senators and Representatives, by his Officers and Men of his Navy, and by the commercial Citizens of our Country. To be sure to protect the Commerce and Seamen in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and blockade...
92From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
The Republicans have exerted their Energies, and propagated their lying Pamphlets so secretly, and with such effect as to make Federalists almost doubt their Empire in Massachusetts. They do not yet despair however: but their majority will not be so great as they expected. The Defection of the County of Essex is greater than was foreseen. The Causes of this are many, more than I know perhaps....
93From John Adams to Richard Morris, 15 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your obliging letter of the fifth of this month, with a Copy of your defence, and thank you for both. The latter, written in a masterly manner, as far as I can judge is a complete justification of your conduct and ought to have obtained an honorable acquittal. It contains information of various kinds, which seems to have been much wanted by our President and his Ministers, who...
94From John Adams to James Wilkinson, 16 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter and have endeavoured to recollect the conversation you mention, soon after my Election to the Presidents Office. Much of it is still fresh in my memory, but the orders you think you received from me relative to the uniform of the Army have no traces in my mind. I recollect saying that I should look to you for all necessary information and representations respecting the...
95From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
Last Night, my Dear Son, I received your kind Letter of the 3d of the Month and hold myself under great Obligations for so much information of various kinds at once. It is my determination to be a better correspondent than I was last Winter. I never explored that route through New Castle and Frenchtown but am very glad you have found it, because I believe it will Save you many an unpleasant...
96From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of the 19th, which I have received with its Inclosures, you mention a Letter of the Sixth received from me but take no notice of an other, whose date as I take no Copies I cant remember. I have written you, two before this. Your Mother is much better, and now lives with us but is so zealous about the affairs of the Family that I am almost as anxious for her, as when she was...
97From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to know by your favour of the 23d of November, that you have received two Letters from me, since which I have written a third and this is No. 4. As I keep no Copies, you must either burn them or keep them very carefully to yourself. I will Number them, that We may know whether all are received. Whatever Reflections or Opinions you may receive from me, you will consider them as...
98From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of the 26 of November, to your Brother, you express a “Wish that I could See the course of Things with more indifference.” But this is impossible. The Habits of a whole Life of Man, are not to be changed without difficulty. While Life and Breath and being last, I shall love my Country: and neither the Interests of Posterity nor the Happiness of the present Generation, can ever...
99From John Adams to Thomas Truxtun, 13 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
This morning I had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 5th. of this month, with its important enclosures. I cannot accuse my Countrymen with ingratitude. They feel their obligations with ardent sensibility, whenever and wherever they see them. They sometimes from a variety of causes overlook them where they ought to be seen, and sometimes are made to believe they see them where they...
100From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter of the 14th Ult. I believe I misunderstood the Presidents Position. His Expression that the Judges ought to hang American Citizens who should commit homicide &c meant no more than to express his opinion that the Fact amounted to a Capital Offence. His opinion that it is a Capital offence to resist French Revenue Laws, in the West Indies is totally unfounded. The President was also...