31From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
My Philosophy and my Religion, Such as they are, are brought to a Tryal. My dear, my only daughter lies in the next Chamber consuming with a Schirrous Cancer; my Daughter in Law, Charles’s Widow lies in the next Chamber, extreamly weak, and low with one of the most dangerous diseases to which We are liable. My Wife a valetudinarian through an whole Life of 69 Years, is worn down with care,...
32From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, dear Sir for your favours of 7. and 20th. Ult. Messrs Everett and Mr Ticknor will have the benefit of your Introductions. Oh! that I had been So introduced when I entered Holland a forlorn Pilgrim in 1780, without a Single Line of Introduction to any body. What a Knighterrant I have been? There has been too much Said about Franklins Plagiarism. If he was guilty, which I do not...
33From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I forgot in my last the most brilliant Topick, of all that splendid Phenomenon in the female World, of Genius Taste Learning Observation and Reflection, Madam La Baroness de Stael Holstein. You Seem to Suppose that I have the honour of her Ladyships Accquaintance. Alass! I never had Such good Fortune! I never Saw her Face or figure. Indeed I Should be afraid to behold either, for I have as...
34From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
You have planned more Work in your favour of the 9th than could be executed by any Body in twenty years: by me, not in 50 or 100. But Sobrius esto! Oh my Soul! I must not Speak of your Indisposition lightly. Your Bark and Exercise and friendly Visits and Games of Chess are better for you, than Study or Writings. If your lovely Daughter reads to you The Lady of the Lake, I approve of that...
35From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your kind favour of the 21st. I have had a very feeble Winter and am Still afflicted with paines and Imbecilities which render it very difficult to take the exercise necessary for my health. J. Q.s Report must speak for itself. I am not a Judge of it: but Farrar who is, and who has read it with care Speaks well of it. If a Reviewer can be found in France or England to tear it to...
36From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr J. A Smiths appointment was not by J. Q. A but by the President “Sancte Socrate ora pro nobis” Said Erasmus on reading the Doctrine of Socrates so like the christian. My memory does not recollect the place in Plato and my Eyes cannot look it. But as Plato learned all he taught in Egypt and India, I choose “petere fontes.” I am of Sir William Jones’s Mind that “Our divine Religion, has no...
37From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have recd Condorcet, in good order and your favour of 20th. Ult. Enfields History of Philosophy, is worth many Condorcets. This great Work is drawn up from Brucker’s “Historia critica Philosophiæ”; an immense Work in half a dozen folio Volumes of Greek and Latin. Can you give me the Sketch of this Brucker? Who was he? Neither Brucker nor his Abridger, had Seen the Asiatic Researches; nor...
38From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favors of the third, and am much obliged to you and to Mr. Mappa for your Observations on the generation of shell fish &c My Privilege of franking extends to all Letters and Packetts. I return your letter to Chandler Livingston with this, and will return that to Mr. Boon, in a short time. I can afford you no ideas on the Subject of the mammoth because I have none. The Spirit...
39From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 25th. is recd.—Ingraham, I think, must be no further North than the 56th: degree, but when I can find a little time, I will read his Journal again and if I find any thing that will entertain you, perhaps I may transmit it. Rumphius, whom you quote is unknown to me. If what he says, which corresponds with my Observation in the generation of shell fish on the Surface of the...
40From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
As Misery is Said to derive Some consolation from the Misery of others; your Letter of 18. Septr. has given me Some miserable Comfort, to find to find that your Batavian Predecessors in New York were not much more tollerant than my Yankee Ancestors in New England. But I admire your East India Company and their Director, and their Threat, of the Authority of their H. M. the States General. How...
41From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment received your obliging Favour of the 20th. Yesterday the anniversary Festival, which We in New England call by the technical Term Thanksgiving, I heard from my Reverend Pastor, Mr Peter Whitney, an excellent Sermon upon Patriotism from Psalm 137. 5. 6. If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the...
42From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Dec. 7 is not lost nor forgotten. Oh! that my Situation in Life would permit me to undertake a Pilgrimage to Oldenbarneveldt! What a fervent Votary would I be, at the Shrine of Madonna? How would I delight in the Gardens of Mappa! And how would I Stop, going and returning, at Smiths Valley. I have Consulato del mare, with a translation in Dutch. I have Machiavels Works in...
43From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 August 1806 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of the seventh of July, you flatter me, with very high Eulogies, and compleat the Climax of them, with the opinion of Washington.—For the future I pray you to spare yourself the trouble of quoting that great Authority in my favour. Although no Man has more settled opinion of his Integrity and Virtues than myself, I nevertheless desire that my Life Actions and Administration may...
44From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 22 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
Alexander Hill Everett Esquire, a Genteman of the Bar in Boston, who had his Law Education in the Office of my son John Quincy Adams: and accompanied him to Russia, five or Six years ago, and afterwards travelled, in various parts of Europe, is to be Secretary of Legation to our Embassy to Holland. He is elder Brother to the Reverend Mr Edward Everett, and as great a schollar. He wishes me to...
45From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the Sixth of July has afflicted me. My Minister Mr Whitney lately told Us, what I had well known for more than 70 Years, that “Afflictions multiply upon Us, as we advance in Years” A whole flock, a whole drove, a whole herd of Calamities have huddled together upon me in the last Year. The List of them would astonish You. But I Am not in the habit of distressing my friends with...
46From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your kind favour of the 4th. of March and thank you for your kind rememberance of me, but I am overwhelmed with an oppressive correspondance at an age when I can neither write nor read; and this must be my apology for making so unequal returns to you for your goodness. I rejoice that your energies are so usefully employed. Your translation I am convinced will be useful to the...
47From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
James Otis Counsellor, Colonel &c &c &c Said to me Some fifty or Sixty years ago “John; when I meet with good Luck or bad luck, I Say nothing about either; because I know that more will be glad than grieved at my Misfortunes, and more will be mad than glad at my Prosperity.” This Old Fellow understood Mankind; and So do I. and therefore, when I am happy I never boast of it; and if I were...
48From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favr. of Dec. 17. 1814 has lain too long unnoticed. “Votre deuil vous plait.” I have before recommended to you the Precepts and Example of Epictetus: I now Shall refer you to another respctable Authority and bright Pattern. Forty five years ago, living in cold Lane in Boston, and holding my Barristers Office in Kings Street I walked four times a day by an obscure house, in which I...
49From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 14th are here. You must take hints: I cannot write Letters. Half recovered from a former Illness, the fine sleighing tempted me to Boston where I ran about in Irons and got a relapse and I can Scarcely hold Pen. Mrs A is recovered. The great Mr Mead, before Becker advanced the Doctrine which his grandson and Farmer pursued, But Enoch and Jude and Paul, and Calvin and Milton, and...
50From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
As I stand in great need of a Casuist in Phylosophy, Morality and Christianity; to whom Should I apply, but to you, whom I consider as the best qualified of all my Friends? The Stoicks, the Christians, the Mahometans and our North American Indians, all agree, that Complaint is unmanly, unlawful and impious. To bear Torment without a murmur, a Sigh, a Groan, or a distortion of Face or Feature...
51From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 6th is Safe, and I thank you for it. Like all your other Letters, it is to me, full of Entertainment and Instruction. I expected you would apply my last to yourself and think it a little Satirical; but, my Friend, it was more Serious than you was aware. It expressed the real State of my own Mind. With Eyes allmost out, with hands trembling, So that I can Scarcely move or hold a...
52From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted to Mr. Quincy, extracts from two of your letters, relative to the name and family of Keimper. — I rejoice in all your joys and wish you many returns of your happy anniversary.— I agree with you in the merit of Govr. Clinton.— In all elective governments there is a perpetual conflict for power between two great parties, among the people. I have been astonished and confounded...
53From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of 28. of November and another Some time ago that I have not answered. I rejoice with you in all your Prosperity, particularly in the happy Marriage of your Son; and sympathize in all your Sorrows, more especially in the Misfortune of your son Friend Vreede, whom I remember well. Happy are you in your various Learning and the Enjoyment of your Books. I can read...
54From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
Having lamented for sometime, the loss of my Correspondent at Barneveldt, I was, this morning unexpectedly gratified with your favour of the twenty second of December. I return with pleasure the Compliments and congratulations of the Season. I can sincerely unite with you, in humble Thanks to the Almighty for the Blessings of the past year on you and your Family as well as on me and mine.—But...
55From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 13th and thank you for your Zeal for the honor of my “Defence”. That Work which was begun on the 4 of October 1786 and finished on the 26 of December 1787 was written in haste. It was not the fruit of twenty Years Labour like Montesquieus & Gibbons and as it was written in haste may be supposed to have marks enough of Inaccuracy. I am not yet sensible of any...
56From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your kind Letter of the 3d of this month. I read every Thing which falls in my Way, which relates to the French Revolution: but I Suffer inexpressible Pains, from the bloody feats of War and Still more from those of Party Passions. Disgrace to the Cause of Liberty, and a general Depravation of hearts and manners among the rising Generation, is much to be dreaded from...
57From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
I do declare that I can write Greek better than you do, though I cannot Say, So well as you can, if you will. I can make nothing but Pot–hooks and Trammels of the Frontespiece of your amiable Letter of the 15th. If you had quoted your Authority I might have found it. Jesus is benevolense personified. An Example for all Men. DuPuis has made no Alteration in my opinions of Christian Religion in...
58From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
Pray tell me how you apply the sublimate Murcury for the cure of externally and internally of weak weeping inflammatory and dim sighted Eyes—I am very much interested in this inquiry— Have you seen Duponceau and Heckevelder on the Indians—which is the worst! The Revenge of Indians or the Inquisition—I admire your maxim—Nil peractum donec aliquid peragendum—but I have scarcely written eleven...
59From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 August 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 5th of July with your Letter to Chanceller Livingston on Some Points of the natural History of Buffon and Jefferson, and your other Letter to Gerrit Boon. Col. Lincklain by whom you Sent them has not favoured me with a Visit—if he Should I Shall Shew him all the Civility in my Power. I have read the Letters with great pleasure. There are too many Subjects of...
60From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
Lord! Lord! What a Coat you have cutt out? It would require an hundred Taylors for twenty years to make it up. I would not undertake to make a Button hole in it, during the whole Remainder of my Life. I thank you however, for the sketch of your contemplated Work. I shipped, on board the Carriage of my Son in Law Colonel William Stevens Smith the two first Volumes of The Memoirs of your...