31John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
A young Gentleman of 17, must not talk of low Spirits for Small disappointments. He must reconcile his Mind to them. He will meet with many. My Friend Dr. Warren often told me, I was the most uniformly lucky Man, he ever knew, and indeed I must acknowledge, I have been often fortunate, both before and Since his Compliment. Notwithstanding which my Life has been a Series of dissappointments,...
32John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your Oration and much obliged to you for it. it seems to me, making allowance for a fathers Partiality, to be full of manly Sense and Spirit. By the Sentiments and Principles in that oration, I hope you will live and die, and if you do I dont care a farthing how many are preferred to you, for Style Elegance and Mellifluence. To Vattel and Burlamaqui, whom you Say you...
33John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received yours of the 1. with the Letter from your Mother to you, by which it appears so uncertain when She will arrive or embark, that if you can persuade Mr. Smith to come over here with the Ladies when they arrive, I would not have you wait for them. Make a Visit to Mr. Whitefoord, and ask the favour of him in my name to procure you a Place in the Gallery of the House of...
34John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I hope, that before this day you are Safely arrived at New York, and that in another Month, I shall receive a Letter from you dated from that City. Before this reaches you I Suppose you will be at Boston or Cambridge, or Braintree or Haverill or Weymouth. Let me hear from you as often as you can. We have taken a House in Grosvenor Square, at the Corner of Duke Street, and hope to get into it...
35John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter by Mr. Church, and am very happy to hear of your Safe Arrival, and kind Reception at New York. You have a good Opportunity, to See the Place and principal Characters, and from the hints you give your Sister I Suppose and indeed I hope, you went home by Land, and Saw the Country and Persons you wanted to See. I want to hear from you at Boston, and to learn what is...
36John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
This Letter, I presume, will find you at the University, where I hope you will pass your time both pleasantly and profitably. Let Us know how you find Things, and take care of your health. You have in your Travels had so much Exercise, that it is not Safe to discontinue it, and indulge your self too much in a Sedentary Life. Never fail to walk an hour or two every day. I have read the Conquest...
37John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to congratulate you on your Admission into the Seat of the Muses, our dear Alma Mater, where I hope you will find a Pleasure and Improvements equal to your Expectations. You are now among Magistrates and Ministers, Legislators and Heroes, Ambassadors and Generals, I mean among Persons who will live to Act in all these Characters. If you pursue your Studies and preserve your...
38John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
At Amsterdam I received your Letter of the 18 and to day that of the 20th. Write me, when you Ship the Books for Rotterdam, and by what Captain what Vessell and to whom addressed. Your principal Attention Should be to Parliament, and the Bar at present. Your Stay will be short and you will not probably have another Opportunity of being much in London, for upon your Return I shall keep you very...
39John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
Dr Gordon brought me your Letter of the 2d. of April, which gave me, great Pleasure. In order to get acquainted with the other Classes enquire who are the most remarkable Scholars in each, and drop in upon them frankly, make them a visit in a Leisure hour at their Chambers, and fall into Conversation. Ask them about their Tutors manner of teaching. Observe what Books lie upon their Tables, ask...
40John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 31 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I hope Mr. Storer, when he delivers this Letter, will find you a Student in the University, or upon the Point of becoming So. We have as yet no News of your Arrival in America, but We hope to learn it by the first ship. We are comfortably Situated here, and have all enjoyed very good Health hitherto in England. But Home is Home. You are Surrounded by People who neither hate you nor fear you. I...
41John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of the 15th. on the 18th. and that of the 18th. this moment, and am happy to find that you Spend So much Time and take so much Pleasure in Chancery and Parliament. Present to Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Whiteford, my Thanks for their Politeness to you. I want to know if the Books are on their Way. You Should tell me Something of them in every Letter untill they are gone off, by...
42John Adams to John Quincy Adams, June 1784 (Adams Papers)
There is no Accomplishment, more usefull or reputable, or which conduces more to the Happiness of Life, to a Man of Business or of Leisure, than the Art of writing Letters. Symplicity, Ease, Familiarity and Perspicuity, comprehend all the necessary Rules. But these are not acquired without Attention and Study. The Habit you now form will go with you through Life. Spare no Pains then to begin...
43John Adams to Samuel Adams, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your advice “to reconcile myself to the Thought that Justice may not be done me, till I am dead” is friendly. I am not however apprehensive of Injustice living or dead. I am not ambitious of a Reputation for great Talents or Splendid Actions, with the present Age or with Posterity. The great Anxiety of my Life, has been to do my Duty and avoid just Reproach. and I know very well, that my Life...
44From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 2 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
D r Gordon who is arrived with your Favour of the 13 of April, will probably be disappointed in his Wishes that mutual affection may be restored; as much as he is mistaken in his opinion; that this is the only means of the Prosperity of both Countries.— America will prosper whether Love or Hatred Subsists. It is indeed improbable that mutual affection will ever be restored, not indeed So much...
45John Adams to Samuel Adams, 25 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your Favours of the 16 & 17 of April, and am fully with you in Sentiment, that “the Sooner a commercial Treaty is settled with the English, the better,” but you must be Sensible that no Treaty can be made untill Somebody or other, one or more, are authorized by Congress. While every British Minister is dancing on a slack Rope and afraid of every popular Wind, least...
46From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 27 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Child whom you used to lead out into the common to see with detestation the British Troops and with Pleasure the Boston Militia will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter. He has since seen the Troops of most Nations in Europe, without any Ambition I hope of becoming a military Man. He thinks of the Bar and Peace and civil Life, and I hope will follow and enjoy them with less...
47From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 15 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. your letter by Mons r: de le Tombe yesterday: Every line from your hand gives me pleasure. The Embarassments thrown in the way of our trade will at least have one good effect: they will break a few deceitfull bubbles. They ought to do greater good by curing the People at large of a dangerous distemper brought upon them by the war—the itch of extravagance.— It is melancholy that no...
48John Adams to Samuel Adams, 1 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your Letter of November 4 & Dec r 4, with great Pleasure. I had heard of your Illness and was anxious to hear of your recovery. long Voyages and Journeys, great Agitation of Mind, and the Air of putrid Cities, have given me So many Severe Fits of Sickness, that I feel myself more affected At hearing of Such Misfertunes befalling my Friends. I have recovered however, a...
49From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 26 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Give me Leave to introduce to you, M r Anstey a Member of Parliament and Barrister at Law, who is Sent out by the Commissioners of American Claims to verify Facts, Such as Titles to Estates, Incumbrances upon them &c. The House of Commons Yesterday ordered an Account of Vessells cleared out for the Importation of Flour Biscuit and Live Stock from the U States into any of the Islands of...
50From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
We were very happy to have the definitive Treaty signed, altho’ We could obtain no Improvement Amendment or Alteration. The English had got so bewitched again, & began to appear to obtain such strange hopes, from the proceedings of the Army & the difference of Sentiments between Congress & some of the States, & discovered such an Inclination to sign with France & Spain without Us, that We were...
51John Adams to Samuel Adams, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters by M r Jackson and M r Appleton. The former I answered Some days ago.— My Son who is going to London in hopes of meeting his Mother and Sister will convey this from thence.— I shall probably be fixed here, out of the reach of that Envy, which you prophecy whose Power I never felt or dreaded untill I Saw Europe.— There are little Fermentations in the Courts of...
52John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to find by your Letter that you are so well situated, at Mr. Sewalls, make my Compliments to that Gent. and thank him for the Kind present of his translation of Young—it appears to me to be well done. You will write to me from time to time, if you want Books, or any assistance in your studies, from this side the Water. I hear a good account of your Conduct, your studies you must...
53From John Adams to the Earl of Ailesbury, 28 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
It was my earnest desire to have obtaind an Audience of Leave of the Queen that I might have had an opportunity of presenting to Her Majesty before my departure for America my most Humble thanks for the Civilities, that myself and my family have Received at her Majestys Court, and my best wishes for every Blessing and Felicity to her Majesty, and to every Branch of her Majestys Royal Family,...
54Instructions to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
To the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, at the Court of Versailles empowered to negociate a Peace, or to any one or more of them. First. You are instructed and authorised to announce to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany or to his Ministers the high Sense which the United States in Congress assembled entertain of his exalted Character and eminent virtues, and...
55The American Commissioners to the Conde de Aranda, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 27 th day of Sept r last, and we thank you for your care in transmitting to your Court, the information of our appointment to treat with it. You desire to be informed if one or more of us can repair to Madrid for the purpose of conducting & concluding the negotiation, because that it is the system of your Court in matters...
56From John Adams to the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 8 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Permettez moi de vous presenter Mon Ami monsieur John Trumbull Fils du Governeur Trumbull et cidevant Colonel au service des Etats Unis— Il a l’Ambition noble de consigner a l’immortality les Evenemens de notre Histoire par son Pinceau— vous verrez son Warren et son Montgomery— M r. Trumbull est un Citizen tres estimable, et Je vous prie de l’assister avec vos Bontés Allow me to present to you...
57From John Adams to Samuel Austin, 25 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received your of Dec r. 23 d. & have since received from M r. Jay our secretary of State for foreign affairs, the papers you refer to, with particular instructions from Congress, which I shall carefully attend to— Your demand as you state it is a Debt contracted before the peace— But you know there is a great misunderstanding between the two Countries, concerning such debts & in my...
58John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 24 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here to collect together the Bills and Send them to you by Express. When this Express returns, I pray you to Send by him, my Trunk and all my Cloaths. The Books you will deliver also to him or his order to be Sent to me. Will you be so good as to pack the Trunk yourself, and see that the Books, Papers, and Plate are well placed and fixed So that they may not shake too much. You will Send...
59John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
My Express who sett off, on the third from Amsterdam is with you before now, and I hope you have found the Bills of Exchange to your Satisfaction. I am anxious for his Return, that I may have once collected together, under my own Eye, all that belongs to me in Europe, and be able to finish my Accounts. I should be much obliged to you, if you would examine my Accounts and Vouchers and give me...
60John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 8 January 1785 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your favour from Rochfort of the 25 th Ult: I may inform you, entre nous that if I should go to England, D r: F and M r: J: will go with me: we shall go all together upon the business of our Commission. But whether we shall go or not is yet problematical, and depends upon an Answer, as yet to be received from the British Ministry. In all Events I think we shall not go before you...