1From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Last night your Brother brought me your delicious Letter of 29th Octr. How do you know that Bees and Ants, and even Caterpillars and Cankerworms never enquire into the Why and the “Wherefore”? You cannot prove it. St. Justin and Dupuis, Dr Priestley and my Neighbour Colman all agree in the Precept “Be good.” I do not find however, that any of the Popes or their Janisary Loyola, or Luther or...
2From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I must begin my Letter by wishing you and yours, many returns of the Season, as pleasent, as delightfull as the present for the winter hitherto has been as mild, as the Summer was cold. “Sterne Says, God tempers the wind to the Shorn Lamb” and the winter as yet; has been temperd to the wants, and necessities of the people: altho their Herbage was cut off, and the Herds in their stalls will be...
3From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 26th. of December 1817 inclosing a Postnote upon the Branch Bank of The United States at Boston for nine hundred and One dollars and Ninety five Cents, being the Amount of the dividend of five per Cent upon the debt proved under the Commission of Bankruptcy of Robert Bird and Co. at New York. I am your affectionate Father MHi : Adams Papers.
4From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
John Sergeant Esquire, a Director of the Bank of U. S. is appointed by that Board to negotiate for ten Millions of Spanish Dollars, offered by a commercial House in London This Gentleman, a Son of Jonathan Dickenson Serjeant Esq, once an intimate Friend of mine in Congress in times of difficulty and danger, requests an Introduction to you. I give it, with pleasure, both because I hear a good...
5From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
“Oh that I too, could make a visit to my Father,” was your exclamation in your last Letter. more than a visit You may make, my dear Son, If the Newspapers may be credited, for they announce from South to North, that you are to be recall’d and to fill the department of State. this is repeated over and again, & appears to give universal satisfaction. this I learn from all quarters—I rejoice in...
6From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
The Newspapers, throughout the Continent are announcing to Europe and America, Somewhat imprudently, that you are recalled and to be made Secretary of State. I know not whence this comes: but whether true or false, I hope it is true. And if it is true, I hope You will accept the Office of Secretary of State. If there is no Truth in it I hope you will demand your Recall and come home. And if...
7From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I think I will not give to any passenger any Letters, unless a Letter of introduction, for however urgent they are to be charged with them, I find frequently that they lay months before they are deliverd. If my Letters cannot have the Novelty of youth to recommend them, They will lose their most valuable quality, and be very dull in their old Age—like a twice told tale, and very like, better...
8From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I perceive you are growing Old, by the Curiosity you express to your Mother, to know Something of your Origin . My Fathers Mother was Hannah Bass; My Mothers Mother was Ann White a Daughter of Benjamin White, the Proprietor of Whites Hill in Brookline, a proud Son of Massachusetts Liberty, though an intimate Freind of Governor Dudley, as I have been informed by Richard Dana the Father of Chief...
9From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
while your Father is deeply engaged, in reading, Dupuis “orgine de Tous Les Cultes ou Religion universelle” which he Says is the most Learned work he ever read. all is Silent around me, and I embrace this Season of quiet and tranquility to write to you, and to acknowledge your Letter of August 12th No 92.—your hand writing, always gives me a Spring to my Spirits, and is like a cordial, altho...
10From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 7 April last, I never had the pleasure to receive untill the 30 June. At that time, I was most severely afflicted by a violent attack of the rheumatism which confined me for nearly three months afterwards and of which I have not even now perfectly recovered. Since my convalescence from the last attack of the session of the District Court for Sept term & that of the Circuit...
11From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter to you of the 23 of August I have only written one Letter! it was to Abbe Shaw congratulating her upon her marriage, which took place upon the 18th of this month, to which I was invited, but many Circumstances prevented my attendance. She is gone with her Husband to reside in Salem. She has the prospect of being happily married. She is a good and amiable girl, possessing many...
12From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to send me a Book whose Title is ΑΙΡΕΣΕΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ : A New Way of deciding Old Controversies By Basanistes. Third Edition enlarged Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat Hor. London Printed for J. Johnson & Co. St. Pauls Church Yard. 1815. If there has been any Subsequent Edition Send me that. But above all let me intreat you to read it. If you can inform me Who wrote it, or is Suspected...
13From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Noon Mr and Mrs. De Wint, arrived, in 48 hours from New York. They dined in that City on Monday and dined with me on Wednesday. Such is the facility and rapidity of Communication which Steam Boats Packetts and turnpikes have introduced. They presented to me the first of my great grandchildren that I have Seen of the four that have been given to me, one of whom has been taken away,...
14From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received some Letters from the Children dated 26 June. as I had some weeks before received my June Letter from you, I had not any right to expect an other of the Same Month, and altho’ as Shakespeare says, “my appetite grows on what it feeds on” I must own I am avaricious in this respect. In this still calm, and political pause I must entertain you with domestic occurrences, one of...
15From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your No. 50. 29th. May is before me. You wisely persevere in your habitual accuracy, and I hope will compell your Sons to follow your Example. I have been So long incapable of Observing my rules that I know not the number of this Letter, or any other that I have written for many Years. I regret this Negligence I repent of it; and wish my Posterity, to follow Your Example and avoid mine. Yours...
16From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I make it a rule to begin my Letters by an acknowledgment of those which I have received from you, when any such there are. I have now the pleasure to notice yours of june the 6th No 89—I do this for two reasons—1st because every correspondent likes to know, that their Letters, are received, and 2ly that they are worthy notice, and there is not any Subject, apparently trivial in itself, but...
17From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is to be honoured by the Reverend Samuel Cooper Thatcher, the Son of The Reverend Dr Peter Thatcher of Brattle Street and the Grandson of Oxenbridge Thatcher Esqr Barister at Law One of the most intimate confidential and beloved Friends I ever had one of the four first rate Lawyers, Gridley, Pratt, Otis and Thatcher who recommended me to the Court in Boston in 1758 when I was Sworn...
18From John Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 29 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr Temple Franklin Applied to day for a Passport as an American Citizen to go to France. He stated to me that he was born in London, had lived in the United States for about six years, but at different times—that he has not been in America for twenty years, & that he never was naturalized, but that he considered himself an American—It appears to me however that by the Laws of the United...
19From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the last Week I have attended the House of Mourning and the house of Feasting. on Thursday I attended as a Paulholder the Funeral of Madam Lincoln the Relict of my ancient Friend General Lincoln Your Mother, Your Cousin Louisa and your Niece Miss Susan, attended Us. We drank Tea at Mr Colmans the Successor of Gay and Ware, in company with Judge Davis Colonel May &c. The Judge told Us what I...
20From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Sir Isaac Newton, supposes an Ether, to pervade the Universe. To the Action of this Subtile and elastic Fluid, he ascribes Gravitation, Cohesion, Repulsion &c. Hartley makes it the Instrument of propagating his Vibrations. What is the difference, between Newton, Hartley, Diderot and Grim? All this is mechanical Phylosophy. The Universe is a Chimical Experiment. Invented, performed and...
21From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
“Chain’d to his Throne, a Volume lies, With all the Fates of Men: With every Angels form and Size Drawn by th’ eternal Pen. His Providence unfolds the Book And makes his Counsells Shine; Each Opening leaf; and every Stroke Fulfills Some deep design. Here he exalts, neglected Worms To Sceptres and a Crown: Anon the following Page he turns And treads the Monark down. Nor Gabriel asks the Reason...
The Master of the Ceremonies is commanded by His Royal Highness The Prince Regent to invite The American Minister and Mrs. Adams to The Queen’s Palace on Monday next the 22d. Instant between Eight and half past Eight O’clock in the Evening, to be present at the Ceremony of the Marriage of Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary with His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.— MHi : Adams Papers.
23From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Speaker Bigelow with his Son, Mr Andrew Bigelow made me a Visit Yesterday introduced by Cousin and Neighbour Quincy. Would you Suspect that your Father was the Preceptor of this Mr Speaker Bigelows Mother? This is however a Fact. This Same Speaker is as frank and open as the daylight and as talkative as the good Old King of England. The son is a modest discrete Youth, and I pray you to...
24From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favours of 23 April No. 86 of the 15 May No 87, and yesterday by mr Bond your Letter of May 20th No 88, and the Review and news paper The Reviews you will charge, as your Father requests, with the other Books which you Send him I inclose to you a Strip of a newspaper which contains some account of our National Jubilee, an event of more consequence to America, than...
25From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Bigelow, whose Character you will learn from the inclosed Letter from the President of Harvard Colledge, will be the Bearer of this Letter; and I pray you to give him a kind Reception, and if convenient let him See your Secretary and your Sons. Haec olim meminisse juvasit, on both Sides. I have been to the fortieth Independance. My Reveries would amuse You. Do you think my...
26From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of May 6th. like all your other Letters for more than 20 years has been a cordial to me. I approve of your judicious Œconomy in the purchases of Books. I have need of Parcimony. Your great grandmother used often to Say “What a Mercy it is, that the Lords keeps some People poor.” If I was not poor, I should plague you to death, in hunting Books for me all over Europe. Oh! What a...
27From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
The east wind of this day, will prevent the Sailing of the Galen, and it gives me the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of May 13th No 87; and the papers containing the Royal Marriage which came to hand last Evening: by the arrival of a vessel at N york; this interesting , and important intelligence, had been partially communicated to the publick a week before—Some...
28From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
If I write you ten Letters, to one from you, Still I Should be your debtor, for one of yours is worth ten of mine, and one over— yet in Love, and affection, the account Shall be balanced—I Shall always recollect with a pleasure, which I cannot describe, the Sensation I felt, when mr Woodard returnd from Russia and came to see me. I know well his Father, and Family, but him I had never Seen...
29From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Mother who was Sick, all Winter, is recovered and restored to her characteristic Vivacity, Activity Witt Sense and benevolence. Of Consequence She must take upon herself the Duties of her Granddaughter Neice, Maids Husband and all. She must be always writing to You and all her Grandchildren which is as dangerous to her health as her domestic Exertions. I say She must because She Will....
30From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your N. 48. April 8. arrived last night, and put our little family Circle into the best possible humour. The Gaiety of Spirit, the perfect good humour the delicate Satyre and the perfect Knowledge of Persons and Politicks, delighted and astonished Us all. If you had more of Juvenal and less of Horace; more of Swift and less of Adison, more Caustics and less Emolients, you would be the Terror...