1From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 3 May 1820 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is to introduce to your acquaintance and to recommend to your kind attentions and good offices Dr. Charles Williamson of Milledgeville, a highly respectable Citizen of Georgia and a particular friend of Mr. Walker one of the Senators in Congress from that State—At his desire I am happy to have the opportunity of making Dr. Williamson known to those of my friends who may possess the...
2From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Welsh, 29 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of yesterday I readily agree that the board of my two Sons residing with you should be for the ensuing year at the rate of five dollars a week each, and I beg you and Mrs. Welsh and Miss Harriet to accept our warmest thanks for your unvarying kindness to them— I am with the strongest respect and attachment Dear Sir / Faithfully Yours MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3From John Quincy Adams, 7 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
I John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire, do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. I give and bequeath to my eldest Son George Washington Adams, all that real Estate in Quincy, in the County of Norfolk, known by the name of the Mount-Wollaston Farm, conveyed to me by my honoured father, by his Deed dated the twenty-third...
I return the enclosed letter according to your desire, painfully regretting, that I can not consistently with my sense of my duties, comply with the wish of the writer; and yours in his behalf. The reasons of this I cannot fully explain to you, but I trust you will be assured they are not incompatible with that ardent and sincere affection to which you so forcibly appeal, & the power of which...
On the 22d. of September, the day upon which I entered on the Execution of the duties of my Office, I received your Letter of the 16th. which the pressure of business prevented me from answering immediately—Your mother however answered it for me, and now that I am enabled to catch a moment of leisure, I take advantage of it to write to you myself. Your remarks upon Mr Gilman’s discourses which...
6To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 12 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I take pleasure in introducing to your acquaintance the Revd. Mr Barber, who has been some years attached to the Catholic Seminary at this place and to the College at Georgetown, and is now going to reside at Claremont in New Hampshire. In passing through Boston he proposes to pay you a visit, from which I am persuaded you will derive equal satisfaction with him. I am, Dear Sir, your faithful...
7From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 30 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have this day drawn upon you, at sight, for ten thousand Dollars, in favour of Richard Smith, Cashier of the United States Branch Bank or Order—I drew for the whole sum, because I cannot comprehend, how you should want five hundred dollars, to supply any claims upon you, on my account, while you are in the receipt of all the rents due not only on the first of January last, but on the first...
Your dear Mother not long since received a Letter from you, in which I read with great pleasure, that you get on at School pretty fast, and that in three weeks you hope to begin College Studies—As it is just three weeks since you wrote that Letter; if your hopes have been fulfilled you will this very day begin upon your College studies; and Oh! how happy shall I be, if you can hereafter write...
9From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 9 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
I take pleasure in introducing to your acquaintance, and recommending specially to your kind attentions, the bearer, Mr. Waldburg, a Gentleman of highly respectable character and connections, who visits Europe with views of instruction and amusement. I understand it would be agreeable to him to be attached to one of the legations of the United States in Europe, as other young Men have...
10From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have but one instant to inform you that we arrived here yesterday; all well. Mr Coles also arrived in the Evening from Liverpool, and delivered to me your Letter of 17 June with the Dispatch for the Secretary of State, and the Packets from Mr G. Joy & Mr Bentham. W. S. Clarkson is below while I am writing: your family relations are well. We expect to see Mr and Mrs DeWint to-morrow. I go...
11From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 19 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
Within a few Months, I have received many letters from you; for which I have not even found time to offer you the thanks to which they so well entitle you.—And even now I cannot write you without coupling with the acknowledgement of those favors, the solicitation of others. I have promised letters of introduction, for Mr. Noah Webster who has just embarked at New York for Liverpool, before I...
12From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 February 1824 (Adams Papers)
On the 5th. of last month I received your letter dated on the first & have been in expectation of receiving the statement of your account promised in it which has not yet arrived. It gives me great pleasure to learn that you are perseveringly devoting your attention to the art of regular account-keeping & I can not erase exhorting you to master it thoroughly & to apply it unintermittingly to...
It appears on a resurvey of the Quincy Hancock Wood lot belonging to the estate of John Adams late of Quincy deceased, there was two Acres two quarters and nine rods of Swamp land which was not included in the first survey. We the Subscribers do appraise the same at twelve dollars the Acre making the whole $30.67. MHi : Adams Papers.
14From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
You have here enclosed, a draft on the United States Branch Bank at Boston to the order of Charles Newcomb, for 172 dollars 54 Cents, being the amount of dividends on the six and three per Cent Stocks due to him standing on the Books here, and for which I have signed receipts as his Attorney. The payment comes down to the second Quarter of 1816—inclusive—Upon the subject of the other...
15From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 4 March 1824 (Adams Papers)
I duly received your Letter of 15. January, with a Statement of your Account of Agency to the close of last year, upon which I have one remark to make, to which I wish you to pay the most pointed attention—It is that in charging yourself in the Account B. with $1139..29 for Cash received, you do not shew on the credit side, in what manner or for what purposes it has been expended—You only...
16From John Quincy Adams to John A. Shaw, 12 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my thanks for your obliging Note of the 25 ulto. and for the copy of your Eulogy upon John Adams and Thomas Jefferson with which it was accompanied. And as a member of the family of Mr Adams, I tender you in their name the assurance of our sensibility to the kindness of your tribute, and that of the Inhabitants of Bridgewater to his memory. With respectful consideration,...
Your Journals to the inclusive have been regularly received, and have become a sort of necessary of life to George and me—Whatever the Cause of the Confidence which you say you have but recently acquired of writing to me whatever comes into your head, as I am the principal gainer by the acquisition—hope it will be permanent—Your advice is always acceptable, and if I do not always profit by it,...
18From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
On examining my books at the Athenarum, I find there are several volumes missing; among which—Vols. 1. 2. and 32. of Voltaire—1. Volume of Racine—One Volume, from three different sets of Shakespear. 1. Vol: of the Glasgow Sophocles; and some others—part of not all of which, you have—There is danger, if you keep them out that they will get damaged, or mislaid and forgotten; and then make broken...
19From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
Received of the Executors of the last Will of John Adams, by an order, on the Cashier of the United States Branch Bank, Boston, the sum of two thousand seven hundred and nine dollars eighty cents, being the amount of three Orders, from William S. Smith, one of the Devisees, named in the said last Will—of which orders, one for 1488 dollars three Cents is in my favour, for payment of dues due...
20From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 8 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Will you have the goodness to order Mr. Micklain , the Tailor (who has my measure) to make for me two Broadcloth Coats, one black, and the other blue, with metal buttons, and both with internal side pockets, such as he has made for me before? Also two pair of best Broadcloth or double–milled blue Kersaymeer Pantaloons—Let the Package be given to Captain Forman , who returns to London in the...
21From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 13 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 1st. instt. and am expecting another with your quarterly account—From your account of the projected Railway in Quincy, I shall follow Mr Cruft’s advice, and take no part in it—of which you will at proper time notify the Gentleman who wrote to me on the subject. With respect to the woodland you must obtain more direct and precise information—both as to the...
22From John Quincy Adams to George Johnson, 16 November 1823 (Adams Papers)
I recieved your note of yesterday with the Bank & flour books & shall be glad to see you tomorrow morning— My son mentioned you told him you had sold yesterday 500 barrels of Flour for Cash . I will thank you to deposit that & all future receipts of Cash, in the Branch Bank to the credit of my son John Adams; & draw upon him for all monies which you may have to pay, in this business. I request...
23To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 24 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
You have been made acquainted with the controversy in which I have been for some Months engaged in relation to transactions at the Negotiation of Ghent. As the subject is one in which the defence of my own character and that of two of my Colleagues was inseparably connected with principles of deep concernment to this Union, I have thought it necessary to collect in one publication the papers...
24From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I received about a fortnight since a few lines from you so ill written that it was with difficulty that I could read them, and to my great surprize dated at Quincy, when I had expected you were assiduously pursuing your studies at Cambridge, after an interruption not less melancholy than indispensable—Your Letter barely hinted at the temporary dissolution of your Class, and by its brevity and...
25To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 9 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed note from Mr King, will inform you of the Event of this day, upon which I can only offer you , my congratulations, and ask your blessing and prayers. Your affectionate and dutiful Son P.S. Have the goodness to cause the Note from Mr King, to be sent back to me. MHi : Adams Papers.
26John Quincy Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 June 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
By a Resolution of Congress , of the 19 th of January last , the Secretary of State has been instructed to furnish each College and University in the United States with one copy of the Journal of the Federal Convention, recently printed by Order of Congress . Being uncertain whether a selection of a Principal or President has been made for the Virginia University , I beg leave to confide the...
27To Thomas Jefferson from John Quincy Adams, 18 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
M r George Sullivan, the bearer of this Letter, is a distinguished Citizen of Massachusetts, whose father was well known to you, in person and by reputation; and particularly as Governor of that Commonwealth, at an interesting period of your public administration. M r Sullivan is at this time the Agent of Massachusetts for certain claims upon the Government of the Union; and avails himself of...
28From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Greenleaf, 8 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
Upon the decease of my late honoured Father, I have considered it a duty devolving upon me to erect a plain and modest monument to his memory; and my wish is, that divested of all ostentation it may yet be as durable as the walls of the Temple, to the erection of which he has contributed, and as the Rocks of his native Town, which are to supply the materials for it. This purpose may be most...
29From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 28 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
Since my return to this City I have received your Letters of the 12th and 21st. instt. the former, enclosing a list of my books which you have in your possession—and the latter, six dollars in Bank Bills. It is not, nor has it been my intention to withdraw from you the permission to take out from time to time at the Athenaeum such of my Books as you may wish to peruse—but merely to caution you...
30From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 28 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
It has given me great satisfaction to learn that a part has be assigned to you to perform at the exhibition, fixed for the 30th. of April—and should be well pleased if it if it were in my power to be present at the performance—But as that will not be practicable, I wish you to let me know what dialogue it is that you are to speak—I feel also some anxiety for your performance, and quite...
31From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
It is only within these very few days that I have found a moment of time to examine the particulars of your account with me for the year 1818 which you transmitted to me last January, upon which, I find occasion to make very few, and unimportant remarks—Under date of 20. June it gives credit for $550.. Dividend from the Fire and Marine Insurance Office, instead of which it should be the...
32From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Know all men by these Present that I John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk Esquire am held and firmly bound in my individual capacity to the said John Quincy Adams and Josiah Quincy also of said Boston Esquire Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Doctor of Laws deceased in the sum of Forty two thousand dollars; to the...
33From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 19 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I received with much pleasure you new year’s Letter, with the copy of the Lamp–lighter’s address, and the hint from the fount of the Centinal about a Present; which your uncle Thomas will tell you I have not forgotten. Your Parents were very highly gratified with what Mr Gould gave you leave to write to me concerning your promotion to the second Class, in which you will no doubt take care to...
Meeting here Dr. Huntt, who informs us that he left you last Friday at Bordentown, and Charles the next day at New York, I avail myself of the opportunity of saying to you that we are here well. I hope you have received the Letter which was enclosed to Mr Charles King, under the expectation that it would meet you in New–York—Yesterday, my father’s Will was proved by Mr Quincy and myself—We...
I received last Evening your Letter of the 1st. instt. from New York—I now enclose to you the Letter which I had wriiten you, on the 25th. of Last Month; and which was forwarded to Mr Charles King in the hope that it would meet you at New York—I wrote you also at Boston Wednesday Morning by Dr Huntt—He was to pass through Lebanon yesterday or this day, but I am afraid will again miss meeting...
Your Letters from Philadelphia of the 15th and 16th. have come to hand—From the last of them I hope you are by this hour. (6 in the Evening) at New–York. I answered your Letter from Wilmington, by a short one which I hope will overtake you at New–York— Major Grahame from Frederick has been here these three days with Coll. M Pherson a friend of his who wishes to obtain a warrant of Midshipman...
37To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 24 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
In pursuance of a joint Resolution, of the two Houses of Congress, a copy of which is hereto annexed, and by direction of the President of the United States, I have the honour of transmitting two fac simile copies of the original Declaration of Independence, engrossed on parchment, conformably to a secret Resolution of Congress 19 July 1776, to be signed by every member of Congress, and...
I received your Letters written in the Steam Boat, and that from Philadelphia—The immediate decision of Dr Physick upon the case of your brother, is doubtless the best thing that could have happened, and I hope the operation when effected, will not be so severe as you apprehend—I believe it is usually considered as safe, when skilfully performed, and have known several cases in which it was...
39John Quincy Adams to James Madison, 18 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 30th. ulto. with its enclosures would have been received with unmingled pleasure, but for the alloy of its intimations with regard to the state of your health—The partial relief which you have recently enjoyed, I will hope may have been symptomatic of a more general renovation, and reserve for you yet years of comfort and tranquility to witness the continual gigantic growth...
By the Will of my deceased Father, all that part of his Real Estate, lying on both sides of the antient County road, from Boston to Plymouth, containing by Estimation one hundred and three Acres more or less together with the Mansion house, gardens and buildings thereon situated, were given to me in fee-simple, upon Condition that I pay or secure to be paid with interest within three years...
41From John Quincy Adams to Alexander Contee Hanson, 23 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
According to your request, I return the plat, which you had the goodness to send me with many thanks.—Your letter of 6th. Feby. had remained unanswered, not only from the pressure of public business, but from an inability to answer specifically in the name of all Mr. Johnson’s heirs—His affairs were left at his decease in 1802 in a state of great embarrassment, chiefly owing to a suit in...
42From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 14 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
A very few days after my arrival in this City, I received your Letter of 19. September, the contents of which I dare say you have before this time forgotten; unless you kept a copy of it, as you remember you used to do, of the Letters that you wrote to me from St. Petersburg, when I was at Ghent. This Letter of yours of 19. September last, I have kept upon my file, ever since I received it;...
43From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 2 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 1 September N. 42 with the receipts enclosed, and the Book, containing the statement of Account between us has been received—It had escaped my recollection that the £20 for which I gave you an order upon S. Williams the day that I left London was for the same sum which I had at the same time borrowed of you. But I have no doubt that your memory is correct, and my forgetfulness...
44From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith the following papers 1. An Order in my favour on the U. S. Branch Bank Boston, for two thousand Dollars—This you will immediately on receiving it deposit at the Bank, and have it entered to my Credit, in my Bank Book which I lately sent you. 22. A Check on the same, Bank dated 4. December 1826. Signed by me, for three thousand Dollars, payable to Mrs Susan B. Clark, or...
45From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 4 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of the 18th. ulto. enclosing four more copies of Mr Whitney’s funeral Discourse, and all under a cover Post marked, Boston 29 . November—This Post-mark was almost as pleasing to me as your Letter itself because it assured me that my failure to receive from you a Letter of that date was not occasioned by inability proceeding from the state of your health—I am...
46To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 18 June 1819 (Madison Papers)
I scarcely know how to apologize to you for troubling you again on the subject of the Journals of the federal Convention. I have already been indebted to you for the means of completing the Journal, which had been deposited at this Department; and in which the proceedings of the last two days were wanting. It appears by the Journal that on the 12th. of September a revised draught of the plan...
47To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 14 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received you kind Letter of the 3d: instant, full of good counsel, of which I hope at the proper time to make a suitable improvement. It is a great satisfaction to me, that my Son George has mentioned your approbation, and made himself in any manner useful to you during the vacation at the University. My affection for him induces me to hope that his time has been spent most...
Your journal of the 24th. and 25th. has been received—The complaint of cold, and the want of winter Clothes, almost makes me stare; though even here we have had two or three more moderate days— I give you an extract of a Letter which I have this morning from my father— “If you cannot come on yourself, I wish Mrs Adams would, and bring with her, her Brother Johnson.—The air of Quincy Sea, and...
49From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 18 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of 29th. Novbr.—4 and 5 Decemr. 6th. and 7th. December—numbered 5. 6. 8. 9. with the correspondence between you and the Society for the suppression of Intemperance at Hanover enclosed in number 6 and the copy of your Letter to Mr Rush, enclosed in number 9 which copy conformably to your request I herewith return.— Before receiving these last two Letters I had...
50To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 15 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
If your Letter of 20. May were the only one from you upon my files yet unanswered, every look at its date would give me a pang of self-reproach—How then shall I acknowledge at the same time the receipt of those of 31. Decbr. and of 2. 8. 13. 29. January, and apologize for not having replied to them sooner—During the Session of Congress, your indulgence would readily account for my...