361From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have enclosed to the President a letter from Dr Waterhouse. I wish you would ask to see it. Between you and me I suspect that our friend Eustace has been of no service to Waterhouse. Ancient Jealousies of him among professional men in Boston may have left some traces. But as this is mere conjecture I lay no stress upon it. Whether any thing can be done for him consistent with the public...
362From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Our dear Shaw, who ransacks his Atheneum and the litterary World to afford me Amusements and Instruction, two evenings and one day in a Week, brought me on Saturday your Welcome letter of the 22d of May. The true cause of the infrequency of letters between You and me is a conscientious principle on my part. I know that you would answer every Scratch of a pen from me; but I k n ow the...
363From Jacob W. Watson to John Quincy Adams, 11 September 1821 (Adams Papers)
The Citizens of Princeton, having been informed of your intended visit to that place, embrace this opportunity of manifesting their respect for your person and Character and their gratitude for your distinguished Services in the responsible stations to which you have been called, by meeting you on this occasion to express to you the assurance of a cordial welcome— We rejoice in this...
364From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
If a Sense of duty did not compell me to address You with these few lines, I could not deem it proper to intrude on your more Serious occupations—but—where, perhaps, it might afford you an opportunity of doing good—even in attending to the duties of your High office, I trust, I Shall not need an excuse for this interference by the Secretary of State—while I am too well informed of John Quincy...
By the frendship, with which I was gratified and honoured by your Beloved Parents’—during the best part of my life, and which I yet continue to enjoy unabated—By the courtesy with which you obliged me—voluntarily, and by your Literary endowments I feel my Self Sufficiently justified, in Submitting to your examination sundry paper—although I know that your High Station, your more Serious...
366From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I hope by this time, you have safely arrived at Washington and found Mrs. Adams family and friends in good health—I send by the same mail with this three of Parks of papers containing four numbers with the signature of Publius Valerius and will send the others as they appear. You will see in these papers that Dr Eustace’s brother has made an assault on Park for in consequence of a publication...
367From 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...
368From 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....
369From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am desirious of writing you a few lines just to assure you that I am able to hold a pen, and that I hope my Health is not in a more declining state than when you left me, altho I have not been able to leave my chamber since; except to ride a little way a few times; I think I have gained a little strength the last week tho I have not got the better of the most debilitating of my complaints—a...
370From 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...
371From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received to day your favor of the 7th: inst: covering the journal & Speech not spoken—since which I have had no time to read either—Parson Bentley’s promotion is to me by no means unaccountable—I heard something, by going to Salem so often last winter—If you like to hear a very familiar conversation between a frail mortal and infinite wisdom, listen to the prayers of this “no God or twenty...
372From Josiah, III Quincy to John Quincy Adams, 23 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am duly sensible of your polite attention in your letter of the 13. Inst. and its inclosure. It is doing me a very acceptable and important service, to provide me, as you propose, with the documents of the expiring Congress and will lay me under many obligations. Should any of them be too voluminous for your franking power to cover you need not hesitate to inclose them, on that account, by...
373From 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...
374From 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...
375From 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...
376From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 26th: is So copiously answered that I shall reserve my fire for a future occasion, when I hope to be better able to write than I am now. I have been seized furiously by the Nose within a few days, by a fretful & provoking tumour, which has made me fell more indisposed than I have for a twelvemonth. It has distorted my face rather unluckily, just at this time, & moreover so...
377From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
You have been so good in writing to your Father and Brother that I ought not to complain that you have not particularly addrest a Letter to me, tho I wanted to know how George was grown, and whether he rememberd you and what he had to say to you. John I think you told me was quite different in his temper and disposition, more sturdy and harder to manage. these are subjects much more...
378From 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...
379From Josiah, III Quincy to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge yours of the 4th Inst. and two subsequent, inclosing public documents and to express my grateful sense of these attentions. Your opinions concerning the late changes in Massachusetts and your reasonings and impressions resulting from them, entirely coincide with them mine. I was particularly well pleased that you find no fault with the “medecines” administered, but...
380From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I last week received your Letter of december 3d in replie to mine of Novbr 11th, not having made any mention of it before I thought it had miscarried. I am very sorry to learn by it, that you have been unwell. you must not let the mind wear so much upon the Body. Your disposition to a Sedentary Life prevents you from taking that regular excercise which the Body requires to keep it in a healthy...
381From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Many Thanks for your favor of the Eleventh. It is very odd, but no less true that I not only never Saw, Mr Bentley, but I never heard of his fame or name, till I read his Election as Chaplain in a Newspaper. Since that time I have heard much, and among other things that he is an intimate Friend of James Winthrop the Judge. Mr Bowdoins appointment is the best, the President has made in this...
382From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 22 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the perusal of the Bill, For establishing rules and articles for the Government of the Armies of the United States— I think the 24th. article not sufficiently explicit—It furnishes the superior officer with an opportunity of punishing an inferior without redress, the arresting officer being the sole judge of what speaches are reproachful, and what gestures are provoking—He may...
383From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I did not think to receive a reply to my letter of the 2d: instant, before I had the Mail charged with another and on the way to Washington. Yet so it is, and I am now to acknowledge your favor of the 13th: which came to hand yesterday with enclosures The Journals of the H. R. I have received to No 14 inclusive & but three sheets of the journal of Senate. Bills, Messages & Reports, in...
384From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Has there ever been an Instance, in the World, of two Persons living together without Emulation and Jealousy.? Is it possible there should be one? When I was finishing the Letter I wrote you on the 22d, the Ladies of the family without knowing what I was about read me, a passage in Hayleys Life of Cowper from p. 122. to p. 127. Vol. 1. Mrs Unwin was eclipsed by the Brilliancy of Lady Austen,...
385From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your affectionate Letter of December 19th reach’d me a few days since, and found me and the rest of the family in good Health, and Spirits, blessing for which we ought to be truly thankfull. as all the Gifts of providence are enhanced and enjoyed with tenfold pleasure when attended by them, we can never so justly appreciate the blessing we enjoy, as when we are deprived of them. I was glad to...
386From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Decr. 24. was received in the regular course of the Mail and in good order. It refreshes me to See that you write in good Spirits. Your Family and private Friends must console you, under all your humiliations in public Life. For fifteen years, i.e from the year 1760 to 1775 I was in the Valley, the dark Valley of Grief Gloom and disappointment; Unalterably devoted to Principles...
387From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
I received in Season, your kind Letter of the 5th. and have been so very busy that I have not found time to acknowledge it, till now. When I write to you it is with no Expectation of any Answer, unless it be in a bare Acknowledgement to Some of us, i.e. to me, your Mother or your Brother of the receipt of my Letter. I know that the public Business must as it ought to engage all your time and...
388From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the fourteenth, with its ample Enclosures of Documents, has arrived in good order....I deliver all the Journals of Senate and House, all the printed Bills and other printed Papers you send me, to your Brother, who I presume preserves them all in order for your Use and his own. The Season here has been unexampled. We have had an Abundance of Snow but it has been melted almost as...
389From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 February 1805 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of the 24 of Jan. this morning. I must repeat to you that I neither expect nor desire that you should answer my Letters. I write for my own Amusement and on a Supposition at the same time that a little diversion from your Studies and Labours might give a little pleasure. Neither you nor the Gentlemen who commonly vote with you, ought to discard your concern relative to...
390From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
As Congress are now up for this Season, you will be thinking of returning as soon as the Roads will permit, and that will be soon, unless we should have a renewal of winter. the two last weeks of Feb’ry and March as far as it is gone, has been very fine weather. uncommonly so, the grass springs, and the trees bud, too soon I fear for a climate so liable to sudden changes; I fear you will not...