151To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
Although your Ladÿ in the letter, with which She honoured me, intimated, that ere long I was again to be favoured with a few lines, I did not expect their arrival So Soon—How greatly this enhances the value of your gift, more yet, when I reflect, that writing must have become Some what difficult to you—though I perceive but Seldom anÿ Symptoms of that trembling hand, of which you...
152To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 31 Dec. last delighted me more than usual. It was a new mark of your affectionate esteem—it assured me of your continued health; It was an evident proof that I was not yet left alone. Last year has again bereft me of a worthy friend; and I can not longer fill up the empty place with others, ere long, if mÿ days are to be prol onged, I Shall mourn them in mÿ Solitude where,...
153To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
No—you can not forget me even without one single line I should be fully persuaded of this truth—yet it was pleasing to be so affectionately remembered—You knew, that it would increase my contentment in my deep retirement—It was as a moderate electric shock it giveth a soft impulse on my family shewing their gratification, that their Husband and Father continues to be favoured with your...
154To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
What an era has elapsed Since I was not gratified with one Single line from Montezillo! more than three mounths—and yet now, and then I amuse my Self—in reading again the Last Letters, with which I was honoured by you and mrs Adams—of march 10 and Apr. 28. Yet I am pleased to Suppose that health, remains your Share—otherwise I Should have been informed of it. Was I not fully persuaded, I Shall...
155To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 May 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of march 14—with the post mark of Brookfield Mass: march 26 did not come to mÿ hands before the begin of April. My dilating an answer till now, will find an excuse in your kindness, when you reflect, that the field and the garden require mÿ attendence everÿ hour in tolerable good weather. This howewer would not have finally prevented my writing, if it had been in mÿ power, to Send...
156To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Having been prevented to answer your favours of Dec. 19 Last and Jan. 9 thro Severe head-ache during a forthnight and a Succeeding cold—which is not yet past, I now begin to renew my former course—altho I am compelled to hold in the reins. In the former you insinuated to have Send me by Col. William Stevens Smith two first vol. of Amer. Acad—with the promise of procuring me this Summer the...
157To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
ἀναπέτομαι δὴ πρὸσ ολυμπον πτερυγεσσι κούφαις — μ’ ἐπίβωτον κατὰ γειτόνας ποιήσεις. And I was gratified by your condescending kindness—as to this I was chiefly indebted to that distinction, with which I was honored in your state—and even here—but with what pleasure I have accepted these favours, may you conclude from—hence—that—ornandus et tollendus sum—where and whenever you find it...
158To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 August 1793 (Adams Papers)
Though I can not find a pretext, valid enough to exculpate me, in interrupting your Excellency’s serious occupations, however I am inclined to believe, that ÿou will excuse it after a silence of seven months, in the persuasion, that a due sense, of what everÿ American owes to your merits and character, with which since more than a dozen years I have been acquainted, being a witness of a great...
159To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I Shall make no apologÿ for mÿ Sudden rescript to your favor of Aug. 15th. The high glee, in which I am, and my usual contentment requires only little fuel to rise to an uncommon pitch of joÿ, compells me to working—tho a beautiful fair daÿ—and work enough in the garden to perform—but Adams! The garden shall remain, when either of us—when both shall be no more. Why then should I bereave meself...
160To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
What Sufficient thanks Shall I return to the distinguished favours, with which your kind frendship continues to honour me in Such an eminent degree! much in truth I am indebted to your partiality towards me, but I Should lessen its real value, if I did not presume that I did not merite it in part. I will however endeavor to exert my utmost Strenght to deserve it further. The Honor of being jo...
161To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
Long before I read your Excell̃: defence of the Constitutions &c I saw their Criticism bÿ the Reviewers, which enlarged my desire of perusing itself, flattering mÿ with the idea, that I should acquire a fair opportunity of Sending Some Strictures upon it to Mr. Adams; because the first announcing a fear of a to ardent Love for Democracÿ, and the following declaration, that those fears were...
162To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Having at length finished mÿ Researches on Several points in Nat. Hist. in the theories of Mess. Buffon and Daubenton—which have been extended to 270 Pag. in 4th. and a are readÿ for the press, if I can find a printer and a corrector of the Language, of which I have little prospect—and being free of head-ache—I must again address you with a few lines, in the flattering hope, that they Shall as...
163To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Indeed you are very kind towards me: I can not reciprocate these proofs of your frendship as by assuring you of my most cordial thankfulness—that may be called, filling the measure—till it runs over—I know, I should receive some tiding from Montzillo—but a Letter—in your own handwriting, I could not expect indeed. Although I do not publish your Letter—this to me—deservedly might be placed next...
164To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
After your Excellency’s advice, for which I am much obliged, I wrote, by this Sloop to his Excellencÿ the President, State the affair, and requested his interference, so far, as He maÿ think proper, and I flatter mÿself, that it wil be promoted bÿ you in the Same manner. But this occasion Sir! is to favourable, not to make use of it in enlarging—for a moment upon a particular article of your...
165To John Adams from François Adriaan van der Kemp, 29 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
L’année passé j’avois l’honneur de communiquer a votre l’Excellence mon desir de passer en Amerique avec ma famille pour m’etablir dans l’etat de New-york: vous aviez la bonté de me donner des informations sur ce projet, joignant a cela la flatteuse promesse, de vouloir bien, dans un tel cas m’honorer de vos recommandations. Dans ce tems mon Epouse ne pouvoit prendre la resolution de chercher...
166To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
I can not express my feelings for the affectionate reception, which I met with at Montezillo—you honour me not only with your distinguished and partial regards, to which I am indebted for all the attentions, which I received—but you treated me as a Brother—as a friend—with cordiality—which was followed by each member of your family—It is not in my power to reciprocate it, but I thank my God...
167To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
After the renewed marks of distinction, which your Excellency’s favour bestowed on me, I maÿ be so bold, without fear of incurring any blame, to appeal to you under this familiar epitheton—there you, calling yourself my real friend, contributes so much to that serenety of mind and comfort, which I enjoy in my retirement, notwithstanding so many toils and disappointments which would have...
168To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
Although the manifold proofs, which I received from your affectionate regards can never be obliterated—no—not even weakened by lenght of time—yet I presume—it may be become a difficult task to you to recollect, when the last line to inform me of your wellfare—from Montezillo was written—You know me too well, that I could wish to extort from you one Single line, which Should cause you the least...
169To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
I hope not, that I shall be importune in writing again; it is my anxious concern for America’s prosperity which prompts me to it—though I flatter myself, that the wisdom and Integritÿ of the majority of Both houses maÿ preserve us be the blessings of Peace, however I cannot set aside a Suspicion, that too manÿ are entangled bÿ the intrigues of European Emissaries, whose boasted love for the...
170To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Being now pretty free from headache, I will indulge myself in the pleasure, to cheer mÿ depressed spirits, in answering your favour of the 4th. inst; not that I can promise myself the Satisfaction, of sending you any thing much interesting, but to convince you, if it could be wanted, how highlÿ I value everÿ line from your hand. Theÿ are the onlÿ remaining marks of affectionate esteem of a...
171François Adriaan Van der Kemp to John Adams: A Translation, 5 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Having received several expressions of your Excellency’s friendship and esteem during your stay in Leyden, I flatter myself now that it will not be disagreeable for you to receive proof of my confidence in our friendship. It is a solicitation sir! I hope that it will not appear to you to be rash, because it is made by a friend; a man of talent, with profound and erudite judgment, and with the...
172To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
Although I know not, if I Shall be able to finish this Letter—being not free from head-ache—I dare not longer delaÿ the answer of your favour of 28 oct. Tho no visitants steal mÿ moments—devoted to labour or leasure, the avocations in a Similar Situation of mine are So various, that I often must Sacrifice to these, what I intended for correspondence or mÿ own amusement. Now I have again been...
173To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
As I returned home in safety in the course of this week, the first moments of leisure, after having informed my children and mr Busti of this happy event, shall be devoted, to acknowledge the favour of your’s of the first of Oct. In my former from Philadelphia I mentioned—how I was bruised—wounded—healed—and restored to perfect health—now I can only mention, and this, I am assured is a far...
174To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
It Shall be a part of my Sundays devotion to give you my Sincerest thanks for your kindnesses which I received in your Letters of the 3d and 8th of April I feel Sensibly I cannot be grateful enough for these as theÿ contribute always So efficaciously to dispell the gloom, which hovers ov er me now and cheer up my depressed Spirits, and why then Should I not apply to this remedy whose Salutary...
175To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I read again your excellent, Lectures, and have now bÿ them be pleased and instructed much more, than with the cursorÿ perusal of them in their former State—It is the historÿ of Nations—resolved in Problems—of which the Solution is to be Search’d for in the Annals of everÿ countrÿ—while the events of more modern times maÿ be considered as So manÿ Corallaries, deducible from the Same data. To a...
176To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 November 1818 to 2 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
If my delaying to answer ÿour favour of the 2 of oct was a just measure of my valuing your condescending kindnesses then—no doubt—I ought to be deemed not to deserve your So distinguished attention—but I am happy indeed, that you cannot foster Such an idea—and I Should rather be prompted to make an apologÿ for an insignificant Letter, was I not fully persuaded—that—imperfect as it may be, it...
177To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
No, you will not blame me, though I make use of a Sundays afternoon—having the morning employ’d in familÿ worship—in writing to an honoured friend. This too is religion, to remember the favours, which we received, and Shew our gratitude in our good will, though it is not in our power to prove it bÿ more vigorous exertions Freed this daÿ of head-ache I must improve these moments, and...
178To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
It is not before now, that I can answer your favour of the 18 last—My daughter, who fully Sympathises with my feelings, and knows, how highly I value every line, with which you continue to honour me, Send it to Albany, and last week it was returned here. I was there to examine the Dutch Records of last cent—and finally engaged to try, if I could translate—them—I declined the first proposal of...
179To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
It was my intention to have delay’d writing to you—till the great die was cast—but perusing Dr Morse’s—Revolution I was So Struck and delighted by your interesting Letters—to him mr. Niles and Judge Tudor, that I could not longer bereave me Self of the pleasure of giving you my cordial thanks for these valuable Records. How deeply I regret, that your avocations did not permit you twenty years...
180To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I make no apologÿ in not answering your gratifying favour of the 26th of may Sooner, nor do I Suppose, you required it. My avocations having been So manÿ—mÿ work So crowding—having no help but my Son, daÿ after daÿ planting and replanting, and Sowing again—what had been killed by the frost in my garden, that I really was no Sooner at leisure—and yet—often I took your letter in hand—but only to...
181To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
A letter of mÿ frind Mr. Mifflin induces me to address you again few lines. Mr. Dobson returned him the Mss of the Achaic Republick, after many protestations of regard for the author the purchasers would not be sufficiently numerous to purchase an edition of this work It would answer extremely well in Europe—but he was under the necessity of declining the printing. Mr S. Bradford regretted...
182To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 December 1820 (Adams Papers)
This answer to your letter of the 18th I consider indeed as an essential part of my religious worship on this day—I cannot indeed be Sufficiently thankful to my God for So many undeserved blessings, among which I place it in a high rank, that I continue to preserve your honoured frendship unabated, and I cannot reciprocate in a better manner, as in fostering the deep Sense I feel of the many...
183To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
To relief a while mÿ distressed mind I take up again your interesting favour of July 13—but do not expect, I make no pretence to it, that I Shall answer it as it deserves, as I Should wish—It is but Seldom, that I can persuade myself to come up to this pitch—but I am fully convinced of your indulgence. I know that even an indifferent line is not unacceptable to your kindness. I entered Some...