11John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am once more settled down in a school and am very content with my situation. I was the other night at the Foire St Germain in Paris which is a publick place and full of curiosities. We went and saw a Woman who (in truth) was not very tall but who weigh’d 450 weight. The large part of her arm was as big round as my body and she cover’d With her thumb a Crown peice. Her thimble was big enough...
12John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have not written to you before, since I left you, because my Studies and European Letters have engrossed all my Time. But as you will probably soon enter this University, I wish to give you a few hints which you may improve as you please. You will consider them, not as the commands or instructions of a Preceptor, but as the advice of a friend, and a Brother. Your intimate acquaintances will...
13John 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...
14Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I would not omit writing you, because you seem to think you have been agrieved. I do not recollect what I wrote you, but I have Some Idea, that it was an enumeration of the various accidents you had met with, and advising you to more care and attention in future. I had no occasion to chide you for want of application to your studies, because your uncles your Aunts & your Brothers had been...
15John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
We have mutually been deficient in those attentions, which absent connections ought always to preserve towards one another: the fault has been the greatest on my side, as I was under the additional obligation of setting a good example; but I feel myself at this time peculiarly bound to write to you, to apologize for the rough expressions which upon several occasions I used while I was with...
16John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your manly letter of 25 th Ult.— I had long intended to write you but as you observe avocations have always intervened. Public business my son, must always be done by somebody.— it will be done by somebody or other— If wise men decline it others will not: if honest men refuse it, others will not. A young man should well weigh his plans. Integrity should be...
17John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your short Epistle by M r: Thomas at Ipswich, where I was then attending the Court of Common Pleas: and at the same time he gave me very agreeable information respecting your performance at exhibition; which has been confirmed to me from several quarters. From the conversations which have repeatedly passed between us, you will readily imagine how much I was gratified, to hear that...
18John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your favour of the 22 d: inst t : thanks you know are “the exchequer of the poor.” upon that exchequer of mine you are entitled to bills to a large amount. I assure you I feel the obligation of your attention to my trunk, which has not yet arrived, but which will be very acceptable when it comes. But your Letter has excited my curiosity, and I find myself very much...
19John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last Post your short favour, inclosing a much longer one to Quincy which I have punctually delivered: I know not whether this will reach you before your departure from Philadelphia; if it does not it can do no harm: and if it does, as you have concluded upon coming this way with the family it may be of some service to me.— You recollect doubtless that while I was in...
20John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 October 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of the 17 th: inst t: from New-York, and am happy to hear you had got well so far on your journey. I hope you will be equally punctual on your arrival at Philadelphia. I must request your attention to the memorandum, which I left with you last Spring; and that you would not forget to send my segars before the navigation closes for the Season. the numbers of the Gazette...