1515117th. (Adams Papers)
At home all the forenoon, reading Tom Jones, one of the best novels in the language. The scenes are not only such as may have taken place, but they are similar to such as almost every person may have witnessed. This book cannot lead a person to form too favorable an opinion of human nature, but neither will it give a false one. Pass’d the afternoon and part of the evening at Mr. White’s. The...
1515215th. Friday. (Adams Papers)
Fine weather all day. Thermometer at 28 degrees below.0. At the Academy it was 30. Finished the 5th. Volume of Hume’s history of England 577. pages, and begun the 6th.
15153From John Quincy Adams to Executors of John Adams’s Estate, 24 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
Know all Men by these Presents, 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 four two thousand...
1515412th. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Stay’d at home all day. Mr. D. unwell. Cloudy weather.
151558th. (Adams Papers)
I arose in the morning quite refresh’d, and immediately after breakfast went and took my station in the office. I began upon the first volume of Robertson’s history of Charles the V. which Mr. Parsons recommended as containing an account of the feudal institutions, from which were derived many of the laws which are now established in different parts of Europe. I have already read the book; but...
15156From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 19 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr John Edwards Holbrook the bearer, is a Gentleman recommended to me, as of a highly respectable character, nephew of George Edwards Esqr. of Charleston, South Carolina—He is going to Scotland, and afterwards to London, with the intention of completing a medical education, and other views of liberal improvement and curiosity. I beg leave to recommend him to your kind attentions, and if...
15157From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
We embarked at Providence on Tuesday morning, as I wrote you we purposed to do; and after a tolerably pleasant passage of three days and Nights arrived here the day before yesterday about noon; much to the satisfaction of my Sister and her children, who have thus reached the end of their Journey. But we for our part have accomplished not more than one half of ours; and we have taken Seats in...
15158John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 26 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
M r: Dorr obtained a passage in the vessel with M r: Jay, and M r: Jones, had an opportunity to go from Newport, so that they had no occasion to make the application to Congress, in behalf of which I requested your favour. I drew another petition some time since, for the manufacturers of snuff and tobacco in this Town, making representations against the tax proposed upon those articles. I know...
1515921st. (Adams Papers)
Hazy weather again all the forenoon. I went and pass’d an hour with my friend White before dinner. Spent the afternoon with Mr. Thaxter at his office. Mr. Dodge was there, a great part of the Time. We conversed upon various subjects. Mr. Thaxter whose feelings are very warm, express’d his sentiments quite openly with respect to a gentleman, whose political conduct has been of late somewhat...
151605th. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Went to Mr. Wolff’s and to Mr. Rimbert’s in the afternoon to carry letters to be sent to Holland. Mr. D. went after dinner to take a walk. Cloudy weather. In addition to his own letter of the 4th to his father, JQA probably carried Dana’s to JA of the same date ( Adams Papers ).
151612d Saturday. (Adams Papers)
This morning at about 11 o’clock we set off from Wibourg for Frederichshamm; we rode all night and arriv’d, the next day at about 4. o’clock P.M. The Diary continues into the following day’s entry without a break.
15162To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 18 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this letter, is Mr: Henry Rigal, who has been recommended to me as a gentleman of great respectability; he has heretofore held an office in the Service of the Elector of Bavaria, but from the present unsettled state of his Country, and a predilection in favour of America, he has determined to remove with his family and settle in some part of the United States, to whom I am well...
15163To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 3 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 23. Septr: & 3. Octr. was brought to me by my old friend and Classmate I. M. Forbes, and that of 13. Novr. by General Boyd, who both came fellow-passengers in the same vessel. Mr Everett has since arrived, by whom I received a Letter of 26. November, from my dear Mother. I have briefly replied to my Mother upon the advice, which you and she have given me to return to the United...
15164John Quincy Adams, Notice at the sale of part of John Adams estate at Quincy, 27 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
Terms of Sale, cash , to be paid on delivery of each Article—on Friday or Saturday the 29th. or 30th. instt. No earnest required —but every Article not taken and paid for on that day will be considered by the Executors as not sold—and will be resold at the risk of the first purchaser The Tomb is sold only because it was considered the Law required that it should be—The Executors reserve to...
1516512th. (Adams Papers)
Training day for the alarm list. From 16 to 60 years the inhabitants of this Common-wealth, are subjected to the duties of militia-men: As a student of Harvard University, I shall be exempted for three years: for all the sons of Harvard are considered as students at that seminary untill they commence masters of arts. This forenoon I finish’d the first volume of Robertson’s Charles V. and as I...
15166From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 5 October 1823 (Adams Papers)
I now enclose you a Letter for George Davis, which you will deliver to him—The subscription as I told you is conditional to be paid only, unless a sum of (I think 50000) Dollars should be subscribed before the first of January next and deposited in Bank—If you are admitted to attend the Meetings, I shall expect you will give me an account of the proceedings and of the progress of the object,...
15167From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I find in your letter of 5. Jany: last that you make mention of others which you had written in Septr: Octr: and Novr: preceding—Of those, when the original of the enclosed was written, I had received only the last—that of 17 Novr:—But on the twelfth of this Month I received your’s of September 24. 1811—and last Monday that of 17. Feby: 1812—N:2. Your letter of October is yet to come; unless...
1516826th. (Adams Papers)
I was greatly disappointed to find, that neither of my Cousins nor my brother had any Letters for me from Europe. Surely my Sister did not let both opportunities slip. I began to day upon the Testament but shall not I fear proceed far this week. Company in the afternoon to drink tea.
15169To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Under the present circumstances of affairs in this Country, I did not think it prudent to make any unnecessary delay in England, and accordingly left London on the 28th: of last month. Our passage to Helvoet was short though not agreeable; the packet being very much crowded with passengers. We were only three days from London to this place. I had been told in England, that I should perceive...
1517018th. (Adams Papers)
Rain’d a great part of the Day. Miss Hiller is only fourteen, her person comes very near to my ideas of a perfect beauty. A pair of large black eyes, with eyelids, an inch long, and eye brows forming beautiful arches, would be invincible if they had a greater degree of animated, and if she was conscious enough of their power, to make use of it. She has not yet I believe been much into Company,...
1517127th. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Stay’d at home all day. Mr. D. took a ride in the afternoon. Rainy weather the greater part of the day. Clear’d up at about 5 o’clock P.M.
15172From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 11 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 26. November, is yet the latest that I have received from you—But since my last to you, and since mine of the 3d. instant to my father, I have received one from him, more earnestly calling upon me, to ask my recall from this Mission, and return home—I have in my last Letters both to him and you, expressed my sentiments and intentions on this subject, and have alledged such...
1517326th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon. Froullé, books upon astronomy. Went to see Mr. West and Mr. Waring but neither was at home. Messieurs Van den Yver bankers Ruë Royale , Butte St. Roch . Spent part of the evening with the abbés. While I was there a Gentleman came in, who was a great partisan, for animal magnetism, that he very strenuously defended. Speaking of Dr. Franklin, he said j’aime beaucoup M: Franklin,...
15174Saturday June the 23d 1781. (Adams Papers)
This morning I went with Mr. Dana to the old Man House to buy a few things. We hear that a courier is arriv’d at the Hague from Madrid who was only eleven days upon the Journey, he brings news that two Dutch fregates commanded by the Captains Oorthius and Melvill had been out to meet the Dutch East India Ships which were coming home; and had done it accordingly, and were returning to Cadix...
1517515th. (Adams Papers)
All day at home. My Uncle, was applied to last Saturday by a man, to do a little jobb for him, as he term’d it, which was to marry him. So he went in the afternoon: My Aunt and Eliza went in the Chaise. I made in the Evening a few reflections, which I had not time to write down, now, but, must remember to do it some other day. The weather begins to grow cold, and it is probable, we shall have...
151768th. (Adams Papers)
Read through the remainder of the Dialogues, which Reid says, “prove by unanswerable arguments, what no man in his Senses can believe.” There are however, great objections to the System which are not mentioned. This work appears to me, to confound the cause with its effect for ever. Thus if I burn my fingers, they say, the fire by which I burnt them is in my mind, because, the Sensation which...
15177To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 26 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Mr: Wagner having informed me by his letter of the 11th: instt: that neither copy of the within papers which I had forwarded from Hamburg, had then arrived at the seat of the government, I have now the honour to transmit a third copy of them; and am with great respect, Your very humble & obedt: Servt: RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Duplicate Originals of J. Q. Adams, 1800–1801, 1809–12). Docketed by...
15178John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 20 November 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have indeed, my dear Sister, been guilty of a neglect, in omitting so long to write to you, which I cannot upon any principle justify to my own heart; I am sure it has been totally inconsistent with the ardent and sincere brotherly affection which that heart invariably acknowledges for you, and which no length of time, no absence, no course of circumstances, shall ever impair: I have very...
1517922d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Shaw went over to Weymouth. Mr. Cranch returned from Boston, and Mr. Standfast Smith came with him. My brothers and myself pass’d the night at the bottom of the hill.
1518011th. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Adams at the Marquis de la Fayette’s. There was not much American Company: M: le Marquis de St. Simon, who has served in America. Mr. Grandchamp, Capitaine de Vaisseau, and M: le Marquis de Rosanbot premier president au Parlement de Paris. Mr. Ruston was there. This is the first comfortable day we have had this Season: the roads are exceedingly dusty for want of Rain. Madam...