1531From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
The Meloncholly History of the last Journey and the last days of your Sister will be given you by the your Mother. My Eyes, my hands and my heart are too weak to endure it, I can only Say, May my last End be like her’s. From the Cradle the most healthy of all my Children, till the last two years; during which she has Suffered, with all that patience fortitude and Equanimity which She uniformly...
1532From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Κριοùς μὲν ὄνοuς διζήμεθα, Κúρνε, καὶ ἵππους εὐγενέας· καί τις βούλεται ἐξ ἀγαθῶν κτήσασθαι. γῆμαι δὲ κακὴν κακοũ οὐ μελεδαίνει ἐςθλὸς ἀνὴρ, ἤν οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ διδῶ. Behold my translation “My Friend Curnis, When We want to purchace, Horses, Asses or Rams, we inquire for the Wellborn. And every one wishes to procure, from the good Breeds. A good Man, does not care to marry a Shrew, the...
1533John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 14] August 1813, with Postscript, 16 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Κριοùς μὲν καὶ ὄνοuς διζήμεθα, Κúρνε, καὶ ἵππους εὐγενέας· καί τις βούλεται ἐξ ἀγαθῶν κτήσασθαι. γῆμαι δὲ κακὴν κακοũ οὐ μελεδαίνει ἐςθλὸς ἀνὴρ, ἤν οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ διδῶ. Behold my translation “My Friend Curnis , When We want to purchace, Horses, Asses or Rams, We inquire for the Wellborn. And every one wishes to procure, from the good Breeds. A good Man, does not care to marry a Shrew, the...
1534From John Adams to Jonathan Mason, Jr., 13 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 10th. has given me great pleasure I conjectured and concluded you were absent on one of your Summer Excursions, which in your Circumstances I very much applaud; and therefore felt no Uneasiness at not hearing from you sooner. Another Edition of the Sketches will soon be out; and will exhibit, such Examples of Navel Intrepidity, as the World has no Idea of; such as have been...
1535From John Adams to Richard Rush, 13 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
You must live to be 77 years and 9 months old, before you can know how much I am obliged to you for your favour of the 5th. Pray tell me Something of the Biography of Mr St. George Tucker of Virginia. I cannot Speak of the political morsell of his, without extravagance. I know not which to admire most, its Simplicity, its Beauty its Pathos, its Philosophy, its Morality, its Religion, or its...
1536From John Adams to Richard Rush, 11 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 2d. The “Portion of time that you can command every day” affords me very pleasing hopes. Reading Machiavel, is like conversing with a professed Actor on the Theatre: you can never know when he is in Jest, or when in earnest: whether he lies or Says the Truth. In his Art of War he inculcates a different doctrine, from that which you quote: namely that Princes, and...
1537From John Adams to Richard Rush, 11 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
“When I had an army to create, I would have called for the list of Revolutionary officers and would have nominated every Survivor according to the rank he held at the conclusion of the war—Yates, Schuyler, Lincoln, Knox, Clintons, Pinckneys, Sumters, Muhlenbergs; who you will. But not one of my Ministers, not one Senator, not one Representative, and what was more than all, Washington who was...
1538From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I believe I told you in my last, that I had given you all in Lindseys Memoirs, that interested you. But I was mistaken. In Priestleys Letter to Lindsey Decr. 19. 1803, I find this Paragraph “With the Work I am now composing I go on much faster and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the Press; though I Shall...
1539From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
My Philosophy and my Religion, Such as they are, are brought to a Tryal. My dear, my only daughter lies in the next Chamber consuming with a Schirrous Cancer; my Daughter in Law, Charles’s Widow lies in the next Chamber, extreamly weak, and low with one of the most dangerous diseases to which We are liable. My Wife a valetudinarian through an whole Life of 69 Years, is worn down with care,...
1540John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I believe I told you in my last , that I had given you all in Lindseys Memoirs, than that interested you. But I was mistaken. In Priestleys Letter to Lindsey Dec r 19. 1803 , I find this Paragraph “With the Work I am now composing I go on much faster and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the Press; though I...
1541From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 6 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
The Talents and qualities of the Tumble Bugg, are Strength Industry, Patience, Foresight of Futurity, care to provide for Posterity and for individual Wants, at a future day. Now, which of these mental Faculties or bodily qualities, has this “the most enlightened, the best informed, the most Sagacious, and the most virtuous Nation on the Globe” discovered during the last 13 Years? A tumble...
1542From John Adams to John Fothergill Waterhouse, 5 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for Dr Slaughtons Eulogium on Dr Rush.—It is indeed “appropriate, learned and eloquent.” But I know not what to think of Eulogiums, Pictures, Statues, or Monuments.—If they could be consecrated by Truth to Virtue or to Honour, they would be venerable. My Feelings have been more affected by the words “In memoriam ingenii, Boerhaaviani Salutifori,” which I have sSeen read on a Stone...
1543From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 1 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you on the new acquaintences you have made. Madam de Stael and Sir Francis D’Ivernois are illustrious personages who will make a figure in history; a more splendid figure, that I can expect; or even than you can hope. Madam I never had the honor to see. With her handsome Lord I have enjoyed many a diplomatic dinner sometimes at his own hotel, and if I was not mistaken he had...
1544From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
To be Sure, you can cutt out Work, like a Master Tayler, or Shoemaker for a Thousand hands to work up. Was there ever Such a Letter as yours of July 19th.? The Name of De Gyzelaer, like the Name of D’Ivernois which I recd on the same day from St. Petersburg, excites recollections that would fill a volume. You are preparing the negotiations of John Adams at the Courts “of St. James’s,...
1545From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 26 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Our old Commodores & Captains, are not so ardent for glory as they were 35 years ago. One of the bravest of them sends me word, that his wife has covered with his journal: but he will send me what he can recollect, as soon as he can prepare it, with proper deliberation. As soon as it comes I will enclose it to you. Commodore John Foster Williams, who at his advanced age still condescends to...
1546From John Adams to William Plumer, 25 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have lately turned over our Historians, Ramsay Gordon, Mrs Warren, Marshall, to search for a Statistical devellopement of that most powerful Instrument and most efficacious cause of Success, in our revolutionary War; a maritime and naval Force. I beg of you to do the same, and see, what a miserable lame meagre appearance it makes. As you are writing a History of the same period I wish you...
1547From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 25 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mine Eyes are better. I am angry with you for calling our Navy little. It is the greatest Navy in the World. Far greater than the Brittish. I rejoice in the Glory of the Essex, and her Captain Porter: but he ought not to have threatened to revenge himself upon Lima. What is himself, and myself and yourself? He should have vindicated the honour of his Country. I am glad that Mr Gray applauds...
1548From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 23 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 15th is alarming. Remember the fate of Cassandra. The prophet of ill ’tho’ as true as a goose’s bow is always detested. I also have been now and then reckoned among the minor prophets. Not a bone of any Goose ever picked by Jo Green, Nick Boylston, & Master Lovel on a Christmas eve, tho’ they had Nat Gardner for a guest, and exhausted all their wit, Gibes, & Jokes upon it, ever...
1549From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Dr Priestley, in a letter to Mr Lindsey Northumberland Nov. 4. 1803 Says “As you were pleased with my comparison of Socrates and Jesus, I have begun to carry the same comparison to all the heathen Moralists, and I have all the books that I want for the purpose, except Simplicius and Arrian on Epictetus, and them I hope to get from a Library in Philadelphia: lest however I should fail there, I...
1550John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
D r Priestley , in a letter to M r Lindsey Northumberland Nov. 4. 1803 Says “ As you were pleased with my comparison of Socrates and Jesus , I have begun to carry the same comparison to all the heathen Moralists , and I have all the books that I want for the purpose, except
1551From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 21 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been highly gratified by your obliging letter recd Yesterday. You need not give yourself any concern about my Name in your future Edition. I desire no more than Neighboursfare. A memoir from me, would amount to little more, than the Soliloqui of the Fly upon the Chariot Wheel “What a Dust We raise”? And would excite many little Strong Passions, that we might injure rather than Serve the...
1552From John Adams to Alexander Hill Everett, 19 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to find you are pleased with the sketches. The exploits of our maratime and naval Genius, are a severe Satire on our nation. The Government has been but a Tool of the nation whose eyes may now possibly be opened; this however is better than that the nation should be the tool of the Government. The thousand ships of England are; as Mr Hancock in one of his orations, on the fifth of...
1553From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have more to Say, on Religion. For more than Sixty Years I have been attentive to this great Subject. Controversies, between Calvinists and Arminians, Trinitarians and Unitarians, Deists and Christians, Atheists and both, have attracted my Attention, whenever the Singular Life, I have lead would admit, to all these questions. The History of this little Village of Quincy, if it were worth...
1554John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have more to Say, on Religion. For more than Sixty years I have been attentive to this great Subject. Controversies, between Calvinists and Arminians, Trinitarians and Unitarians, Deists and Christians, Atheists and both, have attracted my Attention, whenever the Singular Life, I have lead would admit, to all these questions. The History of this little Village of Quincy , if it were worth...
1555From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters to Priestley, have encreased my Grief if that were possible, for the loss of Rush. Had he lived, I would have Stimulated him to insist on your promise to him to write him on the Subject of Religion. Your Plan, I admire. In your Letter to Priestley of March 21. 1801, dated at Washington you call “The Christian Philosophy, the most Sublime and benevolent, but the most perverted...
1556John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
your Letters to Priestley , have encreased my Grief if that were possible, for the loss of Rush . Had he lived, I would have Stimulated him to insist on your promise to him to write him on the Subject of Religion. your Plan, I admire. In your Letter to Priestley of March 21. 1801 , dated at Washington you call “The Christian Philosophy, the most Sublime and benevolent, but the most perverted...
1557From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I send you, as I received it, a Packett from Mr Bentley of Salem. You and Mr Clark must digest it. I have not the Power, not the means, to copy or extract. Expect more in a few days from your obliged OMC : Charles G. Slack Collection of Autographs.
1558From John Adams to Richard Rush, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of June 29th has given me feelings, like those I always enjoyed when writing to your Father The distinction between a War and a peace party, is a Sophism. There is a Sense in which all Parties and all Men, wish for peace, except perhaps a few military Geniuses, who like Luxembourg have an aversion to planting Cabbages. It is a doubt whether there ever was a popular War. Some of the...
1559From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. Yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock, to Harrington, to Milton, to Hume, to Montesquieu to Roauseau, to Turgot, Condorcet, to Rochefaucault,...
1560John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813, with Postscript from Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 15 July 1813] (Jefferson Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock , to Harrington , to Milton , to Hume to Montesquieu to Reauseau , to Turgot , Condorcet
1561From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 14 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 5th has distressed me; because it has made me apprehend that I expressed myself in mine to you of the 29th Ult. with too little caution. But be assured that I never had a suspicion that you were actuated by any mean, mercenary, or even mercantile motive in this business. You have not sent me one copy too many; You have deserved well of your Country, and will merit the thanks...
1562From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 13 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Let me allude, to one circumstance more, in one of your Letters to me, before I touch upon the Subject of Religion in your Letters to Priestley. The first time, that you and I differed in Opinion on any material Question; was after your Arrival from Europe; and that point was the french Revolution. You was well persuaded in your own mind that the Nation would Succeed in establishing a free...
1563John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 13 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Let me allude, to one circumstance more, in one of your Letters to me, before I touch upon the Subject of Religion in your Letters to Priestley . The first time, that you and I differed in Opinion on any material Question; was after your arrival from Europe ; and that point was the french Revolution. you was well persuaded in your own mind that the Nation would Succeed in establishing a free...
1564From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I forgot in my last to remark, a very trifling Inaccuracy in yours of June 27th. The Letter intercepted in Hichbournes Trunk which was reported to glance at Mr Dickenson, was not in 1776. It was in the month of June 1775. Had it been June 1776, the English would not have printed it. The Nation had then too maturely reflected, on the necessity of Independence, and was too ripe and too hot for a...
1565John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot in my last to remark, a very trifling Inaccuracy in yours of June 27 th . The Letter intercepted in Hichbournes Trunk which was reported to glance at M r Dickenson , was not in 1776. It was in the month of June 1775. Had it been June 1776, the English would not have printed it. The Nation had then too maturely reflected, on the necessity of Independence, and was too ripe and too hot...
1566From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Lord! Lord! What can I do, with so much Greek? When I was of your Age, young Man, i.e. 7 or 8 or 9 years ago I felt, a kind of pang of Affection, for one of the flames of my youth, and again paid my Addresses to Isocrates and Dionissius Hallicarnassensis &c &c &c I collected all my Lexicons and Grammers and Sat down to περι ενθεςεως ονοματων &c. In this Way I amused myself for sometime: but I...
1567John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Lord! Lord! What can I do, with So much Greek? When I was of your Age, young Man, i.e. 7 or 8 or 9 years ago I felt, a kind of pang of Affection, for one of the flames of my youth, and again paid my Addresses to Isocrates and Dionissius Hallicarnassensis &c &c &c I collected all my Lexicons and Grammers and Sat down to περι ενθε ς εως ονοματων &c. In this Way I amused myself for sometime: but...
1568From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 8 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is another letter from John Marston esq. of Yesterday, containing an original letter from David Pierce to Captain John Foster Williams. Mr Clark may file these papers, among his Memorabilia maritima et navalia; and make such use of them as he thinks fit. I should be glad to know something of Mr Isaac Prince; at least of his profession and occupation and the place of his nativity. His...
1569From John Adams to William Cranch, 8 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of June 22nd. If any one has paid Mr Gales for my third years subscription I know not who he is, that has been so charitable. I believe Mr Gales is mistaken I have never authorized or requested any one but your honour to do it: & certainly I have not advanced any money for the purpose It is your duty to “endeavour to suppress, every sentiment of indignation.” The...
1570From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 7 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
The Letter, within, from Colonel Jeremiah Obrien to Captain John Foster Williams, inclosed is one to me from John Marston Esq, is at the Service of Mr Clark and yourself. The inclosed Letter to me From Mr Isaac Prince, you will please to return to me. This Gentleman is altogether unknown to me. I am apprehensive, that his magnificent Prospectus, by tempting the rich, and the elegant to wait...
1571From John Adams to Isaac Prince, 7 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your polite letter of July 1st and for your splendid Prospectus. My head and heart concur in every proposal to recommend a Navy to the United States. But I apprehend that this enterprize will hurt the sale of the first Edition of Mr Clark’s sketches and diminish the public curiosity for the second. Mr Clark is an entire stranger to me. Mr Matthew Carey a very slight...
1572John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 3–5] July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Correspondences! The Letters of Bernard and Hutchinson , and Oliver and Paxton &c were detected and exposed before The Revolution. There are I doubt not, thousands of Letters, now in being, but Still concealed, from their Party to their Friends, which will, one day See the light. I have wondered for more than thirty years that So few have appeared: and have constantly expected that a Tory...
1573From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 5 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Last night Mr Marston gave me the inclosed Six Papers. The original Letter from Captain Hoisted Hacker to Brown and Vernon, I wish to have returned. These Papers are authentic. I have found no Man So active and ardent in promoting Your and Mr Clarks Views as John Marston; who has Spared no pains. The Captain Simpson mentioned in one of these Papers was I presume the First Lieutenant of Captain...
1574From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 5 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Correspondences! The Letters of Bernard and Hutchinson, and Oliver and Paxton &c were detected and exposed before The Revolution. There are I doubt not, thousands of Letters now in being, but Still concealed, (from their Party to their Friends, which will, one day See the light. I have wondered for more than thirty Years that So few have appeared: and have constantly expected that a Tory...
1575From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 3 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 28th of June. I know your press of Business too well to need any Apology for delays of answers to my Letters. It is a great Satisfaction to me, that Mr Jefferson has interested himself in Mr Clarks Publication. His Memory, I presume can furnish many materials: and certainly no man is better qualified to suggest improvements of the Work. Jus suum cuique. I...
1576From John Adams to John Langdon, 3 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Although it would do no good to excite your Tears or my own, by Allusions to your late Afflictions or mine; I Sincerely condole and Sympathize with you. Instead of bewailing the past, it is better to think of the future, and Serve our Generation, as well as We can by the feeble Forces and few days that may be lent Us. I know of nothing better that I can attempt at this moment in this Way, than...
1577From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 3 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letters give us information as well as entertainment. Your reception at head Quarters & at the war office, augur well for the public. It is impossible that your ideas, your conversation, can be wholly lost to either Dearborne is really to be pitied. He is worn down and tormented by the disease that humbled the great spirit of Louis 14th; not to mention the misfortunes of the first year of...
1578From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is with great difficulty, that my paralyttic Fingers can hold a Pen. The litterary, the Scientific, the ecclesiastical, the political, the military, the naval Phenomina exhibited by your Country, would afford me abundant Materials, to load every Ship and every Passenger with Letters to you, if I had Eyes and hands to write; and were not restrained by the Consideration, that I could do no...
1579From John Adams to Hendrick W. Gordon, 1 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 28th and 29th are before me. The report that my son, has written or said that, “The present War is unnecessary and unjust.” is wholly unfounded. Your obliging offer, to send our Letters by Captain William Story to St. Petersburgh will be accepted with gratitude to both. I am Sir your obliged Friend MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1580From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
The report that John Quincy Adams has written to his father, or any one else that “the war which the United States has declared, and is waging against England is in his opinion unjust and unnecessary;” whether fabricated in Halifax or Boston is altogether groundless. Mr Quincy’s resolve is slacking. Louis 14th Fistula drained his brain of vapours. Vide Talk of a tub. You have not acknowledged...