There is but one copy of the “Epistle to my Mother” extant, and that is an unfinished fragment—I should be very unwilling that another copy of it should be taken especially in its present situation condition. It was written exclusively for the eyes of her to whom it was addressed, and of my father; and with the exception of perhaps twenty lines at the close, inspired by the grateful affection...
452From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 18 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
On examining the Register which you sent me, I find that your Court sits at Nantucket the second and at Edgar Town the third Monday in May—This Letter may therefore find you, upon your return home—At the same time I trust you may will also receive the Register just published here, and also the Intelligencers containing the five Letters on Amelia Island. You must give me more particular...
453From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
Mr Frink Roberts wrote me that General Jackson’s had made present to all his Sons; and I wrote him that I would instruct you to match them for me—If I understood him right, it was a silver half-dollar to each of them, and if so you must give them the same to match them—But you had better enquire of himself, and whatever the presents were, you must match them— You will take Mr W. Foster’s...
454To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 25 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose copies of a letter from Mr: Engeström, the Swedish Minister at Berlin, which I received since my arrival here; and of my answer to him. You will perceive that his letter contains the renewal of a proposal made by the king of Sweden about eighteen months ago, for an arrangement between the United States, Sweden and Denmark, mutually to protect their commerce in the...
455From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 18 February 1808 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you some time since and enclosed an order on the Branch Bank at Boston, to be placed to my credit; since which I have not heard from you. I have now only time to request you to pay to my father two hundred and ninety dollars, on my account—being $250. Divd: on ten Shares in N. E. Mc Insurance Company & $40. for do: on ten Shares in Boston Bank.—I expect in a few days to give you an...
456From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 22 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your third Letter, dated 11. June, came to me the day before yesterday Morning, and gave me so much pleasure that I take care to answer it immediately. I see that you tried very much to write it without making any mistakes, and although you did not entirely succeed, yet there were not many; and if you always take as much care, I dare say, you will before long be able to write a Letter without...
457To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1824 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ From John Quincy Adams. Letter not found. 30 June 1824. Calendared in the list probably kept by Peter Force ( DLC : series 7, box 2). Offered for sale in Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 694 (1892), item 99, as a printed letter, signed, “conveying two copies of fac-similes of the original Declaration of Independence, engraved by Wm. J. Stone; also the resolution of Congress respecting the...
458From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter is from Mr Le Dieu, and was received the day after you left London—As I did not notice the jr. on the superscription, I opened it, supposing it was for me; and on discovering the mistake closed it again, and now forward it by Mr Boyle who I trust will find you still in Paris. We went into town on Thursday with your two Brothers. Dined with Mr G. Joy—at Paper Buildings—saw...
459To George Washington from John Quincy Adams, 29 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose herewith, a letter from a young Gentleman who bears your name, and who flatters himself with being (though distantly) related to you. He is by birth an Hollander, but of a family originally English, which went over from England, and settled in the United Netherlands, sometime near the beginning of the present century. At the commencement of the present War, he...
460John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I having wrote to my Mamma Sister and Brother Charles it is my duty to write to you also for if I do not write to you how can I expect that you will write to me for which reason I write to you as often as I can as you must also to me. Providence my dear Brother has seperated us so that we cannot expect to see one another very soon but there is yet one consolation Left us which is that we are...
461John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am (by the Grace of God) once more safely arrived at Bilbao. I have wrote you an account of my Voyage and why we put into Spain. I have heard Since I left Ferrol that a Child of foar years old might be put into the leak. It was well for us that we arrived as we did, one more Storm would very probably carried us to the bottom of the Sea. We arrived here yesterday at about one o’clock and...
462From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
On the back of my last Letter, I acknowledged the receipt of yours of the 14th. and yesterday came your delightful Journal of the next day—I am charmed to find that you meet with so many friends and acquaintance at Philadelphia; and much more so that Dr Physick, has satisfied himself that there is no dropsy in your case. Commodore Rodgers called on me this Morning to say he was going for...
463From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
We continue to be delighted almost daily with your journalizing Letters—which together with our visits to the theatre, enliven the dulness of our half–solitude—Scarcely a day passes indeed but I have new visitors at my Office; but they all merely candidates for Office, and though of course all persons of extraordinary merit, their conversation has no tendency to make or keep one cool, in these...
464From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 8 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter numbered 2. dated 30 and 31. October is before me—Enclosed in it was the receipt of the Executors for the 901. dollars 95 Cents which I had forwarded from New-York—The Savings Bank Book, I thought it would be best not to settle, until it should be time to make the second distribution to the Devisees; the interest being in the mean time going on. I now enclose to you 1. An order...
465John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 29 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have given to our brother Thomas a general power of Attorney to transact all business on my behalf within the United States. I have therefore to request you to account with him for all my property in your hands amounting to four thousand dollars, and the interest upon that sum, for more than two years, as appears by your letters to me, and by information from Doctor Welsh, that you have made...
466From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 1 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of last writing you I have duly received two letters from you and six copies of Mr Clarke’s interesting discourse, for which I tender you the united thanks of the family. I have been So much occupied as a joint Executor of my fathers will, together with some other business, that I have had scarce a moment for writing to my friends. But having made as much progress in...
467To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 24 May 1819 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Cardelli the Sculptor, whom at my solicitation you have kindly permitted to visit Montpellier for the purpose of taking your Bust will have the honour of delivering you this Letter. From the knowledge I have of his talent and the success with which he has taken that of President Monroe, I hope he will execute the work to your satisfaction and with my thanks for your indulgence in giving...
468From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 16 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I received some days ago your kind favour of the 29th: of last month; and since then my brother’s letter of the 4th. instt:—from the last of which I am made happy by the information that you and my children are well I have occasionally forwarded packets containing the documents which have been communicated to us from the President, and others which have occurred since the Commencement of the...
469From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 1 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr J. Sergeant, arrived in London last week, and delivered to me Letters from you, my father and my brother. Your’s is of 5. December—At that time, you observe, the Season with you, had become very cold—Most fortunately for this Country, there has been no cold weather this Winter, and scarcely any Snow. The verdure of the fields in this neighborhood, is like that of May—There are several...
470From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 30 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have this day drawn upon you, at sight, for ten thousand Dollars, in favour of Richard Smith, Cashier of the United States Branch Bank or Order—I drew for the whole sum, because I cannot comprehend, how you should want five hundred dollars, to supply any claims upon you, on my account, while you are in the receipt of all the rents due not only on the first of January last, but on the first...
471From John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
As the account I gave you the day before yesterday may occasion you some anxiety on my wife’s account, it gives me the most cordial pleasure now to inform you that she is as well as under the Circumstances could possibly be expected, and the infant remarkably hearty and Strong—My Sister Smith came in from Quincy the morning of the child’s birth and has been with Mrs: Adams constantly since. I...
472From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Scarce a day now passes without the arrival of vessels laden with flour from the United States. I am informed from Liverpool that upwards of twenty-five thousand Barrels have already been received there since the opening of the Ports. We have had several days ago accounts from New-York, down to the 18th. of last Month; and on Saturday I received your kind Letter of 8. Jany.—There is an old...
473John Quincy Adams to Elizabeth Cranch, 14 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
by your desire I now sit down to write a few lines to you and not yet having wrote to you I cannot let this oportunity pass without writing. my Pappa has received two or three packets from my mamma in which she said our family and Freinds were all well as I hope this will find them. I have nothing material to write having given an account of my voyage and travels to my Mamma. I am your...
474John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 20 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
About a month after I last took my leave of you in New York, I sailed from Boston, and after a passage of twenty eight days landed at Deal in England. We spent a fortnight in London, where we saw several of your friends who enquired particularly after you: and have now been about three weeks in this Country, principally at the Hague. It is at a very critical and dangerous period for this...
475From John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, 26 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I received last Evening your favour of the 23d:—The appointment of Mr. Schenck had been two or three days before confirmed by the Senate—I most sincerely lament your removal from the Office of Surveyor; but this act is exclusively within the power of the President, and the only notice he usually gives to the Senate of a removal is by a new Nomination to the Office—Such was the case in the...
476From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 February 1824 (Adams Papers)
On the 5th. of last month I received your Letter dated on the first and have been in expectation of receiving the statement of your account promised in it, which has not yet arrived—It gives me great pleasure to learn that you are persevering by elevating your attention to the art of regular account keeping, and I cannot cease to exhorting you to master it throughly and to apply it...
477From John Quincy Adams to William Smith, 24 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
On my arrival in this Country, I received your favour of 3. April last, enclosing a copy of the Sermon, and other religious performances, at the Ordination of Mr Frothingham, for which I beg you to accept my thanks—I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with that Gentleman; but he fills the place of two of the most valued and respected friends that it has been my lot to meet in...
478From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 31 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you last I have not heard directly from you although an interval of several weeks has elapsed—I sent you receipts for Gurley’s & Delille’s Rent, which I presume you have received—On this Idea, I have now to desire that you would enquire whether any dividend on the Stock of the Fire and Marine Insurance Company was made on the first of this Month—And if there was I will thank you...
479From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 1 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 19th: of Last Month, informing me of your admission to the University gave me great Satisfaction; and as you are now fully enrolled among the Sons of Harvard, I hope you will make it your constant and earnest object to do honour to that Institution, by the regularity of your conduct, and the steadiness of your pursuits You say that in the Class which you have entered,...
480From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 18 August 1825 (Adams Papers)
Thomas J. Hellan is to be offered as a Candidate for admission at Harvard University this year—I wish you to give him all the assistance which he may need for that purpose, and to consider him as under your parental, or brotherly care—You will be one of his bondsmen and request my brother to be the other—You will attend to the payment of his quarterly bills, and other necessary expenses,...
481From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 17 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
An interval of three days without a Letter from you had me, and I find by your Journal to the 15th. yesterday received that it was not without reason—I hope your health will not suffer by a Summer residence in Philadelphia Mr and Mrs. Smith arrived here, the Evening before last from Pensacola—Johnson Hellen left us on Wednesday Morning to return to Rockville I wrote you last Monday Morning...
482John Quincy Adams to Lucy Cranch, 1 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I having wrote Twice to your brother & not having yet wrote to you I now take a pen into my hand to write a few Lines to you to inform you of a Little excursion I took last. Mr. Lee his nephew My Pappa & I went to the theatre Calld the Italien Comedy where we had the women & the Secrets of which we See but very Little the next was Silvain in which the Scene represented on one side an old house...
Last Evening I received with heart-felt pleasure your letter of the 25th: ulto: which was the first line I had from you since my departure—It has been a long time on the road, and should have reached me sooner— The information respecting the children was delightful—George’s reluctance at his french lesson he must overcome—No French—no Horse—I am glad John has begun seriously upon his...
484John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 September 1788 (Adams Papers)
M r: Lincoln, the bearer, is a young preacher, who belongs to Hingham; he is going home, and I cannot suffer the opportunity to pass unimproved; though I have little to say: except that I have been unwell: my nerves have been disordered, and the words of Henry have [. . .] obtruded themselves upon my mind, at the midnight hour. I came here last Saturday, and have such excellent care taken of...
485From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 17 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Some time since I sent you a check on the Branch Bank, in favour of J. Briesler for $45—to be presented if you had previously received the rent of Mr: Gurley, & Delisle, and deposited the money in Bank—I shall have occasion to send another check or two shortly, but untill I have ascertained whether you have received and paid in those monies, I cannot venture to draw; not being sure of having...
486From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 23 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your delightful journal of Friday and Saturday has just come to hand—What diverts me most in it, is the regular Saturday Night’s indisposition of the Horses— The heat here on Saturday was almost suffocating—Since then it has been more supportable, but is yet very oppressive—A furlough of six weeks would be delicious to me—but you know some of my reasons for not taking it this year—I am weary...
487From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
In the course of four days I received your last Letter from St: Petersburg of 12 Feby. That from Riga and of 17 and 20. Feby. and that from Berlin of the 5th: of this Month—I had addressed a Letter to you at Konigsberg on the 19th: of February, and one at Berlin on the first of March, both of which must have arrived after you had passed through those places—I had requested you to inform me by...
488John Quincy Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 31 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
Though I have not hitherto enjoyed the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with you, I have long since learnt to participate in the warm affection which a most amiable and worthy family, to which you belong, bear towards you, and at this time after having formed and solemnized, the tenderest and dearest of all human connections with your beloved sister, Louisa, I am happy in deriving from it...
489To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 1 June 1819 (Madison Papers)
In a Letter which I had the honour of receiving from you last November, you observed, in relation to a plan of Government offered by Coll Hamilton, to the federal Convention in 1787, that it was not formally presented as a plan to be debated, but read by him, in the course of a Speech. Could you favour me so far, as to inform me of the day upon which that Speech was delivered, and the question...
Your journal of the 16th. 17th. and 18th. from Bordentown was doubly grateful, for being unexpected—I am delighted to learn that you have been passing your time so agreeably; particularly as it was relaxation so necessary to you after so much confinement at Philadelphia. We have been called again to the House of Mourning, and on Friday attended the funeral of Mrs Macomb, at Georgetown. She...
491John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 17 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
As there is a very good opportunity of writing to you by a Gentleman from South carolina who is about embarking for America I must write one short Letter to all my Freinds. I am in one of the schools which I was in when I was here before and am very content with my situation. I will give you an account of our hours. At 7 o clock A.M. we get up and go in to school and at 8 o clock we breakfast...
492From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 5 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 24th. ulto. with the draft on the Branch Bank for 3000 Dollars in received.—Messrs: Payne and Co wrote me lately mentioning the opinion of our friend Mr. Jos: Stall Senior, that there would be no dividend upon the Canal Shares next January.—I immediately answered them that if that was now their own opinion, I wished them to suspend further purchases on my account.—I say the same...
493From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 June 1806 (Adams Papers)
You will receive I presume at the same time with this a letter from me written yesterday at Quincy, in the ardour and satisfaction of Hope. This morning on my coming into Boston, your letter of the 23d: so lovely by its tender sensibility, so admirable by its resignation and fortitude, yet so distressing to me by the affliction in which it was written, and the marks of suffering apparent even...
494John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 April 1803 (Adams Papers)
The House of Bird, Savage and Bird have stop’d payment, and probably the bill I drew upon them which you negotiated last November, will come back protested— In that case, settle the amount to be paid, with the indorsee duly entitled to it, who may call upon you; let me know the amount and I will send you a post note for it— Be careful to see that the protest and proceedings have all been...
495John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have now the pleasure to acquaint you some news which will be agreable to you. Yesterday morning an extroadinary express from England has brought this news that on Friday 12 i n st. the Populace of London put fire to the hotels of North, Sandwich, Germaine, and Paliseer which was consumed and that at the Moment of the depart of the Letter it went so well that they did not know where it would...
496From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 14 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
I received with much concern your kind favour of the 8th instt. particularly as it mentions your being in a feeble state of health—I hope it is only a consequence of the great heat of the Season with which we are also suffering here— While I had flattered myself with the hope of being able to visit my father this Season, I had the fixed determination of paying you that visit which with my Wife...
497John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am very much gratified to find by your favour of the 26 th: that your Journey from Brussels was so pleasant, and that you are so well satisfied with what you had seen.— I shall request Mess rs: Moliere to extend your credit with their correspondents at Paris. There is a Danish vessel going to Lisbon from Amsterdam in the course of three weeks or a month. I shall go to Amsterdam in a few days...
498From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 26 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
I am engaged in preparing by order of both Houses of Congress a Report upon the subject of Weights and Measures, embracing a Statement of the Regulations of the several States of this Union concerning them—I wrote a circular Letter to the Governors of the several States requesting information, and from the Governor of Louisiana, received a Copy of the Law of the State, adopting the Weights and...
499Commission of Albert Gallatin, John Quincy Adams, and James A. Bayard, [17 April] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Whereas his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, as the common friend of the United States and Great Britain, has offered them his mediation, with a view to the restoration of Peace and the establishment of permanent harmony between them; and the invitation having been accepted on the part of the United States in contemplation of a like acceptance on the part of Great Britain: Now...
500To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 21 June 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 13th. instt. The error in the printed Journal of the Convention, by which the motion on the 7th. of September for the establishment of a Council of State, is ascribed to you, is in the original list of yeas and nays, taken at the time by the Secretary, who probably in the hurry of writing made the mistake which you suggest of your name...