11From Abigail Smith Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 12 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
A seperate Letter my dear Child is due to you, not only as a reply, to one which you have written me, for which I thank you! but to assure you; that the improvements you have made, in your hand writing; and composition, have given me great pleasure. and also to congratulate you upon the arrival of your two Brothers in England, towards whom I hope you will find yourself allied, not only by the...
12From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 28 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
This is Commencement Day, at Harvard Colledge or in more magnificent Language at The University at Cambridge . But whether you call it Colledge or University, I hope you will one day Study there and take your Degrees there. I have recd your Letter of June 23d. Charles! have you left your Genius frozen in Russia? You was celebrated in Petersburg, and from thence in America, as a Smart Boy. This...
13From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 31 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was very glad to receive your Letter of 8. May, and was on the whole well satisfied with the hand-writing.—There was one f too much in the word afraid, but I see you discovered the fault, and drew the pen across the letter to strike it out—This has defaced the paper a little, but I hope your next Letter will be without blot, erasure, or Paté. You tell me that Priestly looked into Duncan’s...
14From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 6 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago, I received your Letter with two dates—the first of 4th: September; and the second of the 8th: November—It was marked number 6—But I had received and answered nearly a month since, another number 6 that was dated 8th. October—One of the two Letters should have been marked number 7—But there is another circumstance that I was not pleased to see—The last part of your Letter, dated...
15From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 11 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
After I had written you in my last Letter that you needed not to answer it, because I expected to be half way on my return to St: Petersburg before your answer could arrive here, I was very sorry, when I found that I should not go so soon as I had supposed, because by my own asking your Mama and you not to write I saw that I should be several weeks, without hearing from you, and knowing how...
16From 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...
17From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 3 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr John C Gray is to take this letter, & with it my fervent wishes for your happiness, & for that and the success of your education. We are anxious to know whether your parents have placed you in any public or private school, who are your instructors who your fellow Students, and what branches of Literature & Science you are taught. You have had great opportunities to see the masterpeices of...
18From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 1 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received Letters from you all, and you know not how gratifying they have been to my heart. With pleasure I See the great Advantage you have already derived from the Advice of your Father. I have recd. four Letters from George N. 1. 2. 4 and 5. Number Three only is missing. George writes like the elder Brother he is. John writes with that Vivacity and Spirit which always delighted Us;...
19From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 25 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I give you credit for finding time to write me in London where there are So many Objects to engage your Attention So! you have Seen, the Lion in the Tower! And how many more, of your and my Fellow Creatures? Pray did you See, as I did, the Phyal of holy Oil, with which Kings are anointed? That little bottle and its Contents were to me the most curious Objects that I saw upon Tour Hill; made...
20From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 23 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have heard much of your progress in French German & Russian but little of your Proficiency in Greek and Latin. I have no great partiality for the pursuit of a great Variety of Languages. I never knew or read of a Man celebrated for reading, writing and speaking Eleven Languages who was good for any thing else. Greek and latin are indispensible for a Scholar; and with these he may easily...