11From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 12 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
What is common Law in England has been Subject to disputes enough. In Blackstones Commentaries and Fortescue Alands Preface to his Reports you may find the most intelligible Account. In general, Usage from time immemorial practiced and approved, is the Criterion It is denied by many and doubted by more whether The United States have any common Law There may be some Principles and Rules of Law...
12From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the Eighth I can only say that Societies Since as I have never been of any Use to any of our learned Societies Since their Institution, except perhaps in a present of Books to one of them. I should be extremely unhappy to have reason to suspect that I had done them any harm. My Course of Life and perpetual Avocations have been such that I never could turn my...
13From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
The tumultuous Crowd of Thoughts that rushed into my head as I read your Letter of Yesterday, would appear as gross a Chaos and as wild an Anarchy, if it could be described in Writing; as the Politicks of our Commonwealth appear to you, as described in your Letter. If I hint at Some of them, I shall Study no Tacticks to marshall them in order. 1. In the first place, I absolutely forbid that...
14From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
You are So waggish and roguish with your Woofs and your Warps and your Webs, that I am almost afraid to write or Speak to you. Yet I wish We were nearer together. I was a little alarmed at the Story of the pacific Commission. Some body was pleased to call the Sarcasms in the Repertory, “Severe.” They ought to have been called the Snarlings of Park the Puppy, and the Squealings of Park the...
15From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
The History of Queen Ann’s reign and of the Treaty of Utrecht is So instructive, that it is worth while to look into the Life of Mesnager, and into that of the Abby Gautria. Mesnager was a Merchant of Rouen; in great Commerce but preferring Politicks of to trade Louis 14th. informed of his Talents, Sent him twice into Spain, to regulate the commerce of the Indias; and after wards into Holland...
16From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 15 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
You ask my Opinion, (if I understand you) whether Duane or General Hull, be the fittest Man for Secretary of War. I answer. In my opinion, Wilkinson was fitter than either. But his Vanity and the Collisions of Faction have rendered his Appointment improper and impossible. Again, if you wish my Opinion, you Shall have it. I know that Colonel William Stevens Smith of Lebanon, in Smiths Valley on...
17From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 31 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I cannot take leave of the Year, without confession of my fault and begging Pardon, A Letter so kind and obliging as yours of 20th September ought not to have been Unnoticed, till this day. My heart is bound up with the Navy and I love the Officers, as well as my Sons. Their politeness to me, was conspicuous enough. Their Invitations were cordial enough. But I had reasons, which I could...
18From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 12 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
No Wonder, that the President has suffered a violent strain. I have spent nine days in the gulph stream 3 of them in a Hurricane, 3 more in a gale not much less furious, 3 more in tracing back our steps. The three first we could not lay to A foresail left standing to steady our ship was rent to pieces like a sheet of wet paper, & we were forced to scud under bare poles. We shipped two hundred...
19From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am broke….I am a Bankrupt… Je n’ai rien; Je dois par tout Dans mes affaires Je Suis au but.... My Table is loaded with long, learned and ingenious Letters, from far and near, upon Religion Law Government History Politicks and War which I have not answered, and cannot answer. I will however not fail to acknowledge my debts to you both pecuniary and litterary; and trust to the Clemency of my...
20From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I will join with Vice President Gerry and Lt. Governor Gray in any reasonable representation. But higher interests than yours or mine are at stake. What is your family & mine & twenty others to eight Million of people? How much less to mankind? The salvation of both, seems to be staked both by republicans and federalists, upon the opinion of Washington. the Boston junto of republicans appeal...