241To John Adams from Thomas Herttell, 25 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I am conscious that I ought before now to have apologized to you for permitting your letter to me of the 18th: of November last to be published without first asking and obtaining your assent—My almost constant attention to public business, has more than any other cause occasioned this involuntary omission—I entertain a confidence that your liberality will not only induce you to accept my...
242To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 22 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have been highly gratified in recieving your kind Letter of the 10th. instant.—I hope you will not attribute the infrequency of my Letters to you, to any other than its true cause. The Revd. Mr. Little will deliver you this Letter. He is the Pastor of a small flock of Unitarian Christians, who are gathering in this City, and who need some assistance to enable them to erect a place of Worship...
243From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 29 May 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two Letters; and have since then also received a Letter from President Kirkland, containing a Statement of the reasons of your dismission from the University—I have delayed answering your Letters, in the hope, that you might obtain permission to return after the vacation, and receive your degree, without degradation—I have written to President Kirkland, and hope to hear...
244To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 26 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
The day before yesterday our City was enlivened suddenly by the report of the ratification of the Spanish Treaty and every thing looked gay excepting my husband who gave no credit to the news when yesterday morning a cloud in the form of Capt Reid of the Hornet dispersed our sunshine and confirmed Mr. As doubts and destroying all the fond hopes of the too credulous citizens—Congress will of...
245To John Adams from George G. Barrell, 16 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The liberty I now possess of addressing you, without going thro’ the medium of a second person, originates in a great degree from the noble, bold and enlightened stand you took in the defence of our common country forty three years since; and if, in offering to one of the most exalted characters mine or any other country has ever produced, the tribute of my respect in soliciting your...
246To John Adams from Ebenezer Clough, 30 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
It would give the Committee of Arrangement for the Approaching National Anniversary Unspeakable pleasure if your health will admite you to honour them with your presence at Faneuil Hall, the Hall of Liberty on Monday next, and join in the Celebration of the day. From Sir yours very Respectfully. MHi : Adams Papers.
247From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 25 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
I will not apologize for not writing as I hate excuses none especially when they are bad or indifferent I hope your character is not changed for the worse and that whatever change may have taken place in you that your principles are still sound and fixed not withstanding I am aware that the theological controversies that are so fashionable in your part of the world are more calculated to...
248To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 14 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
& Miss Mason Capt & Mrs. Crane Mr. Kerby with several others Members of Congress—Mr. Petry came in the Eveng. and talked freely of the Bonaparté family He told me that while he was in Poland Napoleon was very much attached to a beautiful Polish Lady and that he (N.) rode fifteen miles every night during a fortnight at the risk of his life through the enemies Country to visit her—He likewise...
249To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 19 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
My time has latterly been so severely occupied that I fear I have been remiss in sending to you the different numbers of the Register enriched by your communications. But the 13th vol. was duly sent to Mr. Ballard, & the 14th, only completed on the 1st inst—after which the index for it was to be done, is now on its way to you by water—together with a Copy of the General Index for the first...
250Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 9 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am in debt to you for your letters of May 21. 27. & June 22. the first delivered me by mr Greenwood gave me the gratification of his acquaintance; and a gratification it always is to be made acquainted with gentlemen of candor, worth and information, as I found mr Greenwood to be. that on the subject of mr Samuel Adams Wells shall not be forgotten in time and place, when it can be used to...
251From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 6 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am so concerned about Charles that I once more write to you on the subject and beg of you to let me know how he gets on and if you think there is any prospect of his being dismissed from College. His spirits appear to be so bad that I hope his fears are greater than there will be occasion for. But your utter silence concerning your brother is so extraordinary and when you consider his age so...
252To John Adams from Robert J. Evans, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty of forwarding to you the first number of a periodical work entitled the “Rural Magazine” which is published this day. The Editors are sons of Mr. Benjamin Johnson one of the oldest and most respectable booksellers of this city under whose immediate superintendance it will be conducted. As Agriculture is one of the first of acts both in order of time and in importance,...
253To John Adams from Nathan Hale, 17 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
The Reporters of the Debates in the Convention present their respects to Mr. Adams, and request that he will be pleased to accept the present volume of the Debates, in exchange for the copy which he has before received. MHi : Adams Papers.
254To John Adams from Joseph Delaplaine, 3 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received, within a few days, your portrait, painted by Mr. Morse for me.— I have already informed you that I received an anonymous letter from a lady without date or place of residence, but bearing the Boston postmark, requesting me in urgent terms not to use the portrait for an engraving. Before the portrait arrived, I heard, through various channels, from persons of Boston, that the...
255To John Adams from J. A. Bingham, 24 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
In presenting to the People of the United States, proposals for so important a work as the designation: of that which is here inclosed, I have thought it no less prudent than respectful, to make the object known in the commencement, to those who have bourne a conspicuous part in the formation, and administration—our government, Under this impress sir, I have taken the liberty to address a...
256To John Adams from Moses Lloyd Hill, 23 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
Being about to send to the press a work entitled, “Travels through the United States in the years 1812, –13, –14, –15, –16, –17 & 18, including a statistical view of each State at the close of the year 1817,” I have taken the liberty to solicit permission; to dedicate it to you. Among the Sages and Heroes, to whom we owe our national existence; I have ever been taught to revere the name of...
257To John Adams from Francis J. Oliver, 22 July 1823 (Adams Papers)
It having been publicly announced that Captain Isaac Hull is about to relinquish the Superintendency of the Navy Yard at Charlestown for a command on foreign Service; a number of the Citizens of Boston and its vicinity intend to give him a complimentary dinner at the Exchange Coffee House, on Wednesday the 30th inst, at 4 0Clock PM, in token of their respect for his public & private character,...
258To John Adams from Daniel Cony, 17 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I herewith forward & present to you the constitution of Maine .—I have delayed sending it to you before, that the votes of the people for Acceptance might be ascertained—The whole Number of Votes returned from nearly all the Towns and Plantations 10,025 ten thousand and twenty five in favor. and only 873. Eight hundred Seventy three Against—great Unanimity—unprecedented majority for Acceptance...
259To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 11th. has given me great satisfaction for altho’ I could not doubt but that the hand of age was pressing heavily on you, as on myself, yet we like to know the particulars and the degree of that pressure. much reflection too has been produced by your suggestion of lending my letter of the 1st. to a printer. I have generally great aversion to the insertion of my letters...
260To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
yes, I am thankful—I am Sensible of my high obligations towards you—how few can follow your example! to remember a friend—in the days of prosperity deserves praise, but to do So in the hour of Sorrow—to Set this a Side to Sooth his anguish is not common—I knew—you did So, and if it was possible, that I could doubt it, the few affectionate lines from your own hand would have dispelled it—She is...
261To John Adams from DeWitt Clinton, 6 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you a Discourse pronounced before a Literary Society in this State. My object in delivering it was to evince my zeal for Science and my motive in sending it to you is to indicate my respect for a distinguished Statesmen of the Revolution. I have the honor to be / with the most perfect consideration / Your most Obedt. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
262To John Adams from James Bing, 18 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Having been appointed by mr James Simpson (our old Consul in Morocco) his agent to settle his accounts (which have been standing since the year 1795) with our Government, and to Petition Congress in his behalf for arrearages of pay to which he has always considered himself, Justly entitled—or for such other relief as Congress shall see fit to afford him, in his present embarrassed...
263To John Adams from Seth Hunt, 20 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
It is very important to shew the Death of Peter Harrison, the Brother of Joseph Harrison who was Collecter of the Customs at Boston previous to the American Revolution—The said Peter is supposed to have been killed in one of those dreadful Scenes that preceded the Revolution. From your high standing at Boston & your intimate acquaintance with the principal Inhabitants of the Town & with the...
264To John Adams from Edward Everett, 7 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have just received Your favor of the 2d instant, inclosing the letter from Mr. Jefferson. I hasten to present You my grateful acknowledgements, for Your kindness in Communicating this interesting letter, & for the flattering expressions, with which You do me the honor to accompany it. As soon as I am able to give Mr. Jefferson’s letter a perusal as careful as becomes the respect due to its...
265To John Adams from Edward Livingston, 14 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
The very friendly and encouraging manner with which you received my plan for a reform of the Penal laws of Louisiana induces me to offer you a specimen of its Execution. But for an accident which happened to my papers I could have submitted the whole system to your perusal. this is all I have yet been enabled to recompose I can not avoid seizing this occasion of congratulating you on an Event...
266To John Adams from Joseph Bartlett, 17 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
The Most severe sickness has prevented Me, since last Novr. I was confined to a small bed in my Office without any attendant except My faithful Dog—or any Medical Aid— Alas! poor Yorick —I was too Much like Lazarus to take private lodgings—this has delayed my small Vol: to this late period, & which has caust caused—Many errors to creep into its pages—which a Gentleman of Your Head & heart will...
267To John Adams from Samuel L. Knapp, 30 August 1821 (Adams Papers)
Be pleased to accept this Vol of biographical Sketches. To you they can convey no information, but they may occupy an hour in a waking recollections. The few facts which I have collected have cost me some pains, and in the next generation it will be more difficult, than at the present time, to gather any account of what happened previous to the Revolution except such facts as are now...
268To John Adams from Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn, 30 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have pleasure of sending you the work of M. Solnay which I promised. Please to accept my grateful thanks for the very favorable manner in which you have spoken of my book. My object was more to have the attention of this country to trade me might enjoy in the birth place of commerce, than to acquire a reputation as an author. With sincere esteem / I have the honor to be / Your most / obt....
269From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 28 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter distressed both your father and myself on account of the painful news it contained—but we were neither of us displeased with you as we were perfectly sensible of the motive both of duty and affection by which you were situated—We are still very uneasy at your Grandfathers situation altho I have had a letter from him since the receipt of yours which has induced us to hope that both...
270To John Adams from Samuel Miller, 30 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
When I had the honour and pleasure of an interview with You, at Quincy, a few weeks ago, in company with Mrs. Miller, we spoke of her Brother, John Sergeant, Esquire, a member of the House of Representatives of the United States, and of the Speech which he delivered, some time since, in that Body, on the Missouri question. I hardly need say that it gave me great pleasure to hear You speak as...