181From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 18 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I direct this Letter to Quincy, concluding that you will be there during the Vacation which commenced last Friday—My last Letter to you, was dated the first of March, since which I have received only one from you—dated the 26th. of April. It would have given me pleasure to have received that which you wrote me on your birth-day; and if instead of giving it to Mrs: Gilman’s boy, you had taken...
I am not sure my Dear George whether your last Letter was answered or not but at any rate you will not be much grieved at receiving another supposing that to have been the case as in that Letter you assure me that both my Letters and my advice are of consequence to you and afford you pleasure—Upon this ground then I shall continue writing as I have much more time than you have and send you a...
183From 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,...
My journal does most assuredly take a considerable portion of my time, my dear George, but that is not the reason of my not having written to you so often as you seem to have expected—I need not tell you who know me so well, that I am apt to fret under disappointments, and more particularly when they proceed from those whose interests are so deeply connected with my happiness, and that it...
185From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 26 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have but one moment of time to answer your Letter of the 2d: instant—and to direct you at the close of the Winter Vacation to offer yourself and pass examination for admission to the present Freshman Class; and, I hope you will assiduously employ the interval in preparing yourself for it. I cannot but acknowledge my surprize and mortification, to learn that you have been wasting your time...
It is so long since I heard from you I begin to find it difficult to account for your Silence—Have the Muses siezed upon your imagination? Or is it a touch of the belle passion which occupies your contemplation and makes you forget your Mother? either of these things might perhaps plead in excuse though I can only allow these to be momentary.— Your occupations are I know numerous but one...
187From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 10 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of 14. October N. 2. but Post-marked on the Superscription, “Cambridge 21 Octr. was received by me on the 25th: of the same month—my engagements as you suppose absorb so much of my time, that I am seldom able to snatch a moment for writing private Letters to my family and friends. Yet I shall always endeavour to be as punctual a correspondent as possible, and shall particularly...
188From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 5 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
On the 22d. of September, the day upon which I entered on the Execution of the duties of my Office, I received your Letter of the 16th. which the pressure of business prevented me from answering immediately—Your mother however answered it for me, and now that I am enabled to catch a moment of leisure, I take advantage of it to write to you myself. Your remarks upon Mr Gilman’s discourses which...
Your father my dear George is so much occupied at this moment by the duties of his Office he cannot find time to answer you immediately and has commission’d me to be his proxy; a poor one I confess but I know acceptable. Your remarks on Mr. Colemans preaching and manner were interesting and I have no doubt correct and there are few things that tend more to the improvement of young people than...
190From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 29 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 11th. and your mother has that of the 16th. from Paris. I wrote you by Mr Boyle, and have not written since, supposing a Letter could not reach Paris before you would have left it.—We shall from this day be constantly expecting your return, and I write this merely with the chance of its finding you at Bruxelles. We are preparing with all possible despatch to...
191From 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...
192From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 21 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have been pleased with your Journal. I envy, or rather I wish, I could have Shared with you, your Evenings with, your Father. Your Worthy Præceptor might have Said that the whole Christian World is and has been divided, in their Interpretations of Some Texts in the Epistles of St. Paul. But Greek and Latin, and Mathematicks ought to be your Objects at present. Metaphisicks you may leave,...
193From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have now gone through Terence, and noted a few Lines for you to consider. Many perhaps have escaped my Notice that deserved it MHi : Adams Papers.
194From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of May 29th. Some days past; and yesterday Mr and Mrs. Tarbell called upon Us to our great Surprise, We never having had the least intimation or Suspicion of their Arrival. Their Account of our Three Boys is the most particular and the most pleasing We have ever heard. They are really delighted with the behaviour of you all. And I am not less gratified with your Letter....
195From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I desire to know, which of the Characters in the Andrian you was appointed to represent at the Exhibition: and whether your performance was to your own Satisfaction of that of any body else? The Six Plays of Terrence are Valuable 1. For the Purity Simplicity, Perspicuity, Precision and Concision of the Style, that is the Latinity. 2. For the Information they contain, of the Laws, Customs and...
196From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
You cannot easily imagine, how much Grief, the news of your Indisposition has given Us. our most chearing hopes are built upon your Foundation. Give your closest Attention to your health, for on that every Thing depends. You must Study Physick; not to practice but to be your own Physician. Pray your Father to buy Dr Cheynes Works, on my Account. Neglected, despised and forgotten as he is, I...
197From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
The Accounts I receive of your Indisposition, excite much Grief. Your Father by Precept and Example will recommend Exercise, and he will be right: but ask him, if he has not been Sometimes intemperate, even in the Use of this Salutary Remedy. Moderation in all Things is indispensable. Riding is excellent; Walking more so; a Mixture of both is better than either. Renouce your Flute. If you must...
198From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 23 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
with this Letter I inclose to you a list of those Letters which I have received from you, with their numbers and dates. I am sorry to learn that you suffer from ill health. I would have you refrain from the use of the flute, while that is the case. it is very injurious to the Lungs while the Body is weak. You Should rise early; and ride on Horse Back previous to going to your studies. your...
199From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 15 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am afraid you will be offended at my freedom; but you are, in your hand writing, at Such an immense distance behind your two Brothers that I cannot abstain from urging you to force your Attention to that elegant usefull and indispensible Accomplishment. In order to diminish that ardor and abate that hurry which will inevitably force you into a Slovenly habit; accustom yourself to a critical...
200From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 17 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your pleasing letter of Sept. 12. Your Situation is indeed delightful: But I hope you think more of the Musick of the Swan of Thames, than of the house of Dr Todd or the Miss Porters. Twickenham and Chiswick deserve your respect. Richmond Hill is familiar to me. There I visited Governor Pounall and Mr Richard Penn. M.P. I rambled about the place and Saw its beauties. But I...
201From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
Every one of your letters has given me great pleasure, and none more than No. 6. Aug. 15 just received. I am much pleased with the progress of your studies especially in the language of the Muses. When you are Master of the Greek all other Tongues Arts and Sciences you may want, will be easily in your power. You ought also to bestow Some of your attention upon Numbers and Figures as well as...
202From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 21 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
I recd, last night your pleasing Letter of the 9th of Aug. which is the latest date We have had from your Family. I have read Goldsmith too, this fall, and agree with you that his style is good but he was too intimate with Johnson to be impartial. Read Human and Smollet and all such Compends as you read Epick Poems and Romances. But you must consult original Writers to find the Truth. Smith...
203From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr John Chipman Gray, who is to be the Bearer of this Letter is about to make the Tour of Europe, begining with England. If you and your Brothers Should See him I hope you will Shew him not only all the respect that is due from you to all your Countrymen, but the particular Civility which he merits as the Son of your Fathers and Grandfathers Friend. My Solicitude, for you all, has increased...
204From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 8 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your Number 2. June 30th. Number 3 and your June 8th. without number. I am Sorry you did not number this. See with what punctuality your Father numbers all his Letters, and consider the great Advantage of this practice, both to yourself and your Correspondent. Your June 8th is the production of an attentive mind, awake to the novel Sceens and great Objects around you. The Monument...
205From 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;...
206From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 29 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I received yr last, with great pleasure and with Still more your Sensible Letter of the 17th of July, No. 4. I had before received No. 1. and No. 5.—Numbers 2. and three are behind Still lingering on their passage I congratulate you on the fresh Lawrells acquired by our Naval Heroes in the Mediterranean. They have now carried the Arms of their Country in tryumph beyond the Pillars of Hercules....
207From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 7 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter written at Sea dated the 1st of May, and was pleased that you had kept your promise of writing to me, and I hope you will continue to inform me of what you see in your Tour, which you have marked out, in your Letter, when you tread upon the ground where Shakespear was born You will naturaly feel a veneration for the Spot, and wish for some spark of his genius. when...
208From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
This is the House that Jack built And this is the curse that lay in the House &c Now George, I hear you Say, what in the world can Grandmother mean by this? why I am so joyfull, that I must Sport a little with you—but to explain, upon the 29th of June, arrived the Ship pacific at N york, from Liverpool 45 days passage and She brought news of the arrival at that place of the New packet from...
209From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I know not where your Father is, or I should write directly to him. As Soon as you See him, pray to procure for himself and for you “Il Consulato del Mare” with all the Tanslations of it, into Dutch, German, Italian, French, English Spanish, and as many as there be. I have it only with a translation into Low Dutch. About 8 or 9 hundred Years ago, (I have neither time nor patience to look up...
210From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Hence forward I Shall adress you all three at once. Yesterday was one of the happiest days of my Life. It brought me News of your Father and Mother at Paris and your Uncle Aunt and Cousin at New York all in good health. My Boys! I want to Say Something to you on the Subject of Languages. I have no great Opinion of those who boast of possessing a great number of them. If you know Greek and...