121To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 4 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
All the Coins are in readiness; and Subject to your order. At present no Opportunity of sending them to Petersburg offers from our city. Shall I send them to you by the post, put up in such a manner as to be mistaken for a small book? or will you request any one of your friends now in Congress to call for them on his way to massachussets next month? I have no Objection to the reading the dead...
122To John Adams from William Cunningham, 8 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
In the last Letter with which you favoured me, you expressed a hope “that you should soon find me more calm.” I am unconscious of having ever written a word to you, in the way of censure, which was tinctured with malevolence; or which rose to any higher asperity than a sensibility to Truth, and a solicitude for my Country would excuse. And I am sure that what I am now about to say is untouched...
123To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
It is certainlÿ a long while, that you received not a line from me, and this nothwithstanding I was So highly gratifiede, and as it were buoy’d by your kind favour of 30 Nov. last—But—how could I do else, as I wrote not even to mÿ Son—labouring Since the three last months under an increasing debility, which Seemed to threaten the total destruction of the machine. As long however it was only a...
124To John Adams from Rev. John Disney, 14 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I was much flattered by the receipt of your letter by Mr. Harris, which he delivered to me here on his arrival on the 2d, inst: to spend a few days at the Hyde. Your testimony would have made me hesitate question my own judgment, if I had formed any opinion contrary to your’s respecting that gentleman. But the truth is, our interview abundantly confirmed every credential he brought with him,...
125To John Adams from David Sewall, 14 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have been much gratified by your Communication of Jany 29th. ult.— When I requested the Information, I did not, I think, mention the occurrence, which gave rise in my mind to the Application, I will therefore mention it.— Two person stand Indicted in the District Court of Maine, for piratically runing away with a Vessell & cargo— One (the Master) as Principal: the other (the Mate) as...
126To John Adams from Joseph Wheaton, 22 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I cannot—I will not attempt to discribe to you the Satisfaction—the gratification my feelings have experienced this day— Yesterday the President nominated to Senate His excellency John Quincy Adams now Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of St Petersburg—to be associate Jud g e of the Supreme Court of the United States this Second appointment passed the Senate, aproved by that Body...
127To John Adams from David Humphreys, 28 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I think we agree in sentiment, that the wealth & prosperity of a Country depend essentially on the Industry , Instruction & Morality of its Inhabitants : on the first for acquiring, and on the two last for making the best use of the means, for public felicity. Nor shall we differ in opinion, that the acquisition
128To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 4 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Herewith th r ough the politeness of Mr Quincy you will receive the Coins for your son. I regret that some of them are not recently coined. None such have been issued lately from the mint. Your Son Thomas’s friend Mr Erving has paid me for them. Permit me to Congratulate you upon your Son John’s honourable Appointment to a Seat upon the bench of the United States. It gives great Satisfaction...
129To John Adams from Benjamin Waterhouse, 12 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
I here send for your Perusal The Preface to the Botanist. The Publisher has printed off a few Copies dozen by Way of Sample of type, and to give Some general Idea of the Work, as well as a Short History of its origin. I thought there might be another Service in it, viz, if any thing appeared to egotistical, or too assuming in it, my Friends would probably give me the hint. I mean it as an...
130To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Although I have so lately written, I will not, as mÿ restored health can be no pretext, delaÿ for one single daÿ, to send you a few lines more; now I have seen the confirmation of the good news from Washington—and, certainlÿ, if we maÿ claim a friend’s comfort in distress, then he too must be entitled to share our joys. I do so indeed, and congratulate you and your Excellent consort most...
131To John Adams from Munroe & French, 23 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
We have taken the liberty to enclose to you a Quebec paper. Whatever may have been the Motive of the writer, against whose paragra p h we have put a mark, its perusal cannot excite other than a pleasant emotion. It may serve to b r ing to your recollection, Sir, circumstances in your life, that cannot be thought of with but pleasure, because however distorted by your enemies, they still tell...
132To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Unexpectedlÿ I was favoured with your obliging Letter of the 20th Febr—tho’ I did receive it only the 21 of March—having been through carelessness of our Postmaster first Send to the black River-countrÿ. The unfavorable weather domesticating me again—and old habits too rapidlÿ adopted again—occasion, that I am Since a few days not quite So well however—I Seriously intend to prevent a...
133To John Adams from Richard Rush, 8 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
A day or two before I had the pleasure to receive your last valued favor of the 3rd of February, the governor of this state was pleased to honor me with the commission of Attorney general. It so happened that, at that moment our criminal courts here were upon the eve of sitting, which suddenly threw upon me a good deal of publick business. This is the chief cause to which I owe the loss, until...
134To John Adams from William Cunningham, 18 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
So much time has elapsed since the date of my letter in February, that I have dismissed all expectations of an answer. Of the destruction of Babylon, and the birth of Cyrus, considering how much the evidence of a system of Religion is depending on that event and on that character, I may have spoken more at random than a due regard to prevailing sentiments will allow. The whoredoms of Babylon...
135To John Adams from David Sewall, 24 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
The great the meek the learned & pious Docr. Hemmengway, has at length left us. He died on Friday last—And such of his particular Friends and Acquaintance, as knew his situation, have reason to congratulate that his immortal Spirit is released, from its earthly tenement—The disagreable and distressing disorder (Cancer) that had been making rapid Strides on his mortal part rendred him an object...
136To John Adams from Caleb Loring, 26 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
Having our Ship the Hugh Johnston, William Johnston Master, now bound for St. Petersburgh with a Cargo of considerable value, we take the liberty of requesting of You the Honor of a letter to Your Son the Honble John Quincy Adams, stating to Him Your confidence of the Neutrality of said Ship & Cargo; this vessel is consigned to Mr Joseph Austen a Citizen of Boston as Super Cargo, He has...
137To John Adams from Samuel Denny, Jr., 27 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
As the object of that Society over which you have the honor of presiding is for the promotion of the Agricultural interest in this Commonwealth, I am much gratified in seeing useful knowledge diffused, and shall esteem the privilege of contributing, throu’ your assistance, an honor and happiness, of which I am anxious to partake. If a proposal should be made, apparently extravagant, the...
138To John Adams from Samuel Miller, 6 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour, of April 12th. & 13th. as well as the Copy of Mr Hancock’s Sermon, sent by a preceding Mail, reached me in safety. An absence of several days from the City, together with an unusual pressure of professional avocations since my return, have prevented my making this acknowledgment at an earlier period. I feel myself much honoured by this testimony of kind and respectful...
139To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 30 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing you last, on the 9th of November, since which I had not enjoyed that of hearing directly from you, untill this day last week when your two favours of 11 and 14 Feby: came to hand—together with Mr. Quincy’s Louisiana speech—several other letters, and a number of Books and pamphlets, and newspapers, from which almost all my attention has hitherto been diverted, by...
140To John Adams from James Monroe, 3 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 25. ulto. in which you are so good as to express a wish for my success in the discharge of the duties of the important & difficult office, to which I have been lately appointed by the President. For this obliging communication I beg you to accept my sincere acknowledgment. Permit me to reciprocate this friendly sentiment in your favor, & to...
141To John Adams from Aaron Black, 4 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I trouble you at this time hearing that my Brother Moses Black of Quincy near Bosten is Dead. And being Very Uneasy to know how he Seteled his tempral affairs and what is become of his & my Daughter to Sister Jane. Understanding that he my late Brother lived Conveniant to you, I humbly beg that you may take the trouble of Writing a few Lines in Answer to this Wish all Conveniant Speed Which...
142To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I Shall now make an experiment, if I can dispell a malignant Spirit of gloom, which hovers about me, without any other incantation besides acknowledging your both Favours of the 4th and the 9th of april with which I was So kindly honoured by you. Indeed—Sir! this intercourse is nearly the only pastime left me in my deep retreat and then mÿ Situation imperiously often forbids me to indulge...
143To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 13 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
Act I. Scene I. Mr: Adams’s Study Mr A: Who is there? Dr: R—a friend— A—Walk in.—Ah! Rush is that you? Where have been these two Months—? You seem to have forgotten your old friend Adams. R. Forgotten my Old friend Adams!—No Sir—that is impossible. I owe more to your friendship than I ever owed to any human Being, except to my excellent mother, and to my beloved and faithful Wife. A. What is...
144From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter dated the sixth of February last, and was very much delighted to see it so well written; because I know that it was written by yourself.—I have marked it down, number one, and put it upon my file—When your next letter comes, and I hope that will be soon, I shall compare the hand-writing with that of number one, and shall see what progress you make in writing. I...
145To John Adams from Richard Sharp, 25 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
Few letters have ever given me so much pleasure as that which you did me the honor to write in February last. The gratification which I felt in the receipt of it arose not only from meeting with a fresh mark of your attention, but from the singular importance of the remarks, which it contained, on the real æra & true spirit of your great Revolution I am fully sensible of the justness, or...
146To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 25 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
The fortieth American vessel, which has arrived at Cronstadt, since the opening of this years navigation, was the John Adams, Captain Thomas Downing from Savannah; she arrived last Saturday the 22d: instt:—and the first which sailed for America was the Laurel, Captain Burnham, belonging to Mr: Gray; by whom I sent the letter to you of which the enclosed is a press-copy—She sailed the 10th:...
147To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 28 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
Act 1. Scene 2nd. Mr Adams alone in his Study. Enter B Rush. A: Aye Rush is that you? What is that paper you hold in your hand? R A Summary view of the physical, moral and immoral effects of certain hymns upon the body & mind of man & upon his Condition in Society. Permit me Sir to request your Acceptance of it. A What must I do with it? R: Send it to the parson of your parish, but if he “too...
148To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
“The Massachusetts election appears to agitate the Americans in Europe almost exclusively; of all the other Elections going on at the same time in many parts of the Union. I see paragraphs in the Newspapers, but hear not a syllable from any other Quarter—But American Federalists in this City have received letters from their friends in London, and in Gottenburg in high exaltation, announcing...
149To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 6 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
Yrs. of June 21st. came safe to hand. I shall reply to it give you the echo of it in a few days. Not knowing to whom it is proper to send the enclosed packet from Lord Bircham, I have taken the liberty to address it to you. It contains (I suppose) a curious, heterogeneous oration by his Lordship delivered before some Americans in Edingh: on the Anniverrsary of General Washington’s birth day.—...
150To John Adams from Benjamin Waterhouse, 8 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
I recvd. your letter of the 5th, with pleasure & read it with satisfaction, as I always do, because I understand your politics, and because I see in them one uniform & everlasting principle that does not bend to the fashions & caprices of the day—Foolish people have cried out—“Mr Adams has changed his politics; he is no longer a federalist, but is changed to a republican.” I have as constantly...