101To John Adams from LeRay de Chaumont, 13 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your most esteemed favor of the 2nd: April travelled a good deal before to reach me, as I was absent from home when it arrived. It was sent to me to Philadelphia & from there it followed me to New York & from there here. At last I got it & I hasten to present you my best thanks for the strongly felt pleasure it gave me & the kind enquiry you make me to know who was my wife You have known I...
102To John Adams from William Lambert, 15 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose herewith, two printed copies of abstracts of calculations relative to the longitude of the Capitol, in this City from Greenwich Observatory, in England.—These calculations were entered into, and completed, to lay a foundation for the establishment of a first meridian for the United States of America at the Seat of their government, according to the original plan of...
103To John Adams from Mordecai M. Noah, 24 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to transmit to you a discourse delivered at the consecration of the Synagogue in this City an event which from its novelty may be somewhat interesting It cannot but be gratifying to you to observe that perfect harmony existing in our Country between men of different faiths & the mildness & tolerance growing out of our national Institutions—and this gratification must be...
104To John Adams from Lucius Horatio Stockton, 25 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to Your acquaintance Samuel Southard Esqr a young man who for his extraordinary personal and literary merit was advanced to the Bench of the Supreme Court of our State at the early age of 28 years. He is son of Henry Southard Esqr one of our present members of Congress. He desires the honour of calling on you and I have but a few minutes notice of his intended...
105To John Adams from Moses Lloyd Hill, 3 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 19th ulto. I have had the honor to receive. I thank you, for the permission you have so politely granted me of dedicating my work to you. I am making arrangements for the printing, and shall take the earliest opportunity of forwarding you a copy.—In compliance with your request, I have the pleasure to state to you that we are descended from the same Ancester, Mr. Henry Adams, who...
106To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., 4 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
My Son William who is residing in the Country for Confirmation of his Health says among other Things in a letter of the 1st. instant “I wish very much when you write to President Adams that you would ask him for his Opinion about the Suggestion I made him in my Letter of the 4th. of July. I told him I had long thought of undertaking to write the Life of James Otis, towards which his Letters...
107To John Adams from James Lloyd, 5 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Hon’ble Daniel Corry, Judge Bridge, Ruel Williams Esqr. and Colonel Corry of Augusta in the District of Maine, have recently sent me two barrels of flour, made from wheat grown on the borders of the Kennebeck, and there manufactured,—believing, as they state, that I should be gratified with the accounts of the abundant wheat crops which that District will produce, and on which its...
108To John Adams from James Madison, 7 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
On my return two days ago from a Meeting appointed to report to the Legislature of the State a proper Scite for a University, I found your obliging favor of July 22. with its inclosed copies of Docr. Mayhews Sermon. I have read with pleasure this symbol of the political tone of thinking at the period of its original publication. The author felt the strength of his argument, and has given a...
109To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
What an era has elapsed Since I was not gratified with one Single line from Montezillo! more than three mounths—and yet now, and then I amuse my Self—in reading again the Last Letters, with which I was honoured by you and mrs Adams—of march 10 and Apr. 28. Yet I am pleased to Suppose that health, remains your Share—otherwise I Should have been informed of it. Was I not fully persuaded, I Shall...
110To John Adams from John Warren, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
Dr Warren presents his best respects to President Adams; and has taken the liberty of enclosing a sketch of the life of General Joseph Warren, for the President’s perusal.—He would also take the liberty of requesting the President to make any alterations or additions, which he may judge necessary or proper.— MHi : Adams Papers.
111To John Adams from William Eustis, 10 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
Among the first objects of my intention on my arrival in this country was that of paying my respects to you. From causes not under my controul I have been dissappointed, and now I am called to make a melancholy visit to new Hampshire. On my return I hope to be gratified, and am in the mean time with the greatest respect, / your obedient Servant MHi : Adams Papers.
112To John Adams from Joseph Milligan, 10 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
At the request of Mr Jacob Gideon Jr: printer of Washington I have Sent you a copy of a new Edition of The Federalist which he has just printed & published; I have bound it and we beg that you will accept the book as a mark of the esteem we have for your public & private character MHi : Adams Papers.
113To John Adams from Joseph Delaplaine, 11 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am prepared, whenever I may have the consent of yourself & family, to commence writing your life for my National Biographical work “the Repository of the Lives & Portraits of Distinguished Americans”, the first volume of which, containing Twelve lives & portraits, is already published.— Pray inform me, from what sources I may derive the materials from which I shall be enabled to complete...
114To John Adams from John Thornton Kirkland, 12 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Boylston in his institution of prizes for elocution at our University has appointed as follows viz “The Corporation shall in each & every year select five gentlemen, who have been themselves distinguished for their elocution particularly, either at the bar, in the pulpit or in the Senate, who, together with the Corporation or a major part of them shall be the judges of the elocution of the...
115To John Adams from John T. Watson, 12 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I felt myself too much gratified with the receipt of your letter, not to have been Very thankful for the polite manner of your reply. I had not thought to have trespassed more upon your attention, although I felt a wish to express a few sentiments in reply return: but reflecting now , that a few moments may be sufficient for you to run over these lines, & there being no occasion in them for...
116To John Adams from Charles G. Haines, 18 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you my pamphlet concerning the Great Western Canal, written at the request of the New York Corresponding Association for the Promotion of Internal Improvements. I cannot but congratulate a Statesman, so distinguished as your yourself, among the Fathers, of our Republic, that you have lived to see the day when your toils, your anxieties, and your sacrifices are...
117To John Adams from James Lloyd, August 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Humble Daniel Corry, Judge Bridge, Ruel Williams Esqr, and Colonel Corry of Augusta, in the District of Maine, have recently sent me two barrels of flour, made from wheat grown on the borders of the Kennebeck, and there manufactured, believing as they state, that I should be gratified with the accounts of the abundant wheat crops which that District will produce, and on which its...
118To John Adams from John Marston, 1 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Parental solicitude for the welfare of a beloved son, I hope will excuse the liberty I take of inclosing you, a letter from Mr Bailey at Washington, who has kindly interested himself in behalf of my son, who you know is a Cadet at West point. My Son has been at the Academy four years, & in consequence, of not passing his last examination in mathematicks, was not included in the list of...
119To John Adams from James Savage, 3 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
without having the honour of acquaintance with you, I feel bold enough to prefer a request, which it may be a benefit to our common country for you to grant, and will refer to my excellent friends, Josiah Quincy or William S. Shaw, Esquires to justify my appeal to your kindness. My friend, George Ticknor, Esquire, now in Spain, will next month visit England, and there desires to enjoy the...
120To John Adams from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 6 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The perusal of your letter to Judge Tudor, published in a late number, of that valuable work, Nile’s Register, has given me great pleasure & satisfaction. You have done justice to departed worth, by rescuing form oblivion, the conduct & character of one of the earliest & ablest defenders of American rights & liberties. The memory of the illustrious James Otis, too long neglected, will be thus...
121To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 9 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I write to return my thanks for your kind answer to my letter respecting the biography of James Otis—which I did not receive in course being absent from town, but it was forwarded to me by my Father. I am here with Mr Baldwin making some surveys of the ground for the Canal; and shall not lose the opportunity of inquiring among the gentlemen of this County for anecdotes of the great Patriots...
122To 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...
123To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Unexpectedly I was favoured with your kind Letter of Aug. 22—and, what was more gratifying, it Sheweth, that you enjoy’d health and chearfulness—be these continued to you—till the last moments. I too gradually Seem to recover mÿ Strenght: ere long the necessity of working in the garden Shall cease—and then I must return to the Records—which nevertheless—during the first weeks—Shall not amuse...
124To 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...
125To John Adams from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 19 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
It was very flattering to my pride, and grateful to my feelings, to receive your friendly & acceptable favor of the 12. inst. with which I was honored, by the mail of yesterday. This mark of distinguished attention, more prized, as it was unexpected, claims my warmest acknowledgments. To speak with frankly, it was with extreme reluctance I obtruded my hasty note, penned under the impulse of...
126To John Adams from Ann Hewison, 26 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the Liberty of writing to inform you that I have by me Manuscripts of the travels for 5 years of A Mr. Wm. Langborn (A Native of Virginia) through France Holland England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia prussia, Germany Turkey, Italy, &c. they are very voluminous and if published would be particularly interesting to his Country they were sent to England by A Gentmn sealed up Under...
127To John Adams from John Sanderson, 29 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty of sending to your address some pages of a work I have just put to press in Philada.—A copy of which I shall convey to you, entire, as the nos. or half vollumes are competed. The first will be published in a few weeks, & the others at convenient intervals, perhaps of six months.— I wished very much to consult you on the subject of this publication before the present...
128To John Adams from Alden Bradford, 30 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have thot it would be a useful & acceptable service to have published in a volume, the Speeches of the Governors of the Province of Massachusetts from 1765 to 1775; & the answers to those speeches by the House of Representatives, together with other addresses of the Representatives to the people, in the same period, touching the controversy between the Colonies & the the King & Parliament of...
129To John Adams from Rev. Horace Holly, 30 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 28th was handed to me yesterday. That, which you did me the honor to write to me at Lexington, went thither in the mail and returned before I received it. I should have answered it immediately, had I not intended every day to get an early opportunity to make you a visit at Quincy. My wishes on this subject have been controled by the series of preparations which I have been...
130To John Adams from Ann Frances Bulkeley Humphreys, 30 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter has been written some time since, but I have had no opportunity of sending it by private conveyance. Having heard from Monsr Artiquendue that he proposed doing himself the honor of paying his homage to you at Quincy, I have charged him with it, & at the same time avail myself of the occasion to present this Gentleman to you. As his estimable qualities must be already known...
131To John Adams from Stephen Miller, 5 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Office of Navy Agent of this place having become vacant by the death of the late incumbent I am about to apply for the appointment: my brother who is in the Marine Corps & station’d at Washington will ask it of the President for me, but he has suggested to me that a word in my favor from your Son the Secretary of State would have much influence, would it be asking too much Sir, to request...
132To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 7 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
It is very long, my dear friend, since I have written to you. the fact is that I have was scarcely at home at all from May to September, and from that time I have been severely indisposed and not yet recovered so far as to sit up to write, but in pain. having been subject to troublesome attacks of rheumatism for some winters past, and being called by other business into the neighborhood of our...
133To John Adams from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 7 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your much esteemed favor of the 26th. ulto. was received, a few days since, when I was occupied at court. My stock of letters & papers, left me, by my father & c uncle, is very large; and it constitutes my principal inheritance, which I prize, beyond any estate, preserved from the wreck of the revolution. The patriotism of that period was without alloy. The perusal of the productions of those...
134To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 10 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to return to my dear friend Rodney’s letter, with a copy of your interesting correspondence, published in this day’s Register: Permit me to tender you my thanks for the favor conferred in sending it to me. Your 14th vol & the Genl. Index I expect have reached Boston before this time. I thank you for the copies of Dr. Mayhew’s sermons. I Shall publish some extracts from to...
135To John Adams from William John Coffee, 16 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Subject of which I write I believ you are Acquainted with by the Honorabl Thos Jefferson & lines he wrote to me relates to my being Employed—to take a Small Bust of you Head—I have being Employed by Mr J. Madison & his Excellence Mr Munro & many others of celebrity—in June last at Monticelo Mr Jefferson Inform’d me he had wrote to you on the Subject and of you willingness to admit me to...
136To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 27 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I asked my Father the evening before I left town on a visit here, if he had written to you as I had wished him to do on the subject of obtaining from Mr Rodney the papers or a copy of them in his possession relating to James Otis—He told me he had not, because Mr Shaw had done it, and that you had written to Mr Rodney on the subject—I have made a beginning to collect materials and hope to make...
137To John Adams from Henry Warren, 29 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
Permit me on the sad & melancholy annunciation of the papers of this day of the death of Mrs. Adams to address a line to you.—not of condolence—for you are beyond that,—but of sympathy. The irreparable breach in your domestic felicity can never be healed: the friendship of youth can never be restored. The loss of such a woman as Mrs: Adams society must ever deplore; how much more her partner,...
138To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 November 1818 to 2 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
If my delaying to answer ÿour favour of the 2 of oct was a just measure of my valuing your condescending kindnesses then—no doubt—I ought to be deemed not to deserve your So distinguished attention—but I am happy indeed, that you cannot foster Such an idea—and I Should rather be prompted to make an apologÿ for an insignificant Letter, was I not fully persuaded—that—imperfect as it may be, it...
139To John Adams from Henry Colman, 2 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have just learnt by this morning’s mail, with heartfelt grief, the death of Mrs Adams. I have looked with trembling solicitude upon every obituary since I left home, yet this painful intelligence from its delay was at last unexpected. I am deeply afflicted and feel that I have lost one of my best and one of my most revered and valued friends. I esteem it one of the greatest blessings of my...
140To John Adams from Julia Stockton Rush, 4 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
With the deepest regret I have read in our papers an account of the death of Mrs Adams. Will you permit one whom she honored with her friendship to approach you, and to mingle her tears of respect and affection with yours on this occasion. To you Sir who by this stroke have lost the friend and companion of your declining years, it is impossible for me to say any thing that could soothe your...
141To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I must then Submit to the painful task of condoling you with the irreparable loss—and yet—my Dear friend! I can find no words—to express my hearts anguish—alas! what must be your feelings—when that partner of your heart and Soul is torn from your Side! oh! was I with you—then I might have Shared in the Comfort from her lips before her departure—then her last blessing might have cheered my...
142To John Adams from William John Coffee, 10 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I Som three weeks ago took the liberty of writing to you in Concequen ce of the Advice of Mr Jefferson’s but he I fear will no longer have Permission to give Advice he being given Over by his Physicians, but that Sad news you no doubt—Sir are too well aquainted with now Sir as I must Shortly go to Washington and the Cold wether would hinder my proceeding in The Modeling Sir will your goodness...
143To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 13 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of Oct. 20. had given me ominous foreboding. tried myself, in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. the same trials have taught me that, for ills so...
144To John Adams from Henry Colman, 14 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much that the enclosed is not more worthy of your acceptance by being more worthy of its lamented Subject. I hope you will not be displeased with it; but accept it as a small expression of my sincere veneration for the departed and my unfeigned Sympathy in your deep afflictions— I am, my Dear Sir, / with the highest respect / yr obliged & obed sert P.S. It appeared here with some...
145To John Adams from LeRay de Chaumont, 28 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I was travelling in the wilderness of the West part of Pensylvania, where I have some property when your most esteemed favour of the 6th ulto reached LeRaysville, from whence it has been sent to me at Philadelphia, to wait for my arrival—The pleasure I received from it was soon turned into morning when the public voice learnt me the irreparable loss you met with—My sympathetick heart knows too...
146To John Adams from Joseph Milligan, 30 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your esteemed favour of the 20th inst was received this day I am happy to have it in my power to give you the information that you desire respecting the health of Mr: Jefferson you will see by the enclosed letter in his own hand writing (to my esteemed friend John Barnes eqr collector of the port of Georgetown) that his health is improving and by a copy of a book on Political Economy that has...
147To John Adams from Alden Bradford, 1 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr Shaw has suggested to me the propriety of omitting (in the proposed Vol. of Masstts. State papers) the long altercation between Govr. Hutchinson & the House of Rep. respecting the holding of the Genl. Court at Cambridge, or any where out of Boston—I had, before he spoke to me on the subject, thought it would not be necessary to publish that controversy any further, than one communication on...
148To John Adams from Rev. Horace Holly, 4 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have not ventured before now to write to you since I heard of the melancholy event which has afflicted you and your family. I fear that even now I may mistake the impression which I wish might be made upon your mind by a letter expressive of the sympathy that I feel in regard to the loss you and your children have sustained. Although I came late to the acquaintance of Mrs Adams and yourself,...
149To John Adams from Richard Rush, 4 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Out of the circle of your own family, there are none who can feel more sorrow at the heavy affliction that has fallen upon you than we do here. We heard the melancholy news two days ago. “What exalted and long-tried excellence, exclaimed my wife, has gone to the tomb.” “As soon as my confinement was over,” she continued, “I had intended that my first letter, after one to my own mother, should...
150To John Adams from John Philippart, 7 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I trust my motive will be received by your Excellency as an excuse for this intrusion. I am desirous of recording authentic accounts of the most distinguished Princes, Statesmen, Public and Literary Characters of every Country in the same manner as I have written those of all the British Generals in my Work the Royal Military Calendar and in other publications which I have Edited. From the...