151From John Adams to James Madison, 25 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to present you, what I think a Curiosity. Dr Mayhews Thirtieth of January Sermon, preached and printed almost Seventy Years ago. It made a great Sensation in New England: and not a little Noise in old England where Several Editions of it were reprinted and one especially which was inserted in a Collection of Tracts in four Volumes under the Title of “The Pillars of Priestcraft and...
152To James Madison from John Adams, 25 July 1818 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to present you, what I think a Curiosity Dr Mayhews Thirtieth of January Sermon, preached and printed almost seventy years ago. It made a great sensation in New England: and not a little Noise in Old England where several Editions of it were reprinted and one especial[l]y which was inserted in a Collection of Tracts in four Volumes under the Title of “The Pillars of Priestcraft and...
153From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 26 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Another Auther produced by Mr Otis was “The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered by Joshua Gee. A new Edition with many interesting Notes and Additions by a Merchant” printed in 1767. This new Edition which was printed no doubt to justify the Ministry in the System which was they were then pursuing, could not be the Edition that Mr Otis produced in February 1761. The Advertisement...
154From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 27 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Another Author produced by Mr Otis was “The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered” by Joshua Gee. “A new Edition, with many interesting Notes and Additions by a Merchant” printed in 1767. This new Edition which was printed no doubt to justify the Ministry in the System they were then pursuing, could not be the Edition that Mr Otis produced in Feb.1761. The Advertisement of the...
155From John Adams to Rufus King, 29 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of th 12th has greatly obliged me. I had read the Speech before in the public papers and now again more than once, and always with great Satisfaction. It is a Master Piece of a Master Spirit. As far as my information goes and Memory recollets, I have not Seen So accurate and judicious So comprehensive and concise a View of the important Subject. I admire the Wisdom which...
156From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 30 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Another Passage, which Mr Otis read from Ashley gave Occasion, as I suppose, to another memorable and very curious Event, which your esteemed Pupil and my beloved Friend Judge Minot has recorded. The Passage is in the 42 page. “In fine, I would humbly propose that the duties, on foreign Sugar and Rum imposed by the before mentioned Act, of the 6th of King George the Second, remain as they are,...
157From John Adams to Mordecai M. Noah, 31 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Accept my best thanks for, your polite and obliging favour of the 24th. and especially for the discourse inclosed. I know not when I have read a more liberal or a more elegant Composition. You have not extended your Ideas of the Right of private Judgement and the Liberty of Conscience both in Religion and Phylosophy farther than I do. Men are limited only by Morals and Property. I have had...
158From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 6 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
“Mid the low murmurs of submissive fear and mingled rage my Hambden raised his Voice, & and to the Laws appealed.” Mr. Otis had reasoned like a Philosopher upon the Navigation Acts and upon all the tyranical Acts of Charles the Second but when he came to the Revenue Laws, the Orator blazed out Poor King William! If thy Spirit whether in Heaven of elswhere heard James Otis, it must have...
159From John Adams to James Lloyd, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
The most pleasing Present I ever received in the whole course of my life was your favour of the 5th: and the half barrell of Kennebec Flour. I ordered it to be instantly made into Bread for my Breakfast the next morning and found it so sweet and so pure that it reminded me of the most perfect bread I ever tasted made of Wheat grown ground & bolted into Flour on the Farm of Judge Colonel...
160From John Adams to Seventy-Six Association, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of 24th: July & the oration enclosed. The respected name of the orator excited high expectations which upon repeated perusals have not been disappointed To point out the beauties of this composition would be to transcribe it but the animated Eulogium on the Heroes of the last war by sea & by land made the deepest impression on my head and heart. Allow me to present...