151From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Charters were quoted or alluded to by Mr Otis frequently in the whole course of his Argument: but he made them, also a more distinct and more Solemn head of his discourse. And here, these Charters ought to be copied verbatim. But an immense Verbiage renders it impossible. Bishop Butler, some where complains of this enormous abuse of Words in publick Transactions and John Reed and...
152From John Adams to DeWitt Clinton, 1 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the very acceptable Present of a Memoir, not less ingenious than curious, on the Antiquities of the Town of Pompey in your State If I were to hazard a Conjecture, it would be, that the French had made a populous and flourishing Settlement there, excited the Jealousies of the Six Nations, who invaded and exterminated them. Those Six Nations Seem to have been the Goths and...
153From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
As Misery is Said to derive Some consolation from the Misery of others; your Letter of 18. Septr. has given me Some miserable Comfort, to find to find that your Batavian Predecessors in New York were not much more tollerant than my Yankee Ancestors in New England. But I admire your East India Company and their Director, and their Threat, of the Authority of their H. M. the States General. How...
154From John Adams to Ann Frances Bulkeley Humphreys, 3 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The unexpected Honour of your Obliging Letter of the 30th of September and the rich presents it contained have excited in my Bosom more tenderness of Sentiment, than you could foresee. The Pin which preserves a Sample of General Humphrey’s hair is to me a Pearl of great price and his Portrait, though I think it has not done him justice is yet so much of a resemblance, that it shall be...
155From John Adams to Alden Bradford, 4 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received with pleasure your favour of the 30th. of September; and can express nothing but the most respectful Approbation of the Proposal to publish in a Volume the Speeches of the Governors of Massachusetts from 1765 to 1775. with the Answers. and if a Pamphlet of the Town of Boston within the Same Period, the last Effort of Mr Otis could be added it would enhance its Value.— These...
156From John Adams to Joseph Wheaton, 7 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have not Sooner answered your Letter of the 11th of July because I really knew not what to say to it.— You and I have grievances: but I have no better Advice to give you or myself, than my Friend Otis gave to Molineux, “to put the List in our Pocketts, least the World should laugh at us”— The History of Your Life written by yourself would be as curious and for what I know, as instructive as...
157From John Adams to William Mumford, 9 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
Though I have no intercourse with government, and very little to do with this world; I might have transmitted your letter of July 7th. to the President, if I had thought that either of the Floridas was ours. But knowing the fact to be otherwise, it would have been trifling to solicit a Secretaryship or Judgeship in such a territory. You might with more propriety apply to the Hyper honourable...
158From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am really grieved at your Misfortune, if it were only on the Principle of Rochefaucault and Swift, that “In all Misfortunes of our Friends We first Consult our private Ends.” I lost a long expected and desired Visit. But when I reflect that your head might have been precipitated into the magnificent Entrance into the Domicil of a Woodchuck, I am Seized with horror. A late Experiment in...
159From John Adams to Peter Paul Francis Degrand, 12 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I can express my Feelings on the Recipt of your favour of the 5th of this month, only by my Thanks for your Politeness in Sending me from your own Stores a case of your excellent Hermitage Wine. I have long since taken a final Leave of my old and dear Friend Wine— Could I obtain the Common Wine of Burgundy, which I have heretofore purchased for two Louis a Burrique, or the Bino de Pais which I...
160From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
One trouble never comes alone! At our Ages We may expect more and more of them every day in groups, and every day less fortitude to bear them. When I saw in Print that You was gone to the Springs, I anxiously Suspected that all was not healthy at Monticello. You may be Surprised to hear that your favour of the 7th has given me hopes. “Imposthume, general Eruptions Colliquative Sweats,”...