I once more wish you a prosperous Voyage an honourable Conduct and a happy Life. Remember your Characters as Men of Business as well as Men of Virtue, and always depend on the Affection and Friendship of your Father RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “My Sons”; internal address: “John Quincy and Thomas Boylston Adams”; endorsed by JQA : “My Father 14. Sept r: 1794. / Rec d: at Boston.” Tr ( Adams...
2From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1822 (Adams Papers)
Received Quincy April 3d 1822 of Thomas B Adams Esqr— the sum of Seventy-two Dollars in full for a semiannual dividend on my shares in the Massachusetts Bank— Also Twenty-Dollars as a dividend on my shares in the Boston Bank— 72 20 92 MHi : Cutts-Madison Collection.
3John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 18 th. I thank you for your account of the proceedings of the Supreme court.— I really believe you are right & that I was erroneous, in what we have said about the influence of politicks at the bar in Pensylvania. Indeed any where affected politicks do a man no good. I did not mean to prejudice you against your Quakers friends, who I doubt not are...
4John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to find by your Letter that you are so well situated, at Mr. Sewalls, make my Compliments to that Gent. and thank him for the Kind present of his translation of Young—it appears to me to be well done. You will write to me from time to time, if you want Books, or any assistance in your studies, from this side the Water. I hear a good account of your Conduct, your studies you must...
5John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 31 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned, least you as well as your Brother, should think hard of me, for neglecting so long to write to you, but the multiplied Cares and engagements of Life added to indifferent health must plead my Excuse M r: Murray is to take the place of your Brother, and M r. Dandridge is to be his private Secretary, your brother will go to Lisbon, and you I hope will return to...
6John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
On a lu, Tabius, avec beaucoup de plaisir. Il est tres Sage tres Scavant et tres elegant.— The Article he vindicates is now well understood here and is I believe universally allowed to be no Violation of our Engagements with any other power.— Even higher and Stronger ground is taken by Some of the ablest Lawyers and it is even contended that We had a right to go back to the Statu quo, and...
7John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
If any one had foretold that three or four months would have passed away at Stonnyfield, and that I should have written but one short line to my dear Thomas, I should have resented the prediction, as an affront to my understanding, if not to my heart—yet so it is. I have not even acknowledged yours of 21 st. of May. My heart was too full to write upon the subject of that of your letter which...
8John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have rec d any Letter from you, and the Report that you have had a Return of your Rheumatism has allarmed me— We heard that you were better but should be glad to know the Particulars. I am once more happy at home, and my Farm, by the help of a fine rainy season shines very bright.— I Should be glad to be informed, of your Plans and Views— Whether You mean to return or...
9John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, July 1802 (Adams Papers)
I am much alarmed at the Intimations in the public Prints of the appearance and prevalence of the Fever in Phyladelphia. Anxiety for the public in all our great Cities as well as in Philadelphia, is not So easily removed as our concern for your Person may be by your own discretion, in removing immediately from the Scene of danger. It will be a favourable moment to make a Visit to Us. I long to...
10John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly pleased with your Letter of the 30 of August. Every Part of it shows a Sound Understanding and a manly honest heart. Your Conduct at the meetings was wise, as well generous. Never mind Majorities. Weigh well and judge right and never fear being in a minority. You are right to mix with your fellow Citizens at their invitation to their Consultations. Although Horatius has Sacrificed...
11John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d this Evening yours of the 14 th. — My little bark has been oversett in a Stor Squal of Thunder and Lightening and hail attended with a Strong Smell of Sulphur. Nothing remains for me, but to indulge that Vanity which I have found out lately is considered as the predominant feature in my Character, by Singing the Song of Horace The Soothing considerations Suggested by you, my dear...
12John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
I last Week at Philadelphia rec d your kind Letter of April by Capt n Boadge, and it has been a delicious Morcell to me and to several other of your Friends. As you are in the best Country of Europe for the study of the civil Law, I hope you will embrace the Opportunity of making yourself acquainted with all the best Writers on that divine Science, as my Master Gridley used to call it. The...
13From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your letters, to your Parents and to your Sisters, as well as those to me, and I advice you to write as many as you can, but have a care not to write in too much haste, acquire a habit of care and attention not only to the beauty and distinctness and legibility of your hand writing but to the correctness of your Grammar, spelling and even punctuation by this habit, you...
14John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have suffered a great deal of Anxiety on your Account, having heard of your severe sickness. But am very glad to learn that you are better. I hope you will remember to whom you are obliged for your Restoration to Health, and that you will be sensible of the kind Care of your Mamma in your Illness and thankfull for it. Your excellent Grandmamma, it is to be feared, took the Distemper which...
15John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 5 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
I am extreamly sorry to hear that you have been ill of your old Complaint: but was somewhat consoled at the same time by hearing you were better. Exercise of Walking or riding will be your Life in Holland. Our Affairs are assuming a face of good Humour which is very pleasant after so long a storm. We shall have Peace and good Gov t for some Years I hope— I long to learn your Intentions about...
16John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your manly letter of 25 th Ult.— I had long intended to write you but as you observe avocations have always intervened. Public business my son, must always be done by somebody.— it will be done by somebody or other— If wise men decline it others will not: if honest men refuse it, others will not. A young man should well weigh his plans. Integrity should be...
17John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
M r Hindman of Maryland has requested a Letter from me, for M r Richard Cook of Anapolis, who will tell you our News. I have read your public Dispatches with great Pleasure. I find your Situation has led you to an Attentive Observation of the Events of the War and the Maneuvres of Politicks and your curious felicity of Expression enables you to represent both to great Advantage. Your Mother...
18John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I know not how it has happened that I have not found time to write you Since my return to my long home. The angry North East Wind, which has prevailed with little Interruption has pinched my faculties, I believe. We have been all, pretty well. This is the Day of our Election of Governor Lt Gov r. & senators. The Democrats are very Sanguine and the others are not So. The former Say that M r...
19John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I believe I must make a Phisician of you. There seems to be a Propriety in your studying Physick, because your Great Great Grandfather after whom you was named, was of that Profession. Would it not please you to study Nature, in all her wonderfull Operations, and to relieve your Fellow Creatures under the severest Pains, and Distresses to which human Nature is liable. Is not this better than...
20John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
Have a care, that you do not let Captain Duane know, that I am reading Cicero de Senectute again: because he will immediately insert in his Aurora Borealis, that I recollected, those Words in the 17 th Chapter “nihil ei tam regale videri, quam Studium agri colendi.” He will Say that there is nothing in building Stone Wall, or in collecting Heaps of Compost, but the tang of Royalty and...
21John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
The only Reason why I omitted to write you when I wrote to your Brothers, was because I thought you was as yet too young to be able to read Writing, not because I had less Affection for you than for them: for you may rely upon it, you have as great a share in your Fathers Esteem and Affection as any of his Children. I hope you will be good and learn to read and write well, and then I shall...
22John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 8 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The daily Duties of my office require so much Writing that my hand and head are fatigued & exhausted before I have half done: and this must be my Apology for not writing you till now. I hope you are now well settled in your office and pursuing your studies. Practice will come in time, but the most certainly from an incessant Attendance upon the Courts and taking minutes & making Reports of...
23John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have not received a letter from you since I left you. As I hear nothing of the epidemic in Philadelphia, I begin to hope that such a calamity will this year be spared to that city. I should be gratified to hear of your health and success. I could fill a sheet with curious anecdotes of politicks & electioneering, but as this is a subject on which I ought not to permit myself to write speak or...
24John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of July 26. I always rejoice to hear of your Arguing Causes. This Arguing is the Way to business. Argue; Argue; Argue; forever when you can, and never be concerned about the issue, any further than you ought to interest yourself for truth and Justice. If you Speak in public, tho you loose your cause, it will Serve your reputation, if you Speak well, as much as if...
25John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of the 9 th you Say, that you will not Say you disagree with Manlius, in his opinion “that the downfall of the federal Cause is to be attributed to the Mission to France.”— In this opinion I fully believe that both of you are mistaken: and I am confident I could convince you of this, if I had an opportunity of recalling to your recollection the Passages of the times before and...
26John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 April 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet acknowledged the Receipt of yours of 25. feb. I think you right in not noticing Paine, and in present Circumstances in not disputing with Callender. I remarked the Port folio N 2. and was much pleased. I Suspected the hand.— I have heard, that an Intrigue against Washington did exist in the latter end of 1777 and beginning of 1778, but know nothing of it.— I obtained leave of...
27John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 24 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 20 th. is before me.— The Senate I hear is perfectly Satisfied at length, by a Message and some papers I sent them this Week at their request, that there is no Collision between The Convention with France and our Treaty with England: but other points labour. I choose not to say at present what I think. There has been, about two or three hundred Persons in the Union, who from the...
28John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 11 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 4 th with double pleasure occasioned by the Encouragement you give me to hope that I shall See you Soon at this chosen Spot. There are indeed in this Country, all the Characters and humours that you describe, and there will be such for many years to come, which will keep alive the extravagant Spirit of democracy, longer than it would live of itself. Exaggerations of...
29John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
You have lost the Opportunity of sharing in the Glory of some of your Friends in this City, who have been out and returned, from the Campain against the Insurrection in the four Western Counties of Pensilvania. Your Friend Climer lost his Life, and is greatly lamented. ’Squire Cranch as his Father calls him was here Yesterday with M r Greenleaf, whose Agent as well as Lawyer he is to be at the...
30John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 11 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 19 of October from London gave me great Joy and all your other Friends of whom you have many much Pleasure— And I was again highly delighted to hear from M r Jay that he had Letters from your Brother at Amsterdam the 20 th of Nov r. M r Wilcocks who is kind enough to take Charge of this Letter is probably an Acquaintance of your s : You must take him with you in your Daily...
31John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
M r Dobson the Bookseller has an Account open with me.— It is of 13 or 14. or 15 Years Standing.— Several Years ago he Sent his account to me, but, intending to take the ballance due to me in books I did not Sign it. I wish you would call upon him, and presenting him my Compliments pray him to Send his Account to me through you. I presume there is a ballance due to me. This ballance you may...
32John Adams and Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 26 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letters of Nov. 2. and Dec r 20 are before me. You will Soon learn the meaning of the Word Ennui, among others in the French Language, which have no parallel Expression in English. I Suffered more from this Dæmon in Europe than I can express; more for what I know than from all the other Pains of my whole Life. had I not found in Books a relief from it, I should have perished under...
33John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 April 1802 (Adams Papers)
I rec d in due Course your favour of March 18 and thank you for your prompt and punctual attention to my several requests. The Harleyan Miscellany I should be glad to have. M r Dobsons account I presume is correct. I know not the Cost of the Harleyan Miscellany: but if any ballance should remain you may take it in any Books you may want, or Send any to me that you think have merit. I have rec...
34John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, ante 25 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
In my last I attempted to prove that Goverment and Society are inseperable from each other. In the case that was Stated the Government of the Mother over her Infant, was proved to be coeval with the first Act of Society or Sociability between them. Without the Government of the Mother there could have been no Connection or Intercourse between them: and the Child must have perished in the first...
35John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 9 th and its contents, and for the pains to have taken to search Authorities upon the Collision of Treaties. The Point I think is explained and proved very fully, and So it is understood in England. The Sixth Article however is by no means nugatory. It is of great importance to France. Our Treaty with Britain expires in two years after the termination of the...
36John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
Politicks are forbidden fruit to me, at present, and what other Subject can I choose for a Letter? Shall I tell you what Books I read? or how many times a Week I go into the Woods? These Informations would not be interesting to you. I Suppose I may hint at a Question of Law without giving offence to the Powers that be, or the Powers that once were, but be not. A great noise has been made about...
37John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
You have it right in yours of 22 d. — A Rivalry between George Cabbot and Elbridge Gerry, for the Tittle of Excellency in Massachusetts, produced all the opposition of Federalists in that State to my Administration and has now thrown the whole Party in the back ground. I am afraid that is not the worst. Their unbridled rage and violent opposition to Peace with France, will exasperate the...
38John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
It was no longer ago than Yesterday that I received your kind Letter of the 14. of December last, which arrived, after a long Passage, I Suppose, at Baltimore, and came from thence by the Post which carried them to Cape Cod and then returned them to Quincy. We have been anxious on your Account as We had rec d no Letter except your Letter of Introduction to M r De Persyn, and We heard you had...
39John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 7 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have rec d a Letter from you and it is too long Since I have written to you. I have read your Dispatches as Chargé d’affaires at the Hague with much Satisfaction: But I find the Secretary of the Treasury is anxious to hear from You on the subject of Affairs in Holland which have more immediate Relation to his Office. The House of Representatives of U.S. are engaged in...
40John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. last night, your Letter of the 3 d.— It was far from my thoughts to assign you a task. I meant only to turn your mind to a Subject, which must necessaryly engage much of your contemplations, as long as you live. The Folc Right, the Peoples Right, the common law, is the natural, Inheritance of Us all. It is our Birth Right. But precious as it is, and dear as it ought to be to all our...
41John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Brother is appointed to Berlin, but you I presume will soon return to America; perhaps you may be upon your passage, and this Letter may not reach you, before You Sail I long to see you, but yet I am Very sensible it must be a cruel separation to your Brother— Who he can obtain for a Secretary I know not. The family is all here, and are as happy as the absence of all our Children, and the...
42John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favour of the 15 th , the Sentiments and expressions of which are Such as cannot fail to render your Character Prosperity and Happiness more dear to me than ever. An Office must be procured, and the Price or Rent must not be an Obstacle. I had rather pay for you a high Rent than you should not have an Office in Market or Chesnut Street. Your Brothers Observations...
43John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your charming narration of your Tour to Paris, both to me and your mother, and am happy to find you were so civilly treated and so well pleased. I shall never forget the kindness of my Friend Arnoux to myself or to you. I congratulate you, on your new Acquisition of a Sister. I Suppose this match grew out of a Spark that was kindled at Nantes in 1779 when your Brother was with me...
44John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since you are desirous of a Confidence, in the Breast of your Father, and he is not less anxious to possess one in yours, I will open myself to you as soon as time will permit, upon Several Subjects and without assuming to dictate or controul will give you my candid and frank Advice. Although you have had a regular Education in the Theory and Practice of the Law, under a Master as eminent as M...
45John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 18 th and congratulate you, on the Success of your labours. Thank you for the Print of D r Smith, and Should not dislike to have one of my old Friend M c Kean. Whatever may be said of that Gentlemans Consistency of Conduct, his Uniformity of Principle and System, his Fidelity to his Friends, his conjugal Felicity, his Constancy in his...