1From John Adams to William Bentley, 30 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Well knowing your love of your Country, and your judicious discrimination in the choice of measures to promote its interest; I presume you will not be displeased, with the enclosed volume. Be so good as to accept it as a very small expression of gratitude for the many civilities I have received from you. At the same time your situation may afford, opportunities of improving the work and...
2From John Adams to William Bentley, May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I received from our Quincy Stage under the direction of Mr Thayer a Box of Scions from The Endicott Pear Tree, carefully preserved and in admirable order for which I pray you accept my best Thanks. I have engrafted a number of Stocks which have taken very well according to their present appearance, and have distributed others to several Gentlemen in this and the Neighbouring, Towns. Mr Norton...
3From John Adams to William Bentley, 18 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 14th. I expect with patience the History of the Mecklinboug Resolves. But the Testimony must be Strong to convince me that a blazing brand can be thrust into a Magazine of Powder without producing a Leyden explosion. But “Majora Canamus.” La Fayette and Religious and phylosophical liberty have arrested my Attention. Oh! that I lived near You, Modern publications I...
4From John Adams to William Bentley, 28 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
The Essex Register, its Editors, and Printers are not only Innocent but meritorious for Publishing the pretended Meclengburg Resolutions—I have transmitted to Mr Jefferson the National Register, for his Satisfaction.—Such impostures, which our Polished English friends call Hoaxes, and boares—I am unpolite enough to think; ought to be called forgery’s, and Villany’s, and the Authers of them...
5From John Adams to William Bentley, 13 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr Knox, a Son of General Knox, the Bearer of this Letter, was appointed a Midshipman on Board the Constitution fourteen years fifteen years ago, and afterwards a Lieutenant on Board the Chesapeake. He Served in the Navy about three years, and afterwards made a Voyage to the East Indies. He has lately Studied Medicine and Surgery under Dr Smith at Hanover. The War has revived his inclination...
6From John Adams to William Bentley, 24 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 19th. and the important Box. I pray you to express to my Brother Octogenarian Mr Endicott my particular Obligation to him for his kind and obliging attention which has a greater Charm in it for me than a thousand panegyrical Puffs in Newspapers or the costly Presents of Emperors Kings or Princes would have if they had ever fallen to my Lott, which they never...
7From John Adams to William Bentley, 16 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
I am not under less obligations to you for your Letter of the first of this month, for having neglected So long to acknowledge the Receipt of it. I Shall certainly communicate your Letters to the Historical Society or to the Agricultural Society. Indeed I think they deserve to be recorded by both. At the most proper Time for grafting in the Spring I should be very much obliged to you for a few...
8From John Adams to William Bentley, 15 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind favour of the 12th. Mr Dunlaps Oration is well written and discovers talents, dispositions and views, which will secure him success at the Bar, in publick and private Society; it is conformable to the general sense and public opinion of the World. Thank him for it, for me, and wish him all possible prosperity A few weeks ago I received an Essex Register Containing...
9From John Adams to William Bentley, 21 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the Rarsley Register and National Register Intelligencer . The Plot thickens! The name of the Cato of N. Carolina, the honest hoary headed, Stern, determined Republican, Macon, Strikes me with great force. But here is an accumution of Miracles. 1. The Resolutions are Such as every County in the thirteen Colonies ought to have taken at that moment. 2. The Suffolk Resolves taken about...
10From John Adams to William Bentley, 20 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for myself, and for Mr Marston for the kindness you did us by your Letter of the 17th.—Which I received this morning.—And at the Same time, I received the letter from Mr Jefferson—of which my Son has made the inclosed Copy at my desire for your use.— This letter is to me inestimable for the most material facts in it, I certainly know to be correct and exact, It has convinced me...