1From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 20 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have a great desire to read the olive branch of which you are the publisher and reputed author, I have in vain sought for it in Boston, it is not to be had there, will you do me the favour to send me the pamphlet, and the price, which shall be remitted you by— / your humble Servant PS send me all upon the subject. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I send you, as I received it, a Packett from Mr Bentley of Salem. You and Mr Clark must digest it. I have not the Power, not the means, to copy or extract. Expect more in a few days from your obliged OMC : Charles G. Slack Collection of Autographs.
3From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 28 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 21, inclosing my Letter to Dr James Rush of April 30th. If you or Mr Clark could want any proof of the Utility, importance or necessity of The History of the Navy which you have published and propose to enlarge and improve it would be worth while to revise our American Historians for 1775. 1776. &c. Since I received your Book I have had the Curiosity to consult...
4From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 19 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a sketch of the unfortunate enterprize against Penobscot in 1779. drawn by an eye witness. Mr Clarks materials for the modern History of the Navy are multiplying so fast and are so much more splendid than those of ancient date that I begin to be apprehensive he will not have room for all of the latter that ought to be preserved. There is the more reason for inserting these because...
5From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 9 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I had not sufficiently thanked you for your great Work—The Vindicie Hybernice, when I received your favour of the 26th. Janry. With the Valuable present of Addresses of the Philadelphia Society for the Protection of National Industry—for which again I thank you— Under the necessity which I am, of borrowing Eyes to read, and hands to write, It is utterly impossible for me to take any useful...
6From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 3 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your appeal to common sense & common honesty which I really think is a valuabl and important service to the nation. You have marshaled stubborn facts against plausible theories with triumphant success. It is however no easy task to reconcile a vigorous commerce with profitable manufacturers. This can be done only by a tariff which can be formed only by a minute knowledge of the...
7From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 26 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Our old Commodores & Captains, are not so ardent for glory as they were 35 years ago. One of the bravest of them sends me word, that his wife has covered with his journal: but he will send me what he can recollect, as soon as he can prepare it, with proper deliberation. As soon as it comes I will enclose it to you. Commodore John Foster Williams, who at his advanced age still condescends to...
8From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 18 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 6th. has given me much pleasure; had I lived with Dr Johnson I would have given him a guinea a piece his usual price for two sermons; one upon “Let your light shine before men” the other upon Let not your left hand know what your right hand performs.” They are perfectly reconciliable though it may be somewhat difficult in practice to comply with both precepts in sincerity....
9From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 24 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
On the 22d of the month I received the letter you did me the honour to write me on the 16th.—“The Sett of Papers the object of which is to prove that our present Policy is highly pernicious to the best Interests of the Cultivators of the Soil,” is not yet arrived.” It would not be difficult to prove, that the Policy of this Country is erroneous in Several particulars. We have an uncertain a...
10From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 21 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 14th. and printed half Sheets inclosed. I am Sorry there has been So much cause for the publication of the Olive Branch; but as I believe it will do good I have Subscribed for it. I am ashamed of the Vanity and Injustice of Some of our Preachers and Writers: and rejoice that the Events of the War have so completely confuted their Calumnies against the...
11From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 24 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
I wish you to procure me a morsel of white marble eighteen or twenty inches square, and two or three inches thick and to engrave upon it the enclosed words and figures. It is to be inserted in a little monument of Quincy Granite that I have erected to my Father and Mother. If you will send it to me, Mr Trask will insert it in its proper place. I will pay your account on demand. Your humble...
12From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 25 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the reduction of the Price of the copies of the first Edition of the “Sketches” And I now thank for the two volumes of the Naval history. The arrangement is improved, and the same chaste simplicity is preserved. I cannot however but wish, that the elegant and masterly Biographia and the social Feasts might be preserved in some reputable collection. My reverend neighbour Dr....
13From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 14 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 5th has distressed me; because it has made me apprehend that I expressed myself in mine to you of the 29th Ult. with too little caution. But be assured that I never had a suspicion that you were actuated by any mean, mercenary, or even mercantile motive in this business. You have not sent me one copy too many; You have deserved well of your Country, and will merit the thanks...
14From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 21 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been highly gratified by your obliging letter recd Yesterday. You need not give yourself any concern about my Name in your future Edition. I desire no more than Neighboursfare. A memoir from me, would amount to little more, than the Soliloqui of the Fly upon the Chariot Wheel “What a Dust We raise”? And would excite many little Strong Passions, that we might injure rather than Serve the...
15From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 29 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have this day received from the Post Office, three copies of the sketches which with twelve received before amount to fifteen copies. I did not intend to exceed twenty copies, and when you arrive at that number I pray you to stop, I expected but one by a mail but you have sent two and oftener three. I have transmitted through my son Thomas Boylston Adams to his Friend Jonathan Jones Esqr a...
16From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 26 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Though my Letter presented to you by Dr James Rush came too late to answer the purpose intended, you may retain it if you please, or return it to Dr James Rush, as you please. The appointment of the Son to succeed his Father, has my cordial Approbation. “The publication of the Naval History is a great Event.” I hope you will Send a number of the first Edition to Boston: and every other...
17From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 30 October 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour, and thank you for it—I should have written to you before but St Anthony has sent his subtarranan fires into my eyes— so that I have not been able to write or read—a word.—The little sparring at my table was alltogether my fault, and I ask your pardon; I did not give the opinion as my own but as the general opinion of this part of the Country—The facts as generally...
18From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 29 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the new edition of your works on our state & prospects, you are deserving well of your country for your indefatigable exertions to preserve & improve her liberties her comforts her wealth prosperity honor & glory. Your ideas of political economy, are so conformable to my own that I always hear your works read with peculiar pleasure, but my faculties of mind & body are so...
19From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 5 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Last night Mr Marston gave me the inclosed Six Papers. The original Letter from Captain Hoisted Hacker to Brown and Vernon, I wish to have returned. These Papers are authentic. I have found no Man So active and ardent in promoting Your and Mr Clarks Views as John Marston; who has Spared no pains. The Captain Simpson mentioned in one of these Papers was I presume the First Lieutenant of Captain...
20From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 1 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
On Sunday last, Samuel Tucker Esquire of Bristol on the District of Maine, very unexpectedly made me a Visit.—I was delighted to see, once more, the Man, who in 1778 carried me Safely to Bourdeaux, through the Six and twenty misfortunes of Harlequin. He is Sixty five years of Age. He has retired upon a Farm and is a Representative in our State House of Representatives: but is more anxious at...
21From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 3 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 28th of June. I know your press of Business too well to need any Apology for delays of answers to my Letters. It is a great Satisfaction to me, that Mr Jefferson has interested himself in Mr Clarks Publication. His Memory, I presume can furnish many materials: and certainly no man is better qualified to suggest improvements of the Work. Jus suum cuique. I...
22From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 7 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
The Letter, within, from Colonel Jeremiah Obrien to Captain John Foster Williams, inclosed is one to me from John Marston Esq, is at the Service of Mr Clark and yourself. The inclosed Letter to me From Mr Isaac Prince, you will please to return to me. This Gentleman is altogether unknown to me. I am apprehensive, that his magnificent Prospectus, by tempting the rich, and the elegant to wait...
23From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 9 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 3d instant with two Copies of the Sketches having received one before, bseides the first. All the four arrived in perfect Condition. One I gave yesterday to my Nephew, William Smith Shaw, formerly my private Secretary, for his Boston Athenæum, who is delighted with it, a Second I gave to our Quincy Library, and it is now circulating in this Village,...
24From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 9 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I received your Olive Branch—And by this days Post, your Letter—you are loading me with favours—for which I can make you no return, but empty thanks—For these my heart is full— I observe the page 39—and you may well suppose it gave me pleasure—I have this week received a letter from a Gentleman I never knew—confessing that he had printed a series of papers more than twenty...
25From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 8 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is another letter from John Marston esq. of Yesterday, containing an original letter from David Pierce to Captain John Foster Williams. Mr Clark may file these papers, among his Memorabilia maritima et navalia; and make such use of them as he thinks fit. I should be glad to know something of Mr Isaac Prince; at least of his profession and occupation and the place of his nativity. His...
26From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 16 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I recd. from the post Office your vindicia hibernicae and I feel myself under great obligation to you for it, there is not a Subject upon which the attention of mankind can be turned to more advantage and your enterprise in this publication does not less honor to your choice than to the natural patriotic affections of your heart. I have always esteemed and admired the Irish Nation as...
27From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 1 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
Afflictions in my family of the most serious nature have delayed my answer to your letter of the 6th of August. I knew not that my friend Dr Rush had communicated the papers inclosed in yours to anyone His confidence however was not misplaced. My letter to him was written, as I should have talked to him Tete a tete. He understood me & knew that every line & every word in that letter was true....
28From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 20 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 15 with great pleasure and the volume attending it with gratitude.—When I received from our excellent friend Dr Rush, an intimation that Mr Matthew Carey was about publishing a work on the Navy of the U.S. I expected something very valuable because I recollected the American Museum and the history if the Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, the latter of which works to...
29From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 3 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Jan 26 is received, and a shower of obligations with it, before it, and after it, which demand my best Thanks, Mr. Marstons Copy I sent to him by his Son the Midshipman, to whom I gave one of my Copies. The elegant Copy you sent me Shall be placed upon my choicest shelf to be used only by me and my little Embryo Midshipman Isaac Hull, after me, who is yet 8 months old. Comfort...