1From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 8 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
David Hinckley Esqr of Boston and his amiable Daughter are about to travel in England. I earnestly recommend them to your particular and assiduous attention especially the accomplished Miss Ann and I pray you to introduce them in my Name as well as Your own to the Excellent American Minister and his Lady They will furnish you with ample details of all the News current in this Country Your...
2From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 7th. December last. The subject of it is of great and ominous importance—That our National and statistical Constitutions are susceptable of Ameliorations, I agree with you. But Constitutions are unweildy Things and of very difficult management— One of the most intricate and difficult question is that which you mention universal suffrage. Indeed I cannot...
3From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your letter of the 15th. december—and am deeply affected with the information you give me—for all though Great Britain has not been a nursing Mother to my Country—I cannot but feel for her dangers—and Calamities—The five Bills you mention are medicines for the extremity of the disease—but I fear they will not cure, if they do not kill—but this is a subject...
4From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 10 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 5th of August—and the Cheese by Genel Boyd—for both—which I thank you—I have been for four, or five, and thirty years entirely of your opinion—that the United states have not among any Class of Politicians in England, any sincere friends, and those Millions of People who are not politicians, neither know or care, any more about us, than they do about the...
5From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Let me introduce, Mr Elliot, the Bearer, and Mr Ticknor both Natives of Boston, both amiable and respectable. Elliot a Son of Samuel Elliot Esqr one of our first Capitalists. Tickenor one of our first Litterary Characters. Neither will betray you. Ben. Guild the Son of your Mothers earliest and Constantly beloved Friend is married to Elliots Sister. With these you may indulge your yankee...
6From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received your luminous letter of 15th Feby. for which I thank you: but cannot enlarge upon it at present.— I write this to introduce to you Mr Theodore Lyman Junr. a Gentleman whose Talents Virtues and Connections deserve your Respect.—I know you can be of little Service to him, but you may be of Some—I wish you to be acquainted with him, and him with you—He is a Nephew of Mr Williams.—...
7From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of Novbr. 13th. Of Lord Holland, I know nothing. I pity the people, I pity all men of destinction. I pity Emperors, Kings and Popes. they are all when invested with a little brief authority, hurried, and driven by their associates, into measures, they do not and cannot approve: What is to be the fate of Napoleon? no matter; Split him for a Mackerel and broil him for the...
8From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 11 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have a great Mind, to rattle with you in your own Way, in your Letter of July 18th— Do you know that a Mob, is the most powerfull and irresistable Army in the Universe? I can prove it. The Scotch Highlanders in several Rebellions, The People of La Vendée, but above all the Conquest of the Bastille, are full Proofs. No Phalanxes, No Legions no Regulars, no Legitimates have ever equaled Such...
9From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 25 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 26 June. Your Phylanthropic sentiments are very agreeable to me: but remember they are no more than Terinus “Homo Sum ” and that was only a Translation from the still more ancient Greek of Menander. The English and American Republicans must not flatter themselves that they have discovered any thing new. All their “Liberty Equality and Fraternity” is summarily...
10From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 26 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your sensible and feeling letter of the 7th of February. If you and I should take a flight to the North Star, and after a years residence, meet a negro, a Tartar or Indian, or a Hottentot from Earth; I verily believe we should embrace him as a brother. There are no doubt, hundreds of young men in the United States, who envy your situation because they know nothing of the...