31From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
Last night I recd your favor of 15 of Feb. At the two last Meetings of our Academy I made Inquiry concerning your Manuscript, and found that the committee had referred it to a Sub committee who were not then present and had not reported. I will endeavour to get this matter settled at the next meeting, in May. Buffon, I presume from all that I have heard or read of him believed in nothing but...
32From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of October 15 and all the others that you mention, I believe, although I have not been able regularly to acknowledge the receipt of them. I thank you for the two Lectures. I have not been able to procure any information relative to the N.W. Coast, which might be usefull to you. Mr Barrell is no more and I never could learn whether Mr Ingrahams Journal has been...
33From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 31 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have, after so long a time, been favored with a loan of four Volumes of Captain Joseph Ingraham’s Journals of his voyage to the North West Coast of America, round Cape Horn, in the Brigantine Hope of Seventy Tons burthen. He sailed from Boston on the 16th. of September 1790. In these he often Speaks of a voyage he made the year or two before, in the Columbia, and refers to his Journal of it....
34From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 31 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
Until your wishes & enquiries shall be known concerning, Ingraham’s Journal, I see nothing more likely to afford you amusement, than that part in which he seems to believe, that he had added somewhat to our Stock of Geographical Knowledge. In the 2d. volume the first page of which he has marked 52 or book 2 ch:4, he says—"1791 April 19, We steered NNW from the Island of Dominica and at 4...
35From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 February 1805 (Adams Papers)
This day I recd your favour of the 15 of last month you and I are in the same predicament. You are buried and forgotten as you Say in the Western Wilderness, and I am buried and forgotten at Mount Wollaston: But I believe you are happier than you were when bustling in Holland, and I am very Sure I have been happier for these four years passed than I ever was in any four of forty years before...
36From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 25th. is recd.—Ingraham, I think, must be no further North than the 56th: degree, but when I can find a little time, I will read his Journal again and if I find any thing that will entertain you, perhaps I may transmit it. Rumphius, whom you quote is unknown to me. If what he says, which corresponds with my Observation in the generation of shell fish on the Surface of the...
37From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
Having lamented for sometime, the loss of my Correspondent at Barneveldt, I was, this morning unexpectedly gratified with your favour of the twenty second of December. I return with pleasure the Compliments and congratulations of the Season. I can sincerely unite with you, in humble Thanks to the Almighty for the Blessings of the past year on you and your Family as well as on me and mine.—But...
38From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
That showers of hot stones or cold stones may have fallen, in the neighbourhood of Volcanoes, is not impossible, nor improbable: but it is impossible that, any projectile force of exploding Mercury or any mixture of Sulphur Nitre and carbon, or any Vapour, could drive these stones to any great hight in the air, or ever ballance them in the Air so as to allow them to sail about in it like...
39From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have never doubted, that America would be added to the vast Catalogue of Nations, who would not be Saved by Precepts nor Examples. Nothing but a ballanced Government can Save any nation from the Tyranny of the many the few or the one, and no Nation ever was long united in understanding or preserving a ballance. England has preserved it longer than any nation ever did before, and England but...
40From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 April 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have always believed that the Afra Avis, was the Guinea Hen, but have lately heard it was the Turkey. You say “Alass poor Europe” – I say “ alass poor human nature.” I am as weary, as my friend the Abby Raynall, with contemplating the Stupidity of one part of Man kind and the Villany of the other: but I cannot say with him, if they are never to be wiser and better may they be annihilated....