571From John Adams to Harriet Welsh, 23 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Bill—you will please to purchase me Dugal’s Philosophy of the Human Mind—By what I know of Mr L Shaw and have heard of him, I should not wonder, if he were the Author of the Review of Judge Story’s Charge & Mr King’s Speeches—The American, I hear is coming out in the Richmond Enquirer like a valiant Hero in open justification of Negrow Slavery— if all the States Southward of...
572From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
When Harris was returned a Member of Parliament a Friend introduced him to Chesterfield whom he had never seen—So Mr Harris said his Lordship you are a Member of the House of Commons—you have written upon Universal and scientifick Grammer! you have written upon Art, upon Musick, Painting and Poetry! and what has the House of Commons to do with Art, or Musick, or Painting, or Poetry, or Taste...
573John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
When Harris was returned a Member of Parliament a Friend introduced him to Chesterfield whom he had never seen—So Mr Harris said his Lordship you are a Member of the House of Commons — you have written upon Universal and scientifick Grammer! you have written upon Art, upon Musick, Painting and Poetry! and what has the House of Commons to do with Art, or Musick, or Painting, or Poetry, or...
574From John Adams to Robert Walsh, Jr., 18 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
you have run me still deeper in your debt by the precious present, of your remarks on the Missouri question— I have read it with complete satisfaction— “And now I say take up the Bridge”— I heard in Paris a Tale—on some great day, there was a sublime procession, of Infantry and Cavalry in all the Pride and Pomp, and circumstances of grievous War—& the whole City was assemble to see it pass...
575From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 13 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your journal to the 21st. ult—has given me much amusement and much pleasure I want to touch upon twenty things but that number is too great. The Missouri question is the most magnificent and portentous. I have no doubt of the right of Congress to stop the progress of Slavery, and if I were disposed to give you my reasons I Should think it unnecessary since I have read a review of Judge Story &...
576From John Adams to Robert J. Evans, 12 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your New-Years letter of Benjamin Rush—As Agriculture is the Nursing Mother of us all - It cannot be too assidously cultivated - nor is it likely to be too much honored—while Mercantile profits are so much greater—and military glory is esteemed the highest glory The American is an Able writter—but I wish he had avoided so many appearances of endeavouring to Justify—or at least...
577From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 12 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your frankness in relating the manners and customs of your School—talking playing and whistling are amusements not fit to be indulged or tolerated in the scene of Education for Youth—and you bear an honorable testimony in favour of your excellent School in Boston—I hope your Parents will bring you with them next Summer—and place you again at Mr Goulds most excellent...
578From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your letter of new-years-day, and congratulate you on your arrival in the great City that is to be where you will have an opportunity of seeing the great world & making many observations & reflections upon it: you may there see a variety of sentiments on government: despotism to the depths of sansculotism, & religious opinions; from the sublimities of Catholics to the...
579From John Adams to F. C. Schaeffer, 5 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Be pleased to accept my thanks for your polite and obliging letter—of the 30th December—and for the Report—to the Managers of the Society for the preventing of Pauperism in New York—by their Committee on Idleness and sources of employment— “Homo sum y ” a line of Menander translated by Terence which was echoed and resounded throughout the Vast extent of the Roman Theatre—with Reiterate’d and...
580From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
In presenting the Compliments of the Season I wish you a happy New Year—as many as human Nature can well bear—the year comes in very bright—but very cold—and I hope it will be bright and wholesom to the end— The little Tract you mentioned entitled thoughts on Government in a letter from a Gentlemen to his friend—has been printed in Niles’s Register—Since you were here I have found the Original...
581From John Adams to John Adams, 2 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 27th. of December has given me great pleasure—though I shuddered at the idea of the dreadful night you discribed—The Season of the Year concealed the beauties of the Country through which you pass traveled and must have taken away most of the pleasures—But you must have been amply repaied by the joys of meeting your Parents, and Brother, and other friends—A residence in...
582From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Compliments of the Season, and what is better prayers that you may enjoy the present year and as many future years as you can endure in health Peace and Competence—I congratulate you, on your having your Olive plants round about you—though the two Collegians have not been dutiful enough to send me a journal of their journey—nor an account of their arrival at their Paternal Mansion—a Residence...
583From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I wish you a happy New year, and as many new-years as your Nature can bear, in health Peace and Competence with your Children like Olive Plants about your table—but be sure to make them all Male and Female Children, Grand Children, and Great Grand Children work hard with their own hands, so as to be able to command their own livelihood by their Industry Economy and sagacity— I am very glad to...
584From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have two kind letters from you to acknowledge one of the 9th September, and one of the 20th. December—with heartfelt satisfaction I congratulate you upon the restoration of your Health—The weakness of your Eyes is the inevitable effect of your amazing exertions of them upon your Records—while I wonder that you have any Eyes left—I have great pleasure in perceiving that yours are infinitely...
585From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 23 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
As I take a great interest in your pleasures, and your troubles, your last Journal has given me a large share of both—the social scenes are delightful and the prospect of trouble is afflicting—I am interested too in the Journey of our Collegians who came here on Thursday—sett all the Tailors with their Needles in Motion—and on Saturday went to Boston with their Uncle who fitted them off with...
586From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I must answer your great question of the 10th in the Words of Dalembert to his Correspondent, who asked him what is Matter- “Je vous avoue que je n’en scais rien.” In some part of my Life I read a great Work of a Scotchmen on the Court of Augustus, in which with much learning, hard study, and fatiguing labour, he undertook to prove that had Brutus and Cassius been conqueror, they would have...
587John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I must answer your great question of the 10 th in the words of Dalembert to his Correspondent, who asked him what is Matter—“ Je vous avoue que Je n’en scais rien .”— In some part of my Life I read a great Work of a Scotchmen on the Court of Augustus , in which with much learning, hard study, and fatiguing labour, he undertook to prove that had Brutus and Cassius been conqueror, they would...
588From John Adams to William E. Richmond, 14 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received your polite favor of the 10th. the subject of which is of great importance I am Old enough to remember the War of 1745, and its end—the War of 1755—and its close—the War of 1775, and its termination—the War of 1812, and its Pacification. every one of these Wars has been followed by a general distress Embarrassments on Commerce distruction of Manufactures, fall of the Price of...
589From John Adams to Samuel L. Mitchell, 13 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I rely upon former acquaintance between us—Alass much too slender for me as an apology for the Liberty I take of introducing to you the Reverend Mr Andrew Norton, a Professor of Biblical Critisim in our University Men of letters and science, ought to be known to each-other in Person, as well as by fame whenever a fair opportunity presents—I flatter myself you will find him every way worthy of...
590From John Adams to Andrews Norton, 13 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have now read the Christian Disciple and the Review of Mr Stuarts Letters—I congratulate Mr Channing in having so great a Master of the Subject for a Coadjestor—the Controversy has been so long continued, that, one should think it impossible to suggest any-thing new, on either side; for my part I have bestowed some attention to it, for at least seventy years, and I am so weary of it that I...
591From John Adams to William White, 13 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
As Charity is the bond of perfection—I think it very desirable that great and good Men should have opportunities to see one another—however different their Opinions in Religion or Philosophy may be—. upon this principle I presume, thought I confess without much Authority to introduce to your acquaintance the Reverend Mr Andrews Norton-Dexter Professor of Biblical Criticism in our University at...
592From John Adams to Clarkson Crolius, 9 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received the favour of your an obliging letter which you did me the honor to write me on the 29th. November—be pleased to present my thanks to the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order for this honorable mark of their Attention I admire the frankness and fortitude with which they have censure’d a Multitude of errours and abuses in the Policy Morals and Manners of this Nation no Satire...
593From John Adams to Jared Ingersoll, Jr., 9 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read with pleasure, and with gratitude the Circular letter, and the Memorial to Congress, which you did me the honor to transmit, to me—I have the honor agree with the City of Philadelphia and their Committee in their Sentiments concerning the great question before Congress, relative to the toleration of Slavery in the state of Missouri—The only question that can arise in...
594From John Adams to Emma Willard, 8 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am deeply indebted to you for your polite and obliging letter— and much more for the elegant, Sentimental; and most Amiable Volume that accompanied it—The Female Moiety of Mankind, deserved as much honour Esteem, and Respect, as the Male. The duties of Allegiance and Obedience, are reciprocal in a family; as well as in the State—and similar limitations, and Restrictions are applicable to...
595From John Adams to Rufus King, 7 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received, and read with Avidity and pleasure your Eloquence and Ratiocination, on the great question of Slavery in the Missouri.—I have rarely if ever; meet a Stronger proof of the importance to a Nation of having in her Councils, Men of great Sagacity, and long experience in public affairs—As far as my Memory serves me, the facts you have stated, are perfectly correct—I believe there...
596From John Adams to Jacob Brown, 1 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I beg your acceptance of the inclosed Pamphlets—the long Dissertation on the Agriculture of massachusetts is by the same hand that wrote the Address the Honble. Josiah Quincy, my friend and Neighbour—whom I greatly Esteem—though his Politicks have not been always approved—by his, and your, friend / and humble Servant— OrHi .
597From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 1 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
Why should my little twine worn out as it is to a single thread, be woven into all the Political hanks and snarles?—It is not fair, and therefore I hope you will by no means publish my letter—besides it would only irritate and injure the Cause.— As to the Life of Otis, I would not advise you to use the Words Whig, and Tory—they are cant words of Party, and although I have used them myself,...
598From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
One Week more will effectually relieve you from your ennui, which perhaps may be succeeded by fatigues more difficult to bear, if not more dangerous to Health— Kings of England when they have wished to carry some great point with Parliament, have informed that Assembly, that the Eyes of all Europe were upon it—And it may be safely said that the Eyes of all Europe, and of all America, North and...
599From John Adams to John Peter De Windt, 29 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
I beg your pardon for neglecting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your letter—Announcing the pleasing intelligence of the Birth of another Daughter—but you are not so good as to inform me of thier heir name—Blessings on her—and all her Connections—Please to present the family to of Verplanks my Condolence with them—on the departure of the Venerable Dr. Johnson—though at an Age fully ripe,...
600From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 29 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
one week more will effectually relieve you from your ennui which perhaps may be succeeded by fatigues more difficult to bear—if not more dangerous to Health— Kings of England when they have wished to carry some great point with Parliament, have informed that Assembly that the Eyes of all Europe were upon them it—and it may be safely said that the eyes of all Europe, and of all America North...