1451From John Adams to Richard Rush, January 1814 (Adams Papers)
When I meet The beattified Spirit I Shall Say to him, with our mutual frankness, “Sir you ought to have added two Chapters to your last Work; one upon Possessions, and another upon Dreams.” In the first, You you should have examined all that has been written by the great Mr Mead, by the little Doctor Mead, and by the learned Hugh Farmer, about Dæmons, Dæmoniacs, and Dæmoniacal Possessions: and...
1452From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 14th are here. You must take hints: I cannot write Letters. Half recovered from a former Illness, the fine sleighing tempted me to Boston where I ran about in Irons and got a relapse and I can Scarcely hold Pen. Mrs A is recovered. The great Mr Mead, before Becker advanced the Doctrine which his grandson and Farmer pursued, But Enoch and Jude and Paul, and Calvin and Milton, and...
1453From John Adams to Richard Rush, 26 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
If I may judge of others by myself, Mr Hay had no cause of Apprehension that he Should be tedious: for when I had read the first page I could not lay aside the book till I had read the last. I know not when I have Seen a discussion of any legal or political question pursued with So dispassionate a temper, or written with more perspicuity, Accuracy or luminous Arrangement. The Author is Master...
1454From 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....
1455From John Adams to Thomas Clark, 25 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your polite and obliging letter of the 17th and for the Copy in two volumes of the Naval History of the United States and for the several Copies of your Proposals for publishing A History of the United States. The plan is ample and judicious, and I wish you every encouragement in the execution of it. Mr. Trumbull of Connecticut has published a general history of this Country. I...
1456From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Mr Gibson, within this hour, called upon me for a Moment and gave me your Letter to your Mother of the day of July, and another to Mr J. A. Smith from his Brother as I suppose Dispatches for Government if he had any, The Captain would not allow him to take. He was taken and complains of ill treatment &c Our Govt. has agreed to treat at Gottenburg. I have lived upon hopes of embracing you last...
1457From John Adams to Henry Colman, 14 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Loan of Tuckers Vision. Homer as We have him, was not his Effort of Genius. Compilations of Homer were made by Lycurgus, by Solon, and by Pysistratus, and the most Learned Men in Greece were employed in forming that Sacred Book. Spencers Fairy Queen, though We have but half of it, is the greatest Effort of Genius, that I recollect. But not So entertaining or instructive as...
1458From John Adams to Richard Rush, 7 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
A thousand thanks for your favour of 25 and 31. Ult. The Times are too serious to write. I expect De Troit and all Michigan, and all Perry’s Fleet will go. I know not whait is to prevent Washington City, The Treasury Office, the Presidents Pallace and the proud Capitol, from becoming The Head Quarters of British Principles. Admiral Warren might have done it long ago. Prejudice, Partiality,...
1459From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 7 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I go farther than you in your Glooms I expect Detroit and Michigan will be again taken and all Perry fleet taken or burned How far you go in your hopes of Peace I know not. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. Romans would not treat in adversity neither Gauls nor Hannibal, could intimidate Rome, nor terrify any one to pronounce the word Peace. America asleep and Britain awake thro the winter may...
1460From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
The Apostle Paul in the 11th. Chapter and 5th. Verse, of his Epistle to the Hebrews, Says “ Πίστεί ἐνωχ μετετέθη τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον· καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκετο, διότι μετέθηκεν αὐτον ὁ θεός. πρὸ γὰρ τῆς μεταθέσεως αὐτου μεμαρτύρηται εὐηρεστηκέναι τω θεῶ .” The Apostle Jude, in the 6th. Verse of his Epistle, Says, Αγγέλους τε τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν εαυτῶν αρχὴν, ἀλλὰ ἀπολιπόντας τὸν ἴδιον οἰκητήριον,...