501From 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...
502To John Jay from John Adams, 4 January 1792 (Jay Papers)
As the Week is approaching when You are to be expected at Philadelphia, I take this opportunity to present to You and your Lady the Compliments of the Season, and request the honour and pleasure of your Company at our House during your visit to this City. We live in Arch Street at the Corner of fourth Street where your old bed is ready for you in as good a Chamber and much more conveniently...
503From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter, and an account from Mr. Gales for the National Intelligencer— I am very loth to trouble you—and I must beg the favour of you to pay Mr. Gales his account and take his receipt and his Certificate—My subscription is stoped—for I hereby request, and Order, that it may be stoped—for I never read it—I am overwhelmed with a Cart-load of Newspapers for which I never...
504From John Adams to John Peter De Windt, 8 September 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received the Joyful News in your Letter of the 3d. Say to Caroline “Macte virtute esto.” Go on and bless the World with as many daughters As Providence will permit. If She educates them to be as good as their Mother Grand Mothers Great Grandmothers Great Great Grand Mothers and Great Great Great Grandmothers They will be the Salt of the Earth. I have known this whole...
505From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read your letter of February 28th with pleasure. There is not a necessary and perpetual connection between power and right on this Globe of ours, whatever there may be in the Sun, Moon, and Stars. In the milky way; in the north Star; in the south Star; in the Nebulae of Herschell right for what we know may always command power. If so I should wish to be an Inhabitant there....
506From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received from you, three Volumes of the Life of our late General and President Washington in a condition of convenience and ornament, which has not yet been exceeded by any of the Arts or Artists of our Country, nor indeed much inferiour to any in the most refined Countries of Europe. I pray you, Sir to accept my best Thanks for this elegant present. Exegisti monumentum ære perennius....
507From John Adams to John Jay, 16 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Last night I was honoured with your Letter of April 7 th. and am happy to find that Twelve States, have granted to Congress the Impost. New York I am persuaded will not long withhold her Assent, because, that in Addition to all the other Arguments in favour of the measure, She will have to consider that all the Blame of Consequences must now rest upon her, and she would find this alone, a...
508John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
It grieves me to think how long it is Since I have written you a Line. But public Affairs are forbidden and private are indifferent or disagreable. Your sister and youngest Brother have given me much Pleasure this Winter by their Company: but At the same time have excited a Strong desire to see You and your best Friend my amiable Daughter, your Wife. A Being who has violated a Trust committed...
509From John Adams to John Adams, 30 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for a pretty volume of Poetic effusions; for want of sight I have not read them, but in those which have been read to me, I perceive nothing inconsistent with morals, on the contrary, a social spirit of charity humanity, and benevolence, Of the Poetical merit I pretend not to be a critical judge. From your name I conjecture that you are a bee, from one of the six swarms , that...
510From John Adams to John Marshall, 22 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 12 & I am very happy to find that a correspondence upon terms of friendship & good humor has at length taken place between the office of State & the Spanish minister. I am entirely of your opinion, & approve of all you have done. The diclaration of Mr. Liston & Lord Grenville are to me satisfactory. If the relation between American debtors & British...
511From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26th. of April, and am very happy, to have at least recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but somehow or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest Abilities, and the most...
512From John Adams to John Wentworth, 12 April 1758 (Adams Papers)
Te Deum &c., I have resigned my school, I have almost recovered my Health, I have received a letter from my Friend, and am scarce able to say it is the kindest Smile of Heaven. But dear Jack I will tell you the Truth for once which our Tribe you know is not very apt to do—when I first read your Letter I resolved very nearly to drop the correspondence. My Vanity could not bear to be feasted...
513From John Adams to John Davis, 2 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for introducing to me Mr Lewis Weld, an Instructor in the Asylum for the deaf & Dumb at Hartford, in whom I was highly pleased to see, so accomplished a Grand Son of my Ancient friend and Neighbour the Revnd Mr Weld of Monatiquot, nor was I less gratified, but much more astonished at his Pupil Mr George H Loring We happened to have a little company extraordinary, and we had an...
514John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday the Senate received a Message from The President of the United States, containing a Nomination of John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts to be Resident Minister of U. S. at the Hague: and this day the Senate are to Say whether they Advise & consent to his Appointment or not. M r Monroe, who is appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France, Yesterday desired me to mention to You in my...
515John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As the War in which your Country is engaged will probably hereafter attract your Attention, more than it does at this Time, and as the future Circumstances of your Country, may require other Wars, as well as Councils and Negotiations, similar to those which are now in Agitation, I wish to turn your Thoughts early to such Studies, as will afford you the most solid Instruction and Improvement...
516From John Adams to John Trumbull, 13 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am at length determined to omit no longer to write to you.— You read yourself to death. this let me tell you, is a Sin and a crime. Whether it is not of a deeper die, than, intemperate Indulgences of the Bottle or the Girl, is a Case of Casuistry. You know best whether You are guilty of it, or not. if you are I enjoin upon You, Pennance, either of a Walk of five miles a day, all at one time...
517From John Adams to John Marshall, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a letter from Governor Trumbull of Connecticutt, a petition for a pardon from Isaac Williams, in prison at Hartford for privateering under French colors. His petition is seconded by a number of very respectable people. I inclose many other papers relative to the subject, put into my hands yesterday, by a young gentleman from Norwich, his nephew. The mans generosity to American...
518From John Adams to John Bradford, 12 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 17 June is before me. I thank you, sir for your kind Congratulations on my safe arrival at Paris. Before this arrives you will have learn’d that War is commenced in Earnest between France and England. Never was a Nation in higher Spirits than the French, or lower than the English. The Events of War, it is true are always uncertain, but there have been few Conjunctions in human...
519From John Adams to John Thornton Kirkland, 5 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
Upon the recommendation of General Washington Gen Hamilton and General Pinckney I appointed your brother George an officer in the American army in which he served from its creation to its dissolution in that division of it which was under the general superintendance of Gen Hamilton and the immediate command of Col Smith. When he left the army in 1799 I well remember that several letters or...
520From John Adams to John Mitchell, 19 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honour to write me on the first of this month, with a parcel containing Letters from J.Q. Adams Esq in Russia to his Father, his Mother; his Brother & his Sons, with one to Robert Fulton of N. York committed to your care by H. H. Cogswell Esqr Secretary of the Province by Order of his Excellency Sir John C Sherbrook the Commander in Chief. My thanks...
521From John Adams to John Jay, 19 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind favour of the 11th. which I have this moment received, and Soon determined that an acknowledgement of it should not be So long delayed. You have done, with dignity and propriety all that can be done. A publication of your letters to Mr Duane and his Answers would place him in a ridiculous light. But Duane Cobbet and Calender are Such excentric Characters that it Seems...
522From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 December 1824 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Alexander Townsend, bound to Washington has called to see if I have any Packages to send, having none I give him this letter of introduction though as I presume you know him personally, he will want none. Poor Baily still lives the life of a Spider:—and I fear you are soon to be cast in to the Crater of a Volcano. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Adams’s health is not so good as it has been I...
523From 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...
524John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 27 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inclose a Letter from Mr Edward Browne of Ostend and another from Mr De Berdt.— Mr Browne was introduced to me in London by Mr De Berdt, and appears to be an accomplished Person well acquainted with the Language Laws and Commerce of the Place where he is.— If your Excellencys judge proper, I should be obliged to you if you would...
525From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
The disapointment of the Anglomaniacs and the Antigallicans, who are the same persons, on one hand, and of the Gallomaniacs, Antianglicans and Hyperdemocrats who are all the same people, on the other: in the Choice of Mr Mason a Sound untainted American Republican, for the Representative of the Suffolk district, will give that Friend of yours an Opportunity to present you this letter. This...
526From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Bigelow, whose Character you will learn from the inclosed Letter from the President of Harvard Colledge, will be the Bearer of this Letter; and I pray you to give him a kind Reception, and if convenient let him See your Secretary and your Sons. Haec olim meminisse juvasit, on both Sides. I have been to the fortieth Independance. My Reveries would amuse You. Do you think my...
527From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
No language can express my Anxiety for you and your Family and no volume could contain the multitude of my thoughts concerning my Country and my Posterity. One Thing is clear in my mind, and that is that you ought to be at home; if there, you should be obliged to live on Turnips Potatoes and Cabbage, as I am. “ My Sphere is reduced to my Garden: and So must yours be. The wandering Life that...
528From John Adams to John Marshall, 5 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I hope as you do, that the resistance to the execution of the judgment of the courts of the United States in Kentucky, as represented by Judge Harry Innis, exists no longer. I return you all the papers. Mounflorence’s information was, that our envoys “were ready to depart for Havre De Grace, where they intended to embark for the Hague.” This was probably given out by the French to conceal...
529John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Ice is so universal now that I suppose you spend some Time in Skaiting every day. It is a fine Exercise for young Persons, and therefore I am willing to indulge you in it, provided you confine yourself to proper Hours, and to strict Moderation. Skaiting is a fine Art. It is not Simple Velocity or Agility that constitutes the Perfection of it but Grace. There is an Elegance of Motion, which...
530From John Adams to John Jay, 14 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter, inclosing two Pamphlets one of which I have Sent to M r Jefferson, by Coll Humphreys who Setts out for Paris this morning. These Letters will be Sufficient to Shew any Man of common Decency, the Characters of the Writers. on one Side there is the Condescension of a provident but indulgent Father: on the other the Impertinence and Ingratitude of a Prodigal son, not...
531From John Adams to John Marshall, 25 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received Mr. Wagners letter of the 15th, inclosing a certificate of the Mayor of Baltimore, Mr. Calhoun in favor of Mr. Cornelius Howard Gist to be Marshall & a letter from Mr. Hollingsworth, to the same effect, to Mr Wolcott. These papers I return inclosed. I have since received a letter of Mr. Wagner of the 16, inclosing a letter of Mr Wm. Wilson, requesting to be appointed Marshall,...
532John Adams to John Jay, 21 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A difference of opinion having arisen among those of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, who are now in this City, respecting the construction of their authority under the Act making provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt, by which they are equally divided, your presence here towards settling the principle which is in question, in order to the future conduct of the business, has become...
533From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
This Line will go by the Ship Hugh Johnston William Johnston Master bound for St. Petersbourg. She belongs to the House of Loring and Curtis and is consigned to Mr Joseph Austin, all Citizens of Boston: So that I presume if Neutral Ships Neutral owners Neutral Cargoes and Neutral Consignees can in any case Sail Securely , this Letter will reach you with safety. I have Mementos enough. Fryday...
534From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Last night I recd the 3 Volumes D’Argens’s Ocellus, Timeus and Julian, and the Journal des debats and the Journal de L’Empire, to 22 Mars 1815. What curiosities, all? Tacitus, Quintillian, Jacques le Fataliste, what would you Say? Would you Still doubt? You ought not. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth, in Wisdom and benevolence beyond all our conceptions, let the Earth rejoice. You have heard...
535From John Adams to John Jay, 17 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favour of the 26. of September, with a Copy of an Act of the Legislature of the sState of New York, for the further Defence of the State and for other Purposes. I shall transmit these Papers to the Secretary at War, that a proper consultation may be had upon their Contents and a final Arrangement made according to Rules which generally obtain in Such Cases. In the...
536John Adams to John Hurd, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me, the 20. Nov. last, and immediately wrote to my Colleagues upon the Subject and inclosed to them the Copy of the Petition. There is not room for a question, and the Decrees at New York, are against common Sense, and must undoubtedly be reversed upon Appeal. There is not even the Colour of an Ambiguity, in the Armistice, that I can...
537From John Adams to John Winthrop, 29 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland. Aquilla Hall and Josias Carvill Hall, both of one of the best Families in Maryland, and both of independent Fortunes. Their Errand to Cambridge, is to join our Army as Volunteers, against the Enemies of their Country in order to gain Experience, in the Art of War, in which they have already made good Proficiency. As it is of importance...
538From John Adams to John Sinclair, 2 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I received the letter you did me the honour to write me last summer, with your projects of a Natural History of Sheep, and a Survey of Scotland. You could not have made a wiser choice. The natural history of that animal, so useful to man, must be very useful as well as very curious: and a detail of particulars relative to your native country, must be interesting to all, but especially to the...
539From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
KNOW all Men by these Presents, That I John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Esquire, in Consideration of One dollar to me paid by John Quincy Adams, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, Esquire the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have remised, released, and forever quit-claimed, and do, for my self and my Heirs, by these Presents, remise, release, and forever quit-claim unto...
540From John Adams to John Trumbull, 11 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to Mr. Frederick Bull for keeping a pair of Horses last fall and for storing a Chaise, Harness, Saddle and Bridle for me, through the winter. Inclosed are twenty Dollars, in a Bank Bill which I must beg the favour of you to apply to the payment of his demand. And will you be so good as to Subscribe The Vice President for the Hartford Paper, and get the Printer to address it to...
541From John Adams to John Lowell?, 15 December 1770 (Adams Papers)
Being generally Speaking a son of Liberty, notwithstanding the Cloud of Toryism that has lately, you know, passed over me, a Number of Gentlemen have retain d me, with you, in Defence of that great and inestimable Right, Liberty and Priviledge by Charter of digging Clams upon the Ipswich Clam Banks. The Proprietors of Ipswich have sued Varrill before a Justice &c.—Varrill will shew you the...
542From John Adams to John Pope, 4 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the very acceptable Present of a Speech in favour of the renewal, of the charter of the Bank. I have read it with pleasure as a fine speciman of Argument and Eloquence. I know not whether it is not the best Apology for the Constitutionality of the measure that has appeared. I cannot however but wish that the Constitution had been more explicit, in this, as in several other...
543From John Adams to John Farmer, 25 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have not received your Memoirs of Billerica—they must have been nested some-where in the Post Office or have been taken out of the Mail— This letter however is intended to make a particular enquiry, a suspicion has darted into my head that the late learned ingenious scientific public Spirited and benevolent Count Rumford, was a descendant of your Billerica family of Tompsons—his Name, was...
544From John Adams to John Jay, 2 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 10th. 13th. and 17th. of August, but have no Answer as yet to either Letter. All is well here, and will not only remain so but grow better and better. Since it is from Bows and Smiles and Invitations to Dinner and Such kind of Indications that We are to collect the deep Politicks of Courts, I Suppose I may augur well for your Negotiations with Spain, because I have lately...
545From John Adams to John Thomas, 13 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for two Letters one by the Committee: the other dated Novr. 1. The subject of the first is not yet determined in Congress, but I have no doubt your Desires will be complied with. As soon as I received the last I waited on Dr. Morgan and shewed your Letter, together with one from Mr. Gordon and a very sensible one from Dr. Hayward relative to the same subject. Mr....
546From John Adams to John Adams, 11 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter—and your Father still more for his permission in permiting you to send me a Copy of his Message, which if it had not been delay’d in Boston, would have reached me before any body else— It is every thing I could wish, or desire it to be, it cannot fail to give general, or, if not, universal satisfaction to the nation, and to all Nations—It proves so particular...
En passant. As Church said in his letter to the Regulars, Remember I Never deceived you. If your Congress don’t give better encouragement to the Privates, than at present is held forth to them, You will have No Winter Army. There must be some small bounty given them on the inlistment. A Strange Mistaken Opinion Obtains among the Gentlemen of the Army from the Southward and if I mistake Not in...
548From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 1 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Though the Thirteenth year of the nineteenth century has made its Debutt, yet as the sun has not and I am obliged to light a candle, to make you the compliments of the season As the American name is uppermost of all earthly things in my thoughts at present I shall just inform you that last evening I had the exalted pleasure to see the President sail majestic up the Harbour and come to Anchor...
549From John Adams to John Rutledge, 3 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 23d of August & have the pleasure to inform you that I have this morning signed a commission for Capt. Cross. Your brother Mr. States Rutledge shall have my vote for a midshipman on board any Frigate he chooses, in which there is a vacancy & I believe there is one or more vacancies in all of them. And I pray you to write to Mr. Stoddert, the Secy of the navy &...
550John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Pleasure to inform you, that Yesterday I removed into this House, and am now employed in setting it in order. You will see by the Gazettes, that I have been received in Character, that I have laid before the States a Plan of a Treaty, which they have now under Consideration, and I suppose will be soon finished. The Bearer of this, Coll. Vallentin, will deliver it. Perhaps he may be...