1801From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Samuel B. Malcom Esqr, is not wholly a Stranger to you. He was three years in my family in the Character of my private Secretary, and I believe his conduct appeared to you, as it invariably did to me ingenuous, candid faithful and industrious. His Friends in New York were among the most respectable; his Education was public and his Studies and in the Law and introduction to the Bar regular...
1802From John Adams to Samuel B. Malcom, 21 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the ninth of this month, is but this moment received. I wish I had been apprised of the subject of it sooner, as there is danger, that any application will be too late. You need not apprehend Censure from me, for though the circumstances in which I was born, educated, connected & surported, & the whole course of my public & private life has been so peculiarly exposed to Jealousy...
1803From John Adams to James Madison, 21 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr Malcom was three years in my family at Philadelphia as my private Secretary; and during that time his conduct was ingenuous faithful industrious and attentive and entirely to my Satisfaction. His connections in New York were respectable, and his Education to Letters and the Bar regular. Altho, since the dissolution of that connection between him and me there has been no intercourse and very...
1804To James Madison from John Adams, 21 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
Mr Malcom was three years in my family at Philadelphia as my private Secretary: and during that time his conduct was ingenuous faithful and industrious, attentive and entirely to my satisfaction. His Connections in New York were respectable and his education to letters, and the bar regular. Altho since the dissolution of that connection between him and me there has been no intercourse, and...
1805John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Samuel B. Malcom Esqr , is not wholly a Stranger to you. He was three years in my family in the Chara c ter of my private Secretary, and I believe his conduct appeared to you, as it invariably did to me ingenuous, candid faithful and industrious. His Friends in New York were among the most respectable; his Education was public and his Studies and in the Law and introduction to the Bar regular...
1806From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 20 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
My letter to you of 22 Decr was unacknowledged till 24 March. Yours to me of 24 March, is not to be answered, This you see is but retaliation, which in these days seems to be the law of this land & of all lands & all seas. I do not accept the lame hand as an apology—Nor is the insinuation of ambidexterity of Jefferson any ornament or seasoning to the dish to my taste. Jefferson was my friend...
1807From John Adams to Munroe & French, 18 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
You have published all that is necessary, at present, relative to the two Treaties of Peace; that of 1783 with England and that of 1800 with France, or rather relative to the part I Acted and the Share I had in them. I pretend not to call it a sindication—or a Justification, or an Apology. It has furnished Some means for the inquisitive and impartial Mind, if Such a one could or should...
1808From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 14 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
When I sat down to write you, yesterday I really intended to write a sober Letter: but fell insensibly into my habitual playful Strain. I will now try the experiment, whether I can write a Serious Letter to you without any thing Sportive or extravagant in it. I cannot See with you that “a declaration of War against France as well as England would probably unite Us.” On the contrary, it appears...
1809From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 13 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Say what you will, that Man is in a poor case who is reduced to the necessity of looking to Posterity for Justice or Charity; and he who is obliged to fly to Newgate and to Cobbet for consolation, is in a more forlorn Situation Still. Col. P. is entertaing and instructing the Public by a new series of addresses to the People, the fourth number of which I read in Dr Parks Repertory last night,...
1810From John Adams to James Monroe, 7 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of your Letter of the 27 Ap. accompanied with one from St Petersbourg, for which, as well as for another which I received Sometime Since; and neglected to acknowledge, I pray you to accept my thanks. I am Sorry you had a moment’s uneasiness on account of the Accident you mention. I wish you had read the whole letter, not for any information in it, but to make you Smile at the...