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...
1811From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the first of this month acknowledging the receipt of your “Proceedings” &c and now repeat my thanks for it. It is as masterly a pamphlet as ever I have read; and every way worthy of the Mind that composed and the pen which commited it to writing. There is witt and fancy and delicate touches of Satyr enough in it to make it entertaining while the profusion of learning the close...
1812John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the first of this month acknowledging the receipt of your “Proceedings” &c and now repeat my thanks for it. It is as masterly a pamplet pamphlet as ever I have read; and every way worthy of the Mind that composed and the pen which commited it to writing. There is witt and fancy and delicate touches of Satyr enough in it to make it entertaining while the profusion of learning the...
1813From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I received from the Post Office, under an envellope inscribed with your hand, but without any letter, a very learned and ingenious Pamphlet, prepared by you for the Use of your Counsel, in the case of Edward Livingston against you: Mr Ingersol of Philadelphia, two or three Years ago Sent me two large Pamphlets upon the same Subject. Neddy is a naughty lad as well as a saucy one. I...
1814John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday, I received from the Post Office, under an envellope inscrbed inscribed with your hand, but without any letter, a very learned and ingenious Pamphlet , prepared by you for the Use of your Counsel, in the case of Edward Livingston against you. M r Ingersol of Philadelphia , two or three years ago Sent me two large Pamphlets upon the Same Subject. Neddy
1815From John Adams to Elizabeth Erving Bowdoin, 27 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my most respectful Thanks for the present You have been So obliging as to Send me of the Testimonies of Mr Harris and Mr Buckminster to the Character and Merits of Mr Bowdoin; especialy for the elegant Copy of that very useful Work the Advice to Shepherds than which a more patritic present could Scarcely have been made to this Country. Though I was acquainted with this...
1816From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 22 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
Omnicient Jackson Said to me, at his own Table and repeated it at mine in London, that Chatham flattered the Vanity of The Nation and gratified their Passion for War. but that he was a pernicious Minister. David Hartley Said to me often; (it was a favourite Observation with him;) that Chatham was a national Minister, but not a wise Minister. So far, I am out of your debt. I have given you a...
1817From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter which I beg you to return to me, as Soon as you think fit. It is an Answer to one in which I requested him J. Q. to Send me a Manilius if he could find one to be Sold in St. Petersburg. Is not the Ratio of Manilius the Same with the Logos of Plato? and the Progress of the human Mind in Condorcet? Pray have you read Condorcets “Outlines of an historical View of the Progress...
1818From John Adams to Richard Sullivan, 17 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
I regret that the Weather deprived me of the Pleasure of meeting The Trustees and Visitors at your House on the last Saturday of March, where I had hoped to obtain the determination of the Gentlemen, when they would do me the honour of a Visit to Quincy. I can now only Say that as I presume a ride in the Country would be more pleasant to the Gentlemen in May than in April I hope for the Honour...
1819From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 21. March, Suggests Topicks enough, as all your Letters do for writing Folios. I cannot call the Review, in the Anthology “luminous” nor judicious. “The Silent Votes in our deliberative Assemblies.” I would Scarcely part with this part of the Lectures, to Save all the rest of the two volumes. Vanderkemp, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams, have had experience enough, to have a...
1820From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
though I owe you many Apologies for neglecting to write for so long a time, it would give you no pleasure to read them. The Misfortunes afflictions and griefs in our Family in 1811 were sufficiently pungent, and to repeat them would be to renew them. I feel too much for you, your Consort and your Sister, as well as for Mr Smith to wish to renew the Sorrows which you must have felt at the first...
1821From John Adams to William Cranch, 7 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 15th of March I communicated to your brother and Sister Greenleaf & requested them to search among your Fathers papers they have done so & I presume have sent you Copies of what they have found I have never given the smallest attention to the Title & I had rather at this day undertake to go through Sir Isaac Newtons Principia than investigate the Title to any tract of land....
1822From John Adams to John Adams Harper, 20 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received, under your Frank, Copies of Henry’s full Proofs of his own turpitude and that of the late Governor of Canada, and that of some of the British Ministery; and I thank you for them. I read a Speech of Mr. Harper in Congress which appeared to me to contain marks of a Mind awake to Principles of Equity Humanity and Benevolence, as well as of Discretion, Patriotism and Sound Policy:...
1823From John Adams to Richard Cranch Norton, 20 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for your very handsom and very amiable Letter of the 5th. It gave me great pleasure to find that my Friends had received you with Civility; And as it is both pleasant and Convenient to know and be known among People Respectable in Society: tho’ no particular Advantage should be derived from it. Your Situation, in the Office of Mr: Jones, Connected as you are with the Chief Justice,...
1824From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 19 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
The greatest part of the History in your last Letter was well known to me, and I could write you Six Sheets for your three, full of Anecdotes, of a Similar complexion. I wanted no Satisfaction. If I had, your Letter would have given it. The great Character, was a Character of Convention . His first Appointment was a magnanimous Sacrifice of the North to the South: to the base Jealousy, Sordid...
1825From John Adams to William Cranch, 19 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 8th. I think with you upon the several political topics you have touched. The Taxes ought never to have been repealed. The restoration of them then is only returning to the right road, from wandering in an erroneus path. The recent discoveries of Henry the S shew the necessity in case of a War, of renewing the alien Law. The inability of the supreme...
1826From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
The tumultuous Crowd of Thoughts that rushed into my head as I read your Letter of Yesterday, would appear as gross a Chaos and as wild an Anarchy, if it could be described in Writing; as the Politicks of our Commonwealth appear to you, as described in your Letter. If I hint at Some of them, I shall Study no Tacticks to marshall them in order. 1. In the first place, I absolutely forbid that...
1827From John Adams to William Gray, 4 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
A virtuous amiable and accomplished Lady whom I have known from her birth was married to a virtuous learned and judicious Gentleman with whom I was well acquainted, and whom I as well as all his acquaintance highly esteemed. The husband died and left a young Widow with two Sons. She has devoted her Life to their Education. The youngest Josiah Quincy Guild who will have the honour to present...
1828From John Adams to John Langdon, 27 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Though I have read with regret, the Account of your declining a reelection as Governor of New Hampshire; I am not Surprised at it, nor can you be censured for it. Men who have run So long a Career in public Life as yours ought to be permitted to retire, when their deliberate Judgments require it, Not that it is wise in a Nation to discard or neglect Men on Account of their Age. I have been...
1829From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 26 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I shall expect your long letter; but I ought not to wish it with impatience: for you have such demands upon you for your time that I wonder how you can spare any to write answers to my impertinances, the astonishment of your family at my vivacity—is very just—Rochefaucault says when a mans vivacity increases with years it becomes frenzy at last nothing is indeed more ridiculous than an old man...
1830From John Adams to William D. Williamson, 25 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 12th. was brought to me this Morning from the Post Office. 1 My Answer to the first Question, is, that When Vacancies were made in the Council, by the Negative of the Governor, they were never filled that Year. Governors rarely used their Negative. The first Instance, within my Recollection, was in 1766. The Honourable James Otis Junr was elected Speaker of The House, but...
1831From John Adams to Josiah, III Quincy, 21 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your speech, in relation to Maritime protection, and much more for making it. It is the speech of a Man, a Citizen, and a States-man. It is neither Hyperbole nor flattery in me to say it is the most important Speech ever uttered in that House since 1789. I care not a Farthing, whom I offend by this declaration. But I am puzzled and confounded to see that not one Member from New...
1832From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have your favour of Oct 31. before me. The Sensations it produces in my Aged Bosom, and the Reflections it occasions in my bald and hoary head, are unutterable by any Language in my Dictionary, and by any figures I can find in the Lectures upon oratory. I can easily account for the Inferiority of your Memory to that of Mr David and Mr Rudolphe. I presume that neither of those Gentlemen had...
1833From John Adams to William Eustis, 18 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to enclose to you a Letter from a Gentleman whom I knew in former Life but have not lately seen. I knew his Grand Father, his Father, his Uncle and his Brothers and himself all of genuine old New England Blood You probably know personally more of him than I do. If it should be consistent with the public good in the Presidents opinion and yours I should hear with pleasure of his...
1834From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 17 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I was not long at the Adelphi, but soon removed to private lodgings, which by the way were ten times more public, and took apartments at Mr. Stokdale’s, in Piccadilly, where Mr. Laurens had lately lodged before me.Here I had a great opportunity of learning, for Dr. Bret was at the next door, the state of the current literature of London. I will not enlarge upon this subject at present, if...
1835From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 14 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter was at last dispatched with all our letters and papers; and in due time we received from him the following letter: To the ministers plenipotentiary of America for making peace. L’Orient 20th Sept. 1783. Gentlemen—I have the honor to acquaint you that I arrived here in the morning of the 18th inst. and had the mortification of finding that the packet in which I was to have taken...
1836From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the Eighth I can only say that Societies Since as I have never been of any Use to any of our learned Societies Since their Institution, except perhaps in a present of Books to one of them. I should be extremely unhappy to have reason to suspect that I had done them any harm. My Course of Life and perpetual Avocations have been such that I never could turn my...
1837From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your favour of the 23 of January. I suspected that the Sample was left at the Post Office and that you would soon have it. I regret the Shabby Condition in which you found it: but it was the only Copy I had, and I thought it Scarcely worth while to wait till I could get a Sett properly bound. The Dissertation on the State of real homespun was a feast to me,...
1838From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 10 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
your Dream is out, and the Passage you read in the History that Richard was reading is come to pass: notwithstanding you said you believed no History but the Bible. Mr Mediator! You have wrought Wonders! You have made Peace between Powers that never were at War! You have reconciled Friends that never were at Enmity! You have brought again Babylon and Carthage long Since into Existen...
1839John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your favour of the 23 of January . I suspected that the Sample was left at the Post Office and that you would Soon have it. I regret the Shabby Condition in which you found it: but it was the only Copy I had, and I thought it Scarcely worth while to wait till I could get a Sett properly bound. The Dissertation on the State of real homespun was a feast to me,...
1840From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
To his Excellency Elias Boudinot, Esq. President of Congress. Passy, 10th Sept. 1783. Sir—On the third instant, definitive treaties of peace were concluded between all the late belligerent powers except the Dutch, who, the day before settled and signed preliminary articles of peace with Great Britain. We most sincerely and cordially congratulate congress and our country in general, on this...
1841From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 9 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
After the signature of the definitive treaty on Wednesday, the third day of September, 1783, we all went according to invitation, and Mr. Hartley with us, to Versailles, and joined all ambassadors who had signed the other treaties, and dined amidst mutual congratulations, with the Comte de Vergennes. There appeared to us, however, a littleness, too much resembling low cunning, to become a...
1842From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Sitting at My Fireside, with my Daughter Smith, on the first of February My Servant brought me a Bundle of Letters and Newspapers from the Post office in this Town: one of the first Letters that Struck my Eye, had the Post Mark of Milton 23. Jany. 1812. Milton is the next Town to Quincy and the Post office in it is but three Miles from my House. How could the Letter be so long in coming three...
1843John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Sitting at My Fireside, with my Daughter Smith , on the first of February My Servant brought me a Bundle of Letters and Newspapers from the Post office in this Town: one of the first Letters that Struck my Eye, had the Post Mark of Milton 23. Jan y 1812 . Milton is the next Town to Quincy and the Post office in it is but three Miles from my House. How could the Letter be So long in coming...
1844From John Adams to John Adams, 2 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received two pretty Letters from you, and know not how to account for my own delay in answering either of them till this Time. That of the 21st of January is now before me, and is dated. Give my Love to your Brother, and tell him, he forgot to give any date to his. For your Comfort and Georges too, I can tell you, that you write as well as your Father did at your Age. But what a Writer...
1845From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 31 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
For the sake of harmony and ananimity Mr. Jay and Mr. Adams very readily agreed with Dr. Franklin to strike out the commencement of the letter to Mr. Livingston as first drawn up by Mr. Jay, and concluded to leave it out. The part left out is as follows: Sir—We have had the honor of receiving by captain Barney your two letters of the 25th and 21st of April last, with the papers referred to in...
1846From John Adams to William Eustis, 27 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr. Richard Cranch Norton, a young Gentleman of liberal Education at our old Alma Mater. His name will inform you of his genuine puritanical blood. He is a nephew of your neighbor Chief Justice Cranch. He has a brother whose name is Edward Norton and both of them Sons of a Learned Divine of Weymouth, whose Orthodoxy can be surely no impeachment of his Patriotism....
1847From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 27 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
I agree with you that The Ocean ought to be and must be the Theatre of the War. Our Government will come by Degrees to the right System. I have toasted The Wooden Walls, the Floating Castles the floating Batteries and the floating Citidels of The United States for Six and thirty years: and I now rejoice to find that many Persons now begin to drink my Toast with Huzzas. I am quite of The...
1848From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 24 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hartley’s Propositions for the Definitive Treaty—June, 1783. 1. That lands belonging to persons of any descriptions, which have not actually been sold shall be restored to the old possessor, without price. 2. That an equal and free participation of the different carrying places, and the navigation of all the lakes and rivers of that country through which the water line of division passes...
1849From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 20 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
My last letter contained the journal of the 19th of June, 1783, and completes the copy of that journal, which was intended for no eye but my own: but which by a sudden thought was intended to be sent to Jonathan Jackson, Esq. peradventure, to furnish him with some hints to defend the American ministers, or at least to apologize for them in the case, that was very probable, of a motion of...
1850From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 23. Ult, with its in closed Sketch, Skeleton, Frame, Plan, Scheme, System, Plott, Platt, or by whatever other name you please to call your Etching, has been received. What Title do you in tend to give it? An History of The Decline and Fall of Christianity? or An History of The Improvement of the Human Mind? or An History of the Progress of Society? or An History of the...