51From John Adams to Catherine Farnham Hay, 22 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I recollect with great satisfaction the many pleasant days, that in time of my departed Consort, we passed together in France, in England, and in America. And I now receive with peculiar pleasure your kind congratulations on a late event, which I devoutly pray may be propitious to this great and growing Country. Though I am every day awaiting my Summons, I should be very happy to see you here,...
52From John Adams to Charles Holt, 22 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I am much affected with your kind letter of the 4th. You are not alone Sir, in your change of opinion since 98. great numbers have since been convinced that at the sacrri sacrafice of my Popularity and my office I saved this Country from a ruinous and Foreign War and Civil War—. I thank you Sir for your two candid and civil letters—and for your kind congratulations on the choice of a...
53From John Adams to William Hull, 22 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I recollect with much satisfaction the friendly and familiar intercourse between Major Fuller his Lady and Daughter with my family in the days of my blessed Consort, and this recollection made your kind letter of the 14th. more pleasing and acceptable.— I thank you Sir for your Volume of defence which I perceive has softened the asperity of public opinion very much; I am no longer capable of...
54From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 22 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
Is not your lively imagination a little exalted, you certainly have exalted my name to a greater height than it would ever have arisen to, without your sublime compliment—I presume you have laid aside the thought of building an Hospital for despair on that height—I am sure my name ought not be associated with despair How I long to make you a visit, but I cannot get out of my Chamber yet, here...
55From John Adams to William Cranch, 22 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind congratulation of the Feby. 17—which you have fortified with so many strong reasons, none of which I can I contradict, or wish to refute; I have great reason to believe that the public opinion has changed with respect to me, since the year 98—great numbers have since been convinced that I saved this Country from a ruinous Foreign and Civil war, and some of them...
56From John Adams to Peter Force, 7 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
My father has this moment returned from Mr Owens lecture & informs me that he has not recieved any communication from the Senate relating to the confirmation of his nominations. If they have been acted upon he is not informed of the fact. The nominations you have seen—Concerning their confirmation you know as much or more than he does— Your’s &c 1/2 past ten o’clock— DLC : Peter Force Collection.
57From John Adams to Peter Force, 5 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have placed your Note in the hands of my father who has this minute returned home & he directs me to inform you that the Senate have not acted upon any one of the Nominations made to that body by him—And that of course the information mentioned in your note is incorrect. Perhaps it may allude to the confirmation three days since of some nominations made by Mr Munroe. If you do not possess a...
58From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 2 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted your letter to Mr Adams but in total despair of success. The heads of Department are jealous of the interference of the President in the appointment of their clerks. I never could get in one clerk into any office during the whole of my administration. You must apply to the heads of Departments if you have any hopes of success. The Representatives from N. York will probably...
59From John Adams to Peter Whitney, 2 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, now called Quincy, in the year 1767, in the white house, near the foot of Penn’s Hill, which you sir, once inhabited. I had been attending Plymouth Court the whole week under the greatest anxiety. Returning on Saturday afternoon from Plymouth, I met Dr. Tufts on Hingham Plain between Dr. Shute’s house and Mr. Cushing’s tavern, who informed me that I had...
60From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a letter from honest Spafford. I do it with great reluctance but he has so much merit in his New-York Gazetteer that I wish something could be done for him. I know however the difficulty indeed the impossibility that a President should get into any of the offices a single clerk. I tried to get Mr Dalton into an office in the Treasury Department. I proposed it to the Secretary who...
61From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Every line from you exhilarates my spirits and gives me a glow of pleasure—but your kind congratulations are a solid comfort to my heart. The good-natured and good-humoured acquiescence of the friends of all the candidates gives me a comfortable hope that your prediction may be fulfilled, that the ensuing administration will not be so difficult as in a former letter I had apprehended. Here we...
62To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 25 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Every line from you exhilarates my spirits and gives me a glow of pleasure—but your kind congratulations are a solid comfort to my heart. The good-natured and good-humoured acquiscence of the friends of all the candidates gives me a comfortable hope that your prediction may be fulfilled that the ensuing administration, will not be so difficult as in a former letter I had apprehended. Here we...
63From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
The events of this month, have been to me almost overwhelming. They have excited my sensibility too much for a man almost ninety years to bear. The multitude of letters of congratulations which I have received I can never pretend to answer, for it fatigues me to dictate even a few lines—but none of these letters have been more cordially welcomed than that of my friend Van der Kemp. I...
64From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 20 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your letter has given me great pleasure, and so have those of your brother John—they are lively, animating and cheerful, and at the same time judicious and prudent, which to me is of more importance than all the rest. This great nation appears to me to be as well satisfied as so great a nation can be and in their satisfaction I sincerely rejoice. What obligations does this event impose upon...
65From John Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 19 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Among all the congratulations which I have rec’d upon this occasion more have affected me more tenderly than this from the bosom friend of my ancient & excellent friend Dr Rush. I feel a regret that yr worthy Son our Ambassador in England was not on this side the water upon the occasion. My best wishes attend you Madam & all yr children and will do so as long as I have any wishes. this cannot...
66From John Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I recieved, as usual with great delight your letter of the 12th inst. Your account of all things is satisfactory—but on this great occasion, my dear Grandson, let us all reflect on the obligations this event imposes on us. Our joys ought to be no greater than the joys of the public. We ought all of us to collect ourselves and not suffer a single unbecoming word or action to escape us. A friend...
67From John Adams to Joshua Sands, 18 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have received with peculiar sensibility your friendly letter, of 11th. instant—because I knew it proceeded from a Gentleman of great respectability in society a Gentleman of great honor, integrity and worth, I wish you and yours every prosperity I long to write to our friend Jay but I am too faint and short-breath’d to dictate a few lines I am Sir your obliged friend / and humble Servant MHi...
68From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 9th: Never did I feel so much solemnity as upon this occasion—the multitude of my thoughts and the intensity of my feelings are too much for a mind like mine in its ninetieth year—May the blessing of God Almighty continue to protect you to the end of your life as it has heretofore protected you in so remarkable a manner from your cradle. I offer the same...
69From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 25 January 1825 (Adams Papers)
your letter of the 6th. of January gave me much pleasure, to which was added was that of your Brothers for the lone of which I thank you and here-with return it— he writes in fine spirits, and I hope will be able to accomplish his designs, but what his views are unless he has been fortunate enough to find the affections of some fine English Lady of Moderate fortune, who is adventurous enough...
70From John Adams to John Adams, 24 January 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your account of the Death and Character of General R. G. Harper gave me a great deal of pain, he was a man indeed of eminent character and great talents, he made a great figure in Congress and was considered a rival to Mr. Smith, till he was sent to Portugal; I am not able to give you any account of his Parentage, or the place of his birth, or that of his Education; The first that I ever heard...
71From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1825 (Adams Papers)
We think ourselves possessed or at least we boast that we are so of Liberty of Conscience on all subjects and of the right of free inquiry and private judgment, in all cases and yet how far are we from these exalted privileges in fact. There exists I believe throughout the whole Christian world a law which makes it blasphemy to deny or to doubt the divine inspiration of all the books of the...
72To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 23 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We think ourselves possessed or at least we boast that we are so of Liberty of conscience on all subjects and of the right of free inquiry and private judgment, in all crises and yet how far are we from these exalted privileges in fact. There exists I believe throughout the whole Christian world a law which makes it blasphemy to deny or to doubt the divine inspiration of all the books of the...
73From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 8th. has revived me—It is true, that my hearing has been very good, but the last year it has decayed so much, that I am in a worse situation than you are, I cannot hear any of the common conversation of my family, without calling upon them to repeat in a louder tone. The presidential election has given me less anxiety than I, myself could have imagined, The next...
74To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 22 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 8 th has revived me—It is true, that my hearing has been very good, but the last year it has decayed so much, that I am in a worse situation than you are; I cannot hear any of the common conversation of my family without calling upon them to repeat in a louder tone . The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I, myself could have imagined, The next...
75From 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...
76From John Adams to James Monroe, November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr Ticknor & his Lady, this Gentleman is a Professor at our University in Cambridge and one of the most Conspicuous Literary Characters in this State, he has been for several years intimately acquainted with Mr Jefferson and is highly esteemed by him I believe he has been acquainted with Mr Madison, & he proposes to visit him Montpelier as well as well as...
77From John Adams to John Adams, 28 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your letter, of the 21st. sprightly and entertaining like all the rest, has been recieved. I participate in all your apprehensions concerning the election. The odium, which has been conjured up against the family, is indeed a formidable motive of national action. Not a reason, not an argument even original; it is a prejudice! and it is a consolation to see that it does not prevail in...
78From John Adams to John Adlum, 26 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr Curtis your valuable present of American Wine; whether it is made from original American Grapes or from plants imported from abroad is an equal proof that wine can be made in this country. Indeed Grapes are raised in the City of Boston and its neighbouring Towns in such quantities that wine might be made of them here. I have in my own garden a vine, of one of the finest...
79From John Adams to Alpheus Cary, 26 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have received your respectful & affectionate letter of Novr. 4th. for which I thank you as well as for your Address before the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association—The Address is neither unlettered nor unworthy of the Association to which it is addressed. It is a manly, well written and well informed peice of Composition. I feel a pride in it as the production of a Son of the Town...
80From John Adams to Nathaniel Curtis, 25 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of October 29th: and the four bottles of Native wine very politely sent me by John Adlum Esqr. of Georgetown. Please present my thankful acknowledgement to Mr Adlum for his valuable present. I am not certain whether the word Native means, that it is made of American Grapes or of foreign Grapes planted here; but in either case it proves that the wine is made of...