541From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 13 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
If you have a desire of a long life and a happy life I advise you to read Cicero. Your Father has expressed sufficient admiration of his office and his other writings but I wish at this time to recommend to you particular his treatise on Friendship. his dream of Scipio his letter to his brother Quintus about to take upon him for the third time the Government of Asia, and above all his treatise...
542From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 13 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
If Nature in scattering her bounties had bestowed upon me the genius of a Poet or a Painter I would entertain you with a description of a scene of sublimity, beauty, and novelty, such as eighty four winters never before presented to my sight: when I arose in the morning, the Sun was rising, the heavens were not of Brass but the Sky was a vast concave of clear blue marble and the earth was of...
543From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 12 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have not seen one of your Registers, these twelve months—the fifteenth Volume is the last I have received—which comes down only to March 1819—I sent you a long time ago a few original papers which I desired you to return to me—I hope to receive soon, the papers, accompanied with the additional Volume or Volumes which have grown since the third Volume of the new Series which is the 15th...
544From John Adams to Robert J. Evans, 8 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 21st. of Febuary I have no scruples of conscience, and no reproaches to make to myself, for my conduct for first introducing Paine into public service—The abandoned viciousness and Proflagacy of his Character, was then totally unknown to me—and in truth—I did not give credit to Dr. Witherspoons accusation of Intemperance—because it was contradicted by...
545From John Adams to Thomas Hertell, 8 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of Febry 25th. your apology for publishing—my letter was unnecessary the letter has been published received with more indulgence than it merited—and if it has occasioned the sale of one of your Pamphlets more than would have been sold without it—I am glad it has been published— Judge Millers compliment to it, is more than a reward— I have not seen it in any...
546From John Adams to James Monroe, 8 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I ought not to have delaid an acknowledgement of your favour of February 20th. and the Volume of the journal of the Federal Constitution Convention which attended it—the Volume shows that our present inestimable Constitution cost the venerable Characters—who composed it—much anxiety and debate and but a Candid and liberal disposition on all hands, resulted in the “preclarum singulare...
547From John Adams to Elihu Marshall, 7 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the honour you have done me, by your letter of the 16th. of last Month—and for the valuable present of the American Tutors Assistant—which I believe to be a valuable Book—At the moment I received these favours; I was deeply engaged in reading Cato Major—and I could scarce help thinking, that I was reading Tillotson Sherlocke, Buttler, or our Buckminster, or Everett—for there...
548From John Adams to James Monroe, 6 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I ought not o have delaid an acknowledgement of your favour of February 20th. and the Volume of the Journal of the Federal Convention which attended it—The Volume shows that our present inestimable Constitution cost the Venerable Characters who composed it—much anxiety, debate, and difficulty—But a Candid and liberal disposition on all hands resulted in the—“preclarum singulare quiet”—which we...
549From John Adams to William Wood, 6 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your letter of the 2d of this Mongth, and for the Catalogue for the apprentices’ Library—I am highly gratified to see that it already amounts to so respectable a number—as I do not see in the list a Naval History of the United States—I take the Liberty to send you a Copy of that Work—which is at once a Monument to the Glory of our Naval Heroes and a proof of the inattention of...
550From John Adams to William S. Cardell, 3 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read with more pleasure than I can express your polite and elegant Letter of the 24 Febry—The plan of a Philological Academy is so extensive and magnificent that though I am excedingly delighted with it—I have not sufficient knowledge—nor at my Advanced Age the patience of the thinking necessary to consider it in all its parts—and to foresee all the difficulties that may...
551From John Adams to Benjamin Russell, 3 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I send you a Box of Books, which I pray you to present for me to the Apprentices’ Library—with my best wishes and Respects / from your friend and / most humble Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
552From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 3 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
Mr Henry Warren, a Son of your late friend Dr John Warren—and a young lawyer of promising hopes is a bout to travel to Washington—and will have the honour to deliver you this letter—I hope you will receive him with the utmost cordiality, for his Name and Blood are very dear to me The last news we have from your Sons—was their visit to Mr Boyleston last Saturday—In fine health and Spirits—to...
553From John Adams to Aaron Clark, 23 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
Accept my thanks—for your favour of the 16th. and for the prospectus—of a most magnificent Publication—which if it can be accomplished must be a Magazine of important Documents for the Study of Posterity— I hope Judge Vanderkemps translation of the early records of the Dutch Languages will be a part of great Collection but my forces are two far Spent to contribute anything, but my good wishes...
554From John Adams to Andrew Nichols, 23 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I owe you many thanks for your favour of the 15th. and espicially for your address which abounds with excellent observations on a Subject in which the health and happiness of the people of America the Principles and system of our free Constitution of Government and the future fortunes of Posterity were are greatly and deeply interested— accept my by best thanks and bestwishes for your success...
555From John Adams to James Ronaldson, 23 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 16th. and loose no time not a moment to acknowledge my obligation for it—I have been attentive to the Actions and Character of General Jackson and have read the Volume of his Geography—and have no hesitation in giving my opinion—that he is one of the greatest Military Characters that North America has produced—no present of the kind could have been more...
556From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
Was you ever acquainted with Dugald Stuart—before I left France I received a letter from Benjamin Vaughn Esqre. in London—Introducing, and recommending in strong terms two Gentlemen from Scotland, one by the name of Dugald Stuart and the other Lord———whose name and title I forget—as young Gentlemen of great talents and attainments sufficient to diminish our American prejudices against...
557John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Was you ever acquainted with Dugald Stuart —before I left France I received a letter from Benjamin Vaughn Esq re in London — Introducing , and recommending in strong terms two gentlemen from Scotland , one by the name of Dugald Stuart and the other Lord —— whose name and title I forget—as young gentlemen of great talents and attainments sufficient to diminish our American prejudices against...
558From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 20 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
yours to the 6th. is received, Our Sons of Harvard took leave of us this Morning for Cambridge in good health and Spirits—they arrived here the 16th. somewhat fatigued but very well—Their Uncle is gone to Boston with them to fit them out for Cambridge— I have this Morning learnt the death of my Patriarchal friend William Ellery in his 94th. year—which is a greater age than human Nature can...
559From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
It is a custom on the Demise of Princes for all classes of Men in Society to present to the successor addresses of Condolence with the grief of the loss of the Predecessor—and congratulations—with the Joy at the succession—in imitation of this long established Custom—I condole with you on the loss of your friend Elliot—and congratulate you on the Honorable testimony of his rememberance of you...
560From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you this Morning before I received your delightful letter of the 7th. which has opened a New world to me I rejoice with all my heart in your prosperity and comfortable pleasing prospects—I rejoice that the Governour and the Legislature and the People of the State of New-york—have the Wisdom to appreciate your labours at their just value—which I esteem an important service rendered not...
561From John Adams to Robert J. Evans, 14 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
As the Anecdote of Mr Paine seemes to be have given you some amusement, I will give you another which affords me no Satisfaction upon reflection I was the first person who brought that Wild Man into Notice public notice—his Pamphlet called Common Sense, I thought proved him to be a Smart fellow—and I was informed he was totally distitute of the means of support—and as he had the pen of a ready...
562From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 11 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have been informed that you have read Mr Locks Essays on the human Understanding it would also give me great pleasure to hear that you have read his Essay on the Conduct of the Understanding— There is a little Aeriel World within us—the reign of Intelligence, of sensibility, of Activity, as well worthy of investigation, as the great World without us—of Heaven Earth and Seas.—and nothing in...
563From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 9 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I had not sufficiently thanked you for your great Work—The Vindicie Hybernice, when I received your favour of the 26th. Janry. With the Valuable present of Addresses of the Philadelphia Society for the Protection of National Industry—for which again I thank you— Under the necessity which I am, of borrowing Eyes to read, and hands to write, It is utterly impossible for me to take any useful...
564From John Adams to L. M. Sargent, 8 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have read over the Poem you did me the honour to inclose to me—but a very sudden illness has prevented me from giving that so much attention to it—as I wished—I have perused it however sufficiently to be very ready to give you my advice—In the first place—not to commit it to the flames—In the second place to preserve it with Care—and Continue it till you have Completed your idea—In the third...
565From John Adams to Benjamin Russell, 7 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
As I have all my Life, professed to be a very sincere friend to the promotion of knowledge—and a free Circulation of it—through every vein, and Artery through the body Politic—in opposition to all the well-born—Well-bred—And well dressed few in every age and Country, who have taught an opposite doctrine I cannot but applaude the design of the good people of Boston for raising a Library for the...
566From John Adams to Jesse Torrey, Jr., 7 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 17th. of January but as your the Copy of the Moral Instructor, has not yet arrived—I can form no Judgement of its merit—as I am a friend to all rational measures for propagating knowledge among all Classes of People—I wish success to your project of three Library’s but as you have not delineated the particulars of your System in detail—I cannot judge of its...
567From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 29 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your journal up to the 15th. of this Month—and I hasten to answer the last question in it Mr John Randolph certainly never wrote to me requesting letters of recommendation for any of his friends—And if any one has reported such a Slander of him, it is certainly very abusive—I cannot imagin who can have suggested such an idea to you—he would scorn the imputation with...
568From John Adams to David Hosack, 28 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly indebted to you for the honour you have done me by sending me your Biographical Memoir of Dr. Williamson, an Elegant work which I have read with great interest and Satisfaction—It has excited so many reminiscences as the French call them, that I know not where to begin, nor where to end—My first acquaintance with Dr Williamson, was in Boston in 1773, when he made a Strong...
569From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 24 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
This year compleats a Century Since my Uncle Boylston introduced the practise of Inoculation into the English dominions; but what improvements have been made, Since 1720 partly by experience, but much more by the Accidental discovery of Dr Jenner? The history of this distemper is enough to humble human pride! enough to demontrate what ignorant Puppets We are! how we grope in the dark! and what...
570From John Adams to Daniel Cony, 23 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 17th. and the acceptable present of the Constitution of Maine—I congratulate You on the Harmony with which the Seperaton of this Worthy People has been so happily reconciled to the feelings and judgement of both sides of the Division and more especially on the wonderful Unanimity with which the Constitution has been adopted and the Candidate for the first...