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...
81From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 22 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 5th November gave us all great pleasure and certainly none more than me. I was delighted to hear that you had such good company from Boston to Newport and from thence on the Steamboat to New York, a circumstance which takes away the unpleasantness both of journeys & voyages, nor was I less gratified to hear of your safe arrival at Cedar Grove, and that you found your dear...
82From John Adams to John Adams, 20 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your No 42 has given me pleasure like the rest. I ought to thank you for your assiduity in giving me kind entertainment in so great a number of letters. As you have all the Newspapers, you have all the news that we have and more. New England has settled down in calm satisfaction with her own vote. The circumstance you mentioned of Quincy & Braintree and their unanimnity has delighted me as...
83From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I was made very happy by your letter, from New York 20th: September. I regretted your short visit but I was highly delighted with it, and wished it was much longer. A visit at my age from such a friend is a memorable epocha in my poor history. I thank you for introducing to me that excellent gentleman, Mr Huger. I find him an intelligent, amiable gentleman as any I have seen. I was delighted...
84From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 17 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Common civility would have required that I should have answered your letter of the 6th. month long before this time, but the approach & invasion of my ninetieth year has taken away my faculties to such a degree that I have not been able to observe the common rule of my correspondents. Your Gazette of New York is an excellent work & will be extremely useful to that State for many centuries to...
The formidable invasion of my ninetieth year must be my apology for neglecting, and so improperly, your valuable and worthy present of “A System of Universal Science”; but the loss of my sight prevents my making the use of it I wish. It is a work of great labour and research, and must be useful to those who wish to inquire into that subject. I also thank you for the newspapers you sent me. I...
86From John Adams to Charles Carroll, 16 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this letter is a gentleman of eminent literary character in this State & as a Professor in our University at Cambridge. His manners and graces have recommended him to all who have been acquainted with him I believe. I know of no exception. He and his lady are desirous of seeing all the great men of the south and I am sure it will gratify both him and his wife to carry a letter to...
87From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your friend Professor Ticknor is bound upon a Tour in Virginia, though he needs no introduction to you he has requested a letter from me, and I cannot deny him, he carries his Lady with him; who is rich enough, and handsome enough, & amiable enough, And what can one say more— Is the present calm in the Political World to continue long or not? Our controversy will all be settled in a short...
88From John Adams to James Monroe, 15 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr Ticknor and 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 Montpelier as well as Montecello in the...
89To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 15 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your friend Professor Ticknor is bound upon a Tour in Virginia, though he needs no introduction to you he has requested a letter from me, and I cannot deny him,—he carries his Lady with him; who is rich enough, and handsome enough, & amiable enough; And what can we say more— Is the present calm in the Political World to continue long or not? Our controversy will be settled in a short time, and...
90From John Adams to John Adams, 16 October 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your frolicsome letter of the 10th of October has come to hand this morning and amidst the sinking and fainting infirmities of age has given me a temporary flash of spirits and has tirminated in the solid comfort of the arrival of your father and Mother and Miss Mary at Washington after tot et tanta discrimina rerum. The ladies must have had a severe trial your Mother is so much in the habit...