151From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 3 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
I can hardly believe my Eyes when I look upon your letter of the 13th. of October at Philadelphia, and recollect that it has not been acknowledged; and the comfortable intelligence of your safe arrival in that City, ought not to have been so long forgotten: Since that time, we have no intelligence from your family except a letter from Master Charles, to Master Thomas, by which I am happy to...
152From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
your Letter has given me great delight Mrs Monroe has done herself great honour, and a durable Service to her Country, by the Example She has Sett by reversing the System of dissipation of her Predecessor. Madam Bingham and the Queen of France are not proper Models for a “Presidante” of the U.S. I most cordially approve of your Plan and that of your husband They wish him to Spend whole Nights...
153From 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...
154From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your last journal has so much Philosophy, and Religion, in it—that I am convinced you are a sincere inquirer after truth—God bless and Prosper you in the pursuit.— I am Informed by your Son—my dear Name Sake—that you propose to be here by the first of July—I pray you to be sure—that you arrive hear before that day.—bring your Husband with you—If the President can wander round the Universe and...
155From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 7 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
My thanks are due to you, for your kind favour of the 27th. of January—I am sorry to hear that you have been so seriously indisposed—I have been myself confined to my House since the 18th. of December, thirty odd days in punctual attendance in Convention; And almost as many luxurious dinners in the best of Company in the World—And as many Visits to Widows, as if I was looking out for another...
156From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 29 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your Journal to the 20th has Sett me on fire. Give my respectfull Compliments to Mr Clay and tell him that I Sincerely Unite with You—in Your request that he would bring in a Bill to Settle the Ettiquette of the United States. The debates in Congress Upon that important Subject, will amuse, divert, instruct and edify me to the End of my Life. I pitty Mrs Monroe; I pitty Mrs H; but above all I...
157From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 3 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to learn from your favour of 25. of May, that you have Seen Mr and Miss Roach. They had Eyes and Ears to perceive the eternal person; but not feelings to Sympathize with the internal Griefs Paines Anxieties Solicitudes and inquietudes within. I will not however complain. No Man had ever more cause of Gratitude. In all the Vicisstudes terrors, Vexations and Perplexities and Agitations...
158From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 17 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
With high spirits I received the hand writing and the journal of the 1st. of this Month. I opened gay hopes before me for the Winter I rejoice in the recovery of you health, and to hear of the good health of you all— Mr. Adams, his Lady and Son appear to enjoy a serene and patient tranquility under the pelting of this pitiless Storm of political hail the thunder is not loud, and the Lightning...
159From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your journal ending 13th feb has given me a mixture of allarm and delight, allarm for your health and delight in your reflections. Mr. Jeffersons advice to translate the friendly epistle Don Onis and Mr. Irving into French and send them to Europe made me laugh outright—the expectation from Mr. Madison of a condemnation of his friend Monroe made me smile—but the threat to apply to me to condemn...
160From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
One Week more will effectually relieve you from your ennui, which perhaps may be succeeded by fatigues more difficult to bear, if not more dangerous to Health— Kings of England when they have wished to carry some great point with Parliament, have informed that Assembly, that the Eyes of all Europe were upon it—And it may be safely said that the Eyes of all Europe, and of all America, North and...
161From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 29 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your last Journal and found it entertaining though you seem to think so little of it; I have infinitely less to write to you, Though you seem to think your journal infinitely little, nevertheless as our friend Shaw is with me, and willing to write for me, I will gossip with you a little.— The Newspapers of this part of the World are blazing with republications of Mr. Adams’s...
162From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your journal up to the 20th. has as usual given me much pleasure and information; it shows very sufficiently that the great exertions which your situation demands of you, have exhausted your strength and rendered a relaxation absolutely necessary for you; I rejoice therefore that Congress have but three or four days to live; and when that body expires you will be at liberty; and when that body...
163From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 21 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
My Eyes were delighted with your handwriting this Morning—And my heart Cheered with the Contents of the letter Your apology for the interruption of your Correspondence is amply sufficient, and indeed as I have previously found in my own reflections apologys for you, It was more than was necessary—I am delighted with your studing Latin—The Town of Quincy have been pleased to Elect one a Member...
164From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
Compliments of the Season, and what is better prayers that you may enjoy the present year and as many future years as you can endure in health Peace and Competence—I congratulate you, on your having your Olive plants round about you—though the two Collegians have not been dutiful enough to send me a journal of their journey—nor an account of their arrival at their Paternal Mansion—a Residence...
165From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
Oh! that I could visit Philadelphia! and run about as I did Forty Eight years ago—to Roman Catholic Churches, Quaker meetings Anabaptist Churches, Methodistical Churches, Swedenborgian Churches—and Presbyterian Churches Not one Congregational Church could I find. Nor of a Unitarian Church was the possibility conceived by any one in that City. Tell Mrs Powell however, that I would now visit her...
166From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your journal which has become a necessary of life to me has failed me for so a long a time but I must excuse it because it too severe a tax upon you & I hope & presume that George is too deeply absorbed in the studies of his profession to be able to spare time to copy your records. We are here in a newspaper flurry of flickerings for Govenor & they will associate your husband with Mr Otis as...
167From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 14 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Wonderful Woman, wife of a wonderful Man, How it is possible for you with your delicate Constitution and tender Health, to go through such a hurry of Visits, Dinners, and parties, Converse with such a variety, of Characters, masculine, and Feminine, and at the same time keep so particular a Journal. Yours of the 14th of December, up to the 30th. has arrived this Morning. your journal is a kind...
168From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 25 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Human Life has been to me a State of trial from my Cradle to this seventh month of my Eaighty fourth year.— I believe enough of the Apocalypse to be perfectly convinced—“that “be thou faithful unto the death, and thou shalt receive a Crown of Life.”— Susan may depend upon it that her Mother, her Sister, her Brother in Law, her Female Associates in Quincy, and its neighbourhood, have been more...
169From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 3 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I hope We have not forgotten each other! We wait with impatience for the weighty and immeasurable Report. I am afraid I shall not live long enough to read it, if to see it. Our Harvardinians call upon Us, now and then and are always received with open Arms. George continues to maintain his Character as a Speaker; John is coming to consideration. But Charles is the reserved and the thoughtful...
170From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 27 April 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Journal to the 22d March—and have read them with so much delight—that I long to receive those that are to come as far as the present day— Before I proceed to any other topic, I here comply with Mr Adams request—and inclose the Seal of his Mothers Arms—By the Greyhound for the Crest—and the Birds, I conclude her ancesters were Country squires and Sportsmen—whether the birds...
171From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your journal which has become a necessary of life to me has failed me for a long time, but I must excuse it because it is too severe a tax upon you, and I hope and presume that George is too deeply absorbed in the studies of his profession to be able to spare time to copy your records. We are here in a news-paper flurry of flickenings for Governour and they will associate your Husband with Mr....
172From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 2 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your three last journals are three Pearls—I have not been able to thank you for either—untill now, they bear the form and impression of the age—they let me into the Characters of Statesmen, Politicians, Orators, Pacts, Courtiers, Convivialists, dancers Dandy’s and above all, of Ladies of whom I should no Nothing, without your kind assistance—I am a little surprised at the depth of your...
173From John Adams to Nathaniel Adams, 27 September 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 20 inst & should be glad to give you any information in my power with respect to your family: There was a gentleman of your name who was a judge of the judicial court in Nova Scotia. He educated a son at Harvard college who was John Adams the poet, who was a theologian & man of genius, as his writings both in verse & prose which are still extant...
174From John Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 2 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of the 16th. I rejoice to hear of your comfortable health and eligible situation—I hear that most pleasing accounts of Mr Johnson and his Lady, and of all their Children A high gratification to me; And a foundation of an Ardent hope, That, that Branch of my Posterity will be useful members of Society, and consequently, consolations to their Parents; and...
175From John Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 5 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 16th I rejoice to hear of your comfortable Health—and eligible situation—I hear the most pleasing accounts of Mr Johnson and his Lady—and of all her Children—a high gratification to me—and a foundation of an Ardent hope—that, that Branch of my posterity will be useful members of Society, and consequently consolations to their Parents, and examples and...
176From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1822 (Adams Papers)
Received Quincy April 3d 1822 of Thomas B Adams Esqr— the sum of Seventy-two Dollars in full for a semiannual dividend on my shares in the Massachusetts Bank— Also Twenty-Dollars as a dividend on my shares in the Boston Bank— 72 20 92 MHi : Cutts-Madison Collection.
177From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your letters, to your Parents and to your Sisters, as well as those to me, and I advice you to write as many as you can, but have a care not to write in too much haste, acquire a habit of care and attention not only to the beauty and distinctness and legibility of your hand writing but to the correctness of your Grammar, spelling and even punctuation by this habit, you...
178From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, Jr., 20 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received much satisfaction from the reports of your conduct since you left me. I have received still more pleasure from the constancy & punctuality of your correspondence with your parents, sister & Brother: & your letter to me of 12 crowns all. I thank you for the pamphlet you sent me containing the journal of your excursion to Concord which is very particular entertaining &...
179From 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...
180From John Adams to Timothy Alden, 29 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
You have been kind enough to send me five Numbers of your Allegany Magazine, for which I can only return you my Thanks. It must be a very useful Publication in your Neighbourhood, and there are curious papers preserved in it. I should willingly become one of your Subscribers, but I am already bound by so many Subscriptions and have so many demands for the Subsistence of my Family, that I can...
181From John Adams to Wilkes Allen, 16 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your obliging favour of October 1st. In my former letter I forgot to mention that Mr Marsh had by Miss Fisk another Son whose name was Danil—an Eminent Shop keeper, and a worthy Deacon, in one of the Churches in Boston—and he had a Son Educated at College and became a preacher—but I believe died early Mr Fisk of Braintree who had a Son—who removed and Settled in Salem—had a Son...
182From John Adams to Wilkes Allen, 5 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your history of Chelmsford which I have read with great pleasure and interest—It is a gratification to me to read such histories I have lately read the history of Haverhill by Leveret Saltonstall t he history of Bridgewater by Judge Mitchell and a history of Billerica by Mr Farmer—And I wish some Young Gentleman of Letters would undertake the history of the Ancient...
183From John Adams to Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, 1 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
accept my thanks for your polite Invitation, to your Anniversary Dinner at Faneuil Hall on the 7th. of this Month—nothing would give me greater pleasure than to meet a Society which I have held in veneration from my earliest youth, and to whom I Attribute—in a great Degree that Valour Military Skill Science and discipline which has contributed much to the present and prosperity and glory of...
184From John Adams to Anonymous, 18 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted your letter of the 10 Nov to the Secy. of the navy with the certificate of Mr Bartram and am your well wisher MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
185From John Adams to Anonymous, 9 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have deeply regretted my total incapacity to comply with your flattering request in your two letters but I can no more write a line than I can work a miracle. I thank you for the copy of Mr Jeffersons letter and unite with him in recommending the psalm of David which whether we read them in our common English translation in prose or in the versions of Tate and Brady or even those of...
186From John Adams to Anonymous, 5 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
If you will look among your mothers papers—you will find a letter from me to that lady a few years ago on the subject of the “group” I have there asserted that She alone could have written it I have certified with my name on the copy of it in Mr. Shaws atheneum my knowledge on the Subject—to attribute it to Mr. Barrett was the greatest of absurdities no other being in the universe at that time...
187From John Adams to Anonymous, 3 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Please Sir to excuse J and C Adams from School as they were detained here by the weather NBLiHi .
188From John Adams to Anonymous, April 1825 (Adams Papers)
I am almost most ashamed to acknowledge to you my tardy obligation, for your handsom Edition of your History of the Colonies— butt I am heartily thankful for your valuable present—but ninety years are extremely heavy—ninety years are greatful to me—heavy as ninety years are MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
189From John Adams to Anonymous, 4 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
Our friend Mr Shaw will furnish you with the printed correspondence between Gen G Brattle & me in Jan’y 1773 which will give all the information that I can give you I possess no copy of it If I had I would send it to you with pleasure— I am Sir y’r obliged / friend & humble / Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
190From John Adams to James Trecothick Austin, 7 August 1824 (Adams Papers)
I ought to have answered your kind letter of the 23d July—before now, but decrepitude and imbecility cannot do what it wishes. I cannot read, & I cannot search for the Resolutions you speak of— It is in vain to enquire, who, moved this or that resolution you may depend upon it that the movers of the greatest resolution in Congress were not the Authors of them—I will not tell you who were the...
191From John Adams to Aaron Bancroft, 21 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of Decr. 30 and above all for the gift of a precious vol—It is a chain of diamonds set in links of Gold—I have never heard or read a volume of sermons better calculated or adapted to the age and country in which it was written—How different from the sermons I heard and read in the town of Worcester from the year 1755 to 1758 As my destiny in life has been some...
192From John Adams to Aaron Bancroft, 24 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of December 13th. And above all for the gift of a precious volume. It is a chain of diamonds set in links of Gold I have never read, nor heard read, a volume of Sermons better calculated and adapted to the age and country in which it was written. How different from the Sermons I heard, and read, in the Town and County of Worcester; from the years, one thousand...
193From John Adams to William Taylor Barry, 21 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
I know not that I ever received a letter with more pleasure than yours of the 30 June last except the circular from your committee which I received some days before. The wisdom & liberality generosity of your Legislature in making a liberal appropriation of money for the benefit of schools Academies colleges & the university is an equal honor to them & their constituents—a proof of their...
194From John Adams to Robert Mayo, 18 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received and procured to be read to me your pamphlet—The very title of a Juvenile Company Liberary Company sounds delightfully in the ears of an old Man who wishes well to posterity—The vivacity intelligence ingenuity and elegance of the address has given me great pleasure, And the whole plan appears to me to be judicious and meritorious—To reccommed Books of merit to your adoption...
195From John Adams to William Bayard, 29 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your circular of the 12 inst & I thank you for the honour you have done me in addressing it to me. Be assured my heart beats in unison with yours and with those of your constituents & I presume with all the really civilized part of mankind in sympathy with the Greek suffering as they are in the great cause of liberty & humanity The gentlemen of Boston have taken measures to...
196From John Adams to William Bentley, 18 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 14th. I expect with patience the History of the Mecklinboug Resolves. But the Testimony must be Strong to convince me that a blazing brand can be thrust into a Magazine of Powder without producing a Leyden explosion. But “Majora Canamus.” La Fayette and Religious and phylosophical liberty have arrested my Attention. Oh! that I lived near You, Modern publications I...
197From John Adams to William Bentley, 28 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
The Essex Register, its Editors, and Printers are not only Innocent but meritorious for Publishing the pretended Meclengburg Resolutions—I have transmitted to Mr Jefferson the National Register, for his Satisfaction.—Such impostures, which our Polished English friends call Hoaxes, and boares—I am unpolite enough to think; ought to be called forgery’s, and Villany’s, and the Authers of them...
198From John Adams to William Bentley, 15 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind favour of the 12th. Mr Dunlaps Oration is well written and discovers talents, dispositions and views, which will secure him success at the Bar, in publick and private Society; it is conformable to the general sense and public opinion of the World. Thank him for it, for me, and wish him all possible prosperity A few weeks ago I received an Essex Register Containing...
199From John Adams to William Bentley, 21 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the Rarsley Register and National Register Intelligencer . The Plot thickens! The name of the Cato of N. Carolina, the honest hoary headed, Stern, determined Republican, Macon, Strikes me with great force. But here is an accumution of Miracles. 1. The Resolutions are Such as every County in the thirteen Colonies ought to have taken at that moment. 2. The Suffolk Resolves taken about...
200From John Adams to William Bentley, 20 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for myself, and for Mr Marston for the kindness you did us by your Letter of the 17th.—Which I received this morning.—And at the Same time, I received the letter from Mr Jefferson—of which my Son has made the inclosed Copy at my desire for your use.— This letter is to me inestimable for the most material facts in it, I certainly know to be correct and exact, It has convinced me...