121From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the first of the Month—We have had for some time, no subject of Conversation here—except a phenomenon in Nature unpresidented in any former moment of our History—a Violent rain falling at a time of extreeme cold here below, covered the Earth with polished Silver; and the Trees with Millions & Millions of Diamonds—the scene was almost too splendid for the Eyes to...
122From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
If you may not murmur when you approach seventy, surely I ought not when I approach ninety; and when I am happy enough to get you under my roof; you certainly shall not hear me murmur unless I loose my senses in the mean time. Our friend Ting is misinformed; it is true, the winter before last, I sorted some old papers, but have done nothing since; although I have not destroyed no papers my...
123From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 3d. October and the Seeds inclosed, which my Son will use to the best advantage next Spring—he and all his family thank you for them—My poor Grand daughter—Mrs Clark is detained at Albany—on account of the Sickness of her Child, whose safety I am anxious to hear—she has I presume returned to Utica— Miss Welsh we have not seen—though she has returned to...
124From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
I owe you a letter or two I believe, and my Conscience smites me for the neglect,—and my daring attendance in the Convention a whole Month, threw me into a fever, which has confined me from the eighteenth of December— Yesterday I ventured out to Church, for the first time—Recluse as I have been, I have had opportunity to read, and here read, a great deal of the Current Literature of the...
125From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your kind favour of the 21st. I have had a very feeble Winter and am Still afflicted with paines and Imbecilities which render it very difficult to take the exercise necessary for my health. J. Q.s Report must speak for itself. I am not a Judge of it: but Farrar who is, and who has read it with care Speaks well of it. If a Reviewer can be found in France or England to tear it to...
126From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 December 1821 (Adams Papers)
The unexpected Visit of Judge Smith to my Cottage, was highly interesting, and acceptable—and I entertained hopes that he would have made me a Second, and of longer continuence—from all that I had heard of him; I had conceived an high Esteem, which his personall appearance and conversation fully confirmed—my health was much better when he was here; than it has been since; and it is now...
127From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted to Mr. Quincy, extracts from two of your letters, relative to the name and family of Keimper. — I rejoice in all your joys and wish you many returns of your happy anniversary.— I agree with you in the merit of Govr. Clinton.— In all elective governments there is a perpetual conflict for power between two great parties, among the people. I have been astonished and confounded...
128From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
A friend in need, is a friend indeed; you must certainly have read Shakespear, and have learnt from him, when you have once made a friend, to grapple him to your Soul with hooks of Steeal. You have been constantly grappling me for more than forty years—The newspapers have brought to me your correspondence with Mr. Yates, and that has introduced a correspondence between him and me And what is...
129From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your letter of the 20th frindship and your kind letter of the 20th If JQ—or any of my posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland, It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude, unworthy of their Name, You ask the history of my seal I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain,...
130From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your friendship in your kind letter of the 20th.— If JQ. or any of my Posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude unworthy of their name.—You ask the history of my seal, I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain exultation, at the...
131From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
How deeply I thank you. Our Quincy Library will be honord with the name of Vanderkemp. Virgil and Manilius, shall be sent to Mrs. Quincy, and Mrs. Gould. Oh that I had begged Manilius while I could read, for I believe much may be discovered in him, on the remotest Ancient mythology, his ratio I believe is the logos of Pythoagoras and Plato, and all our modern Trinitarians— I do not love to...
132From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter you request copies of my letters to Dr Price. They are inclosed. These letters and many others & other writings & conversations to the same effect destroyed my popularity, with mankind. The Turgoites the Reondoccettians — Roachfocaution the Brissotians, the jacobins & the Sans Cullots, in france took offence & pronounced me an aristocrat, & would have guillotined me if I...
133From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last Letter you requested copies of my Letters to Dr. Price. They are inclosed— These letters and many others, and other writings and conversations to the same affect destroyed my popularity with mankind.—The Turgotests, the Condorcetians, the Rochefaucaultians the Brissotians the Jacobins and the Sans Cullotts—France took offence and pronounced me an aristocrat Rochefoucauldians; and...
134From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
In one of your letters if I remember right, you expressed a desire to see my letters to Mr. Calkoen, the history of those letters is this. At a dinner with a large company I met with that learned, civilian who came to me and seated himself by my side and expressed an ardent curiosity to converse with me upon the subject of the American war he asked me many questions in French in which language...
135From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 November 1823 (Adams Papers)
“Where Adams from a noisy world withdrew Sick of Glory faction, power & pride Sure judge how empty all, who all had tried Beneath his shade the weary chief reposed And Life’s great scene, in quiet virtue closed ” I have received your kind letter of 11th. November and I believe another before it unacknowledged, for both of which, I thank you— The 30th. of October passed ever like all other days...
136From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 March 1824 (Adams Papers)
I sincerely sympathise & condole with you in the Death of your Daughter in Law, such losses are afflictions that flesh is are to, though they are exquisitly rending to the heart, as I know by many severe experiences, I congratulate you however that your Daughter has left a Son, I hope to represent her & his father & G. B. to the entire satisfaction of all My wishes on a certain subject are...
137From 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...
138From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letters I agree with you that we can never be thankful enough for the blessings we enjoy—I congratulate you upon the blessings you enjoy —and the prospects you have in your children and Grand Children—Virtuous children are the greatest comforts, and the greatest Blessings we old people can enjoy— I regret that I cannot write to you oftener As to your project of making...