1051From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 17 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I was not long at the Adelphi, but soon removed to private lodgings, which by the way were ten times more public, and took apartments at Mr. Stokdale’s, in Piccadilly, where Mr. Laurens had lately lodged before me.Here I had a great opportunity of learning, for Dr. Bret was at the next door, the state of the current literature of London. I will not enlarge upon this subject at present, if...
1052From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 27 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
It was but yesterday that I was able to obtain the inclosed Review of Works of Mr Ames, which you or rather your Son wished to See. You and I, are So much better employed that I presume Political Pamphlets are Beneath your Notice as well as mine. You are employed in healing the sick and extending the Empire of Science and Humanity. I, in reading Romances in which I take incredible Delight. I...
1053From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 30 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, July 13, 1781—transmitted to congress; “The following is an extract from the registry of the resolutions of their high mightinesses the states general of the United Provinces: Thursday, June 28, 1781. Heard the report of Messrs. de Linden, de Hemmen and other deputies of their high mightinesses for maritime affairs, having in consequence, and to obey their commissorial resolution of...
1054John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept my thanks for the comprehensive Syllabus, in your favour of Oct. 12. The Psalms of David , in Sublimity beauty, pathos and originality, or in one Word, in poetry, are Superiour to all the Odes Hymns and Songs in any language. But I had rather read them in our prose translation, than in any version I have Seen. His Morality however, often Shocks me, like Tristram Shandy’s execrations....
1055From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 11 February 1810 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for yours of the first and the two Packetts. Who are they who furnish the Aurora with Such an infinite quantity and Variety of Compositions? There must be many hands, of no small Capacity or Information. In one you Sent me before, there was an Anecdote of a Plan of Washington to attack Philadelphia which was communicated to General How by a Person in his Confidence. The Narrator affirms...
1056From John Adams to Joseph Ward, 14 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
I must, though much against my Inclination agree in your opinion expressed in your kind Letter of the 27th. of Nov. “that it will be a long time before, the Evil of a Paper Medium will be corrected.” your Reasons for this opinion, and your Judgment of the ill Effects of this Swindling System are infallible— The Article “Foreign Relations” in the Patriot was not from me. Nothing from me has...
1057John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Ridendo dicere Verum, quid vetat . I must make you and myself merry or melancholly, by a little more Phylosophical Speculation about the formidable Subject of Aristocracy. Not long after General Dearborn’s return to Boston from the Army, a violent Alarm was excited and Spread in Boston and through the country, by a report at first only Secretly whispered in private circles that an Affair of...
1058From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 3 August 1809 (Adams Papers)
ON the 12th of September, 1780, wrote to Mr. Dana, at Paris. “This will be delivered you by Mr. Samuel Hartley, who is recommended to me by Mr. Diggs and Mr. David Hartley. I should be obliged to you for any civilities you may show him. Mr. Diggs recommends him as an open friend to the American cause. There is no news here but what you will see in the Leyden Gazette, which is my vehicle for...
1059From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 31 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 20th, with the Authentic Account of the proceedings of the Congress held at New York A.D 1765 on the Subject of the American Stamp Act”: though they found me in the deepest affliction for the loss of my Daughter; were very acceptable and deserve my thanks. There was a prior Congress, held at Albany in 1754 or 1755, in which Franklin, Hutchinson, Wells and Brattle...
1060John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Education, which you brought into View in one of your Letters ; is a Subject So vast, and the Systems of Writers are So various and So contradictory: that human Life is too Short to examine it; and a Man must die before he can learn to bring up his Children. The Phylosophers, Divines, Politicians and Pædagogues, who have published their Theories and Practices, in this department are without...
1061From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 2 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, Feb. 24, 1782—wrote to Mr. Dumas: “Your favor of the 23d is just come to hand. Thank you for your care and skill in the purchase of the house; and will do honour to your bills whenever they appear, by paying the cash. Madame La Comtesse de Wickrad, according to your relation, made me and our state a most elegant compliment, for which you will be so good if you please to make my...
1062From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 16 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Journal proceeds—1783, May 22, Thursday. This morning I drew the following letters too be laid before the ministers this evening. Paris, May 22, 1783. Sir—We have received the letter you did us the honor to write us on the day of this month, containing a brief state of the of the United States in your hands. We see the difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our...
1063From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 7 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, March 1st, 1782.—wrote to the duke De La Vauguion “As Friesland has taken the provincial resolution to acknowledge the Independence of America, it seems to be high time for me to prepare for the execution of my instructions from Congress of the 16th of August, which I had the honor to communicate to your Excellency, on the 25th of November, and which had been previously communicated...
1064From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 21 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
The journal of the 22d of May 1783, proceeds— Mr. Hartley’s observations and propositions left with the American ministers, the 21st of May 1783: A proposition having been offered of the American ministers for the consideration of his Britannic majesty’s ministers, and of the British nation, for an entire and reciprocal freedom of intercourse and commerce between Great-Britain and the American...
1065From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
You have in your late Excursion made So many Conquests among the learned, the Scientifical, the powerfull and the beautiful: Aye! especially and above all, among the beautifull!, that I expect it will be very rarely, and by great favour that I shall in future be honoured with a Letter from Barneveldt. I shall not wonder. Indeed I am so poor a Correspondent that I have long wondered at your...
1066John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
D r James Freeman , is a learned, ingenious, honest and benevolent Man, who wishes to See President Jefferson , and requests me to introduce him. If you would introduce Some of your Friends to me, I could with more confidence introduce mine to You. He is a Christian, but not a Pythagorian a Platonick or a Philonick Christian. You will ken him and he will ken You: but you may depend, he will...
1067From John Adams to Richard Rush, 12 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have nothing to Say at present to that enchanting Lady who So easily drew my Correspondent from his Letter: but that if I Should ever See her, I Shall not be contented with the Vandallik Custom So fashionable in these degenerate days, of Shaking Hands, but Shall claim the Priviledge granted by the civilized Ladies of France, 30 Years ago, to 70 Years. And I hereby Solemnly invite her to come...
1068From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 4 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your worthy son, William, in a kind letter of the 2d. has asked my opinion of “Pownall’s Administration of the Collonies, and of its auther.” It is nearly forty years since I read the Work, and I cannot read it again; but I would advise Mr Tudor to read it, and his Memorial to the Sovereigns of the United States Europe, and another to his own Sovereign, and a third to the Sovereigns of the...
1069From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 6 October 1809 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 15, 1781—wrote to Dr. Franklin: “This morning the house of Botereau & Co. of this city, presented to me sixty-six bills of exchange drawn by Congress, on the 26th day of October last, in favor of Nathaniel Tracy, of Newburyport, amounting to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterling, payable at ninety days sight. I was obliged to ask the favor of the house to wait until I could...
1070From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of the tenth has been longer than usual on the Way, This Vault of Air, this congregated ball Self center’d Sun and Stars that rise and fall; There are, my Friend, whose philosophic eyes Look through and trust the Ruler with his Skies. This imitation by Pope of Horaces “Hunc Solem et Stellas &c together with Cleanthes’s “Why Should I grieve, when grieving I must Share bear? And take with...
1071John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 26 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your rich present of Dec. 28 th . The Pettifogger of Furnivals Inn , or of Cliffords Inn , Scarcely deserves the pains you have taken to enquire into his Biography. My Curiosity is Selfish, personal and local. The Character of the Miscreant, however, is not wholly contemptible. It marks the Complextion of the Age in which he lived. How many Such Characters could you and I...
1072From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 29 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
You have enough of Smiths letters e’er this and Waterhouse’s too, all which you will be so good as to return. What the consequences of Smiths Election will be I know not. I anticipate no advantage to him but he will either correct the Policy and war of the administration in some degree, or he will ruin it and himself with it, most probably. Manly’s Ship was not a “private Ship of war.” It was...
1073From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 17 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 10th, is just come from the Post Office. I thank you for reading the Pamphlet, which considering the more interesting Studies and Labours of your Profession, I consider as a favour. With your Letter I received a Packet of Letters from my Son and Daughter at Petersbourg, dates as late as 25: October. I wish I could print these Letters: but I dare not. A Fathers Partiality...
1074From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 8 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
AMSTERDAM, May 27, 1781—wrote to Congress: “In the assembly of the States General, the following report has lately been made: Messrs. De Linden, De Hemmen, and other deputies of their High Mightinesses, for maritime affairs, have in consequence of the commissional resolution of the twenty seventh of last month, examined a letter of the directors named in commission by the respective chambers,...
1075From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 16 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Journal proceeds—November 18, 1782.—Returned Mr. Oswald’s Visit. He says Mr. Strachy, who sat out the 5th, did not reach London until the 10th. Couriers are three, four, or five days in going, according as the winds are. We went over the old ground, concerning the tories. He began to use arguments with me, to relax. I told him he must not think of that, but must bend all his thoughts to...
1076From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 19 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your delightful Letter of the 13th received Yesterday now in turn must receive my grateful Acknowledgements. Is it a dream? Or is it Biography? When I write my Life in obedience to your Commands, I ought to insert in it the Anecdote, that once upon a time I had the Pleasure and the honour, in your and your Brothers Company, and at the invitation of both, to make a visit, to your amiable...
1077From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 20 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the Order of Time, I have passed over a Tragical Event, which excited much interest, and contributed largely, to render the Sovereignty of Parliament odious, detestable and horrible to the People. And I can consionscously add, accellerated the Catastrophy of the fifth of March 1770. In 1769 a little before the Recall of Governor Bernard, The British Frigate, The Rose Sent a Lieutenant, a...
1078From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 1 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
We have been in such hurry of late that if I have mentioned your Letter of 18th of June, I have not taken any particular Notice of it. You and I have both been to blame. You, for destroying your Notes of the Revolution; I, for keeping none, and making very few. You have much Merit in preserving the Pamphlets you have given to the oratorical Controuler, who is a Phenomenon, for who ever heard...
1079John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Οὐδὲ γυνὴ κακοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἀναίνεται εἶναι ἄκοιτις πλουσίου· ἀλλ’ ἀφνεὸν βούλεται ἀντ’ ἀγαθοῦ. Χρήματὰ γὰρ τιμῶσι, καὶ ἐκ κακοῦ ἐσθλὸς ἔγημε, καὶ κακὸς ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ. πλοῦτος ἔμιξε γένος. Grotius renders this into latin, thus. Nec dedignatur ditemque malumque maritum femina: divitiæ præ probitate placent. In pretio pretium est: genus et prænobile, vili, obscurum claro, miscet avaritia. I Should render...
1080From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
I recd, this morning your favour of the 5th. and as I can never let a Sheet of your’s rest I Sit down immediately to acknowledge it. Whenever Mr Rives, of whom I have heard nothing, Shall arrive he shall receive all the cordial Civilities in my power. I am sometimes afraid that my “Machine” will not “Surcease motion” Soon enough; for I dread nothing So much as “dying at top” and expiring like...