1From John Adams to David Sewall, 16 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a short answer to the address of the Grand jury transmitted in your letter from Pownallborough at Sept term 1798. It would have given me great pleasure to have seen you at Pownalborough as I did in 1764 but I shall never see Kennebeck river again most probably. Some coincidence or other of affaires I hope will one day enable me to take you by the hand once more I am dear Sir your...
2From John Adams to David Sewall, 10 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 5th. has given me great pleasure off those which St Paul calls, light afflictions, which are but for a moment—a double portion has been allotted to me—but why should I grieve, when grieving must bear.— The seperation of Maine has never been approved by me, any more than by you.—but as the People judge it most convenient for their happiness—I wish them all the Prosperity they...
3From John Adams to David Sewall, 26 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 13 Nov has made me laugh and cry almost or quite like an ideot. The epitaph on the greasy tables I have never seen since I read it on the post. Although it must have been a stupid thing I would give an mille for a copy of it. The conflagration of the tables is a proof of the capacity of our country men equal to the inundation of the tea. The actors in both scenes have shown...
4From John Adams to David Sewall, 14 December 1821 (Adams Papers)
yours of the Novemr. 26th. ulto. came duly to hand, and gratified me, (as all your Communications do), and if my scribbles afford you agreable amusement, it is a Satisfaction that, I am happy to contribute thereunto —I never saw any copy of the Epitaff on the greasy Tables of HC but from the impression it made on my mind at the Time, from reading it, on the Hall Door, as it now lays in my...
5From John Adams to David Sewall, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I beg pardon for postponeing to this time an answer to your favor of the 30th. Sept. I have run over all the names, Hooper Lee, Orne, Gerry, Sewal, Otis and twenty others & if you prefer any of them you may give the name. But upon the whole, I have thought that Fort Fisherman would be better than any other. The twelve apostles were fishermen and Marblehead is chiefly inhabited by fishermen....
6From John Adams to David Sewall, 4 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
your friendly letter of 31st October, has given me great pleasure. But if Envy were lawful I should envy the neatness, and firmness of your hand. Neither my eyes, nor my quivering fingers will allow me the power to write as you do. The vicissitudes of the last year have been like the Hurricane of the last Equinox, unexampled in the memory of Man. What other changes are to follow? I fear the...
7From John Adams to David Sewall, 8 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Though I cannot, read, nor write, I can feel as sensibly as ever, a friendship of seventy years of age. Your letters always give me pleasure; The difficulties arrising in your State, are nothing at all, they will be nothing but an amusement to you for a few years to come; what is a penitentiary, or a seat of Government, they will occasion a little squib scribbling and sparring for a few years,...
8From John Adams to David Sewall, 19 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the fifth, and Judge Sewalls Letter to his son Samuel, have convinced me that No Parson Hull existed. Doctor and President Hoar, who was the Guest of Hull the Coiner deceived me. This Hoar lies buried within half a Mile of me, under a Monument and a long Inscription much obscured by Age. He was connected with Hulls and Quincys so nearly that they buried him here. But why Should...
9From John Adams to David Sewall, 4 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of 26 Oct last Mankind seem to be children from the cradle to the grave. They will beg & pray—wrangle & fight for rattles of victuals, and as soon as they have obtained them, grow so indifferent about them, as to break them to peices, or throw them away—So our good fellow citizens of Maine—However ardent they were for the seperation, now, when they have so peaceably...
10From John Adams to David Sewall, 22 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
How do you do? as we have been friends for seventy years, and are Candidates for promotion to an other World, where I hope we shall be better acquainted, I think we ought to enquire now and then after each-others health and welfare while we stay here— I am not tormented with the fear of death; nor though suffering under many infirmities and agitated by many afflictions, weary of Life—I have a...