131From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of March 17. is rec d. — The French Revolution will, I hope produce Effects in favour of Liberty Equity and Humanity, as extensive as this whole Globe and as lasting as all time.— But I will candidly own that the Form of Government they have adopted, can, in my humble opinion, be nothing more than a transient Experiment. an obstinate Adhærence to it, must involve France in great...
132From 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...
133From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
If with blind Eyes and paralytical Hands, I could enfanter des in Folio, like De Wolf, Priestley and Voltaire, and at the Same time had the Library of the late King of France, about me I might be qualified in part to correspond with you. Buckminster imported Brucker with him from Europe. In the Sale of his Library, the Competition was between Harvard University and the Athenæum. William Smith...
134From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
If you were in any spot between New Orleans and Passamaquaddy, I should write you every day If I could but the communication now, is so uncertain, and so dangerous, that I never write without fear of hurting you or the public. You almost from your cradle and I from 16 years of age have been Heluones Librorum. We have hunted books in Boston, in Bordeaux, in Paris, in Nantes L’orient and Brest,...
135From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 22 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 16th. My Health is that of the quivering Flame over the dying Lamp. I am very much interested in your Records. I wish you would inform me, whether the Dutch in New York hanged or banished any Quakers? hanged or pressed to death by the Paine forte et dure, any Wiches as our New England Ancestors did? I wish you would enquire, Whether Virginia did not persecute...
136From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
On the 5th. your mind was relieved from its Uncertainty; and your Anxiety must have been Succeeded by Grief. But why Should We grieve, when grieving We must bear? I Should have visited Charles and Should have asked to See him when I was at his fathers house with you; if I had not been apprehensive that the Sight of an entire Stranger would distress and fatigue him. It is melancholly, that Such...
137From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
Upon my Word and honour, if I know myself, and for any Thing I know to the contrary, I am Alive, and wide awake, and in as good health as usual, and have been So for Several years past, excepting now and then Such a Cold as that which you cured with a Bottle of Old Hoch and a pound or two of Veal Cutletts for Supper three Evenings Successively. Pray tell me.—Is it actionable or indictable to...
138From John Adams to François Adriaan van der Kemp, 6 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
As I had suffered much Anxiety on your Account during your Imprisonment, your Letter of the 29. of last month gave me some relief. I rejoiced to find that you was at liberty and out of danger. inclosed are two Letters, which I hope may be of Service to you.— living is now cheaper, than it has been, in America, and I doubt not you will Succeed very well.— You will be upon your guard, among the...