1From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 17 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received with Pleasure your polite Letter of the 5th. and thank you for your kind Compliments. I am very much disposed to believe, that you have been misinformed concerning “Some very leading Characters in the State of N. york.” If they have been “disappointed” it has been in the Election of the V.P. not in mine: and that by no means on the Ground of “the known Independence of my mind”....
2From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 6 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with your Letter of the 28th. Ulto. It has received the recollection of our former acquaintance in France, England and Holland, as well as in Several parts of our own Country. I think with you that it is the duty of every considerate Man to support the national authorities in whose hands they may be I will not Say, whatever their measures may be. To your allusion to the war I...
3From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 15 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 9th. I have only to Say that you may do a s you please with my Letter of the 6th. But if you expect that any Opinion of mine will have any Influence, you will find yourself mistaken. The Rushing and Dashing and Roaring of the Wor d Washington! Washington! Washington! like the Waters at Passaick or the more tremendous Cataract of Niagara deafens Stuns astonishes...
4From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 10 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of July 19th is yet unacknowledged. The first page of it, or rather the first part of the first page compells me to Say that the real cause of the rancorous virulence with which I have been treated by all Parties French and English, Democratical and Aristocratical, and I might Add Presbyterian and Antipresbyterian, has been that I never was and never would be a passive Tool of any...
5From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 11 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Our country is in a high fever. So in all Europe—so are the four quarters of the globe. Who first contracted, or first generated the disease? Montreal was no sooner surrendered in 1759 than the conqueror of Canada was discarded from the English Cabinet—a simple maniac ascended the throne, and a machivilian maniac who had been his preceptor became his prime minister. The design was conceived of...
6From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 16 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
Inter Arma Silent leges, is what We call an old Saying. I hope that Scientiæ will not be added. You may raise wheat when you will, by ploughing and harrowing deep enough, by plenteous manure, and by early Sowing: But while the Price is depressed by immense importations from the Southward, it never will repay the Expence. Full fifty five Years have I observed enquired, read reflected, and tried...
7From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 7 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 2nd. If, 37 years ago, I wrote to you in the character of an Old Man, I must now write in that of a Superannuated one. When Chief Justice Oliver Said to you in 1782 that he dreaded “me more than any Man in America” he did not explain his reasons. I will not pretend at Present to conjecture more than one. He knew that I was the first Projector of the...
8From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 14 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of April the 3d is like the recognizance of an old acquaintance after a Separation of several Years. I lay no serious claim to the title of Father of the navy or of any thing else but my family. Have you seen a history of the american navy written by a Mr Clarke and edited by a Mr Matthew Cary? I gave the names of Alfred, Columbus the Cabots and the Andrewdoria to the first ships...
9From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 20 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
your favour of the 10th. is received—I remember that a Woman came to me in London with a Book she wished me to buy—it was Carvers Travels—she said she was his Widow that he had left her the Property in his this Book—and that she had little else to support her—with much Pyrrhonism concerning the Veracity of her intentions as well as in the historical facts—as in the Work itself—I though it a...
10From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 29 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your favr of the 17th. Decr. Your favour of the 17th Decr. You may do what you please with my letter of 20th Decr. I presume the Collo Troup you speak off is the gentleman whose eloquent speeches I have read with great satisfaction in the Volume of the transaction of the Convention for reforming your the Constitution. It would give me pleasure to peruse all your publications,...
11From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 10 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 4th: Instant. I wish that time may bring forth as able a vindicator of the merits of your useful life, as Mr VanderKemp, has proved in defence of my reputation with posterity, for some little usefulness in Holland—This testimony of Mr VanderKemp was as unexpected to me as if Luzac, De Geislaer, Van Berkel, Father Dumas, Cerisier or VanderCapellen de Pol,...
12From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 20 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received and heard Mr Troups letter to Judge Livingston of the 23d of January 1822. you need not wish for a more ingenius, a more able or a more spirited vindication of your claim to the first suggestion of Canal Policy in New York, or of Genll. Schuylers sagacious patriotism in adapting and supporting your ideas in the legislature you have both great merit but still I think Mr Clinton...
13From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 23 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved, and heard read Collo. Troups letter to Judge Livingston of the 23d Jan. 1822. You need not wish for a More rigorous, a more able, or a more spirited vindication of your claim to the first suggestion of the Canal policy in New York; and of Genl. Schuylers sagacious patriotism, in adopting, and supporting your Ideas in the Ligeslature. You have both great merit but still I think...
14From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 29 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 17 Dec You may do what you please with my letter of 20 Dec The Mr. Troop you mention is the gentleman I presume whose eloquent speeches I read in the vol of transactions of the convention for reforming the constitution. It would give me pleasure to peruse all your publications and to correspond with you on the subject of them but I can read nothing and...
15From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 31 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your Letter of the 26h: with my blind eyes, and palsied hand tantas componere liter non possium I am with usual regards &c N : Elkanah Watson Papers.
16From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your note of Feb’y 12th. and for the communication of Judge Troups letter. I am very much obliged to him for his civility to me as well for his testimonies in honor of your meritorious exertions for the public good. Your active life has been employed as far as I have known the history of i, in the promoting useful Knowledge and useful arts: for which I hope you have received or...