1To John Adams from David Sewall, 26 October 1821 (Adams Papers)
We are about commencing the 87th. year of our pilgrimage. And by the last Catalogue of H.C. among the front Ranks of our Cotemporary of that—and indeed of any other of our Early Society,—May Health of Body & mind accompany you, the ensuing, equal and surpass what you have enjoyed the year past.—Our political matters in Maine appear somewhat changeable especially in the Official duties of the...
2To John Adams from David Sewall, 24 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
The great the meek the learned & pious Docr. Hemmengway, has at length left us. He died on Friday last—And such of his particular Friends and Acquaintance, as knew his situation, have reason to congratulate that his immortal Spirit is released, from its earthly tenement—The disagreable and distressing disorder (Cancer) that had been making rapid Strides on his mortal part rendred him an object...
3To John Adams from David Sewall, 13 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
This is to acknowledge and thank you for your favour of Novr. 5 . (a day anciently memorable in this Country on account of the Gunpowder plot, to destroy the King and Parlamment) And the application therein made to our great Men of Mayne, in their anxiety and eagerness to Acquire an Independence from Massa. and the Indifference to its places of Honour and profit, after they had acquired...
4To John Adams from David Sewall, 27 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
It is some time since, I Wrote you, and I some times think I am culpable in not doing it more frequently, But my Apology to my self is, that it operates as a Tax upon your politeness, for a reply,—Be this as it may, you may be assured that seldom a Day passes, but I think of you, and it will afford me real pleasure to hear from you.—This World is yet in a troubled State—and in much confusion...
5To John Adams from David Sewall, 26 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your first query, how do you do? altho’ I may not with propriety reply “ Athletice, prancratise, Valeo , ” Yet thro the smiles of a kind providence, I am free from pain or anxiety of Body or Mind, respecting the things of this life or a future—I have food and raiment convenient, and in a quiet contented frame of Mind perhaps in as much, or more so: than at any former period of my...
6To John Adams from David Sewall, 13 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your Communication of the 11th. ultimo (altho’ by an amanuensis) was very gratifying.—I was led to suppose, & stil think it probable that our classmate Whittemore has some time since passed off the stage of human life; as I read in a News Paper a year or two since, among Obituary Notices, that of William Whittemore of Cambridge Æ. 80.—and also in the last University Cattaloge of H.C. a Strar...
7To John Adams from David Sewall, 6 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I was considerably amused by a News paper publication some few Weeks since, Which Paper I have lost or mislaid.—It was a description of something that tended to the great and long desideration of ascertaining Longitude. A Gent. was said to have departed on a Voyage from Philadelphia for some Port on the Eastern Continent, and during the Voyage, told the precise Longitude the Vessell was in...
8To John Adams from David Sewall, 5 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your communication of Novr. 19th. ulto. came to hand a few days before my departure to attend the district Court at Portland, the duties of Which, & other engagements, has hitherto prevented paying that particular attention, which it always affords me pleasure to make on your Letters, which I have found the Copy formerly made from the Original of old Judge Samuel Sewall to his eldest son...
9To John Adams from David Sewall, 8 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
By the desire of the Grand Jury for the district Court of Main at this Term, of whom Mark Langdon Hill Esqr. of Bath was Foreman, the inclosed Address is respectfully forwarded / by Your Obedient / Humble Servant September 4th 1798 To John Adams, President of the United States. The Grand Jury at the District Court now holden at Pownalborough in the District of Maine, haveing with the Utmost...
10To John Adams from David Sewall, 22 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have been gratified with the perusal of Mr Williams’s Observations, on the temperature of Sea Water at differt depths. And the publication is the first of the kind I have seen, or heard of, and suppose the Thermr. may be very usefull to mariners, if properly attended unto. The Gulf Stream, I am of Opinion, Occasions the sudden transitions from Cold (very Cold) to temperate and Warm—in our...
11To John Adams from David Sewall, 18 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 30th. Ulto. has been recieved, and once and again perused with pleasure and satisfaction; as is every of your Communications.—To humanize, or Civilize, I doubt not, is doing something essential to ameliorate the Condition of Mankind, as Well as, to Christanize, And attempts at the former ought to precede the latter—But the uncommon exertions of the latter; at the present Day...
12To John Adams from David Sewall, 18 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Decemr. 31st. ultimo I have once & again perused with pleasure.—I did not know, until your letter mentioned it that Joseph Adams, formerly the Minister of Newington, was your Uncle—I once heard him preach at York, at a Ministers meeting, from the Words “ How is the Gold become dim, and the most fine Gold changed ” I then thought He handled the Subject very well, but Whether...
13To John Adams from David Sewall, 20 December 1820 (Adams Papers)
It gives me real pleasure to see the tribute of esteem and respect, offered you from the convention of Massachusetts.—A collection of Persons, I really believe, as Wise learned and patriotick as ever convened in New England.—A tribute, as rare a Phenomenon in Politicks; as the Transit of ♀ over the ☉ in Astronomy. I sincerely congratulate you and Society at large, that your health permits you...
14To John Adams from David Sewall, 24 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have a desire of knowing, (in case it will not be too troublesome for you to make the Communication) the Occurrences that took place, in a Court of Admiralty, held at Boston, toward the latter part of Govr. Barnard’s Admina. for a supposed Murder on the high Seas.—It was I belive the last trial of the kind in Massa. prior to the american revolution.—Govr. Jno. Wentworth & some Gent of N....
15To John Adams from David Sewall, 5 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
it is some time since I Wrote you, since which you have you have been bereaved of the Lady of your early years. may you have divine consolations, under this and every other afflictive dispensation.—The political dissolution of Maine from Massachusetts seems to be rapidly approaching; And to which I have been uniformly Opposed, upon the principal that one large State, united would have more...
16To John Adams from David Sewall, 14 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have been much gratified by your Communication of Jany 29th. ult.— When I requested the Information, I did not, I think, mention the occurrence, which gave rise in my mind to the Application, I will therefore mention it.— Two person stand Indicted in the District Court of Maine, for piratically runing away with a Vessell & cargo— One (the Master) as Principal: the other (the Mate) as...
17To John Adams from David Sewall, 19 July 1823 (Adams Papers)
My life being yet continued, and my Scribling faculties stil remaining, I determined to address you a few lines once more to my Old Friend, I felt at a loss, for a Subject, to amuse, But upon the late Anniversary of Independence, I took up a Book which enumerated some of the causes which led to that important event—In which the Resolution of the American Lady, to proscribe the use of Tea ; so...
18To John Adams from David Sewall, 28 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of Congratulating you on the returne of your worthy Son to America, after years of absence in Europe, And may He satisfactorily discharge the duties of his present appointment.—I was pleased and much gratified with a short interview with President Munro, on his late tour into the District of Maine: And have considerable expectations that the difference in Sentiment, on the...
19To John Adams from David Sewall, 15 – 19 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 15th. ultimo reached me at Watertown some few days since. Gladly would I have remained unnoticed in these Times of difficulty. But I am unexpectedly and unprepared drawn forth (litterally from the Plow) and I fear by some evil Genius in order to stop some greater ability, from lending Aid to Guide the State. Unacquainted With the Arts of Warr, Raw and unexperienced in the Grand...
20To John Adams from David Sewall, 31 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Various changes in the Natural, political and moral World, have occurred, since the beginning of the current year. of which, our advanced Age, admonishes us, We shall probably not much longer be permitted to suffer enjoy, or contemplate. I delayed for some time to write you under some expectation of once more viziting the Metropolis of the State, from whence I hoped to make an excurtion to...
21To John Adams from David Sewall, 10 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified with the reception of yours of Novr. 4th. Current And if it were in my power to communicate the Strength of Nerve, Which by the indulgence of Providence I am permitted to enjoy, It would spedily and with great pleasure be afforded.—I now & then peruse the last Chapr. of Ecclesiastes—which is supposed, a description of Persons in advanced periods of life—some of Which, such...
22To Thomas Jefferson from David Sewall, 4 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
“ York (in the district of Maine) ,” 4 May 1793 . Acknowledging receipt under TJ’s frank of the laws of the United States for the most recent session of Congress, received this week, and those for the preceding one, received about a year ago, as well as various acts of the First Congress before that, he recommends that the statutes, or at least those of general concern beginning with the...
23To Thomas Jefferson from David Sewall, 10 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
One Ellis Dowlf was sometime since in the District Court of Maine, upon an Indictment of the Grand Jury, convicted of embezling some Oyl of the United States, while He was keeper of a light House (White Island head I think it was) in the District of Maine. For which he was sentenced to pay a small fine & the costs of prosecution. And was thereupon committed to the Jayl in Wiscassett until the...
24David Sewall to Tobias Lear, 20 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
From some News paper publications, and which in this instance are probably true, Henry Dearbourn Esqr., the Marshall of this district, is Elected a Member of Congress, and should he accept, as there is no great doubt he will, if he is chose, That office will become vacant. The office is by no means lucrative: yet when offices of almost any kind are vacant, there are generally Persons enough...
25To George Washington from David Sewall, 24 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
the letter and Commission from the President of the United States, with sundry Statutes relating to the Judicial department did not find me, until some time after their date. This was not oweing to any failure in the conveyance by Post, but to my absence from hence on a remote Circuit of the Supreme Judicial Court: this circumstance, it is presumed, will be an apology, for not earlier noticing...