61To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 March 1808 (Adams Papers)
I flatter me Self with the fond hope, that mÿ old and high-revered friend Shall not, after Such a long Silence, be displeased by mÿ intrusion. I can not bear it longer, to withold me Self the Satisfaction—of assuring you once more of mÿ warm attachment, and unabated respect—tho I must appear before you with empty hands—So empty—as not to defraÿ the loss of you precious time, in the perusal of...
62To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 August 1808 (Adams Papers)
I can not express in words the livelÿ Satisfaction I enjoy’d in receiving your favour of the 25th of april. It was Some time, before I observed, that it was more than three months old. From where does this originate. Is the correspondence of an Insignificant, forgotten western Inhabitant an object of alarm? but it can not be poor V. d kemp at whom these reptiles aim—they gnaw with rancour at a...
63To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
Tho I have actuallÿ nothing interesting to communicate, your kindness Shall make mÿ apologÿ, when I indulge a wish of Sending you a few lines. I hope, your health remains unimpaired—and your domestic enjoyments unaltered. These valuable blessings are indeed the utmost, which we can aim to attain here—To live alone for the Public—to endeavor to make Nations wise—and happÿ—approaches...
64To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 31 Dec. last delighted me more than usual. It was a new mark of your affectionate esteem—it assured me of your continued health; It was an evident proof that I was not yet left alone. Last year has again bereft me of a worthy friend; and I can not longer fill up the empty place with others, ere long, if mÿ days are to be prol onged, I Shall mourn them in mÿ Solitude where,...
65To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
A continued headache has compelled me, to delaÿ an answer to your favour of the 16th of Febr. from daÿ to daÿ; tho I receive no higher gratifications than from these. It is indeed far beyond, what I could reasonably have flattered me with, that, in your far advanced age, you So often would have condescended, in taking notice of mÿ letters, and bestowing So manÿ marked proofs of your...
66To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 May 1809 (Adams Papers)
As you felt So Sensiblÿ for mÿ Sorrows, it is highly becoming, that you Should be among the first, to whom I Should communicate mÿ happier prospects. Mÿ Eldest Son John at Philadelphia did ask me, two days past, for my consent in his marriage with a Miss Julia Taylor, of a respectable familÿ and connections, with a moderate fortune, adequate to his wishes. His former prudent conduct made me...
67To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
I listen onlÿ to a pleasant emotion of my heart, in congratulating my Self, that among So manÿ blessings, with which the good God favours me till this instant, is the preservation of your precious life during another year. How precarious is it, if I Shall enjoÿ that favour once more: your age, alreadÿ above, what is commonlÿ allotted to men, mÿ own advancing years, with the frailties and...
68To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
I can but imperfectly express the pleasure, which I received from your kind favour of the 15th Dec. last—It was yet enhanced, if possible, bÿ receiving in the same instant a Letter of Rob. R. Livingston, our Late Chancellor and Ambassador to France, by whom, I supposed I was long ago forgotten. You cannot conceive, how delightful it is in mÿ situation, to be now and then remembered by the wise...
69To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
I Know you will permit me to indulge me Self in reviving mÿ drooping Spirits in writing a few lines to you—of whom’s health I had the last pleasing information from the N. papers, when I did See, that you paid ÿour last tribut of respect to deceased worth in attending the funeral of Cambridge’s President. You must now have nearlÿ reached the term of your fifteenth Lustre. I hope—this last year...
70To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
It is certainlÿ a long while, that you received not a line from me, and this nothwithstanding I was So highly gratifiede, and as it were buoy’d by your kind favour of 30 Nov. last—But—how could I do else, as I wrote not even to mÿ Son—labouring Since the three last months under an increasing debility, which Seemed to threaten the total destruction of the machine. As long however it was only a...
71To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Although I have so lately written, I will not, as mÿ restored health can be no pretext, delaÿ for one single daÿ, to send you a few lines more; now I have seen the confirmation of the good news from Washington—and, certainlÿ, if we maÿ claim a friend’s comfort in distress, then he too must be entitled to share our joys. I do so indeed, and congratulate you and your Excellent consort most...
72To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Unexpectedlÿ I was favoured with your obliging Letter of the 20th Febr—tho’ I did receive it only the 21 of March—having been through carelessness of our Postmaster first Send to the black River-countrÿ. The unfavorable weather domesticating me again—and old habits too rapidlÿ adopted again—occasion, that I am Since a few days not quite So well however—I Seriously intend to prevent a...
73To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I Shall now make an experiment, if I can dispell a malignant Spirit of gloom, which hovers about me, without any other incantation besides acknowledging your both Favours of the 4th and the 9th of april with which I was So kindly honoured by you. Indeed—Sir! this intercourse is nearly the only pastime left me in my deep retreat and then mÿ Situation imperiously often forbids me to indulge...
74To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
Tu m’aduli, ma tu mi piace says anÿ where Chesterfield—but so you do in a most egregious manner—but you make your Physic so highly palatable, that it is swallowed, before reason can with sufficient coolness examine, if the encomium—so kindly bestowed is really deserved. You want not to be informed—that I am highlÿ pleased, when I am favoured with your encouraging approbation—and whÿ should I...
75To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
What Sufficient thanks Shall I return to the distinguished favours, with which your kind frendship continues to honour me in Such an eminent degree! much in truth I am indebted to your partiality towards me, but I Should lessen its real value, if I did not presume that I did not merite it in part. I will however endeavor to exert my utmost Strenght to deserve it further. The Honor of being jo...
76To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
At lenght I succeed in Sending you the outlines of the contemplated work, which I could have, wished to have been executed by you had you twenty years less. It will however not loose of its value—if the Son charges himself—with the payment of his Father debt. It is true, it requires Some Skill to prove it, altho I would not hesitate to run the risk of making it pretty evident, that you could...
77To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Having been prevented to answer your favours of Dec. 19 Last and Jan. 9 thro Severe head-ache during a forthnight and a Succeeding cold—which is not yet past, I now begin to renew my former course—altho I am compelled to hold in the reins. In the former you insinuated to have Send me by Col. William Stevens Smith two first vol. of Amer. Acad—with the promise of procuring me this Summer the...
I presume, it is not abusing your kindness, in addressing you with a few lines, to assure you of mÿ Sincerest thanks for the unexpected gift of Quincÿ Adam’s Lectures—which you have bestowed on me. What enhances the value of this present, is that Seems to have been a mark of filial affection of a beloved Son, now endorsed to me bÿ your own hand. It is mÿ misfortune—Madam! that I can onlÿ...
79To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am So much younger—I have not So manÿ avocations—I have nothing better to perform; it is mÿ chief recreation in mÿ Solitude, to correspond with mÿ friends: all this I deem a Sufficient apologÿ for writing So often, and I flatter my Self, It Shall be one for you, even if I interrupt you in more Serious concerns, or take hold of a few precious moments, intended devoted to weightier affairs. I...
80To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
As head-ache and high-flying winds do confine me at home I Shall indulge myself in answering a number of Letters—now before me—and make a beginning with your favours. This is allways a pleasant task, which makes me often forget present cares, and not over-anxious of future ones, which maÿ hover around me. You will participate with me in my feelings, when I inform you, that among the last...
81To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have now before me your favour of July the 15th, with which, as usual, I was highlÿ gratified. I could have wished, to have delay’d its answer longer, till the assaults of that relentless Demon of head-ache had been abated, who possesses me again Since three weeks, but I know not, to what charm he will listen—So that I must Submit with resignation, till he is tired of the contest. Indeed...
82To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
He published—his opinions on Jus Eccles. Protest . in the Ses—which were—under his presidium—defended publicly by his most eminent Students. This could not be performed without awakening the intolerant zeal of the clergy—Their rage—increased when manÿ of their Brethren Strengthened him with their open Support—then the Church became in danger. Spies—under pious pretexts were Send to him for...
83To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
Although I know not, if I Shall be able to finish this Letter—being not free from head-ache—I dare not longer delaÿ the answer of your favour of 28 oct. Tho no visitants steal mÿ moments—devoted to labour or leasure, the avocations in a Similar Situation of mine are So various, that I often must Sacrifice to these, what I intended for correspondence or mÿ own amusement. Now I have again been...
84To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1813 (Adams Papers)
Although I am not perfectlÿ free from head-ache a fixed oppression in the forehead which leaves a disagreable Stupor, and without whose removal I shall be unable to return to my charge with usual alacrity, I got in so far the better of it, that I take up mÿ pen and I hope, ere long it shall again be in mÿ power to expel everÿ gloomÿ thought by plunging head long in Philosophical enquiries:...
85To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Having at length finished mÿ Researches on Several points in Nat. Hist. in the theories of Mess. Buffon and Daubenton—which have been extended to 270 Pag. in 4th. and a are readÿ for the press, if I can find a printer and a corrector of the Language, of which I have little prospect—and being free of head-ache—I must again address you with a few lines, in the flattering hope, that they Shall as...
86To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am again favoured with your kind letter of Jan. 23. It bears with it the usual Stamp of Serenity and health of bodÿ and mind. Maÿ both be continued as long you become not entirely dissatisfied with your abode here—and maÿ everÿ occurrence, which might distress either be long time averted! I presume—neither I think, that I presume too much, that if you visited once Smith’s valleÿ—you would...
87To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
My Sending the wreath unaccompanied bÿ a Single line was occasioned bÿ a Short excursion to Sacket’s Harbour—to take a view of the boasted powerful defence of our frontiers, after the Surprise of Ogdensburg, courted So long bÿ the iterated incursions on the defenceless and peaceble Canadiens. It was indeed a Severe retaliation from which the Inhabitants Shall not recover in manÿ years—although...
88To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Do not Suppose, that I waited to answer your verÿ interesting letter of March 18—till I received the other promised anecdote of Quaker’s benevolence—no Sir! and I believe, you know me too well—art too well convinced of the high value I place on the distinguished proofs of your regard and frendship with which you continue to honour me, to attrbute mÿ Silence to anÿ Such unbecoming motives. The...
89To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I can not express you—how warmlÿ I am obliged to you for your your last kind favour of May 20th. It Saÿs—nothing that it pleased and instructed—no—it did much more—It relieved mÿ drooping Spirits it dissipated in part the deep gloom, which has latelÿ taken possession of me—listen—mÿ Dear! I have one friend yet left—he would Soothe mÿ Sorrows—was he in the neighbourhood, altho he participated...
90To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
No, you will not blame me, though I make use of a Sundays afternoon—having the morning employ’d in familÿ worship—in writing to an honoured friend. This too is religion, to remember the favours, which we received, and Shew our gratitude in our good will, though it is not in our power to prove it bÿ more vigorous exertions Freed this daÿ of head-ache I must improve these moments, and...