1Charles Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
In your last favour you requested me to point out the appointments that have been thought improper I undertake the task with much pleasure conscious that I have no other interest but the good and wellfare of my Country at heart. Your hopes with respect to Daubeny are or may be fulfilled I know him to be well attached to Government but I also know he is an unskilful Sailor I know he is a Fop...
2Charles Adams to John Adams, 31 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
M r Francis Baretto has as he informs me applied for the Consulate at Madeira and has requested me to mention you to him as an acquaintance. He is a Native of that Island though for many years a Citizen of this Nation He has been known to me for more than ten years and his misfortunes of various kinds have excited my compassion and esteem as I beleive he did not merit them. If I should err...
3Charles Adams to John Adams, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your very kind letter of the 13 instant was very grateful to me. We have indeed suffered a double anxiety both for ourselves and our friends it is so natural for the latter absent from the City to be more apprehensive than we have been that I have been very much pained at their remonstrances against remaining in town Nor should I have remained had I not conceived it an indispensible duty. I...
4John Adams to Charles Adams, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 19 th The letters from Mr Desdoity & Mr R B Forbes I shall inclose to the Secretary of State, the first to be determined according to law and usage and the last to be considered in its season. The scene of which you have been witness in the city must have been very solemn. I never could bear a city life in the summer, in the best seasons. Such an one as...
5John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 29 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have given to our brother Thomas a general power of Attorney to transact all business on my behalf within the United States. I have therefore to request you to account with him for all my property in your hands amounting to four thousand dollars, and the interest upon that sum, for more than two years, as appears by your letters to me, and by information from Doctor Welsh, that you have made...
6John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 1 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 14 of February a letter, which I am informed you have received, but to which no answer from you has yet reached me. Nor have I since it was written received a line from you. I must again repeat the request that you would give me immediate information concerning the property which I have entrusted to you. I have also to request that you would not draw upon Mess rs: Willing of...
7Charles Adams to James Whitelaw, 25 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Seeing an advertisement in the farmers Weekly Museum that you would attend to the payment of monies due on Lands in the State of Vermont I now take the liberty to trouble you with respect to some owned by my family A M r Jesse Gilbert called on me some days ago and I promised to transmit him money to clear our claims but as I was not so fortunate as to receive the money in time for him I think...
8John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 14 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 25 of October & 29 of Dec r: 1796. & on the 14 th: of May & 1 st: of August of the last year. All these letters excepting that of 14 May, related to my affairs in your hands.— I have never received any answer whatever to either of them. That of 29 Dec r: I think must have miscarried, but I have long since received answers from other persons, to letters which went by the same...
9John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here this Evening with your Mother and Cozen all in good health, and was Sorry to hear that you went from hence on Monday unwell. I hope you are better. If I go into Town in Ceremony I Should be glad of your Company with me in my Carriage. My Letters will, Some of them be directed to your Care, I Shall be glad to receive them as soon as possible. Can you Send them out by the Stage to...
10John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 1 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
Upon my arrival at this place, about three weeks since, I received your kind letter of June 8 th: which was the first line, I have had from you these many months, and it needed not that circumstance to render it highly valuable. You do not however mention in it the receipt of several letters, which I have written you, and which I hope have not miscarried in the conveyance. Among the rest, that...
11Charles Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
The present period is more interesting to this Country than any since the adoption of The Federal Constitution The House of Representatives after a three weeks debate on their answer to The Speech of The President have at length entered on Serious business. The fortifying our Ports and harbours. Finishing and equipping our Frigates Purchasing some large Merchantmen to be converted into Sloops...
12Charles Adams to Joseph Dennie Jr., 9 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the month of March last deserved an earlier answer. but my absence from this City must be my excuse. The Lay Preacher has not escaped the notice of any one who has a taste for fine writing and you may be assured it has afforded me great pleasure to hear my friend Dennie mentioned as one of the most charming writers of The age. Unfortunately I have mislaid The proposals you...
13John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have this day been obliged to take a serious and painful measure in the removal of the Collector of Newyork, and I wish you to give me your opinion concerning a successor— The office is important and lucrative, Walker has been named to me. What think you of him? I must and will have a good Federalist, one who will not prostitute his office, to a Foreign faction, or a domestic one,— I am &c a...
14Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 5 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received Your kind congratulatory Letter upon the new year. accept My thank for the filial regard and affection with which they are expresst. it is the will of Providene to place me in a very conspicious station. it shall be my endeavour so to conduct in it, as to excite neither envy ill will or Jealousy. as shakspear expresses it, I would bear my Honours meekly fully sensible that I can say...
15Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to congratulate you on the return of This Season and to offer my most earnest prayers that you may live to see many revolving years in health and contentment. The event of the late Election will force you from your calm retreat to more confused and active scenes the toil incident to the situation I hope you will be able to bear and I am more sanguine in this expectation as I hear you...
16John Adams to Charles Adams, 30 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great Pleasure your kind Letter of 28 th. I think M r Sands’s Plan for the Education of his Nephew is judicious. But I Should not advise him to Send him to Europe, So very early. If he remains in America two or three Years, undergoes his Examination and is admitted to the Bar it will be early enough to go to Europe. By your Representation M r Joshua Sands has been your...
17John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 29 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I have had the pleasure to receive any letter from you. I suppose you spend so much time in dandling your offspring that you have none left to think of Collaterals. But what makes me most impatient is that you do not send us even the Newspapers until they are six months old. Here have arrived since the beginning of the Summer twenty or thirty vessels from New York...
18Charles Adams to John Adams, 28 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the last week I have received. Your ideas respecting a young man’s having a Record of a regular education in the Law I think are perfectly right with regard to my Young friend Malcom his age will not permit his taking an examination until near fifteen months after he leaves my office which will be in June next His uncle M r Joshua Sands is his guardian and has since my...
19Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two last letters that by M r Bracket accompanied by the presents you were so kind to make us. The fruit though it had a very long passage is very fine there not being more than thirty unsound pairs in the whole barrel the cheese is also remarkably good and I think would deceive the most experienced Englishman— The anxiety respecting the event of the election is very great...
20John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 25 October 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of September 7 th: with the account current, which as you observe, though not altogethe mercantile in point of form is fully intelligible and satisfactory. As I shall as soon as it is in my power authorise you to make another draught on my account, I shall remind you of two directions contained in my former letters and from which it is my wish that you will in no...
21Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 6 th instant came to hand yesterday. I can give you no certain information respecting Col Smiths affairs He has a vast property in his hands but is very much embarrased for want of money to make his regular payments as they become due Whether on the winding up he will have anything left is what I believe neither he or anyone else knows. He acted on a very large scale and...
22Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
This morning about one o’clock My Sally presented me with a charming daughter They are both remarkably well I must insist on your naming the Child which will perhaps be christened at Quincy Yours with the sincerest affection NB. My Respects to my father— RC (private owner, 1957); addressed: “M rs A Adams / Quincy”; endorsed: “C Adams aug / 8th / 1796.” Susanna Boylston Adams (1796–1884) was...
23John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 9 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
I returned here ten days ago from England and have this day received your letter of April 24. th: brought by M r: Rutgers. He is at Amsterdam, and when he comes this way it will give me much pleasure to see him. It gives me the most heartfelt satisfaction to be informed of the prosperous situation in which you are placed; of your present happiness, and future pleasing prospects, and you will...
24Charles Adams to John Adams, 4 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
The canvass of the votes for Senators for this district and for Members of Assembly to Represent the City of New York was finished yesterday by the Statement I send you herewith you will perceive that the politics of this State have begun to run in a vigorous stream in the proper channel. M r Burr is by this time pretty well convinced that his popularity is much less than he had fondly...
25John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 10 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of January 6 th: was received by our brother Thomas at the Hague, and by him forwarded a few days ago to me. He has been very ill during a great part of this last Winter; at first with an attack from his old Enemy the Rheumatism, and afterwards with a bilious intermittent fever, but by his last Letters he appears in a great measure to have recovered, and I hope by this time he has...
26Charles Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letters of Dec r 30 th from London and of Nov r 4 th from Helvoetsluys have been both received. that of the latest date reached me about six weeks before the other. I am balancing in my mind whether or not to draw bills they are now four pr Cent below par but objects of speculation are also low. six pr Cents at seventeen shillings and the rest of the funds in proportion. All kinds of...
27John Adams to Charles Adams, 24 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of the 22 d. M r Van Persyn I shall be glad to see whenever it Suits his convenience to come to Philadelphia. I can Say little of favourable Symptoms. The Waggon is fast in the Mire, up to the Axletree and unable to move forwards or backwards. Whether the People will draw us out or not, and Whether We shall advance or retreat I know not. The Passengers are unable to help...
28John Adams to Charles Adams, 22 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I believe I never have acknowledged the Rec t of your favour of March 21.— In Dexter and Ames We lost the Lyre of Aphion in our H. of R. and Jaring Discords have led Mydas astray ever since. The Rout before us is very thorny and very rugged and very Steep and what is worse than all the End of it is far behind the Hill, out of our sight, and may be more dangerous and impracticable than any Part...
29John Adams to Charles Adams, 20 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. yesterday your favour of the 18 by the Post M r Van Persyn, whom you mention as the Bearer I have neither Seen nor heard of. My Conclusion is that he is not yet come on. I should be very glad to See him and receive the Letters he brought for me. My Friendship for M r Luzac will be motive enough to do him all the Service in my Power. The Disposition of The H. of R. is very firm not to...
30Charles Adams to John Adams, 18 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
M r Van Persyn the bearer of this; is a Dutch gentleman the brother in law of M r Jean Luzac by whom he has been recommended to me He proposes to settle in this Country and to lay out his Capital in a farm M r Luzac and my brother Thomas have requested my advice and assistance for him. He has also letters for you. We are exceedingly anxious to know what will be the result of the disposition of...
31Charles Adams to John Adams, 21 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
I am clearly of opinion with you that we stand in need of some magic equally powerful as the Lyre of Amphion to quell the rage of the political elements and yet I have my doubts whether the power of music or eloquence could instil sentiments of Justice or integrity into the minds of some of our Legislators. My dictionaire Historique tells me that Amphion was the son of Jupiter and Antiope that...
32John Adams to Charles Adams, 9 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d this morning your favour of the 7 th and am glad that your State have not too much Complaisance for the restless Projects of old Aunt Nell. The peevish fretful old Creature has got, to day, a worse Compliment from the senate of this State, than she rec d even from the Massachusetts. They have not only rejected her vapoury humours but have proposed to her some other Amendments of the...
33Charles Adams to John Adams, 7 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Our Legislature have been some time occupied in debating upon what are called The Virginia resolutions which you have doubtless seen and which have been so industriously forwarded to the different States for their concurrence though our good Sister has not been treated quite so cavalierly by New York as she was by Massachusetts yet I beleive they both concur in thinking her a very whimsical...
34Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
My Sister informs me that you have not lately heard from your sons in Holland and that you were anxious respecting them. I am happy to have it in my power to relieve your mind and to relate the cause of your not receiving intelligence from them. I have within these six weeks received a half a dozen letters from them some of a date as late as the 7 th of October They are in good health and...
35John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
A fat Sleekheaded young Gentleman was here last Week or the Week before who told me he knew you, that you were well that you had a good share of Business: that your disposition was so amiable that People were fond of throwing Business into your hands &c— All this was Musick in my Ears— I know not his name but am told he is a Limb of the Law in your City. According to Peter Pindar Business is...
36Charles Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 15 th September arrived yesterday I own I have not so much cause to complain of my brothers as they have of me. It is reported and generally beleived that our Present Chief will decline serving for another term. I have been informed from good authority that such are his intentions. It is to be hoped that he will not make the trial as I am confident The People of this Country...
37John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your kind and pleasing Letter of the 26, and am happy to hear of your and your Ladies health. I dont approve of your calling her Sally unless to herself in a Family Way. To other People especially in Writing you must call her Mr s Adams. Your Nephews and Neice I hope will have the Meazles favourably. it is a good age and a good Season: so that I think the family may be...
38John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 30 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 19 th: September was transmitted to me by our brother from the Hague about a fortnight since; I have answered already that of Sept r: 27. which I received on my first arrival here. You will find from one of my former Letters, that with a little balance of yours still to be accounted for by me, and with another little Commission which I have troubled you with your demand on me...
39Charles Adams to John Adams, 26 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 13 th and 24 th I have received the latter containing the Post note for Dol s 100 and I return you my thanks for it. The Vindication of M r Randolph’s Resignation is read with the greatest avidity. I think there are many things contained in it quite foreign to the subject and which it was unnecessary to disclose. That good will come of it I do not doubt, not to him but to...
40John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
So great a Part of my Life has been and Still continues to be Spent in travelling that I seldom trouble my Friends in Conversation or by Letter with the Inconveniences or Adventures I meet upon the Road: otherwise I might give you a Romantic History of my Journey from N. York. The Roads were bad enough and the Company but Speak well of the Bridge that bears you well over— They behaved civilly...
41John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 4 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
I received at this place by your letter of September 3 d: the pleasing intelligence of your marriage, and offer you my warmest congratulations, upon an event so important to your happiness, and thereby to that of your brother. In requesting you to make the assurance of my fraternal affection acceptable to my new Sister, I depend upon your intercession for her permission to add that sentiment...
42John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 4 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of September 3 d. advising your having drawn the preceding day, bills on me in favour of Daniel Ludlow & C o: for ƒ7,500. at thirty days sight, was received by our Brother Thomas at the Hague on the first of this month, and forwarded by him to me, at this place, where it reached me the next day. The bills though mentioned by you as accompanying the Letter, were not presented for...
43Charles Adams to John Adams, 4 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 20 th Ult o I received, and most cordially thank you for the parental wishes expressed for me and my amiable companion. In a season of joy your mark of affectionate regard added greatly to my happiness. From a hint which M r Jay dropped to you one day in conversation I supposed it probable that my brother would be sent to England upon important business. I have written...
44Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 19 th instant I have received I thank you for your congratulations upon an event which has united me to the woman of my affections Your kind invitation shall be accepted as soon as I can leave my business for a few weeks how soon this may happen I cannot tell, nor can I flatter myself it can be in a short time. Since our marriage we have been at a house the Colonel has bought...
45John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 15 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
The most recent intelligence we have from America is contained in your letter of June 30 & July 23. which arrived some days since, and gave me information unpleasant but not unexpected. I was convinced from a variety of reasons that all the engines of popular agitation would be played off against the ratification of the treaty signed by M r Jay, and I knew that some of its contents were such...
46Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 August 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have been sometime expecting to hear from you upon a subject the most interesting to my heart. It appears to be the wish of those concerned and a wish that perfectly coincides with mine that the connection between Sally and myself should take place as early in the fall as possible. I request you to consent to the proposal and to bestow your parental blessing upon your affectionate son RC (...
47John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 6 July 1795 (Adams Papers)
I received some time since from M r: Rogers in London your bill upon me for £225 sterling, with a request to have the money remitted there. I have been obliged in consequence of the measures that have been taken in England, to prevent all payments from this Country, to procure a bill upon London from Hamburg, which I hope M r Rogers will receive within a week or ten days, from this. The...
48Charles Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
The last letter I received from you was dated the 16 th of April and contained not only the latest but by far the most satisfactory intelligence, we had received. I thought that is was proper to give the most of it to the public, especially, as the accounts from England of the same date were very unfavorable. The conduct of the French toward the Batavians, since the conquest of Holland, has...
49John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 17 May 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favours dated Feb y 16. which M r: Wilcox sent me from Hamburg, and of March 10 th: which came in a Vessel arrived a day or two since at Amsterdam. The newspapers came with them, and proved a great entertainment to us. The Herald is a very excellent paper and I wish you by all means to continue sending it by every opportunity. But when you send them by...
50John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 16 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your favour of Dec r: 1 st: sent me a few days since by M r Van Rensselaar. It is the first direct communication we have had from any part of our own family, since we left our Country, and it was an article which wanted no stimulus of scarcity to make it valuable. Your political information was very acceptable, and I hope you will not fail to continue it by every future...