1From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 6 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge my obligations to you for your oration on the 4th. of July. Although I may not perfectly agree with you in every Sentiment, I do not recollect to have read any oration upon that occasion, more directly pertinent to the Subject. The Motives, Principles and Feelings which led to the Revolution, have not yet been investigated in all their Extent; and perhaps never will be....
2To John Adams from Alexander Townsend, 13 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have it in contemplation to devote a portion of my leisure to Recollections of the Life of Samuel Dexter . Any facts, public anecdotes, or pertinent data you may be good enough to supply, wd. be a tribute of respect to his memory, I am well aware, your heart and hand are both open to pay. I add only as apology for a stranger’s application, that obligation indeed wd. thus be conferred on,...
3From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 15 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Thoughts of devoting “some Portion of your Leisure to recollections of Mr Dexter,” have tenderly affected me. Without any private correspondence, and very little personal Intercourse; his; Father was an invariable and disinterested Friend whome I highly esteemed for more than fifty years.—But what shall I say of the Son? Shall I compare him with Chief Justice Dana or Chief Justice Parsons...
4From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 2 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much my accidental absence from home, when you did me the honour to call here. It will be found impossible to do justice to the character of Mr Dexter, without a thorough knowledge of the history of this country, especially of that part of it from 1797 to 1808. The parties during the revolution and since, have grown out of those parties which existed before, from the first...
5From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 3 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much, my accidental Absence from home when you did me the honour to call here. It will be found impossible to do Justice to the Character of Mr Dexter, without a thoughrow knowledge of the History of this Country especially of that part of it, from 1797 to 1802. The Parties during the Revolution, and Since, have grown out of those Parties which existed before, from the first...
6From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 26 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
When I lent you two Letters from Col. Smith I ought to have lent you a third: but it was overlooked by the Person I Sent to find them. That third dated 24th. Feb. 1816 I now inclose, with a Request that after you have examined the three, to your Satisfaction, you would be So good as to return them to me. You have in Contemplation a greater Subject than you perhaps are aware. I have Seen a Well...
7To John Adams from Alexander Townsend, 27 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have now gratefully to acknowledge the honour of your two letters of the 2d. and 26th. I am aware of the extent of the difficulty of doing justice to the character of Mr Dexter. Satisfied with what has already been said in this subject in various parts of the country, his family are solicitous and it is perhaps best, that, for the present at least, nothing farther be said. Vindicating his...
8To John Adams from Alexander Townsend, 2 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to request, that you wd. at your leisure favour me wh. the chronology of the events of your life . Unless your own hand does this, I fear it will be done but imperfectly. Me it wd. cost some research. Many who have them in memory, have not your ability to put them on paper. I am aware, you never can become your own biographer. A life spent in forming materials for history,...
9From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 4 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
John Adams was Born at Quincy on the 19th. of October 1735. of John and Susana Boylston Adams. he entered College 1751. took his first degree in 1755. kept the Latin School in Worcester.—Studied Law with Coll James Putnam till 1758. when he took his Second degree at College, and was admitted to the Practice of the Law in Boston.—in 1761. he was admitted Barrister in the Supreme Judicial Court...
10To John Adams from Alexander Townsend, 18 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
Proposals, you are probably aware, have been issued at Baltimore for printing the Lives of the Signers of our Declaration of Independence. Matthewson, the publisher, has written me respecting the life of Hancock . May I be permitted to ask of you information on this Subject? Of whom can I Seek facts, if not of the Aneas of our Revolution who Saw the whole & was himself So much of it? Very...