271From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 31 October 1810 (Adams Papers)
The president De Thou introduces his history with “Pro veritate historiarum mearum deum ipsum obtestor.” Although I shall not follow the example of this great historian in this solemn appeal, in which perhaps he is singular, yet no man ought to commit any thing to writing as history, or as memorials to serve for history, without a strict regard to truth. I shall therefore designedly conceal...
272From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 8 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
Another original letter of the Count de Vergennes to Dr. Franklin or sending him Mr. Adam’s correspondence. A Versailles Le 31 Juillet, 1780. Le caractére dont vous étes révétu, Monsieur, votre sagesse et la confiance que je mêts dans vos principes et dans vos sentimens, m’engagent à vos communiquer la correspondance, que je viens je avoir avec Mr Adams. Vous trouverez, Je pense, dans les...
273To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
One hundred and twenty American vessels have sailed from the Port of Cronstadt for the United States during the present Season—The two last of them were Captain Bainbridge, for Philadelphia, and Captain Leach for Boston, in the American Hero a vessel belonging to Lieutt: Governor Gray.—They sailed on the first of this month and both of them carried letters from us.—They were the last vessels...
274From John Adams to William Plumer, 10 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
For your kind Congratulations and benevolent Wishes Accept my best Thanks. My health is much better and more constant than could be reasonably expected by a Man, who, after a Life of care Toil and Storms has entered his Sixteenth Lustre. The American Minister in Russia, in the Extremity of the cold about the middle of last Winter, was Slightly indisposed So as to keep House for a few days, but...
275To 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...
276From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment received your obliging Favour of the 20th. Yesterday the anniversary Festival, which We in New England call by the technical Term Thanksgiving, I heard from my Reverend Pastor, Mr Peter Whitney, an excellent Sermon upon Patriotism from Psalm 137. 5. 6. If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the...
277To John Adams from Joseph Wheaton, 4 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I am informed by Mr. Seaver member of Congress from Roxbury, that near your residence there is a respectable Manufactory of coach Lace & triming, and that they consign to various parts their articles of Manufactory for Sale—I am here in the Mercantile dry good line and am endeavouring to introduce all the articles of American Manufactory in my power—Coach Lace, & Coach triming I trust would be...
278To John Adams from John Langdon, 6 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have been much pleased and gratified with the publication of your correspondence while in Europe. I assure you Sr. nothing could give greater satisfaction to your old revolutionary friends then to see one of the pillars of our Nation magnanimously steping forth at this all important moment in support of our happy Country. I regret that it is not in my power to express fully my sentiments, in...
279From John Adams to John Langdon, 12 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday at the Post office your obliging favour of the Sixth of this month; and I pray you to accept my Thanks for the cordial Pleasure it gave me. Men who were engaged in our American Revolution from the Beginning of it are become So rare, that they feel for each other, as the Soldiers who had Served under the Duke of Marlborough, Some of whom you and I have known, felt when they...
280To John Adams from Richard Sharp, 19 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favour of the 13 July, which Mr Harris did not deliver till last week— Nothing could afford me more pleasure, or flatter me more, than so obliging an instance of recollection from a gentleman for whom I entertain so high a respect & so much regard— To Mr Harris and his companion Mr Bruce I shall be happy in shewing my best attention—Before the delivery of your letter...
281To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
We read of Hurricane Months in the West Indies. Men of business are exposed to them no less than the West India islands. I am now in the height of Mine. For a few minutes only, I have torn my eyes from the tumultuous Scenes that surround me & turned them towards Woolaston in Massachusets. I see you in your Arm Chair—surrounded by your family. How do you do? And you! good madam—the faithful...
282To John Adams from Joseph Wheaton, 25 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I am honord with your 2d. letter of the 15th. instt. covering a letter from Messr. Wilson Marsh & Son in Answer to my Letter Addressed to their factory—for which Sir Please to accept my thanks—While I feel diffident on this Subject; the riseing State of this City, and the increased and increasing business done here I flatter Myself by taking this early advantage of introducing the Articles of...
283From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 27 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
It was but yesterday that I was able to obtain the inclosed Review of Works of Mr Ames, which you or rather your Son wished to See. You and I, are So much better employed that I presume Political Pamphlets are Beneath your Notice as well as mine. You are employed in healing the sick and extending the Empire of Science and Humanity. I, in reading Romances in which I take incredible Delight. I...
284From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 27 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I Sent my Wife to the Post Office this morning with a Letter to you inclosing a Review of Fisher Ames, and as she brought me back yours of the 21, you will receive this by the Same mail. I am well and my good Madam is well at the present Hour but She is a Weather Glass. I am afraid your Prejudices are too fixed to be removed by any Arguments: but I do not find that you make many Proselytes. In...
285From John Adams to Joseph Ward, 4 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I am astonished! Looking in a Bundle of Letters, I found one from Col. Ward, unanswered, dated 18th. January 1810. A Letter from Such a Correspondent unanswered for a year was Such a proof of Inattention Negligence and bad Œconomy as convinced me that I was grown Old. A Merchant who Sends to Sea a trifling Adventure, and receives in return for it a rich Cargo, and knows that a repetition of...
286To John Adams from Richard Rush, 4 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Encouraged by the very flattering permission you have given me, I am venturing to say to you in the form of a letter, (a liberty which I hope you will pardon,) that I have read the “review of the works of Fisher Ames.” And I must be allowed to say, that I have read it with the pleasure naturally belonging to the perusal of so able a performance. Although I carefully treasure up every thing...
287To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 10 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for you son’s pamphlet. Much as I loath political discussions of all kinds, I was induced by your request, and my great respect for the genius of its author, to read it. with I thank you for the pleasure I derived from it. It is a masterly performance overflowing with argument & eloquence. He places Mr Ames where he ought to have been placed stood in the meredian of his political...
288From John Adams to Richard Rush, 15 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
In the middle of a Letter to Petersbourg this Morning Mrs Adams came in and invited me to take a ride, in the beautiful Sleighing We have at this moment, to last perhaps two days like two Such Opportunities as We have had before this Winter and then be melted away; We took the Post office in our Course, and there I found your beautiful Letter of the 4th of this month, on my return I continued...
289From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
We have received no Letters from you, later than the 7th of September. The obstructions in the Way, are Such that if the communication is not So frequent or So regular as We wish, We compose ourselves as well as We can, and please ourselves with the hope that you are all well. Your Friends here and at Washington are all well. I write you nothing on publick affairs. Our Government has many...
290From John Adams to Josiah, III Quincy, 15 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for two presents, the Message and the documents. Mr. Madison follows the example of Mr. Jefferson in this instance; but is the difference between a speech and a message of much importance? Does the aversion to speeches and the partiality for messages arise or proceed from the spirit of democracy or aristocracy? The glorious uncertainty of the law is a proverbial expression; and why...
291From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 17 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 10th, is just come from the Post Office. I thank you for reading the Pamphlet, which considering the more interesting Studies and Labours of your Profession, I consider as a favour. With your Letter I received a Packet of Letters from my Son and Daughter at Petersbourg, dates as late as 25: October. I wish I could print these Letters: but I dare not. A Fathers Partiality...
292To John Adams from Joseph Ward, 17 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 4th Inst. I had the honor to receive. (By some neglect in the Post Office, it did not come to hand ’till the 15.) I reciprocate Sir, your kind wishes. May the revolving years increase the enjoyment as much as the length of your life. The richest resource, I conceive, for happiness in advanced age, is in reviewing a useful life. Hence I conclude that forty years , employed...
293From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 18 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
As I am never weary of Writing to you, because I write always without thinking, I am not sorry to be obliged to begin another Letter and another Sheet. J. Q. A in a Letter to his Brother T. B. A. dated St. Petersburg 27. October 1810 has these Words, vizt “I wish you to procure and Send to me a specimen of every one of the Coins of the United States Mint of the United States, of...
294To John Adams from George Erving, 19 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment of my arrival here had the honor to receive your letter of the 16th instt, inclosing two for our minister at Petersbg, to the care & transmission of which I shall pay every possible attention.— It gives me very peculiar satisfaction to be useful to you in this small particular, & I sincerely desire greater occasions of manifesting my very high respect for you, as well as for...
295From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 22 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, August 22, 1782—wrote tosSecretary Livingston—“Their high mightinesses have at length received their instructions from all the provinces, and I have this day been in conference with the grand committee, who communicated to me the remarks and propositions on their part. To this I shall very soon give my replication, and I hope the Affair will be soon ended. I was received in state,...
296To 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....
297From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 25 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, Sept. 6, 1782—Wrote to Mr. Secretary Livingston, “In your letter of the 5th of March, you ask, whether this power has entered into any treaty with France since the war, and whether any such thing is in contemplation? They have made no treaty, but a convention concerning recaptures, which you must have seen in the papers. The East India Company have concerted operations with France...
298From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Mr Erving, our Minister destined to Copenhagen, has already a Letter for you from me and others from your Mother and politely offers to transmit this as he may have opportunity, and expresses a desire to manifest his high Respect for Us and for you, upon greater Occasions. I am ashamed to Number my past Letters to you, they have been so few, but this is the Second at least Since this year came...
299To John Adams from Richard Rush, 27 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I was more gratified sir, than I can express at the letter which you did me the honor to write to me. The very evening before it came to hand I had finished reading, in course, the last of the lectures upon rhetoric and oratory, which for several weeks had occasionally yielded me great delight during the intervals of a busy profession. The just and often original reflections which they...
300To John Adams from Henry Guest, 28 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 6th. inst. came to hand in 4 days of the post mark; Bad as the roads are at present, & I believe they never were worse. If you knew the pleasure it gives me to see, John Adams , with Free on your letters, I apprehend that you would not be so long in answering mine to you, though, perhaps of little weight; & you would sooner & oftener revive the Low spirits of an old man, who...