11To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 4 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
It is with warm feelings that I acknowledge the favor you have conferred upon me by your letter of the 25th ult. accompanied by the very interesting pamphlet you forwarded. After carefully using it for the purposes proposed, I will faithfully return it. I do not wish to be thought to as saying what I do not believe, which is not my point, when I assure you of my belief that this pamphlet may...
12From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 27 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received my pamphlet & your Register, with your letter of the 20th. Inclosed are four papers. No 1. A letter from President Washington Aug 27. 1790. No 2 another letter on the same subject on the same day Aug 27. 1790. No. 3 First rough draught of an answer, in my hand writing. 4 a copy of my answer to the President, which was sent to him dated Aug 29th. 1790. & which, if it was not...
13From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 27 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
“Inclosed are four papers.—No. 1. A letter from President Washington, Aug. 27, 1790; No. 2. Another letter on the same subject, on the same day, Aug. 27, 1790. No. 3. First rough draught of an answer, in my hand writing. 4. A copy of my answer to the president, which was sent to him, dated August 29, 1790, and which, if it was not consumed in the Vandalion combustion of Washington, is probably...
14From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 30 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
The oldest Statesman in North America is no more.—Vixit. McKean, for whose services, and indeed for whose patronage, the two States of Pensylvania and Delaware, once contended, is numbered with his fathers. I cannot express my feelings upon this event in any way better, than by the publication of the enclosed letters. 1st. June 13th. 1812 2nd. August 20th 1813 3rd. August 28th 1813 4th....
15To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, July 1817 (Adams Papers)
After revolving upon some suitable apology for intruding myself with the following statement and request, I have thought it most respectful to decline offering any, expect to observe that if ought appears to your better judgement improper in either, that you will attribute it to any thing else than a willingness on my part to act so, in any respect towards you. For six years ending with the...
16To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 5 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
I gratefully return the papers you did me the honor to send into me, with a copy of them inserted in the Register. I hardly knew how far I was authorized to give your private letter to the public; but the parts inserted seemed necessary as an introduction to the papers; & I hope I have not transcended your will in that respect. I will thank you for the papers about Miranda’s affair. It is not...
17To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 16 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to return to you the letters of Gov McKean, with a copy of them inserted in the Register. My early & good friend Cæsar A Rodney, of Delaware, nephew of C.R. of the “76 congress, informs me that he has some of deceased patriots’ letters dated in 1777—1799; & says he will furnish them. When they are published, I shall send a copy to you. I am gratified to observe that the...
18Enclosure: Circular from Hezekiah Niles to Prominent Subscribers, 31 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
After revolving upon some suitable apology for intruding myself with the following statement and request, I have thought it most respectful to decline offering any, except to observe that if ought appears to your better judgement improper in either, that you will attribute it to any thing else than a willingness on my part to act so, in any respect towards you. For six years ending with the...
19From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 12 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
The procrastination of Old Age and the dissipation of the month of August must be my Apologies for neglecting your important Letter of July, to this day. When I heard that your Register was in danger of being discontinued for Want of Support, I regretted the discouragement very Sincerely: as nearly thirty Years ago I lamented the Period of Mr Careys American Museum. I mean not to give any...
20From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 14 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
In a former letter I hazarded an opinion that the true history of the American revolution could not be recovered, I had many reasons for that apprehension, one of which I will attempt to explain. Of the determination of the British Cabinet to assert and maintain the sovereign Authority of Parliament over the Colonies, in all cases of Taxation and internal policy. the first demonstration which...
21From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 13 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
grand Adams The American Revolution was not a trifling nor a common Event. It’s Effects and Consequences have already been Awful over a great Part of the whole Globe. And when and Where are they to cease? But what do We mean by the American Revolution? Do We mean the American War? The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People. A...
22From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I here Send you three great Authorities, James Otis Oxenbridge Thatcher and Samuel Adams, all Supported by almost an unanimous Vote of the Town of Boston, all containing every Principle, every Sentiment and every Idea in Mr Henry’s Resolution at least a Year before he moved them or composed them. Indeed this was common Place Language in Boston and Massachusetts in the mouths of all Men but the...
23To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 6 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to publish your letters to Mr. Tudor, presenting subjects for national paintings—much to my own satisfaction & to the gratification of the American people. I respectfully acknowledge the reception of your very interesting letters to Mr. Wirt—they shall have a conspicuous insertion in my next Register. Grateful for the honor conferred by those communications, / I am, sir,...
24From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 6 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have not Seen one of your register for I know not how many months I have long expected a Volume. I see I must Subscribe by the Week or the year. Please therefor e to put my name down among your Subscribers and tell me to whom shall pay the needfull. I am Sir your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
25To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 19 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
My time has latterly been so severely occupied that I fear I have been remiss in sending to you the different numbers of the Register enriched by your communications. But the 13th vol. was duly sent to Mr. Ballard, & the 14th, only completed on the 1st inst—after which the index for it was to be done, is now on its way to you by water—together with a Copy of the General Index for the first...
26From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 29 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Will you be so good as to print in your Register, the inclosed Original Letter from Mr Rodney and the Copy of my Answer.—As I never saw this Gentleman and know his name only by Newspaper fame, his Letter was as unexpected to me as if it had fallen from the Morning Star. I have his explicit Permission to publish it and am ambitious that my name should descend to Posterity in friendly Company...
27To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 10 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to return to my dear friend Rodney’s letter, with a copy of your interesting correspondence, published in this day’s Register: Permit me to tender you my thanks for the favor conferred in sending it to me. Your 14th vol & the Genl. Index I expect have reached Boston before this time. I thank you for the copies of Dr. Mayhew’s sermons. I Shall publish some extracts from to...
28From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 9 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
You asked me for papers; but I know not what papers you wish If such as the bundle enclosed with please you I can fill your register for years Whither you print any part or none I pray you to return them as you have always done to I wait for another volume of your register J.A MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
29To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 16 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your brief note, & enclosure of many letters & papers. So far as these are shew the spirit and feelings of the times, they are very acceptable; & thought not used in extremis , will furnish many interesting extracts. I shall next week put to press my long contemplated collection of revolutionary papers. I cannot yet even myself venture an opinion as to what its merits or...
30From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 5 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
I send you enclosed two pieces of paper. 1st. “Broken Hints to be communicated to the committee of Congress for the Massachusetts.” by Major Joseph Hawley of Northhampton. This is the original paper which I read to Patrick Henry in the fall of the year 1774 which produced his rapturous burst of approbation & his solemn asseveration “ I am of that Man’s mind .” 2d. A letter from Jonathan...
31From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 9 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
In one of your letters—you ask me whether I can give you the names of the Mohawk’s who were concerned in the Noyade of the ten in Boston Harbour I now tell you in the truth and upon honor—that I know not and never knew the names of any one of them during the week of that transaction— I was employed in the discharge of my duty as a Barrister at Law in the Court of Judicature—in the Town and...
32To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 18 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 10th in reply to mine requesting the names of those who distroyed the tea in Boston harbor, & regret to believe from it that a record of them is lost, as I cannot now see any possible object of concealing them. But I am not a lawyer, & perhaps even yet, if surviving, they might be made liable for the offence! The last or 15th vol. of the Register was delayed on...
33From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 12 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have not seen one of your Registers, these twelve months—the fifteenth Volume is the last I have received—which comes down only to March 1819—I sent you a long time ago a few original papers which I desired you to return to me—I hope to receive soon, the papers, accompanied with the additional Volume or Volumes which have grown since the third Volume of the new Series which is the 15th...
34To John Adams from Hezekiah Niles, 31 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
The 16th vol. of the Weekly Register was sent, I believe to Boston for you & the 17th, (up to the 1st of this month) is only just bound. However, finding that they are franked to you, I have put those volumes in separate packages, & sent them by the mail. I had the pleasure when last at Washington to pay my respects to your son, the secretary of state, & was much gratified with my visit. Be...
35From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
M I sent you some years ago an original short letter to me dated in ’74 from Major Hawley which you very faithfully printed in one of your collections—But you have not return’d the original to me, will you be so good as to return it as soon as convenient for I have a kind of veneration for it somewhat similar to that of the Roman Catholics for their relics—the friendship of Major Hawley from...