51William Smith Shaw to John Adams, 6 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
After living uninteruptedly in your family, for almost three years, and uniformly receiving, both from you and my Aunt, all the affection and tenderness of the most indulgent parents, I should do injustice to all the honorable feelings [of a gr]ateful heart, were I to omit this opportunity and leave you, Sir, without [ex]pressing to you my warmest acknowledgments, for the innumerable favors I...
52To John Adams from John Trumbull, 19 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
‘Till I received your last of the 4th: instant I had no idea that you doubted the truth of Washington’s letter relative to the capture of Cornwallis and supposed you only questioned the propriety of his allowing a letter to be published, in which he appears to boast of his success in stratagems. You express a wish that "the veracity of the letter might be established beyond all cavil." I can...
53To John Adams from Rufus King, 12 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to send you enclosed the copy of a convention which I have signed with Lord Hawkesbury concerning the 6. & 7. Arts. of the Treaty of 1794—As the discussions which led to this Result were begun and conducted under your instructions, I feel it to be my Duty, as well as a mark of Respect that is due to you, to send you this Copy by the same opportunity that I avail myself of, to...
54To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 24 August 1808 (Adams Papers)
In Contemplating the events that have lately taken place in Spain, and their probable Consequences, I we feel disposed to exclaim in the bold Apostrophe of Jeremiah “O! thou Sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? Put up thyself into thy Scabbard, rest, and be Still.” Chapt: 47. verse 6th: shall we hope that a Voice from heaven has arrested the destroyer of nations, or is he...
55To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 February 1805 (Adams Papers)
How can I make a return for your favors which you continue to bestow upon me—as having nothing to offer besides an unfeigned gratitude. Had I an higher opinion of mÿ Letters, whose acceptance I chiefly owe to your indulgent kind partiality: and would saÿ with Horace—Gaudes Carminibus, carmina possumus Donare—Now I have not even this plea—but I have three of your Letters before me— I have been...
56To John Adams from Henry Guest, 8 September 1808 (Adams Papers)
I have Deferred Acknowleging the reipt. of your Very Obliging Lettr. Of 16 June Last wherein in a Peculiar Manner you are pleased to Except of your Guest. May it be to you the Service intended from the Simplicity of honist intentions—And I hartily Wish I Could So Easily transpourt the Doner to your preasence for an hour when your Lasure Would Admit—He which in the first Moments Endeavour to...
57To John Adams from John Coxil, 28 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have been vary anxious and try‘d to send these Bricks that I engaged to you. I have obtained fair promissis from those with which I contracted to carry them, that they would be faithfull to come at those times they repeatedly set. After a multiplied series of disappointments the Bay thro’ which they must pass has frozen over which cuts off the expectation of getting them freighted, (or...
58To John Adams from David Adams, 20 August 1806 (Adams Papers)
I Send you A few Lines to Enform you That I have Receivd, A letter from My Mother the 20 of May 1806 Enforming Me that All the Fammily of Your Late Deceased Brother Is Well at present And I hope that these few Lines Will find You the Same. I also Enform you that After the Death of My father I was Oblidgd to Come to this Cuntry for to Git My Living and I find it Very hard to do that here—I...
59To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 November 1802 to 28 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
Mÿ occupations in gathering seeds—and preparing my fields and garden for ensuing spring have thus far prevented my answering the favour, with which I was honored bÿ you last month—Tho’ mÿ hope of receiving, before this time, a decision about the Achaic Republick, had influenced this delaÿ. I sent it to Philadelphia, where my correspondent J. Mifflin will charge himself with super intending the...
60To John Adams from Joseph Bradley Varnum, 7 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellent Communication of the 26th. Ult. is highly appreciated among our friend here; and I do think, it would Expand it’s beneficial Effects, on the Affairs of our Nation if it’s contents could be published. But as I have no leave from you to do it, I shall feel my self bound not to do it.—Please Sir, to Accept my most cordial thanks for your goodness in making the Communication. I am...
61To John Adams from Joseph Willard, 13 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
It is the unanimous request of the Corporation of Harvard college, that you would honor the College with your company on the next Commencement day. I hope, Sir, that you will accept the invitation. Your presence will give great pleasure to all, and to none more than to him who begs leave to subscribe, / with Sentiments of the highest respect, / Sir, / your most humble, / and most obedient...
62To John Adams from William Cunningham, 14 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
I received, on the last day of December, the 2d. and 3d. volumes of the Defence, for which I renew my thanks. You have truly characterized this work in the comparison you have made of it, in your Letter of the 3d. inst. to a Boudoir. Many of the evils which you have described as incident to an unbalanced government, we have found by experience to have been insufficiently guarded against by our...
63To John Adams from William Cunningham, 9 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
The unusual obstructions to travelling prevented my receiving your esteemed favor of the 24th. ult. till a day or two ago. I am sensible to that discernment which has discovered in the " con Amore " of the Italians, the real temper in which I wrote the Outline. I wish it had been more just to you, and that I could find encouragement, now that the Public attention is engaged in designating a...
64John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith the second number of my Gazette, which completes the Journal for the month of March. By the last post I sent to Hamburg a letter for my mother with the information, that on the 12 th: inst r: my wife was delivered of a son. But she was then extremely ill, & I wrote under the impression of great alarm on her account. She has since very much recovered, & as I am assured quite...
65To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 May 1807 (Adams Papers)
You shall not expect an excuse, for mÿ dilaÿing a few days to return the inclosed. Mÿ heart was too much oppressed with grief: I took refuge to Labour to assuage its pain. My young friend Mappa brought me your Lett. in mÿ garden—first I thought to keep it unopened—till I arrived home—its unusual thickness impelled me to break its seal—I perused first Cremer’s Letter—glanced over your lines—and...
66To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 19 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind favour of the 6th: instt: and shall be careful to enclose the more important documents which may be printed from Time to Time— I hope my dear Mother has ere this entirely recovered from her illness. I had a letter from Mr: Shaw, one day later than your’s, in which he gives me a yet more flattering hope of her being on the recovery. Although the more my brother’s...
67To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
Had I not been favoured with so manÿ proofs of your kindness I should have hesitated to undertake the task in writing this letter; more so, as I flatter’d meself, that it should have been in mÿ friend’s power, to satisfy in this article the utmost of your wishes. But here I fear I shall be disappointed, as this is the time of the ÿear of making up his annual accounts, which require all his...
68To John Adams from Gabriel Duvall, 17 September 1808 (Adams Papers)
The House of Representatives of the United States having passed a resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury to lay before them at their next Session a list of all balances due to the United States on account of monies advanced, it is desirable to Settle as many accounts as it Shall be found practicable to examine before the first day of October next, and particularly in cases where it...
69To John Adams from David Sewall, 6 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I was considerably amused by a News paper publication some few Weeks since, Which Paper I have lost or mislaid.—It was a description of something that tended to the great and long desideration of ascertaining Longitude. A Gent. was said to have departed on a Voyage from Philadelphia for some Port on the Eastern Continent, and during the Voyage, told the precise Longitude the Vessell was in...
70To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 November 1806 (Adams Papers)
How long have I waited in answering your favour of 23th. of aug–with which you again honoured your old frend? To anÿ other I should be obliged, to make an apologÿ for my silence, during such a long interval of time—but your kindness—acquainted with mÿ circumstances, relieves me of this burden. You enjoÿ—honored and loved by all what surround you, otium cum dignitate, while I see my Labours and...
71To John Adams from Ma., Citizens of Quincy, 30 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
The return of this anniversary cannot fail to awaken in our breasts the warmest sentiments of gratitude and esteem. It recalls to view the many important events of your public life, events intimately connected with those principles and proceedings which constitute the greatest glory of our country, and will form some of the most valuable pages in the history of nations. We hope the liberty we...
72To John Adams from John Morton, 29 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
Having furnished the respectable Editon of the Medl. Repository with a summary Accot. of the City of Hava. I beg a presumption to request your acceptance of a Copy of that article from their last number. You will perceive Sir that, as there stated, it is but a summary; but as I intend collecting all my Notes into one View, I shall at a future day beg your acceptance, also, of that collection....
73To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
Long Since I Should have acquitted me of my duty in congratulating you with your Safe arrival at your beloved Quincÿ, but the apprehension of interrupting your contentment—the onlÿ reward for all—your Services and Sacrifices—during a long meritorious life, if you could disregard the applauses of enlightened Europe—persuaded me to postpone it a while. Tho in the medden of your friends—in the...
74To John Adams from Henry Guest, 20 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have not had the pleasure to receive a Line from you in Some time—Did you know what pleasure your letter gave me and how they Chiered my Old heart in these Drary times of Our Country your humanity and friendly disposition Would Often raise My Druping Spirits—for lete Me assure you Sir, they have been Sadly Depressed Since your Son gave up his year in the Senate. Especially this Season when...
75To John Adams from William Cunningham, 27 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
I indulged in this pleasure the 9th Inst., in reply to your esteemed favor of the 24th of February. I observe, in the Centinel, the offer of a place in Germantown on Lease by a Mr Stewart. If I could think a residence in the vicinity of Boston within my means, I would immediately make particular enquiries concerning Mr Stewart’s, for I am very desirous of placing myself more in the way of...
76To John Adams from the Selectmen of Boston, 27 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Selectmen of the Town of Boston, present their most respectful compliments to Mr. Adams; and request the honour of his company at the visitation of the Schools on wednesday the 8th July next;—and to dine at Faneuil hall. MHi : Adams Papers.
77To John Adams from Richard Cranch, 14 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
Received of Hone John Adams Esq. by Cotton-Tufts one Hundred Thirty five Dollars Six Cents in full for one years Interest on his said Adams’s promissory Note to me bearing Date March 29th 1802. MHi : Adams Papers.
78To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 27 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 14th: instt: came to my hands just at a moment to renew and to strengthen impressions which had been weighing heavily upon my mind for near a month—The general questions relative to the powers and the process of expulsion under our Constitution had been forced upon me by the situation in which I was placed as Chairman of the Committee on the present Inquiry—My own...
79To John Adams from Benjamin Waterhouse, 8 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 28th. instant has just come to hand, and I have stepped into the house of a friend to answer acknowledge it. I cannot sufficiently thank you & the worthy Mitchill for your friendly attention to my wishes. I called to day, for the first time, at the Custom-house, and there learnt that General Lincoln, as superintendent of the Marine-Hospital, had requested Dr Eustis to take...
80To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
Long since I should have indulged mÿ wishes in writing you a few lines, had it been in mÿ power, to make anÿ communications worthÿ your attention, but, perpending, respected friend! how much I owe you alreadÿ, I did consider it rather indelicate, to intrude, too often, in your retirement, and avocate ÿou from more interesting occupations. This time, however, mÿ plea Sir! shall be accepted bÿ...