1111From John Adams to Arnold Welles, 5 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind and obliging Letter of the second of this month encloseing a polite invitation to the Festivities at Fanuel Hall on this day, in Honour of Captain Hull and, the gallant officers and seamen of the Frigate Constitution. The committee will please to accept my thanks for this mark of their attention to me. I had till this morning flattered myself with the pleasing hope...
1112From John Adams to William White, 1 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
Almost at the moment, when I entered my 79th year I recd. your kind letter, and a valuable present of your lectures on the Catechism and your Sermon on the Epiphany. The Sermon has been read to me in my family and I have made some progress in the Lectures. The candour and moderation which I have known in the Author for 35 years appears in these compositions; for which I pray you to accept my...
1113From John Adams to William White, 24 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I rely entirely on the long and agreeable acquaintance between us and the knowledge I have had for 34 years, of the Candour & urbanity of your character, as an apology for the liberty I take of introducing to you the Reverend Henry Colman, an established minister of the Congregational Church in Hingham. As a gentleman a Scholar, & a Christian, I am confident you will find him not unworthy of...
1114From John Adams to William White, 29 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
From your very kind reception of Mr Colman I am encouraged to introduce to you another of our choice Spirits, who is travelling for health and improvement The Revd Mr Edward Everett is in every view one of the most respectable Men of his Age, that ever arose in Massachusetts. He has given proofs to the World of a Genius, of Learning, and of Industry that have never been exceeded at his Age in...
1115From John Adams to Kilborn Whitman, 9 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
your kind letter of september 2nd though received in season has not yet been answered or acknowledged. Unfortunate accidents and afflictive Events have rendered me incapable of Writing during the whole of this time. I read your letter, Sir with much concern, and immediately communicated it to my son. I cannot say that I have interested myself in any appointment of any kind, since the 4th of...
1116From John Adams to James Wilkinson, 12 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
On Thursday night I received from the Post Office your favour of October the second. Although it arrived at a moment when Wounds, Sickness, and Deaths in my Family, and among my tenderest Connections had excited all my sensibility and that of all my Family I thought it my duty to answer as soon as possible to the Interrogatories you enclosed. My answers are contained in the enclosed Sheet N.2....
1117From John Adams to James Williams, 5 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour, this morning to receive your favour from New York of the 30th of November. At the same time I had the pleasure to receive two small pacquets of letters from London; I thank you Sir for your kind care of these letters, and congratulate you on your safe return to this Country. I am Sir respectfully, your obliged & obedient Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1118From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 11 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have, just now received your favour of the 6th. Who, pray, has injured the Character of Commodore John Paul Jones? and in what manner? It would give me Pleasure to furnish any Evidence in my Power in vindication of his Character against any Injury: but I have no recollection of any Acknowledgement of Jones himself, that his Surname was Paul, though I remember that the English Publications...
1119From John Adams to William D. Williamson, 25 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
When the House of Representatives, under the Charter of Charles I “broke out” as Huchinson expresses it, I presume they were chosen by the Towns. I never heard of any Elections by districts before the revolution, except of Registers of deeds and County Treasurers, by Counties, nor by General Ticket except of Governors and Lt Governors and perhaps of Secretaries Under the Charter of W. and...
1120From John Adams to William D. Williamson, 25 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 12th. was brought to me this Morning from the Post Office. 1 My Answer to the first Question, is, that When Vacancies were made in the Council, by the Negative of the Governor, they were never filled that Year. Governors rarely used their Negative. The first Instance, within my Recollection, was in 1766. The Honourable James Otis Junr was elected Speaker of The House, but...
1121From John Adams to John Wilson, 7 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Nothing but sickness would have delayed an acknowledgement of your favour of June 1814 I have indeed been entertained by your Philogical Entertainments and agree with you that the English language is capable of “immense improvements.” Every Art is founded in Science, and every Science in principle; Where can we look for the principles of Grammar, but in the physical constructions of the...
1122From John Adams to Noah Worcester, 6 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 23d of January, and I thank you for the pamphlets enclosed with it. It is very true, as my excellent friend, Mr. Norton, has informed you, that I have read many of your publications with pleasure. I have also read, almost all the days of my life, the solemn reasonings and pathetick declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon, of St. Pierre, and many others...
1123From John Adams to Noah Worcester, 6 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of the 23d of January and I thank you for the Pamphlets enclosed with it. It is very true, as my excellent Friend Mr Norton has informed you that I have read many of your Publications with pleasure. I have also read, almost all the days of my life, the solemn Reasonings and pathetic Declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon, of St Pierre and many others against War,...
1124Memorandum Preceding Letter to George Wythe, January 1776, 21 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
In the beginning of the year 1776 There was printed, at Phyladelphia, a Pamphlet under the Title of Thoughts on Government in a Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend, if memory serves me. The Gentleman was Mr John Adams and his then a Member of Congress and his Friend now President of the United States and his Friend was Mr George Wythe then a Member of Congress from Virginia and now...
1125Three party indenture for distribution of property between JA and AA et al., 7 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
This indenture of three parts made and concluded this seventh day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & fourteen by and between John Adams Esquire and Abigail his wife in her right, of Quincy in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Richard Norton of Alexandria in the District of Columbia Esquire, William Norton of Weymouth in said County of Norfolk,...
1126From John Adams, 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
George, John, Charles! You See there was Religion in Athens, as there has been in all Nations and will be, and ought to be, however absurd ridiculous or horrible in Some. Bless God, that You were born under one, which if you will take Pains to understand it, in its Symplicity, Sincerity and Truth will console you more than all the Philosophy or Religion of ancient or modern Nations. MHi :...
1127Note Regarding Genesis of Thoughts on Government, 21 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
In the Winter of 1776 there was much discussion in Congress concerning the Necessity of Independence, and advising the Several States to institute Governments for themselves under the immediate Authority and original Power of The People. Great difficulties, occurred to many Gentlemen, in making a Transition from the Old Governments to the new, i.e from the Royal to Republican Governments. In...
1128To the Boston Patriot, 6 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
ON Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, 1782 I arrived in the night, at the Hotel de Valois, Rue de Richelieu in Paris, after a journey of ten days from the Hague, from whence Mr. John Thaxter and Mr. Charles Storer departed with me, on the Thursday se’night preceding. I have several times performed this journey of about three hundred and twenty-five miles in three days. But rains of unusual...