401From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 23 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Dr Rush will give you good News of your Son. I congratulate you on the honor he has obtained by his Examination, and his Sure prospect of a Degree as a Doctor of Medicine. A young Gentleman came from Boston before Break fast this morning, on purpose to bring me the News of the Hornets Laurells. I wish every Young Man had as good Feelings and as much respect for mine....
402From John Adams to William Plumer, 28 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
You enquire, in your kind Letter of the 19th. Whether, “every Member of Congress did, on the 4th of July 1776, in fact cordially approve of the declaration of Independence”? They who were then Members all Signed it, and as I could not See their hearts, it would be hard for me to Say that they did not approve it: but as far as I could penetrate, the intricate internal foldings of their Souls, I...
403From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 29 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Packet two Papers marked A. B. four Number ed 1. 2. 3. 4. A Letter from The Vice President and one from Mr Austin to him, 8 Documents in the whole, considering your Engagements it hurts me to trouble you with the Reading of these Papers: but you will be So amused with them, that you would have reprehended me if I had Suppressed them. If any of them fall within Mr Careys Plan, he...
404From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 31 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
“The History” is of no value, except on account of its date. It was written and printed in Edes and Gills Boston Gazette, in the Interval between the first Congress in 1774 and the Second Congress in 1775 under the Signature of Novanglus. In this View it is a Document; an historical Memoir. To me personally, it is of Some importance as it is a record of the Principles on which I engaged in the...
405From John Adams to William Jones, 5 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
On the 17th of January, I had the Honour of addressing a line to the President recommending Mr John Marston junior of Boston to be appointed a Midshipman in the Navy. I am informed that an Application was made by his Father to Mr Hamilton your Predecessor, as early as last July. Since I wrote to the President I have had an opportunity to know this young Gentleman much more particularly. I...
406From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 6 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Other parts of your letter of yesterday may be remembered hereafter; but “ Brimborion ” must not be delayed nor trifled with. I shall produce an authority or two. Deletanville’s Dictionary. Brimborion SM. A trifle, A thing of little value. Lallemonts Dictionary. Brimborions. S.M.PL. Bagatelles choses de peu de valeur. Apinæ arum. Crepundia orum Children’s Playthings. Baubles as Bells Rattles....
407From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 9 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I return the correspondence in ten Numbers with Thanks for the perusal of them. They are indeed curious. I cannot reconcile myself to the opinion of one Law for a Judge and another for a Governor. Nor can I believe that Judges have So much Legislative Authority as to make Laws by Implications, Inferences, Constructions So remote and So Strained. If Judges undertake to make gag Laws they Should...
408From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Since there is nothing in human life but Brimborians, that is maginificent nothings, pompous Bubbles, Sounding Brass, tinkling Cymbals, fantastic Non Entities, airy Gossamers, idle dreams delirious visions &c &c. &c. I am desirous of assisting your studied and learned investigations into this Essence of sublumary things. Le grande Dictionaire Royal Francaise latine et allemande by Pomay....
409From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 14 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favours of the 8th. and 10th and the volume of Benjamin Edes’s gazettes printed at Watertown between the 5th of June 1775 and the 9th. of December 1776. I am much obliged to you and to Mr Austin, for the Loan of this prescious collection of Memorials I read last Fall and Winter, The Scottish Chiefs, Thadeus of Warsaw and The Exiles of Siberia; and Scotts Lay, Marmion and...
410From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 17 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Since I have read again your Line “for encouraging the fitting out armed Vessels,” printed in Ecles’s Watertown Gazette of the 13th November 1775. I have had the curiosity to look into several of our historians in order to see what notice they have taken of this transaction which had such important consequences. It was natural to begin with Mrs Warren as she was a native of this province a...
411From John Adams to Professor Peck, 17 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Packet of Seeds of Wheat, Oats, Grass, and Woad, with a Billet, I Send to you, as it came to me. I have no Suspicion who the Stranger is. It is for the Garden or any of your Friends, from your obedient Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
412From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 18 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Slip of a newspaper. On that Subject my feelings are unutterable. The Day of the Safe return of my Son and his Family, if I Should live to See it, will be the happiest day of my Life. I almost envy you, the Joy on the return of your Benjamin, Thank him for my Samos Muscat. Tell him my Girls Shall all drink his Health in a Bumper of it. I wish my Sons and Grandsons had been...
413From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 19 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
A very fortunate day to write to you, My dear Sir, and especialy on a Subject, without which my Letters of 1775 would have been no Blessing. In my last Letter I intimated a design of looking into other American Historians, after that of Mrs Warren, on the Subject of a Navy. C.J. Marshal, in the 2nd. Vol. of his Life of Washington p 255 in the month of October September, Says “The importance of...
414From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 20 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
In former Letters, I have made a few hasty Remarks upon Mrs Warren and Mr Marshall: permit me now to add one or two upon Dr Gordon. In the Second Volume of his History, page 144, he Says, “The Massachusetts Assembly resolved, October the ninth, to fit out armed Vessells; ” But how is this? This Resolution is four days later, than the Resolution of Congress, Octr. 5. which asserts that...
415From John Adams to James Monroe, 20 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 10th. of this month has laid me under very great Obligations to you. No intelligence could be more agreable to me, than the information, that the conduct of my Son has the entire approbation of The President. As a public Man I have no views for him, but to such Services as The President Shall assign him. As a private person, though his absence and the loss of his Society is...
416From John Adams to James Rush, 21 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I now Send you a Copy of the Law of Massachusetts in 13 Nov. 1775, taken from Edis’s Boston Gazette printed at Watertown, the 13th of November 1775. In the sixteenth year of the Reign of George the Third, King &c. An Act for encouraging the fixing out of armed Vessels to defend the Sea Coast of America, and for erecting a Court to try and condemn all Vessels that Shall be found infesting the...
417From John Adams to Albert Gallatin, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour to enclose a few Letters from my Family here to that part of Us who are at St. Petersburg; and ask the favour of Your Care of them. It will be great Joy to your Colleague in that City to receive the Society of Gentlemen he has So long known, and whose great Experience in public Affairs will furnish him with every necessary Information. I can do no more than pray for your...
418From John Adams to William Jones, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
As it ever has been, and forever ought to be, a general rule of the President & heads of department not to answer letters Soliciting or recommending appointments to offices—the exception to the general rule by your kind letter of the 13th of this month, lays me under a particular obligation. The reason you assign, is perfectly satisfactory to me; and I rejoice in it, as it proves the good...
419From John Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday morning hoping to receive a letter from your Husband, the messenger brought me a letter from Dr Waterhouse, with the melancholy the afflicting, account of his death; There is not a man out of my own family remaining in the world in whom I had so much confidence, for whom I had so tender an affection, and whose Friendship was so essential to my happiness. My loss and my sensibility of...
420From John Adams to James Madison, 25 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Morning expecting a Letter from Dr Rush I Sent early to the Post Office: but my Messenger brought me a Letter from Dr Waterhouse, which I inclose, having no words of my own to express my Feelings. The Shock was Sudden and unexpected. I had a Letter from Rush dated the 10th., apparently written in full health and fine Spirits. An unchangeable Friendship of thirty Eight Years had...
421From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 26 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Although Governor Gages Prediction to General Jo. Warren has not yet, been fully accomplished in this Country; yet as His Observation was Suggested by History, it will be found too just, Some time or other. Selfishness has dissappointed The Hopes of Patriotism and Philanthropy in all Ages, not only in England at the Period of her Commonwealth. Edes’s Watertown Gazette Shall be carefully...
422From John Adams to James Monroe, 28 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the frank and friendly communication in your kind letter of the 19th. of the Arrangement for the Negotiations at St. Petersburg. I have no Objection to make to it. The Points of Rank and Ettiquette, of Such vast acknowledged importance in Europe, and felt by every Man in America to be more consequence here than any Man will acknowledge; are So unsettled in this Country, that I...
423From John Adams to James Rush, 28 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your obliging Favour of the 21st and was sensibly affected by your early attention to me in communicating Immediate Intelligence of an Event so deeply afflictive to you and your amiable Family. I had already been three days a sincere mourner. Young Dr Waterhouse had written to his Father—and his Father to me an affecting account of the Sudden and unexpected sickness and...
424From John Adams to Albert Gallatin, 4 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have a Grand Son the oldest Child of J Q Adams whom we are desirous of sending to Petersburg to his father according to his fathers repeated request to us. He is 12 years old and an ingenuous youth. We are anxious to know whether you Gentlemen will condescend to take him under your protection; and whether it will be possible to send him to you before your ship will sail. His father will pay...
425From John Adams to Richard Rush, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
In what terms can I address you? There are none that can express my Sympathy with you and your Family, or my own personal Feelings on this loss of your excellent Father. There is not another Person, out of my own Family, who can die, in whom my personal Happiness can be so deeply affected. The World would pronounce me extravagant and no Man would apologize for me if I should Say that in the...
426From John Adams to James Madison, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I ought to make an apology to you for the trouble I give you to read so many of my letters upon subjects with which perhaps I should have nothing to do. but as I am requested to give a simple letter of introduction to a gentleman going to Washington, I could not refuse it. Mr Andrew Eliot a respectable Merchant of Boston has a petition to present to the Administration or to the legislature or...
427From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Our Boston Rulers must be acknowledged to be profound Politicians. They appear to have Studied the Uses of Solomons Temple and its furniture, and the Rites and Ceremonies of the Hebrew Polity. The final Causes of the Temples and Altars of Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus &c and the Festivals in honour of Such Gods among the Greeks and Romans, appear to be well understood. The History of the Rise and...
428From John Adams to David Humphreys, 10 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for introducing to me Mr Francis Coffin and Mr Sumner, the Brother and Brother in law of that Lady who did me the honour to drink a Glass of Wine with me at your house. I have given the Gentlemen, all the Information I had, which in truth was very little. They gave me much more. Dearborne’s Enterprize against York and Niagara: but they had not the hand Bill and could not give...
429From John Adams to James Jervey, 13 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday the letter with which you honoured me on the 26 April inclosing Mr Elliots Oration on the inauguration of the Federal constitution. I thank you gentlemen for your polite attentions The brilliant prospects of your orator into futurity have almost excited a wish for a prolongation of Life, in your most humble Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
430From John Adams to Gideon Granger, 13 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to enclose to you a letter from my neighbour Mr Mottram Vesey and to add my Testimony to the truth of his representations. His situation is the best in town and his qualifications too. Indeed I beleive he has no competitors. I have known him from his cradle, and his father and Grandfathers from mine. His appointment will oblige his connections who are numerous and respectable and I...
431From John Adams to James Madison, 14 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with the favour of the 5 inclosing Dr Waterhouses letter to me of the 23 of April announcing to me the afflicting news of the death of one of my oldest and most intimate Friends Dr Rush. Though I can scarcely look over an obituary without mourning some ancient friend or acquaintance, none has affected me more sensibly than the sudden departure of Dr Rush. His merit as...
432From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 20 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 15 with great pleasure and the volume attending it with gratitude.—When I received from our excellent friend Dr Rush, an intimation that Mr Matthew Carey was about publishing a work on the Navy of the U.S. I expected something very valuable because I recollected the American Museum and the history if the Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, the latter of which works to...
433From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
The promised Anecdote of Quaker Benevolence is this. In June 1775, The British Man of War Asia, took Prisoner Colonel Hitchburne, now of Dorchester dying of a paralitic Stroke, then a Boy, but an ingenious one, just out of the Offices of Saml. Fitch, and James Otis, where he had been a Student in Law. The Men of Wars Men broke open his Chest, as he was crossing Hudsons River at New York, and...
434From John Adams to Samuel Dexter, 25 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is not with any enviable, or eligible Feelings that I find myself, under a necessity of addressing you, at this Time, and in this manner: to request the favour of you to communicate to our Society, my determination to retire. As my advanced Age and indifferent Health render it impossible for me to attend the Meetings of the Society or discharge the Duties of my Office with any regularity, I...
435From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 26 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Though my Letter presented to you by Dr James Rush came too late to answer the purpose intended, you may retain it if you please, or return it to Dr James Rush, as you please. The appointment of the Son to succeed his Father, has my cordial Approbation. “The publication of the Naval History is a great Event.” I hope you will Send a number of the first Edition to Boston: and every other...
436From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 28 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 21, inclosing my Letter to Dr James Rush of April 30th. If you or Mr Clark could want any proof of the Utility, importance or necessity of The History of the Navy which you have published and propose to enlarge and improve it would be worth while to revise our American Historians for 1775. 1776. &c. Since I received your Book I have had the Curiosity to consult...
437From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 28 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
You know not the Feeling I have for you. I wish Mr Cutts and Mr Seaver, may guess right: but you know Men are apt to guess as they wish. You “do not See but Christians destroy each other full as much as Pagans”. To this I answer, Joshua Pizarro Alva, Lorrain, Laud, Bartholomews day, the Powder Plott and the Irish Massacre. I will add that Democrats, Deists and Atheists destroy each other, and...
438From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
To leave the Pettifogger of Funivals Inn, or Cliffords Inn, his Archbishop Laud, and his Chevalier of St. Iago of Compostella Sir Christopher Gardiner, for the present; Paulo Multo majora canamus. There has been put into my hands, within a few days a gross Volume in octavo, of 544 Pages with the Title of “Memoirs of the late reverend Theophilus Lindsey. M. A.” including a brief “Analysis of...
439From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 1 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
On Sunday last, Samuel Tucker Esquire of Bristol on the District of Maine, very unexpectedly made me a Visit.—I was delighted to see, once more, the Man, who in 1778 carried me Safely to Bourdeaux, through the Six and twenty misfortunes of Harlequin. He is Sixty five years of Age. He has retired upon a Farm and is a Representative in our State House of Representatives: but is more anxious at...
440From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 2 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your address to the Senate. I wish the Presidents Message, your address, and Governor Strongs speech might be printed together in every News-paper. There are pretty stories universally circulating here of your fortuitous journey in the Stage with Colonel Pickering. I have heard them with pleasure, for they really do honour to both. They are really good natured. The Millenium...
441From John Adams to John Farrar, 4 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of May 17th, notifying a Meeting of The Accademy on the 20th. did not arrive till the 21st. The other Letter with which you honoured me, Subsequent to the last Meeting of The American Accademy of Arts and Sciences, has Sensibly affected me. An Election to the Chair of that learned and Reverend and Honourable and every Way respectable Society, I have ever esteemed, the highest...
442From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 5 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I read, within a few days an Address to General and Governor Gage, from the Barr, and the Name of Caleb Strong, among the Addressers. This, to be sure, is a characteristic Trait. In former parts of my life, I have known, Somewhat of this Thing called “ A Barr .” A Significant Word and an important Thing! By all that I remember of the History of England The British Constitution, has been...
443From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 5 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
“You ‘never profoundly admired Mr. H.’ I have suggested some hints in his favor. You ‘never profoundly admired Mr. S. A.’ I have promised you an apology for him. You may think it a weak one; for I have no talent at panegyric or apology. ‘There are all sorts of men in the world.’ This observation, you may say, is self-evident and futile; yet Mr. Locke thought it not unworthy of him to make it;...
444From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 8 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
There are several things abroad which are reported to have been intended as pictures of me; some of them drawn by persons who never saw me. others by persons who never saw me to whom I never sat and others and others by painters who requested me to sit. I pretend not to be a judge of the merit of any of them. But there is not an approved likness among them. The least approved of all is one...
445From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 9 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 3d instant with two Copies of the Sketches having received one before, bseides the first. All the four arrived in perfect Condition. One I gave yesterday to my Nephew, William Smith Shaw, formerly my private Secretary, for his Boston Athenæum, who is delighted with it, a Second I gave to our Quincy Library, and it is now circulating in this Village,...
446From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you sketches of Naval history and a letter from the Author Make what use of them you think probono publico. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
447From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter to Dr Priestley of March 21. 1801, You ask “What an Effort, of Bigotry in politics and religion have We gone through! The barbarians really flattered themselves, they should be able to bring back the times of Vandalism, when ignorance put everything into the hands of power and priestcraft. All Advances in Science were proscribed as innovations; they pretended to praise and...
448From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I recd. yesterday your favour of May 27th. I lament with you the loss of Rush. I know of no Character living or dead who has done more real good in America. Robert Treat Paine still lives, at 83 or 84, alert drol and witty though deaf. Floyd I believe, yet remains. Paine must be very great; Philosopher and Christian; to live under the Afflictions of his Family. Sons and Daughters with Genius...
449From John Adams to Robert Fulton, 13 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
The letters and Documents inclosed with other letters from our Minister in Russia to his father, his mother, his brother, and his Sons have been transmitted to me, by the Cartel Agnes, from John Michel Esqre: Agent of the United States for exchanges of American prisoners of War in Halifax, where they were all opened in the Court of Admiralty, & by permission of Sir John C Sherbrook sent to me....
450From John Adams to Richard Rush, 13 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 6th has interested me more than any one I have received Since my last from your Father both by the important information, in it and especially by exciting the tender recollection of that great and good Man, and reviving all my Sensibility of his loss. I miss him every day and almost every hour. It is even a consolation to me that I cannot miss him long. But I must...