31From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of November and January have not been acknowledged. The Politiques de Pous les Cabinets, I once had but have lost. Of the other Books I know nothing; and it is too late for me, ever to know any thing, concerning, “An infernal Spirit, which has Evil for its Good,” I can Say Nothing, but advise you to read Beausobres Manicheism, and Hugh Farmers Demons. My Grandsons are at an...
32From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Can you and will you be So good as to give me any information concerning a Work intitled “Le Philosophie de bon Sens” by the Marqus D’Argens; the translation of Ocellus Περι του παντος , with notes and dissertations? Or his translation of Timeus of Locris ΠΕΡΙ ΨΥΧΑΣ ΚΟΣΜΩ, καὶ φύσιος , with notes and dissertations? Or his translations of the Emperor Julians Defence of Paganism and reflections...
33From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 16th. would occupy me for 12 months, when I know not that I have 12 days to live. The Outlines of the Life I shall be happy to receive. Basanistes is a Jeu d’Esprit. There is nothing new in it. It is only like viewing Boston Harbour from Weymouth great Hill by a Man who had often Seen it from Bacon Hill. The Same “ Analysis of Investigation ,” might be applied to prove that...
34From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
How Shall I? How can I express my Obligations to you? My Time, thoughts, labours are all Spent in my Garden, from five in the morning to Eight at night. I am more fatigued than my Boys or my Men. They laugh and Sing and dance, after I am So exhausted that I can Scarcely hear Madame or Mademoiselle read your Letters or Buckminsters Sermons, or Everets. At a time, when I had resigned the Chair...
35From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your favr. of the 12th has revived or awakened my Pen which had fainted or Slept for many Weeks Preparations for Festivals have taken no time, nor many thoughts. One Sunday Evening, which our Parson, Said was the most pleasant and profitable, he had ever Spent, was all. Mr De Wint and Caroline have as little disposition to Pomp as her Grandfather. If you can give me any information concerning...
36From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 23. Ult, with its in closed Sketch, Skeleton, Frame, Plan, Scheme, System, Plott, Platt, or by whatever other name you please to call your Etching, has been received. What Title do you in tend to give it? An History of The Decline and Fall of Christianity? or An History of The Improvement of the Human Mind? or An History of the Progress of Society? or An History of the...
37From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 31 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
“That old Vertigo in his head Will never leave him, till he’s dead” was Said of Dr Swift. I say, that “malignant Dæmon” will never cease to haunt you, till you learn more temperance in reading, writing and thinking. I am glad you mentioned this Dæmon, because it gives me an Opportunity of enquiring into the natural history of that Species, or Genus of Beings. Have you read Farmers Treatise of...
38From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your affecting favour of 16. Aug. is before me. The natural bent of my mind has the honour to resemble yours so much, that chymical physical and mathematical studies would have been the favourite Amusement, pursuit and Occupation of my Life, if I had been permitted to choose. But such Felicity has not been granted to me. Imperious Circumstances have driven me, to Metaphysicks to Theology, and...
39From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
To be Sure, you can cutt out Work, like a Master Tayler, or Shoemaker for a Thousand hands to work up. Was there ever Such a Letter as yours of July 19th.? The Name of De Gyzelaer, like the Name of D’Ivernois which I recd on the same day from St. Petersburg, excites recollections that would fill a volume. You are preparing the negotiations of John Adams at the Courts “of St. James’s,...
40From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your third of Aug.—Griefs upon Griefs! Disappointments upon Disappointments! All is Vanity! What then? This is a gay, merry World, notwithstanding. Pray! Can you tell me What are The Uses of Grief .? And will you tell me What are the Abuses of Grief ? Grief exists, to a tremendous degree. So much is certain. But can you tell me, what it is good for? And what it is bad for? For every...