1From John Adams to William Cunningham, 17 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your friendly letter of the 30 July a few days ago. The People of America in general have been attached to the French, much more warmly than they deserved. They have been deceived. And when Mankind once open their Eyes upon an Error they have been in, they commonly are astonished that they did not see it, sooner. I am glad to hear of the Company of Lunnenburg Musketeers.—Please to...
2From John Adams to David Payson, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your unanimous Address adopted at Wiscassett in the County of Lincoln at a Regimental Review on the fifteenth of October. A Spirit like yours Seems in a remarkable manner to animate the Militia throughout the Union and will be sufficient to discourage all disorganizing Factions and foreign Influence. Your Spirited Resolutions are not the last in point of time, nor are they...
3From John Adams to William Cunningham, 25 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favor of the 23d and I hasten to give you an answer. The paper addressed to me last year which you allude to, has been communicated to no one, and will never give the least uneasiness to the lady who wrote it. She may make herself very tranquil on that subject. We should have been very glad to have received the visit you intended us and am sorry your engagements...
4From John Adams to William Cunningham, 28 November 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday your favor of the 25—had before received the copy of your oration, which you mention in it and since that have received the other that you sent first—for all these favors I thank you. The brochure which contains much valuable matter I have read with a lively interest and high pleasure—I wish I had patience and leisure however to make a few friendly remarks—But as I have...
5From John Adams to William Cunningham, 16 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I ought to acknowledge my fault in having two of your kind letters to answer at once. I return you with thanks, Mr: Thomas’s Spy in which my poor "Thoughts on government," are wickedly and libellously imputed to "the greatest man in America." This was received in your letter of Dec 2d: I thank you for the trouble you have taken to ascertain that Mr: Zabdiel Adams’s Sermon on the validity of...
6From John Adams to William Cunningham, 24 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 15th: with its inclosures. I thank you for the outline as well as the eulogy. I am sorry you had the trouble of transcribing the former, which I see was written as the Italians speak con amore . Speaking of the classification of Scholars in our Colledge, before the Revolution, you consider rank & wealth as anti-republican principles of precedence; Is this...
7From John Adams to William Cunningham, 15 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. is received. I beg you would not say a word about me in relation to the subject, which you say now engages the public attention. I am no match for these times, nor for the Actors, who now tread the Stage. You say this awful spirit of Democracy is in great progress. I believe it and I know something of the nature of it. It is a young rake, who thinks himself handsome and...
8From John Adams to William Cunningham, 27 September 1808 (Adams Papers)
The papers to No. 6, which you mention in your kind letter of the 19th I have never seen nor heard. In what paper or pamphlet were they published? The federalists, I think, might suffer my old lamp to go out without administering their nauseous oil, merely to excite a momentary flash before it expires. Do you think the federalists believe themselves when they say that I am on the side of the...
9From John Adams to William Cunningham, 15 October 1808 (Adams Papers)
The information in your last letter, to look in the Palladium for certain speculations, is very agreeable. As I have never subscribed for that paper, I have never read them. Indeed I seldom see it. Your friendship for J. Q. Adams, encourages me to say, that Washington was indeed under obligations to him, for turning the tide of sentiment against Genet, and he was sensible of it and grateful...
10From John Adams to William Cunningham, 7 November 1808 (Adams Papers)
The letter of General Washington would have remained in obscurity forever, as far as I know, as it has been for twelve years past, had not a mean vengeance been hurled on the subject of it, for no other offence than his sterling integrity. You are the first person except one who ever asked me a question concerning the reasons for releasing, a certain Gentleman from the burthen of public...