61From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
Pray tell me how you apply the sublimate Murcury for the cure of externally and internally of weak weeping inflammatory and dim sighted Eyes—I am very much interested in this inquiry— Have you seen Duponceau and Heckevelder on the Indians—which is the worst! The Revenge of Indians or the Inquisition—I admire your maxim—Nil peractum donec aliquid peragendum—but I have scarcely written eleven...
62From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
Pray tell me how you apply the sublimate murcury for the cure external’y and internally of weak weeping inflamatory and dim sighted Eye—I am interested in this inquiry—have you seen duponceau and Heckevelder on the Indians—which is the worst! the Revenge of Indians or the inquisition? I admire your maxim Nil Peractum do nec aliquid peragendum—but I have scarcely written eleven hundred words,...
63To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
As I know not where mrs de Wint resides—I must address my Lett to your care—I could not indulge my Self of adopting this ignorance for an apology in not writing—as I have been So peculiarly gratified by their kind and courteous present of Verplank’s Oration—which I had not yet Seen—except in the Rev. of the N. Amer. It proves indeed that I am not forgotten, and that the Spirt of the Grand...
64From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
I see by your favour of May 10th that we must all grow Old—but you have not yet experienced one tenth part of the Infirmitys of Old Age—I am very glad your Physician promises you, that all will be well In your Researches do you find any Evidence of Persecutions of Quakers Anabaptists Witches or any–other Sectary’s amongst your Primitive Dutch Settle’rs in New–york—or amongst the cortier...
65To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Although my health is very indifferent, and my eyes soo weak and dim, that within a fortnight, I could Scarce affect any thing, either by labour or in writing—yet I must indulge the gratification of thanking you, for the few affectionate lines with which your kindness favoured me with. My Physician Says—all will be Soon well—the chief remedies are—abstinentia et quiete.Was your life less...
66From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. your kind favour of the 4th. of March and thank you for your kind rememberance of me, but I am overwhelmed with an oppressive correspondance at an age when I can neither write nor read; and this must be my apology for making so unequal returns to you for your goodness. I rejoice that your energies are so usefully employed. Your translation I am convinced will be useful to the...
67To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
Although the manifold proofs, which I received from your affectionate regards can never be obliterated—no—not even weakened by lenght of time—yet I presume—it may be become a difficult task to you to recollect, when the last line to inform me of your wellfare—from Montezillo was written—You know me too well, that I could wish to extort from you one Single line, which Should cause you the least...
68To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Persuaded, that it is a gratification to be informed of our continued health—a Severe cold Since three weeks excepted—I indulge myself in the pleasure, of Sending you a few lines—although I foresee, I cannot make these interesting. But it will give you a fresh proof, that the passing years can not obliterate the deep and grateful Sense, which I cultivate, of the numerous kindnesses , which you...
69To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
yes, I am thankful—I am Sensible of my high obligations towards you—how few can follow your example! to remember a friend—in the days of prosperity deserves praise, but to do So in the hour of Sorrow—to Set this a Side to Sooth his anguish is not common—I knew—you did So, and if it was possible, that I could doubt it, the few affectionate lines from your own hand would have dispelled it—She is...
70From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I cannot answer your two last Letters. Of Thomas Adams I know nothing; except that a Man of that name was one of the Counsell of Plymouth and named in the Charter, and Parson Prince Somewhere Says the most active Man in promoting the Translation of the Charter to New England. Our Friend D. A. Tyng, cannot Surely expect Miracles from his and your Friend PHi : John Adams Papers.
71To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I must then Submit to the painful task of condoling you with the irreparable loss—and yet—my Dear friend! I can find no words—to express my hearts anguish—alas! what must be your feelings—when that partner of your heart and Soul is torn from your Side! oh! was I with you—then I might have Shared in the Comfort from her lips before her departure—then her last blessing might have cheered my...
72To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 November 1818 to 2 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
If my delaying to answer ÿour favour of the 2 of oct was a just measure of my valuing your condescending kindnesses then—no doubt—I ought to be deemed not to deserve your So distinguished attention—but I am happy indeed, that you cannot foster Such an idea—and I Should rather be prompted to make an apologÿ for an insignificant Letter, was I not fully persuaded—that—imperfect as it may be, it...
73From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
As Misery is Said to derive Some consolation from the Misery of others; your Letter of 18. Septr. has given me Some miserable Comfort, to find to find that your Batavian Predecessors in New York were not much more tollerant than my Yankee Ancestors in New England. But I admire your East India Company and their Director, and their Threat, of the Authority of their H. M. the States General. How...
74To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Unexpectedly I was favoured with your kind Letter of Aug. 22—and, what was more gratifying, it Sheweth, that you enjoy’d health and chearfulness—be these continued to you—till the last moments. I too gradually Seem to recover mÿ Strenght: ere long the necessity of working in the garden Shall cease—and then I must return to the Records—which nevertheless—during the first weeks—Shall not amuse...
75From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 22 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 16th. My Health is that of the quivering Flame over the dying Lamp. I am very much interested in your Records. I wish you would inform me, whether the Dutch in New York hanged or banished any Quakers? hanged or pressed to death by the Paine forte et dure, any Wiches as our New England Ancestors did? I wish you would enquire, Whether Virginia did not persecute...
76To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
What an era has elapsed Since I was not gratified with one Single line from Montezillo! more than three mounths—and yet now, and then I amuse my Self—in reading again the Last Letters, with which I was honoured by you and mrs Adams—of march 10 and Apr. 28. Yet I am pleased to Suppose that health, remains your Share—otherwise I Should have been informed of it. Was I not fully persuaded, I Shall...
77To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
Although only a few moments of day light are left me, I Shall take hold of these to indulge a pleasurable feeling—in cordially thanking your kindness. for Sending me the Trans. Vol. iii Both parts visited first the North—last night Part. i was returned—Part ii—was received the week before. But—my Dear friend!—How willingly I acknowledge my obligations to you—yet I must complain—you did...
78To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
Since I was gratified with your favour of march the 10, another of my intimate acquaintances—whom you may, perhaps, may recollect to have Seen in Holland, H. de Roo, van Wulverhorst is gone—the harvest for gathering my frends Seems to be at hand—two more, Vreed-en Cau, are yet left—and this week my Son communicated to us the death of his youngest Boy—only Six years—of uncommon bodily strenght...
79From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I Sincerely condole with you in the loss of your Friends Walker Wislar and Bray. I Sincerely Congratulate you on the Acquisition of an honourable Usefull and profitable Employment and Amusement for Life. And more cordially as it is a providential Rescue from your metaphysical and delirious Project of Writing Cosmogonies and Metempsichosies of Worlds. A Week before I recd. Your Letter, I...
80To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
It is not before now, that I can answer your favour of the 18 last—My daughter, who fully Sympathises with my feelings, and knows, how highly I value every line, with which you continue to honour me, Send it to Albany, and last week it was returned here. I was there to examine the Dutch Records of last cent—and finally engaged to try, if I could translate—them—I declined the first proposal of...
81From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
James Otis Counsellor, Colonel &c &c &c Said to me Some fifty or Sixty years ago “John; when I meet with good Luck or bad luck, I Say nothing about either; because I know that more will be glad than grieved at my Misfortunes, and more will be mad than glad at my Prosperity.” This Old Fellow understood Mankind; and So do I. and therefore, when I am happy I never boast of it; and if I were...
82From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in all your Felicities described in your favour of 29th. Nov. What a Contrast between your Existence and mine! You have travelled to Boston to Philadelphia and to New York, and been the delight and Admiration of all Men of Science, Letters and Taste in Massachusetts Pensilvania and that World of itself the State of New York. I am “fixed like a plant, to one peculiar Spot To draw...
83To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
As I returned home in safety in the course of this week, the first moments of leisure, after having informed my children and mr Busti of this happy event, shall be devoted, to acknowledge the favour of your’s of the first of Oct. In my former from Philadelphia I mentioned—how I was bruised—wounded—healed—and restored to perfect health—now I can only mention, and this, I am assured is a far...
84From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr J. A Smiths appointment was not by J. Q. A but by the President “Sancte Socrate ora pro nobis” Said Erasmus on reading the Doctrine of Socrates so like the christian. My memory does not recollect the place in Plato and my Eyes cannot look it. But as Plato learned all he taught in Egypt and India, I choose “petere fontes.” I am of Sir William Jones’s Mind that “Our divine Religion, has no...
85To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
Having in so long a time not received a word from Quincÿ, although I was freed from all anxiety about your wellfare mrs Guild and her amiable sister Catherine, both having informed me, that you continued to enjoy not only a hum cum dignitate, which would be nothing new—but all possible happiness that can fall to the share of human mind, while your excellent Lady’s gratification must have...
86From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 8th. and the enclosed Biography have been read with all the interest inspired by So long a Friendship; though a great part of it was well known to me long ago. Writing has indeed become extreamly painfull to me: to such a degree, that the numerous imperious demands upon me, often compell me to neglect Some of my dearest and most honoured Friends. I have lent your Sketch...
87To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
Since the 7th of Febr—I did not receive a line from my frend—but having been honoured with two Letters of your Ladÿ, without a hint, that your health was not So good, and having read in the N. papers—that you were present at a festival at Boston, I presume, that other more Serious occupations kept you employ’d—or that Letter writing became rather to you a penible task, whenever you could not...
88To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
What a gratification again have you bestowed upon me in your Letter of Febr. 7th. not never to mention ing the cadeau of which I disposed directly with the next mail, as you intended—and which Shall I doubt not, be highly acceptable to Monticello’s Philosopher. It Seems—I see you in all your grandeur in your Superb castle—and yet the most admirable part was its owner—I Should Saÿ so, as once...
89From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 24th. Janry. is received. Inclosed is your Basanister and a Monthly Repository, which you may Send to Montecello if you please. I have not read the constitution of the Kingdom of the united Netherlands and possess none of the Books you mention I have looked for the “Zeti,” but cannot find them. Perhaps they Should be Spelled Zetæ. Many a learned System has been founded on as...
90To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Although I continue to be an invalide by a relapse Since three weeks—I will endeavour to amuse myself—while I have once more a prospect of recovering Soon—in perusing again and answering your affectionate lines of the 27 of Dec. last. you will not deem it a triffle for a man—who know not Sickness as by name, to be confined to his chair—during three months—often under torturing pains—But—it...