61To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
The sun breaks through the skies—I skipt just in the garden—but the soil is yet too wet—to morrow—if it is a warm day—I shall make a beginning of gardening. I must take hold of the few moments at mÿ command—to answer your favour of the 8th. Brucker’s hist critica Philosophiæ is a work indeed of immense erudition; and considerable acuteness. It consists in 5 vol 4to. I regret, that it was sold...
62To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
Long since I should have indulged mÿ wishes in writing you a few lines, had it been in mÿ power, to make anÿ communications worthÿ your attention, but, perpending, respected friend! how much I owe you alreadÿ, I did consider it rather indelicate, to intrude, too often, in your retirement, and avocate ÿou from more interesting occupations. This time, however, mÿ plea Sir! shall be accepted bÿ...
63To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am confident, you will kindly permit me to Send you a few lines—at this time—if it was only, & I candidly confess, that I have Scarce any thing else, deserving your notice—to communicate, except it was to congratulate you—in regard to your continued vigour and health—as Mrs Quincy was kindly pleased to inform me, that you twice walked this Summer from your house to her abode, to make You...
64To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 December 1820 (Adams Papers)
The last tiding of your welfare, with which I was gratified—was by Judge Peter Smith. I had made an excursion to Albany and N. york, to See the Governour, and endeavour to obtain in the last place Some relief to my Sight—but it was fruitless. I met Judge Smith—whom I had not Seen during Several years—between Schenectady and Cagnarrage, where he took the Stage—we were pleased with this...
65To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
I can Scarce persuade myself, that I Staÿ’d with you So manÿ daÿs—and conversed on So few, Subjects onlÿ, upon which I did want your information. I could onlÿ glance at your Librarÿ—had no time to Satisfÿ my greedy curiosity—and forgot even to look at the consolato del mare and other rare Publications in your possession but I am apprehensive, this would have been the case had I protracted my...
66To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I must answer your favours of Dec. 14 ult. and Jan the 3th. Want of time will once have the happy effect, to emportune you not with a Long Letter. How can you insinuate, that your correspondence is of no value? Is not every line of you then an act of kindness towards me? Not to saÿ, that I never received one, without some kind of instruction. But why Should I use any motif—to entreat you to...
67To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 March 1803 (Adams Papers)
I send you mÿ Lett. on the use of copper among the Greeks—I can not flatter me, that it Shall procure you either much information, or amusement, but I maÿ have opened a new road for investigation, and then mÿ endeavours will have Some merit—at least in your eÿe. If it happened, that it deserved your approbation, that you deemed it worth a Public view, I Should intend it for the Pennsylvanian...
68To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
A continued headache has compelled me, to delaÿ an answer to your favour of the 16th of Febr. from daÿ to daÿ; tho I receive no higher gratifications than from these. It is indeed far beyond, what I could reasonably have flattered me with, that, in your far advanced age, you So often would have condescended, in taking notice of mÿ letters, and bestowing So manÿ marked proofs of your...
69To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
Having unexpectedly received an opportunity of conveying you my cursory remarks on some parts of Buffon’s and Jefferson’s Theory on Nat. Hist. by my Frend Col. John Lincklaen, I could not resist the temptation in Submitting them to your criticism, persuaded that you Shall bestow on me a new favour, if you condescend to their perusal and think them So much worth your attention, to communicate...
70To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
Being returned at New-york, after a yourneÿ of five weeks in the countrÿ, to take a view of the land, I wished to employ this moment to inform your Hon. of the issue— I was about 70 miles above albanÿ— Saw differents tracts of Land— Probably, if the price be not to high—our choice wil be the circuits of kingston, where we have Seen two farm, who Suided to our circumstances. In two or three...