1From John Adams to Josiah Quincy Guild, 22 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am very sorry I was not absent, when your excellent Mother left me your Letter of the 12th of this mongth, Had I been fortunate enough to see her, I could have explained myself to her upon the Subject of it, with more freedom and in greater detail. Soliciting for Office, for myself or my Friends is to me a Strange Work. Never in one instance in my whole Life did I Submit to it....