4219 Monday. (Adams Papers)
Fine Weather. Settled roads. Drank Tea and spent the Evening at Coll. Chandlers, very gaily, with much Company.
Claim and Demurrer—which admits all in the Claim. Mr. Otis. In Event, as important a Cause as ever was decided in America. The Navy, an important Object, without offence to any Sect or Party. Charter. Reservation in it. We hold all we have under this Charter. No Gentleman will dispute the Validity of this Reservation. A great deal of Talk and Scribbling about mutual Compact. Should as soon...
4231774 Septr. 1. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
This Day, We breakfasted at Mr. Mifflins, Mr. C. Thompson came in, and soon after Dr. Smith. The famous Dr. Smith, the Provost of the Colledge. He appears a plain Man—tall, and rather Aukward—there is an Appearance of Art. We then went to return Visits to the Gentlemen who had visited us. We visited a Mr. Cadwallader a Gentleman of large Fortune, a grand and elegant House And Furniture. We...
42413 Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A pleasant morning. Saw my classmates Gardner, and Wheeler. Wheeler dined, spent the afternoon, and drank Tea with me. Supped at Major Gardiners, and ingag’d to keep School at Bristol, provided Worcester People, at their insuing March meeting, should change this into a moving School, not otherwise. Major Greene this Evening fell into some conversation with me about the Divinity and...
425[A Letter to Richard Cranch about Orlinda, a Letter on Employing One’s Mind, and Reflections on Procrastination, Genius … (Adams Papers)
What is Wisdom? Is it, to write dramatic Poetry, like Milton or Shakespear? Is it to write on Astronomy and Physicks like Newton, or is it to know the human mind like Lock? Does it consist in Genius and Learning? No Genius and Learning have been oftener mad than wise. It is not to Act or think beyond man kind. Say was there most of Cruelty or of Cunning in sealing up this cruel scroll this...
4263 Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Fair Weather. Natural Phylosophy is the Art of deducing the generall laws and properties of material substances, from a series of analogous observations. The manner of reasoning in this art is not strictly demonstrative, and by Consequence the knowledge hence acquired, not absolutely Scientifical, because the facts that we reason upon, are perceived by Sence and not by the internal Action of...
427John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1774 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Quincy and I came this Morning from York, before Breakfast, 15 Miles, in order to hear my learned Friend Hemmenway. Mr. Quincy brought me a Letter from Williams, in which he lets me know that you and the Family were well. This is very refreshing News. We went to Meeting at Wells and had the Pleasure of hearing My Friend, upon “Be not Partaker’s in other Mens Sins: Keep...
4281773. May 24th [i.e 25th]. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Tomorrow is our General Election. The Plotts, Plans, Schemes, and Machinations of this Evening and Night, will be very numerous. By the Number of Ministerial, Governmental People returned, and by the Secrecy of the Friends of Liberty, relating to the grand discovery of the compleat Evidence of the whole Mystery of Iniquity, I much fear the Elections will go unhappily. For myself, I own I...
42919 [March 1754]. (Adams Papers)
This morning is beyond description, Beautyfull, the Skie bespangled with Clouds which shed a lustre on us by the refraction of the rays of light, together with the healthy and enlivening air, which was purifyed By the thunder, afford most spirited materials for Contemplation. The gaiety of the weather is equally delightfull to the phylosopher, Poet and the man of Pleasure. The Phylosopher...
430Wednesday. May 28th. (Adams Papers)
General Election. At Boston. After Lecture, dined at Mr. Austins, the Wine Cooper, with the Revd. Messrs. Prentice of Charlestown and Amos Adams of Roxbury. Adams and Austin were the Disputants in Politicks, Prentice a Moderator. This Morning Samuel Adams was chosen Clerk, and Otis Speaker. Govr. Bernard negatived him. Cushing was chosen. In the Afternoon they proceeded to choose Councillors,...
431John Adams to Abigail Smith, 15 August 1763 (Adams Papers)
The Disappointment you mention was not intended, but quite accidental. A Gentleman, for whom I had much Esteem, Mr. Daniel Leonard of Norton, was so good as to offer to keep the sabbath with me at Braintree—a favour that would have been very agreable if it had not detained me from the most agreable of all Company, to me, in this world, and a favour that will I know be sufficient with you to...
432[Accounts on the Eastern Circuit, 7–12 June 1765.] (Adams Papers)
£ s d June 7th. 1765. Paid at Goodwins for Dinners 0: 10: 0 Paid at Lovejoys for Lodging Suppers &c 0: 8: 0 June 8th. Paid at Springers for Horse keeping 2s:8d, at Sewals for Lodging and Breakfast and Suppers 2s:6d and at Lovejoys for Lemmons Rum and sugar 1s:4d: 0: 6: 6 Paid at Springers for Reckoning 3s:2d: and for Shewing Horse 1s:2d 0: 4:
433[July 1763] (Adams Papers)
Among the Votaries of Science, and the numerous Competitors for Fame and Estimation, Utility seems to have been remarkably neglected. The Utmost subtlety of Wit, and all the labours of pertina cious Industry have been employed by Mathematicians to demonstrate little, unimportant Geometrical Niceties, or in searching for Demonstrations of other Propositions, which there is not the least...
434From John Adams to the Reverend Jacob Bailey, January 1756 (Adams Papers)
I receiv’d your favour of Decr. 29. about 3 or 4 Days after it was wrote. The bearer left it at the Tavern and proceeded on his journey, so that I despair’d of ever getting an opportunity of answering it, till this moment. I heartily sympathize with you in your affliction, which I am the better qualified to do as I am confined myself to a like place of Torment. When I compare The gay, the...
435[Notes for an Oration at Braintree, Spring 1772.] (Adams Papers)
The Origin, the Nature, the Principles and the Ends of Government, in all Ages, the ignorant as well as the enlightened, and in all Nations, the barbarous as well as civilized, have employed the Wits of ingenious Men. The Magi, the Mufti, the Bramins, and Brachmans, Mandarines, Rabbies, Philosophers, Divines, Schoolmen, Hermits, Legislators, Politicians, Lawyers, have made these the subjects...
436Braintree Feby. 1st. 1763. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Last Thurdsday afternoon, rode to Germantown, and there stayed at my friend Cs. till the last Night. Four Nights, and four days. Those 2 families well deserve the Character they hold of friendly, sensible, and Social. The Men, Women and Children, are all sensible and obliging. Mem. The notable Anecdote of Coll. Josa. Quincy. The Hydrostatical Experiment. And the other of Mrs. Lincoln, equally...
437Monday. June 24. 1771. (Adams Papers)
Reached Portsmouth with Lowell, and walked half an Hour with him on the Town House Floor, with Mr. Livius and Mr. Jona. Warner, &c. Put up at Tiltons, and intend to visit the Governor this afternoon. Had a good deal of Chat with Lowell on the Road. He practises much in New Hampshire, and gave me an Account of many strange Judgments of the Superior Court at Portsmouth—that an Infant, if allowed...
438From John Adams to Edward Biddle?, 12 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind favour 16. Ulto with great Pleasure last Week at Cambridge. I rejoice at the Proofs your City, has given, of her inflexible Attachment to the public Cause, and Determination to Support it. There are many Names in your List of Committee Men, which I had not the Pleasure of knowing, but there are Abilities, Virtues, and Spirit enough, in those whom I knew very well, to...
439July 25. and 26. Thursday and Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Both these Days spent in the Tryal of Mr. Otis’s Case vs. Mr. Robinson. On 4 Sept. 1769 James Otis had published in the Boston Gazette a card denouncing the Commissioners of Customs in Boston for their abuse of “all true North-Americans , in a manner that is not to be endured.” He was referring to statements by the Commissioners in their memorials and other papers that had recently made their...
440Tuesday [10 October]. (Adams Papers)
Read in Gilbert. I read him slowly, but I gain Ideas and Knowledge as I go along, which I dont always, when I read.
441Adams’ Minutes of the Argument: Barnstable Superior Court, May 1767 (Adams Papers)
Otis . Certificate of General Assembly. Law very much altered of late Times. To prevent Gothic Contentions and single Combats. High Proceedings. Strange 747. Order for Allom. Forgery at common Law. Protection from a Member. Possibility of Damage. Reason of the Thing. Injury. Paper indictable. Public Record. Q. If Cotton had forgd this Paper, whether he would have been liable to an Indictment...
4421774. Monday March 7. (Adams Papers)
This Morning brought us News from S. Carolina of the Destruction of the Tea there, and from England of a Duel between Mr. Temple and Mr. Whately, and Mr. Franklins explicit Declaration, that he alone sent the Governors Letters to Boston and that both Temple and Whately were ignorant and innocent of it —and that 3 Regiments are ordered to Boston and N. York, that the Judges opinions are...
443Monday [16 October]. (Adams Papers)
Read a few Pages in Gilbert. I proceed very slowly.
444Aug. 14. or 15. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Slept last Night, at Mr. Cranches, arose about Sunrise, and repaired to my Office. A fine, sweet, fresh Morning. The 14th was a Wednesday.
4451774. Monday. Octr. 24. (Adams Papers)
In Congress, nibbling and quibbling—as usual. There is no greater Mortification than to sit with half a dozen Witts, deliberating upon a Petition, Address, or Memorial. These great Witts, these subtle Criticks, these refined Genius’s, these learned Lawyers, these wise Statesmen, are so fond of shewing their Parts and Powers, as to make their Consultations very tedius. Young Ned Rutledge is a...
446May [16], 1767. Saturday Night. (Adams Papers)
At Howlands in Plymouth. Returned this day from Barnstable. The Case of Cotton and Nye at Sandwich is remarkable. Cotton has been driving his Interest. This driving of an Interest, seldom succeeds. Jones of Weston, by driving his, drove it all away.—Where two Persons in a Town get into such a Quarrell, both must be very unhappy—Reproaching each other to their faces, relating facts concerning...
4471774. Fryday. Octr. 28. (Adams Papers)
Took our Departure in a very great Rain, from the happy, the peacefull, the elegant, the hospitable, and polite City of Phyladelphia.—It is not very likely that I shall ever see this Part of the World again, but I shall ever retain a most greatefull, pleasing Sense, of the many Civilities I have received, in it. And shall think myself happy to have an opportunity of returning them.—Dined at...
44827 [i.e. 28] Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
A cool but pleasant morning. Dined at Mr. Paines. Drank Tea at Mr. Putnams. Walked with him to his Farm. Talked about all Nature.
1756. Novr. Deed from Jonas Prescott to Jonas Jnr. of Gift. ¼th. 1749. Aug. 17th. from Jonas to Ebenr. ½ of all my Homestead. Free Liberty to pass and repass by Gates and Barns. 1719. Octr. 8th. from Jonas to Jonas Jnr. All my Right in an old Dwelling House, &c. excepting 1727, 8 Jany. 28. Jonas to Jonas. ½. David Goodhue . Jonas Esq. in Possession of Part, and Prescott that is dead of another...
45017 [i.e. 18] Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
17 i.e. 18 Tuesday.