1From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 25th. is recd.—Ingraham, I think, must be no further North than the 56th: degree, but when I can find a little time, I will read his Journal again and if I find any thing that will entertain you, perhaps I may transmit it. Rumphius, whom you quote is unknown to me. If what he says, which corresponds with my Observation in the generation of shell fish on the Surface of the...
2To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 23 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
Philadelphia March 23rd: 1805 I was much gratified by your early answer to my letter, and by your kind inquiries after several branches of my family. My second daughter’s husband’s name is Thomas Manners. He is a branch of the Rutland family. His father is wealthy, but as his estate will be divided among nine Children, my son in law will probably be dependent upon a military Commission for the...
3From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 11 April 1805 (Adams Papers)
I am highly gratified, to possess So authentic an Account of the Several rising branches of your numerous and amiable Family, in whose Welfare I feel So much Interest, that I ask your Permission to add my Benediction to yours. It is to me highly probable that those who have been carried Captive into the British Dominions, will Succeed as Well in Life, as those who may be destined to enjoy all...
4To John Adams from John Avery, Jr., 11 April 1805 (Adams Papers)
Agreeably to the Request of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, I have the honor to inclose you their Vote, passed this day, for calling a meeting of the visitors of the Professorship of Natural History—The institution will be delivered to you by the Hoñble Mr. Quincy, as also the Subscribers to a fund for the establishment of Said Professorship, for your...
5From John Adams to James Sullivan, 26 April 1805 (Adams Papers)
In the Biographical Sketch, which you published, of his late Excellency Governor Adams, you have inadvertently admitted Some Errors of Fact in relating the Mission to Lord Howe, in 1776. In order to enable you to rectify those Inaccuracies, I do myself the honor to inclose, Some transcripts of familiar Letters, which I find in my old Letter Books, and request you to communicate them to the...
6To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 May 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of march 14—with the post mark of Brookfield Mass: march 26 did not come to mÿ hands before the begin of April. My dilating an answer till now, will find an excuse in your kindness, when you reflect, that the field and the garden require mÿ attendence everÿ hour in tolerable good weather. This howewer would not have finally prevented my writing, if it had been in mÿ power, to Send...
7From John Adams to John Sinclair, 24 May 1805 (Adams Papers)
A natural history of this country has been long desired, by every inquisitive mind. Although the calls of my profession, and the more serious demands of the political interests of my country, turned my attention, almost half a hundred years ago, from investigations of this nature, yet I have never been insensible to their pleasures and advantages. In 1779, called upon to frame a constitution...
8From John Adams to Jean Luzac, 24 May 1805 (Adams Papers)
May 24. 1805 William Dandridge Peck Esqr, a Professor of natural History in our University of Cambridge bound on a voyage to Europe, merely to examine the Institutions and Establishements, relative to that Science will have the Honor to deliver you this Letter. His manners and merit will recommend him to you. I ask the favour of you to give him an opportunity of Seeing the Botanical Garden and...
9To John Adams from John Avery, Jr., 12 June 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that Your Excellency has been, this day, elected President of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, and I with great pleasure transmit this notification— I am Sir with great Esteem and / Respect— / Your very huml. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
10To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 29 June 1805 (Adams Papers)
Having been called upon lately to bear a part in the examination & exercises of twenty four Candidates for degrees in Medicine, I have been prevented from attending to my duties to my correspondents for several Weeks. I now sit down to resume the exercise of that duty, by thanking you for your last friendly letter of the first of last Month. I shall first reply to your question relative to the...
11From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 7 July 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter, my dear Friend, of the 29th. of June, Suggets enough of Serious reflections, to compose a longer reply, than I am, at present disposed to write, or than you could read with any Satisfaction. John Ross, and I think, some others, whom you have not mentioned were in the Boat with us from Point no Point. I wish to ascertain, if I could the Month and Day as well as the names of the...
12From John Adams to John Trumbull, 8 July 1805 (Adams Papers)
I must humbly beg pardon of the Right Honorable Gideon Granger and all his Satelites in the Post Office, for an ungrounded Suspicion, which I began to entertain of Some one of them, without conjecturing which of them. This extraordinary Exordium ought to have an explanation. On the dear day of Independence, Col. Humphreys came out to make me the Compliments of the Season, and of course the...
13From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 24 July 1805 (Adams Papers)
In the course of your industrious researches, in natural History have you ever given a particular attention to the generation of Shell fish? Will you be so good as to inform me in what Book this subject has been most fully treated? I suspect, but it is only a suspicion, that a great part of them are hatched by the sun, upon the Surface of the ocean; and that the proscess has been carried on,...
14From John Adams to John Trumbull, 27 July 1805 (Adams Papers)
Two or three days ago I received your invaluable letter of the 21st. by the Post, very much to the Credit of that office for its fidelity. Has not the knowledge of natural history and Entomology arrived at Sufficient Perfection in Connecticut to exterminate those jacobinical inhabitants of the bedstead, which are in reality as formidable enemies to the Independence of the Judges as any in...
15To John Adams from Martinus Van Marum, July 1805 (Adams Papers)
La societe Batave des sciences desirant d’etre en relation avec les sçavans distingués des Etats Unis de L’Amerique, vient de vous nommer Membre dans sa dernière seance anniversaire le 22 Juin, se flattant que vous agreërez cette élection. Vous recevez, en consequence, vôtre Diplome ci-joint, et le programme de la societé. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec la plus haute consideration / Monsieur ! /...
16From John Adams to John Trumbull, 5 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
In the ninth Volume of Matthew Carey’s American Museum page 282 there is a letter from George Washington, dated Mount Vernon July 31 1788, which has excited more of my attention and indeed anxiety perhaps than was necessary. If you have it not at hand, I will send you a Copy of it. When I first read it, I confess it made a disagreable impression on my mind. But as I thought it then of little...
17From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 7 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
From early Youth I have heard it lamented among Men of Letters that We had no neither a natural History of this Country, nor any Person possessed of a Taste for such Inquiries. The Science in general was not So much desired as a particular Examination of the Beasts Birds, Fishes Trees Plants Flowers Fossills &c peculiar to North America. Mr. Hutchinson, at the close of the first volume of his...
18From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
I told you before, that I had renounced the Study of Natural Philosophy and Mathematicks for fifty Years. When in 1755 I entered on the Study of the Law, I Saw before me Such a field of natural, civil, and common Law, and in Such a Group of Men as Gridley Pratt Otis, Trowbridge Thatcher, Worthington Hawley And Putnam &c among whom I must Act a part upon the Stage not indeed to make my Way to...
19From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
Many thanks for your favour of the 9th: and the copy of your Memorial to the Corporation. I really think you have a right to take for your motto, which of Virgil’s lines you please. I was too hasty in the choice of mine. I have not been a Bee. My object has not been luxurious, like honey, but essentials of life, like Corn. I have had no sting, at least have used none. If I had I might have...
20To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 14 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your letters are full of aphorisms. Every paragraph in them suggests new ideas, or revives old ones. You have given a true picture of parties in our Country. We have indeed no national Character, and however much we boast of it, there are very few "true Americans" in the United States. We have four distinct parties in Pennsylvania. 1. old tories. 2. honest federalists. 3 violent democrats. 4....
21From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 23 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 14th gives an exact Analysis of Pennsylvania and its Parties: and from it, a probability results, that the Old Constitution will be revived. But, for what reason do you call it Dr. Franklins? I always understood it to be the Work of Cannon, Matlack, Young and Paine, and that Franklin, though President of the Convention, had no greater hand in its fabrick than the painted head...
22From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 4 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
De la Marre, tells us, that in the North of Holland they make use of Fucus to support their Dikes. In other places, they employ these plants to fertilize their lands. on Several of the french Coasts of the ocean, they call "Cluys" those of these plants which the Sea casts upon the Shore; and Vraicq, those which they go and pull off from the rocks, in the months of January and February, an...
23To John Adams from James Lenox, 6 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
May you long live to enjoy the Liberty of a Country in which you have been so indefatigable in your former labours in braving the dangers of the high Seas and encountering the arduous task of negociations with Holland France Britain, in all of which you have been one of the most Conspicuous Characters. I have been reading Gordons History of the american revolution in which your labour and...
24From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 13 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
(To be added to those on Sea Weeds) If the gentleman from the Isle of Fromme mentioned in your Letter of the Eighth give you a Portugese Man of War, I beg you to keep it and not present it to me as you generously propose. I have no use for it and no incentive to preserve it. I only want to know whether it has a distinguishable animal in it. If you part with it at all I hope you will give it to...
25To John Adams from John Trumbull, 16 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
Returning to Hartford in the course of our Circuit, I found your letter, of July 27th. & August 5th: which had lain a month in the Post Office. From some appearances, I am led to believe that a correspondence so free as ours has been, cannot with perfect safety be carried on at present—I will however answer some of your enquiries. The letter You remark on, relative to the capture of...
26From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
After receiving so many trifles you will not be surprised at another. I wish you to tell me whether the Barilla is the same with the Kali or Soda! In the first Volume of the Supplement to the American Encyclopedia, p. 8 I find an Article British Barilla is the name given by Mr. James King of Newcastle upon Tyne, to a material invented by him, to Supply the place of Spanish Barilla in the...
27To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
The hurry always connected with the prevalence of a yellow fever in our City; has prevented my answering your letter of Augst: 25th: at an earlier day. The opinion relative to too close an Alliance with France in the year 1776 was communicated to me by you I think for the first time in Baltimore. I was led from this circumstance to believe you had delivered it on the floor of Congress in that...
28From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 30 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
Although it is a gratification to my feelings to write to you and a much greater pleasure to receive a Letter from you: Yet I have no desire to give you any trouble, or the least Anxiety on my Account when your Answer is delayed. I know your Avocations and respect them. No Apology is ever necessary, for any pause in our Correspondence. The Journals of Congress afford little light, in...
29From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
I duly recd your favour of the 21. Sept.—I Sent you two pretty large Packetts the first of Six sheets of Paper, another of five or Six more, and have written two or three Short Letters, besides. You have acknowledged the receipt of the first Packet, but the Second large one you have not mentioned. It related to the Kali and the Medusa &c. &c. I only wish to know that you have it. I return with...
30From John Adams to John Trumbull, 4 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Information and conjecture, in your favour of the 16th which I received yesterday duly, concerning the origin of the Letter. It is probable enough and I have pleasure in believing it. The Generals Secretaries were first Col. Reed, afterwards Governor of Pensylvania then Harrison, afterwards, Edmund Randolph, Hamilton Humphries, Pinckney I believe, but in what order of time...
31To John Adams from John Trumbull, 19 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
‘Till I received your last of the 4th: instant I had no idea that you doubted the truth of Washington’s letter relative to the capture of Cornwallis and supposed you only questioned the propriety of his allowing a letter to be published, in which he appears to boast of his success in stratagems. You express a wish that "the veracity of the letter might be established beyond all cavil." I can...
32From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 29 October 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have heard, as you insinuate, that Sterne was a wicked Man; and there are traits of a false Character, in his Writings: yet the Benevolence, Generosity, Simpathy and Humanity that fill the Eyes and bosoms of the readers of his Works, will plead forever for their immortality. Virtues and Vices Wisdom and Folly, Talents and imbecility, Services and demerits are so blended in most of the...
33From John Adams to John Trumbull, 18 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
I had indeed no doubt of the Truth of the Letter relative to the Capture of Cornwallis. My Confidence in the honor of the Writer was such, that the violent Philippic against it only convinced me of the Malevolence and Prejudice of the orator. But as I had heard it not only called in question but vehemently contradicted, I thought it might be well to hear some testimony in corroboration of it....
34To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
I am pleased in reflecting that I destroyed all the documents and Anecdotes I had collected for private memoirs of the American Revolution. I discover from your letters that I have seen nothing but the “Scenery of the business,” and know but little more than what servants who wait upon table know of the secrets of their masters families, of the springs of the events of the war, and of the...
35From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 4 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I am half inclined to be very angry with you for destroying the Anecdotes and documents you had collected for private Memoirs of the American Revolution. From the Memories of Individuals, the true Springs of Events and the real motives of Actions are to be made known to Posterity. The Period in the History of the World, the best understood, is that of Rome from the time of Marius to the Death...
36From John Adams to Josiah Parker, 5 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for introducing to me Mr: Robinson, whom I found to be a gentleman of good information and agreeable manners. I should have been glad to have enjoyed more of his company and conversation. I am happy in retirement, which is more than I ever could say in public life. I have no quarrel with the people. They are like all other people. Ambition has its marches and countermarches; it can...
37From John Adams to Martinus Van Marum, 24 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me in July 1805 inclosing a Diploma by which I have the honor to be constituted a member of the very respectable Society of the Sciences at Harlem, signed by Teding van Berkhout as President and yourself as Secretary. As this distinction conferred by a learned Society in that Country where I formerly received so many kindnesses is not...
38From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 26 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
In a former Letter I expressed a doubt, whether the Barilla of Spain, were the Same Plant as the Soda or Kali: but have Since found that it is. In the Dictionaire Æconomique, under the Word Barille, I find it described as The herb from the Ashes of which are extracted the best Salt of Alicante, which for that reason they call "Salt of Barilla. ” "(Soude de Barille)," and which is precious for...
39To 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...
40To John Adams from Henry Guest, 1 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to Send to you a Little Pamphet—That if it is Not Instructive to a Cultivated Mind it May Serve to an honor in a January Day When Better Company Would be More Agreable—And When read Will you be pleased to Acquaint Me that it Came Safe to your hands Otherwise, you Will perhaps be plauged with Duplicates—These Matters are some Measure is planed to Draw a Line from you, as I...
41From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have derived as much consolation in Life, from Horace as from Epictetus. I say Buvons, ecrivons, vivons, cher Horace, as well as that all our Happiness depends upon ourselves with the Stoick. I thank you for calling Horace to my Aid in your favour of Decr. 28. Alphius was Such a Philosopher as Seneca, who griped the Britons, or as Brutus who was So angry with Cicero when he was Governor of...
42To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 6 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
I committed to Mr Vanhan a few days ago, a copy of the new edition of my medical Inquiries and Observations who kindly promised to convey them to you in a small box consigned to Mr Gideon Snow merchent in Boston. Some of the essays contained in them will I hope interest you, particularly those upon Animal life, the influence of physical causes upon morals, and the thoughts upon Old Age....
43From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
Having lamented for sometime, the loss of my Correspondent at Barneveldt, I was, this morning unexpectedly gratified with your favour of the twenty second of December. I return with pleasure the Compliments and congratulations of the Season. I can sincerely unite with you, in humble Thanks to the Almighty for the Blessings of the past year on you and your Family as well as on me and mine.—But...
44From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 25 January 1806 (Adams Papers)
The new Edition of your medical Works, mentioned in your favour of the sixth of this month, have been committed to mr Shaw: my Nephew whom you know, and will be sent to me from Boston in due time. Many of those compositions I have read and shall read again with much pleasure, and shall make them as generally useful as I can among the Physicians in my Neighbourhood: but as I feel as few as I...
45To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
Being again favoured with a new mark of your continued kindness I will not bereave meself of the pleasure in answering your Letter. Long since had I written Sir! had it been in my power, to communicate something, deserving your attention—without it—I thought it improper, to abuse of your indulgence too often. I took hold of the first opportunity—offered by the season, to let you know—that I...
46From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received from you, three Volumes of the Life of our late General and President Washington in a condition of convenience and ornament, which has not yet been exceeded by any of the Arts or Artists of our Country, nor indeed much inferiour to any in the most refined Countries of Europe. I pray you, Sir to accept my best Thanks for this elegant present. Exegisti monumentum ære perennius....
47To John Adams from David Humphreys, 17 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I had fully intended to have paid my personal respects to you on Saturday last, had not the unfavorable change in the state of the roads prevented. That mode of communication having failed, I have now to offer the best homage of Mrs Humphreys & myself to Mrs Adams & yourself, and to request the honour of your company at dinner with us, on Saturday next, it being the anniversary of the Birth of...
48To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I read again your excellent, Lectures, and have now bÿ them be pleased and instructed much more, than with the cursorÿ perusal of them in their former State—It is the historÿ of Nations—resolved in Problems—of which the Solution is to be Search’d for in the Annals of everÿ countrÿ—while the events of more modern times maÿ be considered as So manÿ Corallaries, deducible from the Same data. To a...
49From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
That showers of hot stones or cold stones may have fallen, in the neighbourhood of Volcanoes, is not impossible, nor improbable: but it is impossible that, any projectile force of exploding Mercury or any mixture of Sulphur Nitre and carbon, or any Vapour, could drive these stones to any great hight in the air, or ever ballance them in the Air so as to allow them to sail about in it like...
50From John Adams to Benjamin Henfrey, 22 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favour of the third of this month. It is not in my power at present to inform you, whether your Communication to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences of your discovery of a mode of producing light and heat from inflammable air, and of your invention of an Apparatus for applying the discovery to various usefull purposes, has been received or not. All such...