601To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 24 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
You will find, in the multitude of public documents, which I constantly transmit to you, the only apology I have to offer, for the irregularity which has crept upon the returns to your most valuable letters—Though I find it utterly impossible even to read all these papers, yet I feel it an indispensible duty to peruse with attention the greater part of them, and some of them require even a...
602To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 11 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
Since the date of your favour of the 29th: ulto: you have doubtless received many additional documents confirming your opinion of the system of policy prevalent here in relation to our foreign affairs—Unqualified submission to France, and unqualified defiance of Great Britain, are indeed the two pillars upon which our measures are to rest—And numerous as the proofs are which you will have of...
603From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 18 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
I received some days since, your letter of the 18th: of last Month—But it was longer in coming than the time usually taken by the mail—and I have left it longer without reply than I could have wished— I am much obliged to you for your attention to my personal affairs, and much gratified that my obligations at the Bank have all been taken up—You will recollect my wish that you would pay to my...
604From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 2d. instt: enclosing a copy of the judiciary Bill which was before you for consideration came to hand some days since—As your legislative occupations employ you only three hours a day, I can readily conceive that you can find little time for private correspondence; for as an Antient Orator was wont to say that he had not time to make his speech short, so I have often found...
605From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
I send you occasionally, the public documents of the most interesting nature, but I have not the opportunity of writing to you so frequently as I could wish—My time is so much engross’d by business equally unpleasant and important that I can very seldom catch a moment for my private affairs, or the more agreeable communications of friendship—I believe I have repeatedly told you as much,...
606John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
As Nancy has vindicated her privilege of giving you the first notice that you were a Grandmamma, I presume I have no occasion to scruple at letting you know that last Sunday the 12 th: inst t: at half-past three o’clock afternoon, our dear Louisa gave you another grandson— To have been able to add that both she and her child have been ever since as well as the occasion could admit, would...
607John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 24 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago your kind favour of the 10 th: inst t: with the letter that accompanied, and thank you for the care of it— I lament to hear that your health continued so feeble and infirm, but I hope as the Spring advances, you will find yourself better— I approve much of your intention to wean John, and rejoyce at the information that he has recovered. I have been into Boston only...
608From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have sent you under another cover, a copy of the President’s Message, with the documents, and the Journals of both Houses—We have hitherto done nothing, and this week being destined to horse-racing, will of course be passed in doing more nothing. This morning came a Message, with nominations for appointments; consisting only of those which have been made during the recess—The only one...
609From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 July 1806 (Adams Papers)
By the last Letters I have received from my wife I expect she will reach Boston by the last of this week, or the beginning of the next—The House in which Mr: Ware lives will not be vacant untill after Commencement, and Mr: Pearson, proposing to sell his declines letting it—He is indeed in Treaty now, for the sale of it. I have therefore concluded to go into my House at Quincy again for the...
610From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
Under another cover, I enclose to you the documents laid on our table this morning— I have not yet had a line from you; but received a letter a few days since from your father, and one since from Shaw—The issue of your elections for the electoral Ticket, appears to be ascertained—and shows that the federalists will be relieved from the embarrassment of fixing upon their Candidate—It is...
611From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 May 1806 (Adams Papers)
The Children are both in perfect health; both contented with their situations, and both beloved by all around them—George appears to have lost none of his sensibility, but has a placidness and ease of temper, which must have come to him I think from some of his Remote Ancestors—He reads tolerably well, and still prides himself as much as ever in his learning. He agrees very well with his...
612From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
We embarked at Providence on Tuesday morning, as I wrote you we purposed to do; and after a tolerably pleasant passage of three days and Nights arrived here the day before yesterday about noon; much to the satisfaction of my Sister and her children, who have thus reached the end of their Journey. But we for our part have accomplished not more than one half of ours; and we have taken Seats in...
613To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 26 September 1801 (Madison Papers)
Mr: Wagner having informed me by his letter of the 11th: instt: that neither copy of the within papers which I had forwarded from Hamburg, had then arrived at the seat of the government, I have now the honour to transmit a third copy of them; and am with great respect, Your very humble & obedt: Servt: RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Duplicate Originals of J. Q. Adams, 1800–1801, 1809–12). Docketed by...
614From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 5 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
On new year’s day I received your very agreeable Letter of Decr: 21st: which I should have answered immediately; but it was not sitting day; and I find no time for my correspondence but while we are in Session—The reason of which is that having become a Jack of so many trades, I employ all the time I have to spare at home , in preparing for my bussiness at Cambridge next Spring—I have...
615From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 9 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening I received your truly kind & affectionate letter of the 1st: instt: and most sincerely reciprocate every sentiment of kindness it contains—It is impossible for me to enjoy life without your affection, and the assurance of possessing it must always be grateful to my heart—So great and so numerous are the blessings for which I ought to be impress’d with the favour of Providence,...
616John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have had your favour of the 30 th: ult o: several days; and have taken time to deliberate upon its contents— And first as to the chemical apparatus—If you have not already procured one, we shall spare you any further trouble about it, as we have succeeded in obtaining a large one here, which will quite supersede the want of D r: Woodhouse’s oeconomical preparations— If however you have...
617To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, [3 December] 1803 (Madison Papers)
Some difficulty having arisen in the Senate, in considering the expediency of advising and consenting to the Ratification of the Treaty of limits between the United States, and Great-Britain signed on the 12th: of May 1803. —A Committee of that body has been appointed to inquire and report upon the subject. The difficulty arises from the circumstance that the Treaty with the French Republic,...
618John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
As I am informed there is a vessel soon to sail from Amsterdam for Boston, I now forward to M r. Bourne to go by her, this letter enclosing copies of my numbers 2 and 3. upon the Etat de la France &c. The book itself will go with the copy of my first letter concerning it, from Hamburg— Hauterive has generally been given out as its author; but Talleyrand himself is now understood to have had...
619John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 2 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I was two days last week at Dedham, where there was a Court sitting, at which I had something to do— On Friday evening I received your letter of the 17 th: of last Month— Yesterday, being at Boston I found your’s of the 24 th: and rejoyce to hear of your all being so well— They ought not to have charged you with postage for my last Letter— However, 20 Cents is not worth disputing with them. M...
620John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 November 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have received, My dear Mother, your kind letter of the 23 d: ult o: and it gives me the most cordial gratification to learn that your health was daily improving— I have also the satisfaction to tell you that my wife and children as well as myself are in very good health— As are all the family with whom we here reside, excepting M rs: Hellen, and she is fast recovering. My brother has...
621From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received both your letters, and to supply the demand from Mr: Briesler, now enclose a check on the Branch Bank, for $45. In paying it I wish you to tell Mr: Briesler, that I hope to have no more charges of expence upon the farm, exceeding his estimates by more than double. As to the new assessment on the Middlesex Canal, they must wait for the payment of that, untill I come home—In...
622From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to my mother from Providence & New-York, giving her an Account of our progress thus far; but the moment one sets one’s foot into Philadelphia, the Squire becomes such a standing topic of enquiry from all quarters, that it never fails to remind me of the duty of remembrance to him. We left New-York in the Diligence Stage on Monday Morning, and arrived here the next day just at...
623To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I enclosed under a blank cover to you a copy of the President’s Message, on the day when it was delivered, and having now to enclose a letter from my wife to my Mother, and a bill which has already pass’d both houses of Congress I cannot forbear writing a line with it, to recall myself to your kind remembrance. You will perceive that the message is in a style and tone which have not been...
624To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 11 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 April 1801, Berlin. No. 189. Reports no particulars are available on death of Czar Paul, whose eldest son Alexander has assumed throne. Notes that Alexander reappoints Count Vorontsov in London. Conveys word that Prussian troops have occupied Hanover and Danish forces have taken Lübeck. Outlines damage and casualties Danes suffered in Nelson’s attack 2 Apr. at Copenhagen. RC ( DNA : RG 59,...
625From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 27 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your favor of the 7th, and thank you for it; I should be glad to thank you more frequently than I have an opportunity to do for such favors. I cannot promise to write you often at much length, but I shall send you, as often as I can, documents which may be of use to you; and you will attribute to my continual occupations, from which I cannot now at least take upon...
626From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days since your favour of the 28th. ulto: with the very interesting account of Selfridge’s trial—A subject upon which there has been much curiosity here; though we had heard nothing of the trial except the short paragraphs in the newspapers.—It has confirmed me in an opinion which I have long since entertained, that for our real security, in the protection of person, property,...
627John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have now received the Port-Folio, to number 48 inclusive; excepting N: 47 which yet remains in arrear— They have come to me lately, two and three at a time; but other subscribers have not been so well served— At Quincy N: 48 has been received but six or seven numbers immediately preceding it are missing— This procedure must be corrected The ode to Xanthias Phoceus, has produced some...
628To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 7 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 March 1801, Berlin. No. 184. Conveys news, received in letters from England, of George III’s illness, Pitt’s fall from power, and the suspension of public business. Suggests that these events and Prussian firmness in support of neutral league may postpone issue of war. Speculates on British plans to accommodate Czar Paul on question of Malta. Believes British overly hopeful that Danes will...
629John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received last evening with much pleasure your favour of the 5 th: inst t: — I had been so long without any intelligence from home that I began to be uneasy— And even now, I cannot but wish you had said something about the family at Quincy— I believe it is more than a month since I have heard from thence, at-all— I am anxious particularly to know the state of health of my dear mother. I am...
I write you a line from the Stage–Office: having just this moment arrived, and intending in half an hour to start in the Mail–Stage for Philadelphia—The weather is so fine, and the roads are so good, that I am afraid of losing the advantages they offer, and recollect the admonition to take time by the forelock—I hope to be in Philadelphia, to–morrow morning before day light; and shall pass the...
631From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 6 November 1806 (Adams Papers)
We lost a basket with Caroline’s Clothes in it, from the Chaise as we were coming out of Boston this Evening—I will thank you to have the enclosed advertisement inserted in the Centinel on Saturday Morning—And call at Whitcomb’s, and request him to pay the reward offered, if the basket should be brought there; and charge it to me. Mrs: Adams has concluded to take Mr: Gulliver’s Apartments—I...
632From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 20 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
My wife received a few days since a letter from you, and I had the happiness of receiving one also from you, yesterday or the day before—In the former there seems to be an intimation that on our part, we had not been so punctual in our correspondence with you, as our duty and affection justly requires—My wife had written you not long before—As for myself I have not indeed written you so often...
633From John Quincy Adams to James Smith, 16 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 12th: instt: enclosing a receipt for $1000 deposited in the Bank of New-York, and standing there to my credit; being in payment of the interest and part of the principal of your brother Justus’s Note to me. According to your request I now enclose a receipt for the same, and also a Copy of the note itself, with minutes of all the payments made upon it,...
634John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 20 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received, my best friend, your kind and truly affectionate letter of the 12 th: or rather 6 th: inst t: on which I find some of George’s taste for literature, as I presume by the scratches I take to be his hand-writing. It is not improbable but that my Spirits have been some few degrees below the point of temperate warmth, and that my letters may have betrayed some marks of it— Yet my...
635From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 February 1808 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to you, I believe for two letters; but there is so much in the last, of what parson Gardner in one of his Sermons said was called in the barbarous jargon of modern times quizzing , that I hardly know how to answer it at-all—For the use or abuse of my name in the newspapers, whether from friend or foe, in good or in evil I hope I shall not be held accountable—Neither do I suppose...
636To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have been happy to receive your obliging favour of the 14th: instt: and am much obliged to you for your opinions respecting the points of maritime Law, which require our attention at this Time—A coincidence of your opinion with that of the President of the United States, would be more than enough to stagger me in any point upon which I should have formed a different one—It makes me therefore...
637John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, 2 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I find by the newspapers that a Commission of bankruptcy has issued against Robert Bird, and as it is impossible for me to attend personally before the Commissioners to make proof of my debt, and demand my claim, I take the liberty of inclosing them to you, with an earnest request that you would present them for me, at the next meeting of the Commissioners which I think is to be on the 10 th:...
638To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 6 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
About two months since I transmitted to you certain papers respecting a native citizen of this town, named William Parker, laboring under British impressment and whose liberation had been repeatedly and fruitlessly solicited. His mother had recently received two letters from him, by which it appears, that he is on the station at Halifax, on board of the banterer, sloop of war, the vessel into...
639From John Quincy Adams to Josiah, III Quincy, 4 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 23d instant the evening before last, and am happy to find you enjoying so good spirits amid the discomfiture of honest principles which has occurred in our old parent Massachusetts. This event, though altogether unexpected to me, is easily accounted for after it has happened. I do not, however, impute it to the measures adopted by the Legislature at their summer...
From the moment when I left you untill the present, I have been so constantly in motion, that I have not been able to write you, on the road—Nor have I put pen to paper, except to direct a couple of pamphlets which I purchased for Mr: Shaw, at New-York—I came on as far as New-Haven by Land—Then embarked in a packet and landed at New-York last Sunday morning—After passing that day at Coll:...
641John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you together with the last sheet of the Journals of the House of Representatives, a Report from the Secretary of the Treasury, shewing the receipts and expenditures, upon the Seamen’s fund— You will see from this how much is collected in New-England, and how much expended elsewhere— Look particularly at the port of Norfolk. The Louisiana Government bill goes on prospering and to...
642To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 12 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 May 1801, Berlin. No. 193. Encloses original letter of recredence. Speculates on European diplomatic developments: new Russian czar probably will seek peace with both France and Britain before end of summer; partition of Turkey likely to be postponed; Malta may be returned to the Knights of Malta, with recognition of Russian protection. Believes that “the principles promulgated by the...
643From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 June 1806 (Adams Papers)
I pass’d the day yesterday, in anxious expectation of having a letter from you again, but it did not come—The fear that your illness should have continued or returned to prevent your writing, heavily weighs upon me; and the only probable contingency that my Imagination offers me to account for your omission again to write at the usual time is that you received my letter enclosing the deed on...
644John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here in three days from New-York, last Monday Evening, the 21 st: inst t: — I found my father in good health and spirits— My mother has been very unwell, but I am happy to tell you is upon the recovery. Whitcomb got here two days ago, and brought me, your facetious letter of the 18 th: —with the Port-Folio, for which I give you my thanks— But it is still incomplete for the prospectus...
645From John Quincy Adams to James Smith, 10 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I received at Philadelphia, on my way to this place, your favour of 25th: October, which must have arrived at New-York the same day that I left that City—As you expect in the course of the present month to have the means in your hands to discharge the whole amount of your brother’s Note to me, and propose to be at New-York about the 15th: of January, the failure of a partial payment, on my...
646John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 8 October 1801 (Adams Papers)
The day after I last wrote you, I received your favour of 22 d: Sept r: and am much distress’d to find that you had again been ill with the cramps, and continued to suffer the pain in your hands which has so much afflicted us heretofore— I hope with you it is not imputable to the cause our friends apprehend, and that it will subside when the agitation upon your spirits occasioned by our...
647To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 18 June 1807 (Adams Papers)
The Fire and Marine Insurance Office are now repaying the third part of their capital, to which they were authorized by an Act of the Legislature; and issuing new Certificates to the Stockholders—The old Certificates must therefore be returned into the Office—I will thank you to send me, by the earliest opportunity, your Certificate for the forty shares, which stand in my name, but of which...
Since I wrote you, which was last Thursday, I have received three letters from you, which call for a particular Answer—I must however defer it untill to-morrow; for at this time we are in the midst of a debate on the Bridge question; to which I must give all my attention—The weather too is so cold that I am scarcely able to write in my seat—My thermometer stood this morning at 6. degrees. I am...
649To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 27 January 1807 (Adams Papers)
I received nearly ten days since your very kind letter, which has hitherto remained unanswered owing to the very sudden transition we made, from almost total idleness, to an excessive press of business—This transition was introduced by a question upon the building of a bridge , which has already made five days of debate, and upon which the question is not yet finally taken—Besides this Mr:...
650John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
I enclose an order for $110. which I will thank you to present, and if accepted, receive the money— This together with the rent you have received of M r: Dexter, will pay the assessm t: due on my Bridge-Shares, and leave a Balance— I will thank you to pay the Assessm t: to M r: Foster, and take the rec t: — Please to send me word whether you have advertised the rooms in Whitcomb’s House and if...