1081From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 31 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I cannot take leave of the Year, without confession of my fault and begging Pardon, A Letter so kind and obliging as yours of 20th September ought not to have been Unnoticed, till this day. My heart is bound up with the Navy and I love the Officers, as well as my Sons. Their politeness to me, was conspicuous enough. Their Invitations were cordial enough. But I had reasons, which I could...
1082From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 28 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
You know not the Feeling I have for you. I wish Mr Cutts and Mr Seaver, may guess right: but you know Men are apt to guess as they wish. You “do not See but Christians destroy each other full as much as Pagans”. To this I answer, Joshua Pizarro Alva, Lorrain, Laud, Bartholomews day, the Powder Plott and the Irish Massacre. I will add that Democrats, Deists and Atheists destroy each other, and...
1083From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
Little did I think when I last wrote you, what a monument was erected to me. I have since received an immense volume of 630 pages printed in large Octavo, full page, small type, No name, no place, no printer, no date. I have not a suspicion or a conjecture, who the author is. the whole book is devoted to the chastisement of me and my books. There is no personal scurrility against me; but my...
1084From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Since there is nothing in human life but Brimborians, that is maginificent nothings, pompous Bubbles, Sounding Brass, tinkling Cymbals, fantastic Non Entities, airy Gossamers, idle dreams delirious visions &c &c. &c. I am desirous of assisting your studied and learned investigations into this Essence of sublumary things. Le grande Dictionaire Royal Francaise latine et allemande by Pomay....
1085From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 17 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
I know that Mother Harvard had Power to make D.D. M.D. and LLD as well as Batchelors and Masters: but never knew till now that She possessed the Prerogative of making Princes. It is a notable Epocha in our History. Why may she not make Dukes, Marquisses, Viscounts, Earls Barons Knights, and Esquires? If the Republicans wish and expect from me an History of the Rise and Progress of The Essex...
1086From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 25 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mine Eyes are better. I am angry with you for calling our Navy little. It is the greatest Navy in the World. Far greater than the Brittish. I rejoice in the Glory of the Essex, and her Captain Porter: but he ought not to have threatened to revenge himself upon Lima. What is himself, and myself and yourself? He should have vindicated the honour of his Country. I am glad that Mr Gray applauds...
1087From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 17 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I receive with pleasure, the News of your removal to Cambridge and establishment in Office, in which may you, and your amiable Lady Sons and daughters, continue to do honour, and administor medicine, to this Country, diseased in Body and mind There is not a more melancholly contemplation, to a mind that Soberly thinks, than the honours that are done to military Charactors by Sea and Land:...
1088From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 10 January 1810 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of Decr 25 And the Extracts inclosed. I regret the loss of your Visit and wish for that to come. The sooner the better. your entertaining account of the Solemnities of the day at Plymouth interested me very much. Every Thing was in the Spirit of the Times. Beaumarchais in his Figarro Says Tout finit d’un Chanson. your Dialogue with a Lady was remarkable. I Should...
1089From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am broke….I am a Bankrupt… Je n’ai rien; Je dois par tout Dans mes affaires Je Suis au but.... My Table is loaded with long, learned and ingenious Letters, from far and near, upon Religion Law Government History Politicks and War which I have not answered, and cannot answer. I will however not fail to acknowledge my debts to you both pecuniary and litterary; and trust to the Clemency of my...
1090From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 5 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I read, within a few days an Address to General and Governor Gage, from the Barr, and the Name of Caleb Strong, among the Addressers. This, to be sure, is a characteristic Trait. In former parts of my life, I have known, Somewhat of this Thing called “ A Barr .” A Significant Word and an important Thing! By all that I remember of the History of England The British Constitution, has been...
1091From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have written to the President on your Subject. I know not what Weight my opinion has or whether any at all. But this I know, that if such Scoundrels as Skinner, Bidwell Gannet: Such imbeciles as Dearborne, Hall Varnum Seaver are to be made Great men in New England: and such as Gerry Waterhouse Dexter and Grey to be neglected, Old Anarch will resume his Reign Washington has indeed a dreadful...
1092From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 27 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
As I read the Essays of The elegant Botanist as when they appeared in the Monthly Anthology, with much pleasure, I am very glad to learn from your kind Letter of the 25th that they are to appear together in a Volume. If our dear Countrymen had loved one another as well as Some of them do England and Scotland and if our Mecenas’s encouraged American Litterature as much as they do Scottish; this...
1093From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 12 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
No Wonder, that the President has suffered a violent strain. I have spent nine days in the gulph stream 3 of them in a Hurricane, 3 more in a gale not much less furious, 3 more in tracing back our steps. The three first we could not lay to A foresail left standing to steady our ship was rent to pieces like a sheet of wet paper, & we were forced to scud under bare poles. We shipped two hundred...
1094From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
In your favour of the 9th of this month, you request a Copy of the first page of your Letter to me, “about a month since.” How time flies? Your Month has been three months. You have been so happy that three months have appeared but one. The Copy you desire is as follows. Cambridge March 12 1811 Dear Sir I here Send for your Perusal The Preface to the Botanist. The Publisher has print off a few...
1095From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
A Visit from you my good Friend, would be a cordial, and if honoured by His Honour would raise my Spirit as high as they are capable of rising: but the demands of his time and attention, from private and public affairs are constantly so urgent, that I wonder not at your disappointments. I am able to give you little or no Satisfaction, in answer to your Inquiries. I know of no Authority given...
1096From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 5 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
The K. of modern Babilon, mentioned in your Letter of the 2d, who was become as a Beast, and whose Kingdom was taken from him, because of the hardness of his heart: is not so beautiful an Animal as the Taureau blanc of Voltaire and it is to be feared will never be restored from his Brutality to his Humanity like him. The Layman I think cannot disguise himself from me, unless he Studies hard to...
1097From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 29 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 25th is received. I feel much at my Ease under the Lash: as much as Epictetus when he told his Master torturing his Leg “You will break it,” and as much more So as I have not fear of having the Leg broken. As to your “concern of Mind” I advise you to be very deliberate, and weigh all Things as they will affect yourself, your Family your Friends Your Country and Mankind; and...
1098From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 17 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Have you read certain Strictures upon Painters and Paintings, in the Newspapers? what do you think of them? I am pleased with his gratitude to Copeley—but I believe he was not perfect Master of Copeleys Merit. There is a Portrait of Justice Dana in his Robe bands and Tie Wig of a Barrister at Law, now no doubt in possession of his Descendants. There is a fault Length Portrait of Governor...
1099From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 18 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of Nov. 20th and regret very much that your Employments would not allow you to Spend a Night with Us. I did not before know but you was one of those respectable People who do not read the Patriot. I must be cautious of Affectation: and not go out of my Way to introduce Things. When I come to mention the sailing of the South Carolina, I Shall mention Some of the...
1100From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 22 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Graüs Ingenium dedit Musa. the Greeks refined and polished every thing. The Competition between Apelles and Protogenes, and its termination in Unchangeable Friendship is one of the most amiable Tales of Antiquity. Yet these keen Greeks must always have something marvellous; Something Supernatural. The Spunge, after all, wrought the miracle. The froth of the exhausted hound could not be hit,...
1101From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
The tumultuous Crowd of Thoughts that rushed into my head as I read your Letter of Yesterday, would appear as gross a Chaos and as wild an Anarchy, if it could be described in Writing; as the Politicks of our Commonwealth appear to you, as described in your Letter. If I hint at Some of them, I shall Study no Tacticks to marshall them in order. 1. In the first place, I absolutely forbid that...
1102From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 23 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Dr Rush will give you good News of your Son. I congratulate you on the honor he has obtained by his Examination, and his Sure prospect of a Degree as a Doctor of Medicine. A young Gentleman came from Boston before Break fast this morning, on purpose to bring me the News of the Hornets Laurells. I wish every Young Man had as good Feelings and as much respect for mine....
1103From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 22 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favr is recd. Gallia changefull as a Child at play “now calls in Princes; now drives away,” and this is exactly conformable to Examples Sett her by England Scotland and Ireland in the 17th Century; to that of Holland, Geneva, Switzerland &c in the 18th. and Austria Russia Sweden Prussia Saxony and the whole Confederation of the Rhine in the 19th. And our dear beloved Country has not been...
1104From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 26 February 1817 (Adams Papers)
Where the Fine Arts are Studied or practiced there Should be a Trybunal of Criticism always in Session, before which every new production Should be arraigned and tried; by no other laws however than Truth or Nature, and no other penalty than Reputation in the public Opinion. “Are We not in too great a hurry, in our Zeal for the fine Arts”? This is as noble and beautiful a question, as that of...
1105From John Adams to John Fothergill Waterhouse, 5 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for Dr Slaughtons Eulogium on Dr Rush.—It is indeed “appropriate, learned and eloquent.” But I know not what to think of Eulogiums, Pictures, Statues, or Monuments.—If they could be consecrated by Truth to Virtue or to Honour, they would be venerable. My Feelings have been more affected by the words “In memoriam ingenii, Boerhaaviani Salutifori,” which I have sSeen read on a Stone...
1106From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 10 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of July 19th is yet unacknowledged. The first page of it, or rather the first part of the first page compells me to Say that the real cause of the rancorous virulence with which I have been treated by all Parties French and English, Democratical and Aristocratical, and I might Add Presbyterian and Antipresbyterian, has been that I never was and never would be a passive Tool of any...
1107From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 11 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Our country is in a high fever. So in all Europe—so are the four quarters of the globe. Who first contracted, or first generated the disease? Montreal was no sooner surrendered in 1759 than the conqueror of Canada was discarded from the English Cabinet—a simple maniac ascended the throne, and a machivilian maniac who had been his preceptor became his prime minister. The design was conceived of...
1108From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 6 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with your Letter of the 28th. Ulto. It has received the recollection of our former acquaintance in France, England and Holland, as well as in Several parts of our own Country. I think with you that it is the duty of every considerate Man to support the national authorities in whose hands they may be I will not Say, whatever their measures may be. To your allusion to the war I...
1109From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 15 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 9th. I have only to Say that you may do a s you please with my Letter of the 6th. But if you expect that any Opinion of mine will have any Influence, you will find yourself mistaken. The Rushing and Dashing and Roaring of the Wor d Washington! Washington! Washington! like the Waters at Passaick or the more tremendous Cataract of Niagara deafens Stuns astonishes...
1110From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 16 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
Inter Arma Silent leges, is what We call an old Saying. I hope that Scientiæ will not be added. You may raise wheat when you will, by ploughing and harrowing deep enough, by plenteous manure, and by early Sowing: But while the Price is depressed by immense importations from the Southward, it never will repay the Expence. Full fifty five Years have I observed enquired, read reflected, and tried...