61From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I will not afflict you with lamentations over the Confinement of your Parents during the greater part of the Winter. Your Mother is restored to her usual health. I am better but feeble. My Eyes have suffered, and the quivering of my Fingers renders Writing painful, at a Time when The Hon. Mr Taylor of Virginia has published an immense Volume the lucubrations of Twenty years upon my obsolete...
62From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr Ticknor will go with your Sons. Let me introduce him to you. His Reputation is that of one of the first Schollars. W. Shaw will tell you how many Languages he reads. His Politicks are of little consequence to me, and I know them not. Probably of the Boston Fashion. My Son! You are now in the most difficult and dangerous Situation that you ever was in. You will be courted by Dissenters by...
63From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have Official Information that Mr Bayard and Mr Gallatin are joined with you in a Negotiation of great importance and no little difficulty, nor less hazard to your Reputation. What the Result will be I know not: but I need not Say to you that you cannot decline a Share in the Business. Your return to me is the first Wish of my private heart: but I am not yet So Selfish as to hope for the...
64From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
This Line is intended to go by Mr Bayard or Mr Gallatin, who are associated with you, or you with them in a Negotiation for Peace with G.B. under the Mediation of The Emperor. As I am and desire to be possessed of no Secrets, I cannot judge of the Probability of Success. The Gentlemen your Colleagues are well known to you to be able Men; and all of you must be Sensible of the delicacy of the...
65From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Mr Pope of The House of Boardman and Pope, No. 37. India Wharf, was so obliging as to call upon Us to let Us know that they had a Ship to depart for St Petersbourg on Fryday next the 12th. The Ship Cordelia Captain Boit: and that they were desirous of taking any Letters from Us. Since then I have heard that Mr. Jordan is going in her, but he has not been so complaisant as to Let us...
66From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Mr Gibson, within this hour, called upon me for a Moment and gave me your Letter to your Mother of the day of July, and another to Mr J. A. Smith from his Brother as I suppose Dispatches for Government if he had any, The Captain would not allow him to take. He was taken and complains of ill treatment &c Our Govt. has agreed to treat at Gottenburg. I have lived upon hopes of embracing you last...
67From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is with great difficulty, that my paralyttic Fingers can hold a Pen. The litterary, the Scientific, the ecclesiastical, the political, the military, the naval Phenomina exhibited by your Country, would afford me abundant Materials, to load every Ship and every Passenger with Letters to you, if I had Eyes and hands to write; and were not restrained by the Consideration, that I could do no...
68From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Public Mind Seems decided that Gerry and Gray are elected, and a Majority of Senators their Friends. Our Friend P. will not then be So Successful as he was when he brought G. in and turned you out. You are destined to be a Judge, and I am glad of it because it affords me a Chance of enjoying a Portion of your Society at least once a Month or two. And because it takes you out of The...
69From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
“Je vienné de perdre le plus grand Homme de mon Reoyoms” said Louis 14th, on the death of the grand Condé. “Ah! tout est perdu” Said the same great little, Strong weak Monarch on the death of Marshal Turenne I repeat both these Ejaculations, with a heavy heart; on the premature and unexpected death of Mr Dexter. I cannot enlarge on this Subject. But I will Say, Mr Dexter and the late Chief...
70From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your Mother and your Father have dined here with great Pleasure this day, and I have borrowed a Pen to write you one Line by a Vessel to Sail in a day or two, barely to Say we are all well. George and John are very well and very attentive to their Studies. The Corporation for an Hospital have met to day, and all Parties very cordial and unanimous. I can add no more, only that Mr Gerry and Mr...
71From John Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 13 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Brother William arrived here after a passage of thirty two days from Havre & has expressed to me his desire not to return to Europe, preferring to remain here, rather than be seperated from them, upon this communication, presuming it would not be disagreeable to you & of very extensive advantage to my future prospects, I have addressed Mr Munroe Secretary of State & have solicited the...
72From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of May 6th. like all your other Letters for more than 20 years has been a cordial to me. I approve of your judicious Œconomy in the purchases of Books. I have need of Parcimony. Your great grandmother used often to Say “What a Mercy it is, that the Lords keeps some People poor.” If I was not poor, I should plague you to death, in hunting Books for me all over Europe. Oh! What a...
73From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr Andrew Bigelow, whose Character you will learn from the inclosed Letter from the President of Harvard Colledge, will be the Bearer of this Letter; and I pray you to give him a kind Reception, and if convenient let him See your Secretary and your Sons. Haec olim meminisse juvasit, on both Sides. I have been to the fortieth Independance. My Reveries would amuse You. Do you think my...
74From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
No language can express my Anxiety for you and your Family and no volume could contain the multitude of my thoughts concerning my Country and my Posterity. One Thing is clear in my mind, and that is that you ought to be at home; if there, you should be obliged to live on Turnips Potatoes and Cabbage, as I am. “ My Sphere is reduced to my Garden: and So must yours be. The wandering Life that...
75From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
This Line will go by the Ship Hugh Johnston William Johnston Master bound for St. Petersbourg. She belongs to the House of Loring and Curtis and is consigned to Mr Joseph Austin, all Citizens of Boston: So that I presume if Neutral Ships Neutral owners Neutral Cargoes and Neutral Consignees can in any case Sail Securely , this Letter will reach you with safety. I have Mementos enough. Fryday...
76From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Last night I recd the 3 Volumes D’Argens’s Ocellus, Timeus and Julian, and the Journal des debats and the Journal de L’Empire, to 22 Mars 1815. What curiosities, all? Tacitus, Quintillian, Jacques le Fataliste, what would you Say? Would you Still doubt? You ought not. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth, in Wisdom and benevolence beyond all our conceptions, let the Earth rejoice. You have heard...
77From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to send me a Book whose Title is ΑΙΡΕΣΕΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ : A New Way of deciding Old Controversies By Basanistes. Third Edition enlarged Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat Hor. London Printed for J. Johnson & Co. St. Pauls Church Yard. 1815. If there has been any Subsequent Edition Send me that. But above all let me intreat you to read it. If you can inform me Who wrote it, or is Suspected...
Another Letter was yesterday brought me but it gave me no hopes of your return and I dare not flatter myself yet that you will obtain any answer more decisive to this last effort, than they have hitherto given upon any point. as I wrote you once before notwithstanding I am so anxious to see him you I could almost wish you might be detained untill the coming Spring, so fearful am I that this...
I was so fortunate as to recieve your No 25 on Wednesday which was the day in course but as it was the first time I mention it as something extraordinary I shall certainly be very cautious as you request about your letters— I cannot help smiling at your affected difficulty about filling a sheet of Paper and were it possible that a compliment from your wife could have any value I should almost...
We have proceeded thus far on our journey as well and with as much pleasure as we could possibly have expected and the day I have passed at this place will ever be remember’d by me with gratitude and pleasure from the very polite and kind attention of the Governor and his Lady to whom Mr Harris gave me letters of recommendation they are a charming couple exact suited to please me as they are...
81From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Last week I Sent Letters to Newyork for you Mrs Adams, and the children. I write now to Say that we are all well, and because I would not let a vessel go without a Letter for you I inclose one for George. we have not any Letters of a later date from you than july— Harper is displaying his Anti American Principles, if Principles he has. in Maryland a Part of that State are as turbulent as our...
My last letter mentioned some good news which I had heard from America I thank God this has been confirm’d and a great deal beside which I had neither thought’s or hopes of I was in expation of your last Letter’s being filled with the particulars but the date from London was precisely the same and you could not recieve it untill two days later your next will however contain all this news and...
83From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Altho I have already written to you by this opportunity, and my Letters are now quite old, I know I shall give to you renewed pleasure by adding a few lines more, as they may bear to you a token of my returning health, after a very Severe attack of a Lung fever of a very dangerous nature I am Still confined to my chamber weak and debilitated, but my Cough has nearly left me, and I feel that I...
Your two last No 12 & 13 were delivered to me at the same time I presume the first had been detained at the Post Office and closely inspected and even the second was also examined but not detain’d As to Day was our Wedding day and the day on which the Emperor’s return to us Capital was celebrated I went to the Te Deum and spent my morning in praying for the success of your Mission. when I...
85From Walter Hellen to John Quincy Adams, 11 June 1810 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor to write you on the 22 March whereof the proceeding is a Copy. By the late arrivals we have reason to believe, that the Emperor of France means to shut all the European Ports against our vessels—it appears that most of those that are there, together their Cargoes are sequestered & many condemnations actually taken place; I am therefore afraid that not only the Property which I...
86From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
I must abide by the rule I have establishd, which is not to let any opportunity of writing to you, pass unimproved.—altho I have no later letters from you, to acknowledge than, that, from Paris of the 19th March. Since the receit of which, I believe I have written you half a dozen. I have little more to say now, than that we are all well, anxiously longing for Letters from you, and for...
I had left off writing entirely from the idea that you would have left England Ghent befor a Letter of mine could reach but from all the accounts which we here recieve I find that it is possible you may remain at Ghent half the Winter therefore I have resolved to write again and trust to chance for the return of my Letters in case you should be on your way— I have moved into Town and made...
88From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 September 1814 to 6 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was very happy to recieve your Letter of the 12 August, which I have been waiting for with much impatience. I am sorry my writing was not good, but I hope in time I shall learn to write, with as much ease and elegance as Brother George; I will take more pains for the future. You ask me what I mean by a colour? it is a small piece of red paint used in painting Pictures. The rose-bud which you...
89From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
“Oh that I too, could make a visit to my Father,” was your exclamation in your last Letter. more than a visit You may make, my dear Son, If the Newspapers may be credited, for they announce from South to North, that you are to be recall’d and to fill the department of State. this is repeated over and again, & appears to give universal satisfaction. this I learn from all quarters—I rejoice in...
Your kind letter arrived just in time to cheer us. Charles and I were both quite sick, but are now thank God much better, though Dr. Galloway has order’d me to keep him at home for some days, the weather being uncommonly cold, and the Bridge not likely to be put up for some days. We have nothing new. there is some talk of the Emperor’s return, some say immediately, others not untill August....