41From John Adams to Richard Rush, 17 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
The Sight of a well known hand, made my heart leap, before I opened your Letter of the 6th. the Contents compleated my delight. May your health be as permanent as I believe your understanding to be Sound and your heart pure. The Pamphlet inclosed to me, ought to be Sent to every foreign Minister and Consul, tho’ it Should be under the Restrictions you prescribe to me I inclose to you Papers...
42From John Adams to Richard Rush, 5 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters of the 27th Ult. have been recd. with the Enclosures, for all which I thank you. You ask “Some Reflections of my own.” My dear Sir! It would require a Folio Volume, to give you the Histories, Dissertations and discussions, which you require. How can I, sans Eyes, sans hands, sans Memory, sans Clerks, sans Secretaries, sans Aids du Camp; sans Amanuensis, undertake to write...
43From John Adams to Richard Rush, 10 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
It does not Signify, to grow old. You never can get rid of worldly Affairs. I never was more distracted with Business. It pours in upon me from all quarters. I want to write you every day, and two or three times a day. I have read your speculations with pleasure, but with Some grains of reserve. I Send you a Richelieu, upon the Fisheries, Said to be from Connecticut. That State is a rich bed...
44From John Adams to Richard Rush, 24 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
The first Thing that Struck me when I recd your favour of the 15th. was the Seal. I will not tell you, at present how many reflections this excited before I opened the Letter. I determined at once to answer it by my Seal. You will See it on the Outside of this. An Ellipsis Surrounded by 13 Starrs, protecting a Pine Tree, with a Codfish and a Buck. A very bright Starr at the Top of the Pine....
45From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 14 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Grandson William Stuben Smith, having returnd from Russia, where he has resided with his uncle as Secretary of Legation to that Mission, and as I have been informd the President intended him, the offer of continuing in that Character, to the Embassy to England, which honour he has declined, the Sallery allowd being insufficient for the Support of a Family, which he now has. his Brother John...
46From John Adams to Richard Rush, 11 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
“Watchman! What of the Night?” To what hour of the Evening are We advanced? How many hours remain before day break? Have you a repeating Watch that can Strike the hour and the quarter of an hour in the darkest hour of Sablest night? Rochefaucaut, Condorcet, Robespiere, Brissot, Danton, Orleans Buoneparte, Pitt, Fox, Burk, Alexander, Georges, Louis’s, Charleses, Francises Fredericks are but...
47From John Adams to Richard Rush, 23 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I might perhaps agee with Mr Grattan, that Mr Burke had read more of the Brittish Poets than even Dr Johnson, who wrote their Lives, that he understood them better and tasted them with better Judgment and correct discomment; & that he had read the Latin Poets and Orators: but I can go no farther. His uncommon Reading of History, the Law of Nature and Nations of Jurisprudence in General and of...
48From John Adams to Richard Rush, 26 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20th and the Extracts which are very consolatory. I have Sometimes thought that the People of the U.S. of both Parties were the worst Judges in the World, of themselves, their Resources, the Character of their own Nation and even of the Geography of their Country. Mr Madisons Administration, must be recorded by Historians; not with Standing all the Errors,...
49From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 [ca. 26] August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I return the Ed: Review with my thanks for the opportunity of perusing the chapter on France, which has all the interest which you attach to it: notwithstanding the occurrences subsequent to its date. On casting an eye over the Chapter on corn laws, I was surprized to see so acute & learned a Critic puzzled in a case which appeared so plain & familiar. I have noted it in the margin of page...
50From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 [ca. 26] August 1815 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from Commodore Patterson inclosed to me by Mr. Homans, presents several points on which your advice to him may be useful, so far as the instructions already issued from one or other of the Departments be found inadequate. It seems entirely proper that naval protection if it can be spared, should be employed agst. the Carthaginian Corsairs, in pursuance of the rules lately...