21To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Having at length finished mÿ Researches on Several points in Nat. Hist. in the theories of Mess. Buffon and Daubenton—which have been extended to 270 Pag. in 4th. and a are readÿ for the press, if I can find a printer and a corrector of the Language, of which I have little prospect—and being free of head-ache—I must again address you with a few lines, in the flattering hope, that they Shall as...
22To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I am again favoured with your kind letter of Jan. 23. It bears with it the usual Stamp of Serenity and health of bodÿ and mind. Maÿ both be continued as long you become not entirely dissatisfied with your abode here—and maÿ everÿ occurrence, which might distress either be long time averted! I presume—neither I think, that I presume too much, that if you visited once Smith’s valleÿ—you would...
23To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
My Sending the wreath unaccompanied bÿ a Single line was occasioned bÿ a Short excursion to Sacket’s Harbour—to take a view of the boasted powerful defence of our frontiers, after the Surprise of Ogdensburg, courted So long bÿ the iterated incursions on the defenceless and peaceble Canadiens. It was indeed a Severe retaliation from which the Inhabitants Shall not recover in manÿ years—although...
24To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
Do not Suppose, that I waited to answer your verÿ interesting letter of March 18—till I received the other promised anecdote of Quaker’s benevolence—no Sir! and I believe, you know me too well—art too well convinced of the high value I place on the distinguished proofs of your regard and frendship with which you continue to honour me, to attrbute mÿ Silence to anÿ Such unbecoming motives. The...
25To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I can not express you—how warmlÿ I am obliged to you for your your last kind favour of May 20th. It Saÿs—nothing that it pleased and instructed—no—it did much more—It relieved mÿ drooping Spirits it dissipated in part the deep gloom, which has latelÿ taken possession of me—listen—mÿ Dear! I have one friend yet left—he would Soothe mÿ Sorrows—was he in the neighbourhood, altho he participated...
26To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
No, you will not blame me, though I make use of a Sundays afternoon—having the morning employ’d in familÿ worship—in writing to an honoured friend. This too is religion, to remember the favours, which we received, and Shew our gratitude in our good will, though it is not in our power to prove it bÿ more vigorous exertions Freed this daÿ of head-ache I must improve these moments, and...
27To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
If I should not write, except I could Send you an interesting Letter then I would but Seldom have this opportunitÿ, but I flatter mÿself, having been So long honoured with your friendship, even, when I was to manÿ an object of horror as a daring rebel, who would not crouch to Despotic power—and—when you was elevated to the highest Station in your countrÿ, when by manÿ an insignificant Western...
28To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
Never Shall be obliterated the few days, which I enjoy’d at Quincÿ—I fostered allways indeed a faint hope—to See you once more, and know, that I Should meet with a cordial reception—but never my ardent imagination did reach to that which I received—From you I expected all the warmth of an old friend—but—even if I was more presumtuous—I could laÿ no claim whatever on the numerous civilities,...
29To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
I can Scarce persuade myself, that I Staÿ’d with you So manÿ daÿs—and conversed on So few, Subjects onlÿ, upon which I did want your information. I could onlÿ glance at your Librarÿ—had no time to Satisfÿ my greedy curiosity—and forgot even to look at the consolato del mare and other rare Publications in your possession but I am apprehensive, this would have been the case had I protracted my...
30To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
I So returned from the field—having dug my patatoes, and now the rain compells me to Staÿ home, how can I better employ mÿ time; than with beginning to answer both your favours of the 4th and the 15th. how happÿ am I in this mÿ hermitage—in receiving So often Such distinguished marks of your kind remembrance. The Demon of head-ache, which has now possessed me nearly a month abated his attacks,...
The unexpected and exquisite gratification I received from the polite Letter, with which you honoured me, convinced me more than ever of the truth, that in pleasure, as well as in the pain it is often difficult to ascertain the point, at which it can not bear a farther increase. I am entirelÿ at a loss, Madam! how to address you with empty hands, more So, as you Shower Such–a–profusion of...
32To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Everÿ mail I flattered my Self to receive a Line from Mount Wallaston, till I received your favour of the 1st. and long before that day I Should have written had I not been prevented bÿ that malignant demon, which haunts me from time to time, when I expected to have devoted a moment of leisure in writing to you. Besides, I had imposed upon me a task of correcting and copÿing my memoir on the...
33To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
It might cause Some Surprise, if I tell you, that your last of the 26 Dec. did reach me in due time, and yet was not answered before this daÿ, notwithstanding all mÿ warm protestations of mÿ deep interest in all that, which regards your welfare—nevertheless I was informed of mrs Adams Serious indisposition, and that you were not well. This latter might not have made a verÿ deep impression, as...
34To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I did rise yesterdaÿ morning with Severe headache—and espied, entering the room a Letter on the chimneÿ-piece, which, when I discovered it was from you, did give me a fearful foreboding. I laid it down, till I had breakfeasted, and found then to my great Satisfaction, that it contained a favorable report of mrs Adams—with a fresh proof of your high-valued friendship and unbounded confidence;...
35To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Being now pretty free from headache, I will indulge myself in the pleasure, to cheer mÿ depressed spirits, in answering your favour of the 4th. inst; not that I can promise myself the Satisfaction, of sending you any thing much interesting, but to convince you, if it could be wanted, how highlÿ I value everÿ line from your hand. Theÿ are the onlÿ remaining marks of affectionate esteem of a...
36To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Fill the glass to the brim—and empty it till the last drop—now you rejoice with your friend on the reëstablished ancient Dutch Government—My friends rule once more—The Almighty make them prosper, and confound their enemies, and humble them in the dust. was John Adams now America’s President I would beg him, how ungracefully I may beg, to send me immediately on an extraordinary mission—to...
37To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I Should have yet delay’d further to answer your favour of the 30th of Jan: accompanying Condorcet’s had I not received your Second Summons of Febr. 19. What Shall I plea in defence but, peccari Pater! and yet—if I tell you the cause—which lureth me to Sin; you will I know mitigate the punishment. Not head: ache—although I was not free from it, but, the wish to answer the desire of a few...
Among Several letters—laid aside—during my late exertions in behalf of a countrÿ, which I cannot cease to love, I must do my Self the pleasure, of paying you a debt of the gratitude for your favour of Febr. 23, with which you was So obliging to honour me again. Knowing the yet infirm State of your health, I had not dared to flatter mÿ Self, to receive So Soon a fresh proof of your kind...
39To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
At lenght I have been able to peruse Condorcet’s book—It can not be difficult to you, to conjecture, what impression it must have on mÿ mind. If I had bestowed on it onlÿ Superficial attention, its aim wuld not have escaped me, although I had not been assisted bÿ your correct marginal notes—It is a genuine ofspring of the School of the famous Sÿsteme de la Nature. It is not less daring in its...
40To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
Now I hope, you have already perused my Oration—although I have not Seen it yet in print—I doubt not, or friendship Shall influence your judgment. You desired, to know my opinion about mr. English book. I received it lately—and, as your requests, when it is in my power to grant them, are always considered—equal to commands—I taught it the best way—to do it in this manner. We cannot much...
41To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
The sun breaks through the skies—I skipt just in the garden—but the soil is yet too wet—to morrow—if it is a warm day—I shall make a beginning of gardening. I must take hold of the few moments at mÿ command—to answer your favour of the 8th. Brucker’s hist critica Philosophiæ is a work indeed of immense erudition; and considerable acuteness. It consists in 5 vol 4to. I regret, that it was sold...
42To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I regret, that So often I must wearÿ you with mÿ complaints about myself, and yet I must do it, in apologÿ to myself, when I write a dull Letter. I have again be tortured with head-ache, and enjoÿ now only a little relief, which I am apprehensive Shall not last long—but I must take hold of this interval, to give me the pleasure, of answering your last favour of the 2d inst. I believe, I Shall...
43To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
What Shall I answer to your obliging favour of the 29 May? I can not express, what I felt—it cheered my drooping Spirits—my continued distressing head-ache has cast on my mind a deep gloom—So that within a month I was unable to read or to write. This daÿ is the first, that I am Some what less uncomfortable, or I would not have delay’d till now, to give you my thanks—But, if montaigne is...
This morning I received the letter, with which you was pleased to honour me the 28th of June. your medical advice, how Salutarÿ in its effect, Should, I believe, not have prompted me to answer it So Soon, had you not destroy’d its beneficial influence—by rousing all mÿ fears for the live of a man, whom you know, I love and revere. By recollecting, it appears to me, that I am unjust towards...
45From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to John Adams, 13 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
How was I delighted in Seing your handwriting on the Addres—I could not guess—it was a Letter—I did not expect one—although I was confident, that, if the State of your health had been worse, Cornelia Amelia would have deemed it her duty to Send me a line—You can guess—how I was delighted—when opening it—I Saw it was a Letter from my revered frend—I glanced over it, without looking at the...
46To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
Not a line—not a Letter from Mount Wollaston Since that of July 5th with a note of Mrs A—I will not longer delaÿ to Send you a few lines. I hope not I dare presume, you Suffered not a new relapse because then Mrs Adams would have condescended to inform me of it. Neither did I hear in all that time from Boston. It is a painful reflection that great distances easily obliterate the vestiges of...
47To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
Although much indisposed duty compells me to Send you a few lines—and as I feel allways Somewhat reliev’d, when I write to you, it may now have the same beneficial Success—and So I Shall reap the reward of my Labour, even before hand. Now I am nearly certain to know—why in Such a vast course of time I did not receive a Single letter from Quinceÿ. The New-york Spectator of last Saturdaÿ—informs...
48To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 5 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
I hope not, I dare Say more, I am confident, you deem it not an intrusion, when I write you So often—would you not willingly admit me into your presence, if I lived in your neighbourhood? and in part I reap this comfort, in conversing with you in writing—and yet, I have nothing to saÿ—although mÿ Spirits are not much depressed, and mÿ vigour rather restored by renewed exertions. I do not like...
49To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
Although not in a mood to perform anÿ Serious thing, I must try to procure me Some relief—in reading once more your favour of the 18—Oct. and See, if writing will in part effect, what your conversation would Successfully affect do, was I nearer to your residence—but alas! these wishes are vain, and it is weakness—to indulge them too much. you Shared my pains—and whose heart can better feel for...
50To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 17 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
Le plus grand bien qui soit en amitié est s’entr’escrire, ou se dire de bouche soit bien, soit dueil, tout ce qui au cueur touche Sings Marot—and what means can I emploÿ with more success to dispell that mournful gloom, which steadily sits on mÿ mind—Do not saÿ it is unjust to disturb the happiness of your frends bÿ such querulous tunes, while you do not place it in their power—to afford you...