1011From John Adams to Henry Marchant, 2 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received your kind letter of Febry: 19, and I thank you for the handsome charge to the Jury in the Newspaper inclosed. With sincere pleasure I learn from you, that Rhode Island is become in heart as well as voice one of the family again. Nothing gives me so much satisfaction as the prospect of peace and harmony among ourselves. The accession of Vermont & Kentucky are in my...
1012[July 1796] (Adams Papers)
Yesterday mow’d all the Grass on Stony field Hill. To day ploughing for Hilling among the Corn over against the House. Brisler laying the foundation of the new Barn which is to be rais’d tomorrow, at the East End of my Fathers barn. Puffer and Sullivan Lathrop ploughing among Potatoes in the lower Garden. This Journal is commenced, to allure me into the habit of Writing again, long lost. This...
1013John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Result of Saturdays Debate in the H. of R. removes all Anxiety for the Remainder of this session, and leaves me at Liberty to ask Leave to go home. The state of my own Health which requires Relaxation and the sickness in my Family and Neighbourhood, would have well justified me, if I had retired even before the great Question was decided. I shall ask Leave this Day, unless something...
1014To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 6 April 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my Receipt of your favour of the 28 of February I have call’d on the Auditor and had some Conversation with him and with The Secretary of The Treasury and with The Secretary of State upon the Subject of Accounts and they think that some Regulation may be made by Congress which will reach the Cases without any formal Memorial on our Part and indeed without mentioning Names. The Secretary...
1015John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your kind Letter of Feb. 28. and March 1.— I can never be sufficiently thankful to you for your constant unwearied Attention and tender care of my Mother. I hope that you will be very careful of your own Health and not suffer your Solicitude and Exertions to go beyond your Strength. Our Selfish young Rogue at Boston is so taken up with his Business and his Fees, that he...
1016John Adams to Charles Adams, 17 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have not answered your favour of 31. of Jan. nor that which announced the Arrival of your Brother and Sister. was repeated by Cornelius De Wit on The Rack and in torture; as you may See in Cerisiers Tableau. I know not whether the Rack is to be borne or not; but I know, the most disgusting, Sickening, disheartening grieving, provoking, irritating Feeling of the soul, is excited, by the...
1017John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
If C. as you Say in yours of the 29 th. must provide for his Family, I Suppose it will be easy for him to do it: because being not only a Republican but a Democrat by Profession, no doubt he is possessed of the most essential Ingredient in that Character, which is a Love of Poverty and equality. Two Acres of Land is more than an Equality, and as much as Cincinnatus owned, who was an...
1018From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 24 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have persecuted you, too much with my Letters.— I beg you would give yourself no trouble to answer them, but when you are quite at Leisure, from more important Business or more agreable Amusement. I deny; that there is or ever was in Europe a more free Republic than England, or that any Liberty on Earth ever equalled English Liberty, notwithstanding the defects in their Constitution. The...
1019From John Adams to John Codman, Jr., 10 October 1790 (Adams Papers)
I duely received your obligin letter of the 27 th of August; but a journey to Philadelphia, and the confusion of preparations to remove to that City, have prevented an earlier answer to it. I concur very freely and very fully with you, in your sentiments respecting the appointments of Consuls abroad; but I find the President and Secretary of State, are impressed with an apprehension of...
1020From John Adams to Jeremy Belknap, 22 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is the Letter of Dr Tucker.—If I should agree with him in his Maxim Fiat Justitia ruat Cœlum the question would still remain what is Justice. Justice to the Negroes would require that they should not be abandoned by their Masters and turned loose upon a World in which they have no Capacity to procure even a Subsistance. What would become of the old? the young? the infirm? Justice to...