1111John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 29 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I have had the pleasure to receive any letter from you. I suppose you spend so much time in dandling your offspring that you have none left to think of Collaterals. But what makes me most impatient is that you do not send us even the Newspapers until they are six months old. Here have arrived since the beginning of the Summer twenty or thirty vessels from New York...
1112John Quincy Adams to Cotton Tufts, 18 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days since your favour of the 10 th: inst t. and as there will be a difficulty in procuring a tenant for the house, I should wish if possible to take some other office at least for a time. The multiplicity of your affairs almost precludes the hope that you can attend to this matter: if however you should hear of any room conveniently situated which might be hired for a...
1113John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 12 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have been wishing to write you, for several weeks past; I intended to have replied to your favour of the 10 th: of last month, at an early period; but for sometime I was too lazy, and for this fortnight past I have been too busy. Just upon the point of going away, I find myself crowded with a hundred little trifling affairs, which at divers times during a residence of three years I have...
1114To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 27 August 1795 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this Letter Mr: Montfort is a clergyman who being compelled to leave his Country, has for some time past found a refuge in this; but is at present obliged also to retire from hence. He has some expectation of going to America; and being unacquainted with the Language and altogether unknown there, he has requested some Letter that should bear testimony in his behalf. Without...
1115To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this Letter, Mr. D’Hauteval, is a french Gentleman from the Island of St. Domingo, where he had lately the misfortune to lose a plantation of great value, by the devastation of the insurgent negroes. He has been about two months in this town, where I have frequently had the pleasure of meeting him in Company, and where his amiable manners have entitled him to as much esteem, ás...
1116John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 9 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 28 th: of last month, and though I have not yet read it more than ten or fifteen times, I take the very first moment I have, to reply. I judge of your sentiments from my own, and conclude, that I shall run no risk of writing too often.— Perhaps in this I am mistaken. Perhaps with your aversion to writing , and the ILL-NATURE that the very thought of it...
1117John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your father will be the bearer of this Letter, and probably will find you at Philadelphia, which our late accounts represent as being totally free from the pestilence, which raged with so much violence for two or three months.— Remember however and be cautious— In the midst of the general calamity, for which your friends participate in the general affliction, they recollect with pleasure,...
1118John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 16 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your favour of Dec r: 1 st: sent me a few days since by M r Van Rensselaar. It is the first direct communication we have had from any part of our own family, since we left our Country, and it was an article which wanted no stimulus of scarcity to make it valuable. Your political information was very acceptable, and I hope you will not fail to continue it by every future...
1119John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 31 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter of the 20 th: I have not enjoyed the pleasure of receiving any from my friend, but I do not forget the mutual engagement of writing every week, and I cannot close the year in a better or more agreeable manner than in conversing with her— There are some particulars in your Letters of Nov r: 29. and Dec r: 6. which require a reply from me, which time did not allow me to give in...
1120John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 7 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 20 th: of last month, which I received a few days ago has taken from my bosom one of its heaviest weights. The imputation of unkindness to you, was one of those which it was least able to bear with fortitude, and to be relieved from which would alone have been equivalent to the most delicious gratification. Besides which it is full of the tenderness which I love and the...
1121John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
Since my last Letter (15.) nothing very material has occurred. The newspapers enclosed will shew you the degree of opposition that is made against the Convention bills as they are called. The City of London has instructed its members to vote against them. They will however pass. I know not whether you have seen the review of the new Edition of your book, and therefore send the monthly Review...
1122John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last Post your short favour, inclosing a much longer one to Quincy which I have punctually delivered: I know not whether this will reach you before your departure from Philadelphia; if it does not it can do no harm: and if it does, as you have concluded upon coming this way with the family it may be of some service to me.— You recollect doubtless that while I was in...
1123John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 31 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago your letter of April 27 th: which was forwarded to me from London. My stay there was much longer than I had expected when I went from this place. I returned here about two months ago. The time when you wrote was indeed a critical moment in the state of our political affairs. I was before I came from England witness to the effect produced there by the resolutions past...
1124John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have just returned from the Post-Office, where I was in hopes of finding Letters from Philadelphia, but found myself disappointed. I wrote you almost a month ago by a private hand, (M r: Gray) and I hope you received my Letter in Season. I have since thought that some of the expressions in it, upon a subject which principally concerns myself might rather tend to increase your alarm than to...
1125To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Pinckney has returned, and of course my business here ceases. I am yet waiting however for orders enabling me to return to the Hague. I expect them with a little impatience, having many reasons to wish myself away from hence. The newspapers sent herewith contain intelligence of two important Events. The armistice concluded between the french and Austrian armies on the Rhine; and the return...
1126John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
You will find by the papers that I send with this letter, what you will perhaps know before the receipt of it; that is that the negotiations for Peace have stumbled at the threshold, and that a trial of one more year of War is to be endured by the contending Nations. The Notes of M r: Wickham & M r: Barthelemi are considered as decisive upon this point.— The scarcity of provisions has suddenly...
1127John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received by M rs: Atkinson your favour of the 20 th: inst t: which has added not a little to the weight of anxiety which, before hung heavy upon my mind. The Suspense in which I must continue, I know not how long with respect to my own prospects, has at present a constant operation to depress Spirits not naturally very lively; but when my solicitude for the welfare and happiness of my Sister...
1128John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 10 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
As I was going to meeting this afternoon a Gentleman met me in the street, and desired me to fill him a writ immediately which he intends to have served as early as possible in the morning. I accordingly did it, and as it is now too late to attend the afternoon service, I think I cannot employ the leisure time thus thrown on my hands better than in giving you an account of the commercial...
1129To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 12 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
I received two days ago your letter from New-York of June 29. It gratified my highest ambition as it testifies the approbation of the President and the Secretaries, upon my conduct and correspondence, and my strongest affections as it informed me of the health of my dearest friends. At the same time I received a letter from my brother Charles, and papers, with accounts of popular movements in...
1130John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Though not many days have elapsed since I wrote you last, and I scarcely know what I can write for your amusement, I cannot omit the acknowledgment of having recently received your kind Letter, dated November. 11. which besides the pleasure which your Letters always afford, had the additional merit of relieving me from great anxiety on account of your health. The address of the President...
1131To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 12 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the letters and Packets which I have already sent by the present conveyance, I now enclose the newspapers up to this day. This contains intelligence of very considerable importance, which proves that the king of Sardinia has been compelled to enter into negotiations for Peace with the French Republic, and to surrender two strong fortresses as a preliminary to obtain a suspension...
1132John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of May 20. and 25. have both reached me forwarded from London. The latter was brought by M r: Gore, who sent me at the same time the speech of M r: Ames which one of your letters mentions in terms of applause which I think it well deserves. After the apprehensions and anxiety, which the preceding accounts from America had excited, I was not a little gratified at the intelligence...
1133John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Nov r: 26. Was not quite five months in reaching me. I received it about a week since, and as the first direct communication from you, since we sailed it was peculiarly acceptable, though it had been so long on the way. You have received before this time I presume, my letter of Feb y: 12. at least you are informed of the great changes which have taken place in the Government of...
1134To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
Since the date of my last Letter, February 12, nothing very material has taken place in this Country. The customary tranquility has been uninterrupted, and the Patriots of the present day have been proceeding with moderation towards their first object the annihilation of the Government that has hitherto existed. I say the Patriots of the present day because the party is not exactly the same,...
1135John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 10 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
How painful it is to me, my amiable friend to feel the assurance that my Letters for which you wait with so much anxious expectation, when they arrive, can bring to you none but unacceptable news, and that they can relieve you from suspense only by the confirmation of disappointment. My Letters of November 19. December 5. 13. 20. and 31. are most probably before this time all in your hands....
1136John Quincy Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 8 July 1795 (Adams Papers)
About three months have elapsed since I received information by Letters from America, of the distressing trial you were called to endure, and the heavy affliction you sustained so soon after my departure from my native land. The intelligence affected me sensibly not only from the disposition to sympathize with your sorrows, but because I felt the loss myself of a friend, whose affections were...
1137To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 10 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Hall arrived a few days ago, and delivered to me a few days ago your favours of Novr: 17. and Decr: 12. The first acknowledges the receipt of my N. 11. July 27. But I feel somewhat concerned lest my next number to that, written very soon after it may have miscarried, as it should regularly have reached you before the date of your last. Mr. Randolph’s pamphlet had arrived before Mr. Hall,...
1138To Alexander Hamilton from John Quincy Adams, 2 February 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, February 2, 1795. Discusses the political situation and the money market in Europe. LC , Adams Family Papers, deposited in the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. This letter is incorrectly addressed to H as Secretary of the Treasury. He had resigned from that position on January 31, 1795, and was succeeded by Oliver Wolcott, Jr. See H to George Washington, January 31, 1795 ,...
1139John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 12 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was reflecting this morning, with what peculiar force and propriety, I could make the application of these tender and affectionate lines of Hammond, and how much more truly they were suited to the object of my constant love than to the person for whom they were originally destined, when your Letter of the 31 st: of last month was brought me. … It put an end at once to the delicious...
1140John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 17 August 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received almost a fortnight since your favour of July 23 d: and should have answered it before now, if I was in the habit of doing as I ought I sued the note immediately, but have not heard from Johonnot since The two actions to which you requested me to attend were both continued; I had not seen Nightengale, and thought it would be expedient to continue that: the other was continued at a...
1141John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
The stage in which I had engaged a passage for Philadelphia this morning, has gone away by mistake, and left me behind, which gives me leisure to write a line by my brother. He intends to pay you a visit this summer, and will be the bearer of this. I was detained three days in Newport for a wind, but otherwise have had a very comfortable passage from Boston hither— I find my health better than...
1142John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 17 May 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favours dated Feb y 16. which M r: Wilcox sent me from Hamburg, and of March 10 th: which came in a Vessel arrived a day or two since at Amsterdam. The newspapers came with them, and proved a great entertainment to us. The Herald is a very excellent paper and I wish you by all means to continue sending it by every opportunity. But when you send them by...
1143To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 25 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favour of August 7. The first time I have had the pleasure of a letter from you since the same date. I have also to acknowledge an unusual interval since my last to you was written. I shall not plead in excuse that a very considerable American correspondence, which I find myself obliged to furnish altogether on my part, with few returns of any kind, and those few...
1144John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 5 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received, my dearest friend, your letter of the 15 th: of last month, since which I hope you have before now received two from me; and would to Heaven, they could have been such as would have been more conformable to our mutual inclinations, or that I could now give you tidings more agreeable for me to communicate or for you to receive.— Instead of which a Letter from America,...
1145John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am yet uncertain as to the next point of my departure. But as I do not hear of any opportunity to go from hence, it is probable I may be permitted to return to Boston. I am glad that the man who has partly engaged to go with me, has already been to take, the small pox, as he will probably be ready upon my return and I shall be obliged to go by the very first opportunity. I have begun upon my...
1146John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 13 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
I hope my amiable friend has before this received my letters of the 9 th: of last month, and of the 6 th of the present; and that all her doubts, if doubts she really had, whether she still retained all her Empire over my affections have vanished into thin air. Though there was a letter which must have reached her very shortly after the impatient anxiety which she expresses in her letter of...
1147John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 19 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of two Letters from you, of the 9 th. and of the 19 th: of last month; the former of which I received, about three weeks ago, while I was at Boston, attending upon the Session of our Supreme Court; and the latter came to hand, but two days since. I hope I shall ever feel suitably grateful, for the tender solicitude, which you express with respect to my future...
1148To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 3 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago, I received at once your Letters of Novr: 11. from Quincy and of Decr: 5. from Philadelphia. In the course of three or four days indeed, I had a flood of American Letters pouring upon me, and can no longer complain of that inattention and neglect which an interval of three or four months had occasioned me to mention in my last Letter. Very soon after you wrote, the Elections of...
1149To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 7 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you last I am informed that the French Directory have ordered Mr. Pinckney to leave France, and as he has determined to come into this Country, and wait here for the orders of the Government I expect to see him, from day to day—At the time when the refusal to receive him took place an intimation was given him that it was expected he would depart, but he refused to go without a...
1150John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 20 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
About a month after I last took my leave of you in New York, I sailed from Boston, and after a passage of twenty eight days landed at Deal in England. We spent a fortnight in London, where we saw several of your friends who enquired particularly after you: and have now been about three weeks in this Country, principally at the Hague. It is at a very critical and dangerous period for this...
1151John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 24 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have already written you respecting the private business upon which I was commissioned by your father, and I enclose a duplicate of that Letter, to meet the case of miscarriage, that may happen to the original. But you will expect, and indeed are entitled to some more lines from me, though I have nothing interesting to say to you, except that we are well, and very anxious to hear the same...
1152To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 29 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have entered upon my business, and have many things to say to you, but find myself at present, pressed for want of time. The newspapers to this date are enclosed. By the next opportunity I hope to write you largely, and I wish it may then be in my power to give you an opinion more favourable, of the dispositions entertained here towards the United States than my present expectations will...
1153To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 17 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
In my last Letter I purposed giving you an account of the measures which have been taken upon the Constitution produced after seven months labour by the Committee appointed to draw it up. But after mentioning the frowns which had been cast upon it while yet in embryo, by the citizen Noël, it would be perhaps superfluous now to relate how soon after its birth it has been overlaid.—The principal...
1154John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 October 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of the 17 th: inst t: from New-York, and am happy to hear you had got well so far on your journey. I hope you will be equally punctual on your arrival at Philadelphia. I must request your attention to the memorandum, which I left with you last Spring; and that you would not forget to send my segars before the navigation closes for the Season. the numbers of the Gazette...
1155John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
Since my arrival here, I have employed all the Time, that I have been able to spare, from the more important business of visits and dinners, in the Office of the Secretary of State, and have gone through six large folio volumes containing your dispatches to Congress while you were in Europe. They can have but little relation to the business upon which I am about to proceed; but they have...
1156To John Jay from John Quincy Adams, 9 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
M r . M’Evers has just delivered me your favours of the 13 th : and 14 th : of last month, and I take the earliest opportunity to acknowledge the obligation, which delay, might prevent me from transmitting. M r . Schermerhorn some time since handed me also a letter of introduction from you. Please to accept my thanks, Sir, for the acquaintance with these Gentlemen. I shall esteem myself...
1157John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have still to thank you for a very few lines addressed to myself, and for about half of a long Letter to my brother dated June 10.— The quotation expressive of the universal power of Love was pleasant, and the recommendation to my brother to fix his choice upon a person of manners habits and sentiments such as are likely to be found only in our own Country is judicious. — I have already...
1158John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 7 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
As you were somewhat in my debt in the article of Letters, when I left Boston, I expected ere this to have received something from you; and I was not a little disappointed when Bridge came from Boston to find he had nothing but your compliments, or some such thing to deliver me from you. I am willing however to make allowances for the multiplicity of your avocations, and not having the same...
1159John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 10 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of January 6 th: was received by our brother Thomas at the Hague, and by him forwarded a few days ago to me. He has been very ill during a great part of this last Winter; at first with an attack from his old Enemy the Rheumatism, and afterwards with a bilious intermittent fever, but by his last Letters he appears in a great measure to have recovered, and I hope by this time he has...
1160John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your very laconic favour enclosing a draft upon the bank for 500 dollars which I shall pay over according to your directions. We are in great apprehension of being forced into a War. The last intelligence we have from the West Indies is that they capture and condemn all our vessels without discrimination— A Man arrived yesterday with an account of more than thirty sail...