The Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams deceased, have proceeded to the Execution of the said Will, by receiving payment from John Quincy Adams of ten thousand dollars, with interest thereon from the time of the Testators decease, in fulfilment of the Conditional devise to him of the Homestead Estate here, and by making Sale, so far as has been practicable, of all the rest...
The Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams, late of Quincy deceased, enclose herewith a Copy of the said Will, in which you are interested as Devisees. We also deem it proper to give you notice that the said Will has been proved before the Judge of Probate for the County of Norfolk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That we have given the bond required by law for the return...
I return the enclosed letter according to your desire, painfully regretting, that I can not consistently with my sense of my duties, comply with the wish of the writer; and yours in his behalf. The reasons of this I cannot fully explain to you, but I trust you will be assured they are not incompatible with that ardent and sincere affection to which you so forcibly appeal, & the power of which...
your letter of the 6th. of January gave me much pleasure, to which was added was that of your Brothers for the lone of which I thank you and here-with return it— he writes in fine spirits, and I hope will be able to accomplish his designs, but what his views are unless he has been fortunate enough to find the affections of some fine English Lady of Moderate fortune, who is adventurous enough...
Your letter of the 5th November gave us all great pleasure and certainly none more than me. I was delighted to hear that you had such good company from Boston to Newport and from thence on the Steamboat to New York, a circumstance which takes away the unpleasantness both of journeys & voyages, nor was I less gratified to hear of your safe arrival at Cedar Grove, and that you found your dear...
Your kind letter of the 14th. has given me great pleasure, I congratulate you on the Birth of your fifth Daughter. God Bless the lovely little creatures, may they all imitate their Mothers & Grand Mothers from the seventh or eighthth generations such a race of Mothers has rarely existed in this world I believe. I hope you will educate them as you Grand Mother was educated, by reconciling...
7From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 8 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am as much delighted with answering your pritty Letter, of June 3d. as you was with writing it, though I have necessarily neglected it so long. I am much pleased with your account of your studies which are all very proper for you and I hope you will hereafter learn the french language, and the Grammars, at least, in the Greek and Latin, for this will teach you English Grammar better than the...
I have received your very kind letter of 7th. october—the friendly conspiricy between your Aunt yourself & Mr De Wint to transport me to fishkill—is admirably well contrived—and is very flattering to my feelings but it is too hazardous, ardous & magnificent to my feeble and timorus age to encounter I should infallibly be seasick on board the Steam Boat—and one fit of sea sickness would put an...
9From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 13 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
Extract. I was not able to accept the condescending invitation of the Government of the State and the various Societies in Boston to celebrate the fourth of July, though my head would have struck the Stars if I could have made so glorious a figure as my Ancient excellent friend Carrol made at Baltimore on that day. But the heat of the season with the pomps and ceremonies, could not have been...
10From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 25 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I must acknowledge that some time ago, I fostered the expectation of being gratified with a few lines from your hand, and although I was disappointed, yet could not persuade myself that I was forgotten. Your cousin’s supposed departure, the concerns of a numerous family. Is it not strange that I was not struck with the possibility of sickness and trouble, which might have prevented it, or...
11From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 11 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have been informed that you have read Mr Locks Essays on the human Understanding it would also give me great pleasure to hear that you have read his Essay on the Conduct of the Understanding— There is a little Aeriel World within us—the reign of Intelligence, of sensibility, of Activity, as well worthy of investigation, as the great World without us—of Heaven Earth and Seas.—and nothing in...
12From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 24 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
This year compleats a Century Since my Uncle Boylston introduced the practise of Inoculation into the English dominions; but what improvements have been made, Since 1720 partly by experience, but much more by the Accidental discovery of Dr Jenner? The history of this distemper is enough to humble human pride! enough to demontrate what ignorant Puppets We are! how we grope in the dark! and what...
There is but one copy of the “Epistle to my Mother” extant, and that is an unfinished fragment—I should be very unwilling that another copy of it should be taken especially in its present situation condition. It was written exclusively for the eyes of her to whom it was addressed, and of my father; and with the exception of perhaps twenty lines at the close, inspired by the grateful affection...
14From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I wish you a happy New year, and as many new-years as your Nature can bear, in health Peace and Competence with your Children like Olive Plants about your table—but be sure to make them all Male and Female Children, Grand Children, and Great Grand Children work hard with their own hands, so as to be able to command their own livelihood by their Industry Economy and sagacity— I am very glad to...
15From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 19 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thank Mr De Wint for his Box of New york Cider Grove champaigne—Accept my thanks for the two Newspapers—my Introduction or rather presentations to the King and Queen of England have been heretofore published in broken scraps, mutilated and misrepresented. They have never before appeared with Official Authenticity Who has now brought them to light I cannot conceive. I cannot Suspect Mr Jay—for...
I gave the Portrait of my beloved and lamented Sister your dear Mother, to mine, without reserve and to be disposed of at her pleasure—And however gratifying it would be to me, to be the possessor of it myself, I acknowledge your still stronger claim to it, and were it mine to give away again, would ask your acceptance of it—I have no such powers for it is yours, by the donation of her to whom...
The few first days after I came to Quincy namely 19th. 20th. & morning of 21st—She was very weak but we had hopes which did waver much till Dr Holbrook came on Thursday he then declared that 24 hours were very important—that if the Bark did not produce some addition to her strength she must fail very shortly after—she did gain some strength but was uniformly of opinion that she should not...
“Delightful praise, like summer rose, That brighter in the dew-drop glows.” They were sweet drops which flowed from the heart to the eyes both of your grandfather and grandmother, when I read to him the two letters you had transcribed to your uncle and to your father, in commendation of your brother. You could not have offered a sweeter incense to your grandfather; and flowing from the pen of...
As Dean Swift says, “eyes with writing almost blind,” I commence a letter to you, near ten o’clock at night, after having written seven letters to go abroad by the Milo. I have been wishing to write to you all the week, but last Friday, in a snow storm, who should come to make me a visit, but Mrs. Cushing, who is always a welcome guest; she stayed until Tuesday; I could not leave her to write....