1001From John Adams to James Brackett, 15 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that Mr Pratt and Mr Hunt are cutting wood upon my land by your order that they cut last year twenty cord and have now marked out 30 more If this is true I presume it is by mere mistake of the boundaries between you and me. I shall be obliged to you if your will inform me upon what lot of yours they are cutting which joins me and wish that this may be inquired into. I am...
1002From John Adams to Justin Griswold, 3 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I was born on the nineteenth of October 1735, and consequently was eighty two years of age, on the thirtieth of October 1817. My Son John Quincy, was born on the eleventh of July 1767, and consequently will be fifty one years of age, on the eleventh of July next. If this information can afford any gratification to the old revolutionary Gentleman of your vicinity, everyone of whom I love, it is...
1003From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 29 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
Voltaire at eighty, raved Tradgey; And I fear that you will think that I, at eighty seven and a half, am raving politicks and history. Be it so. but a regard to my own family and above all, to the sacred regard to the honour, the interest and duty of my Country, imperiously, demand of me that I should rave on—I must confess to allude to some former figures, when I was running the gantlet, and...
1004From John Adams to Anonymous, April 1825 (Adams Papers)
I am almost most ashamed to acknowledge to you my tardy obligation, for your handsom Edition of your History of the Colonies— butt I am heartily thankful for your valuable present—but ninety years are extremely heavy—ninety years are greatful to me—heavy as ninety years are MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
1005From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
Oh! that I could visit Philadelphia! and run about as I did Forty Eight years ago—to Roman Catholic Churches, Quaker meetings Anabaptist Churches, Methodistical Churches, Swedenborgian Churches—and Presbyterian Churches Not one Congregational Church could I find. Nor of a Unitarian Church was the possibility conceived by any one in that City. Tell Mrs Powell however, that I would now visit her...
1006From John Adams to Samuel Miller, 7 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
You know not the gratification you have given me, by your kind; frank; and Candid letter—I must be a very unnatural Son to entertain any prejudices against Calvinists, or Calvinism, according to your confession of Faith. For my Father and Mother, my Uncles and Aunts and all my Predecessors from our Common Ancestor who landed in this Country two hundred years ago, wanting five months—were of...
1007From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 September 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 12 inst. Hope springs eternal. Eight Millions of Jews hope for a Messiah more powerful & glorious than Moses, David, or Solomon who is to make them as powerful as he pleases. Some hundreds of millions of Musslemen expect another Prophet more powerful than Mahomet who is to spread Islamism over the whole earth—Hundreds of millions of Christians expect and hope...
1008From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly obliged to you for your Letter of the 9th. It has entirely convinced me that the Mecklengburg Resolutions are a fiction, when I first read them in the Essex Register, I was struct with astonishment— It appeared to me utterly incredible that they should be genuine; but there were so many circumstances calculated to impose on the public; that I thought it my duty to take measures...
1009From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your letter of the 15th. december—and am deeply affected with the information you give me—for all though Great Britain has not been a nursing Mother to my Country—I cannot but feel for her dangers—and Calamities—The five Bills you mention are medicines for the extremity of the disease—but I fear they will not cure, if they do not kill—but this is a subject...
1010From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter, and an account from Mr. Gales for the National Intelligencer— I am very loth to trouble you—and I must beg the favour of you to pay Mr. Gales his account and take his receipt and his Certificate—My subscription is stoped—for I hereby request, and Order, that it may be stoped—for I never read it—I am overwhelmed with a Cart-load of Newspapers for which I never...