1001To John Adams from John Adams, 21 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your request in your condescending favr. of the 30th. Ulto. that I should transmit the Pedigree of my family. I applied to my Father, who had taken some pains to inform himself respecting his Ancestry—being incited thereto, very much by the important circumstance, that One of the name had risen to the highest honours of our Country; and others, to very distinguished honours...
1002From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 12 October 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not write with the ease which your letter of Sep. 18. supposes. crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. but, while writing to you, I lose the sense of these things, in the recollection of antient times, when youth and health made happiness out of every thing. I forget for a while the hoary winter of age, when we can think of nothing but how to keep ourselves warm, &...
1003To John Adams from Abiel Holmes, 27 April 1820 (Adams Papers)
When I asked your acceptance of a copy of American Annals, I requested the favour of any strictures that might occur to you in the perusal. If you have made any remarks with your pen or pencil, may I permitted to see them? if you have not, I should still esteem it a great privilege to have your advice respecting any improvements, of which I may avail myself in a future edition. To solicit what...
1004To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 10 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have been precluded an opportunity of writing, by two circumstances; one the want of eyesight, the other by a Succession of Company from various places and from various objects—we are now alone, and I devote the first interval to enquiries after your health—I have some ground to hope it has not been long interrupted, if I may judge from the very polite Letter written to a widow Lady, in the...
1005To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., July 1821 (Adams Papers)
After waiting nearly in vain to obtain further documents for the biography of James Otis, I have resolved to begin to make the most of the materials, I now possess—I hope in the course of a few days to have completed, the first part of his life, embracing his youth, & what may be called the private part of his professional career—It will all be comprized in a few pages, so few are the...
1006To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams yesterday received a Letter from you in which you are so kind as to send me a permission to write you confidentially as I used to do the last winter—Nothing but the fear of appearing obtrusive could have prevented my writing you sooner, and having obtained the permission to pursue the old form I will continue my journal writing according to the feelings of the moment; soliciting at...
1007To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 18 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your letters are always welcome, the last more than all others, it’s subject being one of the dearest to my heart. to my granddaughter your commendations cannot fail to be an object of high ambition, as a certain passport to the good opinion of the world. if she does not cultivate them with assiduity and affection, she will illy fulfill my parting injunctions. I trust she will merit a...
1008To John Adams from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 28 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
In the late irreparable loss, you have sustained by a severe dispensation of Divine Providence, I sincerely sympathise with you; but hope that time, reason & religion have administered their consolations, and restored your mind. Permit me to enclose you copies of two letters, from my uncle to my father, at memorable epochs in our Revolutionary annals. The first from New–York when the Stamp Act...
1009From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Ere you can have arrived at Baltimore my beloved Children I address you in the hope that my Letter may find you immediately after your arrival at Boston in good spirits and safety and to thank you both for the many happy hours which you have caused your Mother to enjoy by your good conduct and affectionate attentions during your visit. Life is a scene so mixed so full of pleasure and pain that...
1010To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 18 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
I was going to trouble you with a letter on the subject of a continuation of the remarks on the Jesuits, which it would I presume be desireable for the Editor to receive by the first of next month, as the number for July will then go to press, when my Father gave me your letter of the 15th inst. to read. The pamphlet you mention of Hutchinson’s I have never seen. I am going to prepare an...
1011To John Adams from John H. Hall, 25 October 1823 (Adams Papers)
Having not the honor of a personal acquaintance, you will pardon the liberty we take in thus addressing you in doing which we feel a peculiar delicacy on the occasion. The subject of this communication is Col. M. M. Russell formerly of the army and, late Consul to Riga, this gentleman we have been intimately acquainted with for several years and has always been considered a useful and Worthy...
1012To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 11 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your reproach my dear Sir was very keen and keenly felt because conscience pointed its force and added mortification to its merited sting—To make excuses will not repair the fault and the only rational one I can offer is that I have been waiting impatiently for the publication of the weights and measures and was really entirely decieved as to the length of time that had elapsed since writing...
1013To John Adams from William Thornton, 3 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
When your highly respected Son the Honorable John Quincy Adams sent me the Papers which Mr. William Mellus had the honor of transmitting through your Favor to the Dept of State, I found you had done me the honor of stating, that if you thought I was still in the Patent Office you would have addressed a Note to me; and you requested your Complimts.—I think myself highly flattered by this...
1014To John Adams from Robert Stevens, Jr., 22 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
Judging that your known goodness will pardon this intrusion—I take the freedom to apologise for not calling to have taken leave, as was my intention.—receiving a letter from my Father stating a sudden indisposition of my Mother, I left every other consideration, and after an absence of 4 years & 1 month, arrived only in time to close the eyes of my tender & revered parent; this was all that...
1015To John Adams from Henry Channing, 26 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I cannot refrain from expressing my high gratification in perceiving that the Convention for amending the Constitution of Massts is to be honoured by your presence as a member. It must be gratifying to yourself to have this renewed proof of the undiminished confidence of your fellow-citizens, at this advanced period of life. I perceive, with some surprize, in the Boston papers several writers...
1016To John Adams from J.B. Binon, 3 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous annoncer que je viens de faire mouler votre buste; le premier éxemplaire vous est déstiné, le second à l’honnorable J’hon Quincy Adams, votre fils, et le troisiéme à l’Athéneum. Comme plusieurs personnes m’ont témoignés le desirs d’en avoir, avant de le rendre public, je crois de mon devoir de vous demander si vous n’y trouvez aucun inconvenient, ainsi je n’en délivrerai...
1017To John Adams from D. Fraser, Sr., 18 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
You will herewith receive a copy of a Prospectus of a Biographical work of mine; in which, a Sketch of Your own Character , will thus be Inserted:— [ John Adams Esqr. Late President of the U-States; A Native of Massachusetts;—that State has produced Heroes & great Statesmen—& Philosophers, a Warren , An Adams , a Franklin , &c. Mr. Adams , is a man of Superior, talents,—a correct writer, & an...
1018From John Adams to John Adams, 7 March 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 22d: February No 15 is as pleasing to me as the former numbers. I have not seen the Pilot. The young ladies, you speak of instead of tinkling verses and frivolous novels, had better read Dr Barrows sermons, get them by heart, and deeply impress them upon their souls. As to the Caucus I am glad you have not written me upon that, fir it si a very unedifying topic. The...
1019From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 6 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your last my Dear John I can only say that if the accomodations are so suitable and the price so reasonable as you say at the Exchange I should most certainly prefer them to any others but you know that your father is particular on this point and I wish you to ascertain exactly before I come so that we may decide immediately after our arrival—There will be your father myself Ellen...
1020To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 September 1825 (Adams Papers)
After Such a long protracted Silence you will not find fault, that I indulge once more in writing you a few lines—your kindnesses, of which I received So many proofs during more than forty years—your affectionate esteem, which never was abated would be a Sufficient apology—even if I had from time to time obtained a few lines from one of your family. But the last pertinent account of the...
1021To John Adams from Benjamin Waterhouse, 22 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
Accept my most cordial thanks for your truly friendly epistle. I loose not a moment in answering your interesting query. The Lady in question is, I conceive legally divorced. Her quondam husband is now in the jail of New York, for the third or fourth time; a mere vagabone. They were divorced in 1810, by the Supreme Court of Vermont. The Lady & her father, with the aid of Judge Dawes were...
1022To John Adams from Robert G Scott, 27 September 1824 (Adams Papers)
On behalf of the Committee of arrangements lately assembled at York town, and by their direction; I have the honour to request the pleasure of your Company at that place on the 19th of October next: to unite with your fellow Citizens in celebrating the Surrender of York; and in testifying to General Lafayette the gratitude and affection, Virginia still feels for one of her oldest and ablest...
1023To John Adams from Samuel Wyllys Pomeroy, 1 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
Being informed yesterday by Mr Marston that you have not received the last number of the Agricultural Journal, I take the liberty to forward one herewith—and avail myself of the occasion to mention, that some of the reflections in the paper on Indian Corn which I had the presumption to Offer in this number, were induced by the perusal of your letter, published in reply to the letter & address...
1024To John Adams from Daniel Coney, 7 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
This morning at Sunrise the Thermometer indicated the cold 12° below Zero.—contemplating before I rose from my bed, It occured to me how does Presdt. Adams in his old age get on this cold weather; concluded to write a few lines, if able, & respectfully ask him “how do you do”—I will say nothing about Theology Am reading Dr Bancrofts 29 Sermons printed at Worcester 1822—I will say nothing of...
1025To John Adams from Alpheus Cary, 4 November 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty to send you a copy of an Address delivered by me, before the members of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, at their triennial celebration on the 7th. ulto. I have not the vanity to suppose that the humble production of an unlettered mechanic, will present to a person of your highly gifted and cultivated mind, any thing new or attractive. My wish is,...
1026To John Adams from J. H. Tiffany, 14 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your kind wishes for my success secure my grateful thanks. If I rightly understand the expression “that in your investigations you have had no profit & very little, if any success”, it takes from me all hopes—Who dares attempt, if you had failed! I communicate to you chearfully, those Sentiments of Mr Jefferson alluded to in your last.—He esteems a democracy the only pure Republic,...
1027To John Adams from Andrew Nichols, 15 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
As a trifling testimonial of the gratitude and respect which I feel for you, who have conferred so many blessings on Our common Country—more especially on account of the approbation and patronage which you have liberally bestowed on Institutions of Benevolence since your retirement from public life, my address on Intemperance is respectfully presented. Wishing you all the blessings and...
1028From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
I was very much pleased with the writing of your Letter and only have to recommend to you now to pay some attention to your style, which is essential to a gentleman; as he must necessarily through life enter into correspondence either on business or familiar subjects in which a correct and elegant style is expected and more particularly from persons possessing great advantages of education—I...
1029To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 13 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I was made very happy in hearing by Mr G W. Adams (who was so kind as to Take his birth day dinner with us,) that you continued as well as you had been for sometime past—also that all our Friends at Washington were as we wish them in, perfect health— I have my Dear Cousin, sent another Barrell of the same Cask, from wch. the last I sent you was drawn,—if you find it as good I shall be...
1030To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 12 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
It is a source of Deep regret and vexation to me, that I was obliged to leave Roxbury without seeing you again—Bad weather, Bad, & sometimes impassable Roads by repeated unusual Snow Storms, together with a Bad cold, & Rhuematic lameness, kept me a prisioner to my House untill a few days before I came to this place—and being under a previous obligation to be here from the 7th. to 12th of last...
1031Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very long, my dear Sir, since I have written to you. my dislocated wrist is now become so stiff that I write slowly and with pain, and therefore write as little as I can. yet it is due to mutual friendship to ask once in a while how we do? the papers tell us that Gen l Starke is off at the age of 93. Charles Thomson still lives at about the same age, chearful, slender as a grasshopper,...
1032From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 11 May 1823 (Adams Papers)
From Letters received from Edward Taylor and Charles, I at length understand that the unpleasant occurrence which has taken place at Cambridge has again proved one of those in which the Esprit de Corps has made it necessary for you to take your part and to act with your Class—I grieve most sincerely at this necessity which ultimately must be very injurious to you and probably lose you your...
1033To John Adams from Henry Channing, 9 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
With great pleasure, I, yesterday, received your favour of the 1st Inst. acknowledging the receipt of my letter of July 21st.—I conceive it important always thus early to advise a correspondent of the receipt of important letters, which I offer as my apology for this line. Were it not for the trouble in writing at your time of life, I should be tempted to draw largely upon your benevolence, in...
1034To John Adams from J.G. Swift, 21 May 1824 (Adams Papers)
Believing that the United States Military and Philosophical Society may be considered as dissolved, by reason of a non-compliance with the terms of its constitution for many years past, several of the members have proposed an application of its unappropriated funds to the endowment of the Lyceum of Natural History in New-York with a Library. Since the last meeting of the Military and...
1035From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 23 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have had some time on hand your Letter of the 4th. instt. and although it would have given me great satisfaction to have known that you were continuing to rise as constantly and steadily in the scale of your Class, as you had risen rapidly in the course of the last year, yet I should much rather see you again descending as low as you had ever been, than that you should rise upon no better...
1036To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to you for mr Bowditch’s very learned mathematical papers, the calculations of which are not for every reader, altho’ their results are readily enough understood. one of these impairs the confidence I had reposed in La Place’s demonstration that the excentricities of the planets of our system could oscillate only within narrow limits, and therefore could authorise no inference...
1037To John Adams from James Savage, 3 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
without having the honour of acquaintance with you, I feel bold enough to prefer a request, which it may be a benefit to our common country for you to grant, and will refer to my excellent friends, Josiah Quincy or William S. Shaw, Esquires to justify my appeal to your kindness. My friend, George Ticknor, Esquire, now in Spain, will next month visit England, and there desires to enjoy the...
1038To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1821 (Adams Papers)
I was quite rejoiced, dear Sir, to see that you had health & spirits enough to take part in the late convention of your state for revising it’s constitution, and to bear your share in it’s debates and labors. the amendments of which we have as yet heard prove the advance of liberalism in the intervening period; and encourage a hope that the human mind will some day get back to the freedom it...
1039To John Adams from Charles Cushing, 10 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
To my very great surprise and mortification, I saw in the daily Advertizer a week or ten days since, letters written by you in early life to my Father, and how they ever got abroad or published is wholly a mystery to me, and to our Family; I recollect to have seen them some twelve or fifteen years since, & then they were in a trunk of my father’s, with other private papers, that trunk was in...
1040To John Adams from Richard Henry Lee, 6 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
It is not without great diffidence, that I take the liberty of addressing a few words to you—I am fully aware, that almost any intrusion must be irksome to one, who, having spent a long & honorable life devoted to the good of his country & mankind, has retired from the active scenees of the world; to a dignified and placid seclusion—Yet I am embolden, by the thought that while you will be...
1041To John Adams from Henry Colman, 14 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much that the enclosed is not more worthy of your acceptance by being more worthy of its lamented Subject. I hope you will not be displeased with it; but accept it as a small expression of my sincere veneration for the departed and my unfeigned Sympathy in your deep afflictions— I am, my Dear Sir, / with the highest respect / yr obliged & obed sert P.S. It appeared here with some...
1042To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 27 January 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have been so much indisposed it has been almost impossible for me to keep my journal and my family has been too large to admit of sufficient quiet to do any thing but partake of the amusements of the place which however have been but few comparatively speaking. It has been remarked frequently that there has never been so gloomy a session as the present and I doubt if there ever was one which...
1043To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 20 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
Nothing but the want of Sight has delay’d the acknowledgement of your most kind Letter of the 24th Ultimo—it reminded me of an Inscription Cut out of the frontace piece of a Church, I went to see at Millnor viz Full, & Intire Indulgences, Granted for all Sins, Past, Present, & to come—what can I say in return—only that it is impossible I thus can say or willingly do any thing Not for a moment,...
1044To John Adams from LeRay de Chaumont, 21 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I noticed with great disappointment in the Letters you honored me with the 12 of last month, that you had not then received the Letter which I had the pleasure to write to you at the same time that I sent you the address, which you received with so much kindness and indulgence. I could not help however feeling grateful for the Neglect of some of the Post Offices since it was the cause that...
1045To John Adams from R.H. Gardiner, 1 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
Knowing the interest which you feel in every thing relating to the improvement of the rising generation I take the liberty of inclosing to you an account of the Gardiner Lyceum recently established in this town & the inaugural address of its first principal. With the greatest / respect / I remain / Your Most obedt MHi : Adams Papers.
1046To John Adams from Isaac Gomez, 17 April 1820 (Adams Papers)
I was made happy in having the honour of receivg: Your polite and much esteemed favour of the 10th: Inst: in answer ing to mine on the subject of my Publication, for the high encomium you are pleased to pass on my work, accept Dr Sir my most sincere thanks as well as for the friendly & Parental manner in which You are pleased to state Your Regret at my having omitted Ciciro &c: I regret it...
1047To John Adams from Edward Livingston, 22 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
The honor of a communication from you would at all times have given me the highest gratification, but your letter of the 5th. Septr. was received with more pleasure, because I scarcely dared flatter myself that, fatigued as you must be with applications of this nature, you would have found time or inclination to favor me with your sentiments on the report. It was submitted to you solely from a...
1048To John Adams from J.B. Binon, 2 May 1820 (Adams Papers)
La derniére fois que j’eus l’honneur de vous voir, vous parutes desirer de faire quelques essais, pour etablir la difference qu’il y a entre le plâtre crû et le calciné. je viens d’en faire remettre une barrique, de ce dernier, à Mr James Foster qui a bien voulu se charger de vous la faire passer; puisse-t-il avoir les mêmes effets que dans les riches plaines du Languedoc, de la Bresse et de...
1049To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 August 1821 (Adams Papers)
It is a gratification, that I have it in my power, to cause you Some pleasurable emotions—by the commu ni cations, that an increase of enjoyment has fallen to our Share—although Some what moderated by our Daughter’s indisposition, which however—we have much reason to hope, that is only a passing cloud which Soon Shall pass by. Mr and mrs Busti—in returning from Batavia renewed their visit to...
1050To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have racked my memory, and ransacked my papers to enable myself to answer the enquiries of your favor of Oct. 15. but to little purpose. my papers furnish me nothing, my memory generalities only. I know that while I was in Europe, & anxious about the fate of our seafaring men, for some of whom, then in captivity in Algiers we were then treating, and all were in like danger, I formed...