1001To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 4 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice to notice by the public papers that you not only live, but that it is evident from yr. interesting letter to Ar. Coffin—that Providence Continues to bless you with an unimpaird intelect. I rejoice Sir to find a motive to address you once more. We have corresponded upwards of 40 years on various Subjects. The object of the present letter is to inclose to you a letter from Mr A...
1002To John Adams from Henry Colman, 9 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
Herewith are enclosed the two letters of Mr Jefferson, which you were kind enough to entrust to my care—I expected the pleasure before this of returning them in person which has been the reason of the delay. I regret that I cannot immediately avail myself of that privilege and gratification.— The letter of June 1. with the reply to it was published in the Christian Register, a copy of which...
1003From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 10 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 4th: Instant. I wish that time may bring forth as able a vindicator of the merits of your useful life, as Mr VanderKemp, has proved in defence of my reputation with posterity, for some little usefulness in Holland—This testimony of Mr VanderKemp was as unexpected to me as if Luzac, De Geislaer, Van Berkel, Father Dumas, Cerisier or VanderCapellen de Pol,...
1004From John Adams to John V. N. Yates, 13 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received this Morning from the Post Office by an unknown hand a slip of an Albany newspaper containing your letter to Dr Vander Kemp I highly esteem the candid impartial & honorable spirit of it, I cannot dictate the remarks that occur to me upon the subject at present—but shall confine myself to one observation—It is most true that I did love and venerate the character of the Dutch—And...
1005From John Adams to John V. N. Yates, 15 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honour to write me Nov 1822 which has excited emotions too strong for faculties so enfeebled as mine to endure. Every humane christian & philosophical mind must appro ve the fine feelings and magnanimous sentiments which produced the assembly at Albany. Every lover of pathetic eloquence must be delighted with the speeches pronounced on that occasion....
1006To John Adams from Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 15 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
My Grandfather informs me that you have expressed a wish to hear from him through my means, since he is deprived of the power of writing to you himself by the accident which has disabled one of his wrists. this accident was much less serious than might have been apprehended from the circumstances under which it took place. the fall was to the ground from a terrace about three feet high; my...
1007To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 17 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d your friendly favr. of the 10th. Inst. I took the liberty to shew your letter to Secy. Yates the Great Orator & permitted him to take a copy to transmit to his friend Mr. Van Der Kemp. I hope I have not transgressed. By last mail I transmitted to you in conformity to your request, Robt. Troup’s pam Letter on New York Canals addressed to Brockholn Livingston. I presume you know the...
1008From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 20 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received and heard Mr Troups letter to Judge Livingston of the 23d of January 1822. you need not wish for a more ingenius, a more able or a more spirited vindication of your claim to the first suggestion of Canal Policy in New York, or of Genll. Schuylers sagacious patriotism in adapting and supporting your ideas in the legislature you have both great merit but still I think Mr Clinton...
1009From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 23 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved, and heard read Collo. Troups letter to Judge Livingston of the 23d Jan. 1822. You need not wish for a More rigorous, a more able, or a more spirited vindication of your claim to the first suggestion of the Canal policy in New York; and of Genl. Schuylers sagacious patriotism, in adopting, and supporting your Ideas in the Ligeslature. You have both great merit but still I think...
1010To John Adams from John V. N. Yates, 23 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your much esteemed favor was received a few days since, and I could not deny myself the pleasure of sending it to the press, though at the risk of being charged with Egotism —But the desire of the Publick is so strong to see every thing that falls from the pen of one of our earliest & most distinguished Statesmen and patriots, that I yielded to the wish of several of my friends in making it...
1011From John Adams to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 24 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
You cannot imagin how much pleasure I have received from your kind letter of the 15th. It is perfectly beautiful, and I have given it to my Grand Daughters as a model of literary composition.— Your account of your G. F. activity and energey almost excites my envy, who have neither a manageable horse, nor capacity to mount him, if I had one. It is delightful to me to see and hear so many proofs...
1012To John Adams from John V. N. Yates, 24 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
A communication from a source so respectable a source , containing sentiments so worthy of the occasion, and so honorable to the Writer, cannot be passed over in Silence—We rejoice that every great and good man feels deeply interested for the suffering greeks—We rejoice that the Venerable Patriots and Statesmen of America who Knew and felt the Perils of our own struggle for freedom can...
1013To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 26 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
It was Not my intention to have troubled you again very soon—but an incident has occured which has made it necessary. The day after I wrote my last letter to you, requesting permission to publish yr. letter The Honbl Secy. Yates called on me & requested I wou’d submit yr. letter to immediate publication, inasmuch as he had taken the liberty to publish yours (to appear the insuing day) to him....
1014From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 29 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 17 Dec You may do what you please with my letter of 20 Dec The Mr. Troop you mention is the gentleman I presume whose eloquent speeches I read in the vol of transactions of the convention for reforming the constitution. It would give me pleasure to peruse all your publications and to correspond with you on the subject of them but I can read nothing and...
1015From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 31 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your Letter of the 26h: with my blind eyes, and palsied hand tantas componere liter non possium I am with usual regards &c N : Elkanah Watson Papers.
1016From John Adams to John V. N. Yates, 31 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am honored this Morning with your favour of the 23d.—That Dr. Frankline while in England corresponded with Mr. Dumas, I very well know from an intimate acquaintance with both of them; that he reccommended a Dutch loan before he left England is improbable because at that time there was no Government or body of Men or individual in America to whom the loan could be named. When Dr. Frankline...
1017To John Adams from Aaron Bancroft, 31 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
Knowing your intimate acquaintance with subjects of divinity, and believing that no individual has a more correct knowledge of the history of theology in our country than yourself, I presume to offer to your acceptance a volume of sermons. I present them, not on account of their worth, but as a token of personal respect. Fervently praying that you may on earth enjoy the consolations & comforts...
1018From John Adams to John V. N. Yates, 1 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me honor to write me on the 24th. December. And I pray you to accept my thanks for the kind expressions and benevolent sentiments of it,—The Greeks I believe have been alternately excited and encouraged in their resistance to the Turks by Russia, Austria England and France for a course of years past, and now I fear they are to be abandoned to their fate by...
1019From John Adams to Thomas Loring, Jr., 3 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for your present of Dr. Gays Sermon. Such has been my veneration for that Revnd. and Venerable Patriarch, from my earliest Infancy, to the present hour, that in reading his Sermon I seem to see him in the Pulpit, to discern the motion of his lips, and to hear the sound of his voice. I recollect the conversations I have had with him, the cheerfulness and vivacity of his Wit...
1020From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
A friend in need, is a friend indeed; you must certainly have read Shakespear, and have learnt from him, when you have once made a friend, to grapple him to your Soul with hooks of Steeal. You have been constantly grappling me for more than forty years—The newspapers have brought to me your correspondence with Mr. Yates, and that has introduced a correspondence between him and me And what is...
1021From John Adams to John Coffin, 4 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Better late than never, to acknowledge your discourse on Medical Education, which I read in the Season of it, with great pleasure. and intended to have immediately to have acknowledged my obligation for it—It is as elegant and instructive a Composition as any I have read of the kind; but in the confusion of my papers an it has slipped my memory for which I ask you pardon, And I pray you to...
1022From John Adams to Charles Thomson, 6 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Col: Pickering has sent me in your name your Synopsis of the four Evangelists, The whole of which has been read to me, except the notes, I cannot delay to express my gratitude for your Rememberance of me, and for this rich present, It is much more intelligable to me than King James translation— I know of no Man who has spent the last thirty years of a long life in so much serenity, industry...
1023To 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...
1024To John Adams from Timothy M. Cooley, 9 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Permit the undersigned most respectfully to inform you that a Gentleman in our vicinity has made a donation to establish a Library for the benefit of the youth in this Village and as an appendage to a Classical School established here; and we have also been gratified gratuitously by several Authors and Editors of periodical publications with their several productions— We now Sir have presumed...
1025From John Adams to Daniel Coney, 11 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 7th. upon a very grave, serious, and important subject—You enquire how I get on this cold weather; I will tell you in few words—I have a bottle of hot water quart Bottl filled with boiling water, laid between the sheet at the foot of my Bed, and it defuses its heat through the whole Bed, and keeps me as warm as an egge under a setting hen— Your machinery is...
1026To John Adams from A. Stanton, 12 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty of Sending my little work to the Nestor of the united States, who more fortunate than he of ancient times, has a Son Who So honorably fulfills the place of a Ulisses. I have the honor to be / Venerable Sir / your most humble / and obedient Servant DNA : RG 59—ML—Miscellaneous Letters.
1027From John Adams to Timothy M. Cooley, 14 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of January 9th. 1823. It would give me great pleasure, to send you any Books for the use of your Classical school but I have already given my Library to a Classical School in Quincy, excepting a very few, which are a necessary of Life to me, I send you the second and third Volume of my Defence, of the first volume I have but one Copy—Of the Discourse’s on Davila...
1028From John Adams to John Farmer, 16 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
my apology for neglecting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your Historical Collections, is that eighty seven years is a heavy load to carry, or in the more expressive and more elegant language of one of my Farmers, the eightyeith year of a Mans life, is a hard outside roe of corn to hoe, but I am weary of alledging age and infirmity as excuses for procrastination.— You have sent me a very...
1029To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
So much time has elapsed, Since I was delighted with the interesting affectionate Letter, which I received last Summer from Mrs Quincy—Since which I obtained not one Single line from Massachusetts, that I cannot express the delightful Surprise when I did See myself favoured with a fresh proof of your frendship in your Letter of the 5th inst. Yes, my Dear Friend! this Letter was as warm as...
1030From John Adams to Aaron Bancroft, 21 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of Decr. 30 and above all for the gift of a precious vol—It is a chain of diamonds set in links of Gold—I have never heard or read a volume of sermons better calculated or adapted to the age and country in which it was written—How different from the sermons I heard and read in the town of Worcester from the year 1755 to 1758 As my destiny in life has been some...
1031From John Adams to Aaron Bancroft, 24 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of December 13th. And above all for the gift of a precious volume. It is a chain of diamonds set in links of Gold I have never read, nor heard read, a volume of Sermons better calculated and adapted to the age and country in which it was written. How different from the Sermons I heard, and read, in the Town and County of Worcester; from the years, one thousand...
1032To John Adams from David Sewall, 27 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
It is some time since, I Wrote you, and I some times think I am culpable in not doing it more frequently, But my Apology to my self is, that it operates as a Tax upon your politeness, for a reply,—Be this as it may, you may be assured that seldom a Day passes, but I think of you, and it will afford me real pleasure to hear from you.—This World is yet in a troubled State—and in much confusion...
1033To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 27 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
At length I have the pleasure to send you a copy of my life of James Otis . I can hardly express to you the various emotions that arise in thus presenting you with a volume which may be entirely attributed to you, which in almost every page relies upon your authority, and which affords so many proofs of of your kind communications to me. Often as your name appears, I have had some difficulty...
1034To John Adams from Thomas Herttell, 30 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Accompanying this you will receive a Pamphlet entitled “Remarks on the law of Imprissonment for debt, shewing its Unconstitutionallity and its demoralizing influence on the Community.” I am under an impression, that compliments of books and Pamphlets have been obtruded and heaped upon you to an oppressive extent, and many times with a view to draw from you complimentory letters, some of which...
1035To John Adams from Henry J. Oliver, 31 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of forwarding to you per the same mail, which conveys this, a pamphlet on the subject of Religious Association, both as it involves the prosperity of the religious community and as it regards those poor in large places, who have too long been neglected and have, of late in this city, elicited much of the public feeling in their behalf— The remarks must not be read with any...
1036From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 1 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
From the moment when I received the your Life of James Otis, I have held in requisition my readers till they have finished the Volume, I am afraid to trust myself to express my opinion of it, or my feelings in hearing it, I could wish to read the North American review of it, before I say anything myself that I might shelter myself in some degree under their authority, but I cannot wait; And...
1037From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your letter of the 20th frindship and your kind letter of the 20th If JQ—or any of my posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland, It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude, unworthy of their Name, You ask the history of my seal I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain,...
1038From John Adams to Smith Thompson, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Judge Thatcher, of Maine, who married a daughter of General Knox, has requested me to write to the Navy Department, in favour of his son Henry Knox Thacher, who is now a Cadet in West Point Academy. The young gentleman’s character is represented to me in a very favourable light, and my early, long, and late friendship for his Grandfather, and knowing him to have been, one of the earliest and...
1039From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your friendship in your kind letter of the 20th.— If JQ. or any of my Posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude unworthy of their name.—You ask the history of my seal, I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain exultation, at the...
1040To John Adams from Alden Bradford, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Judge Thatcher of Thomaston, Maine, who married a daughter of the late Genl. Knox—& who has a Son, that he wishes to have an appointment, as Midshipman in the navy— Judge Thatcher is a Gentleman of education & high standing in Society— very respectfully MHi : Adams Papers.
1041To John Adams from Oliver Parsons, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter accompanying the two Vols. of your Defence came safe to hand—It gives us much pleasure to acknowledge the honor conferred on our Institution by this donation— We receive it, Sir, with gratitude, and hold it as a memento of one of the greatest men of our Country— Sensible that the scenes of this life are rapidly receding from your view, permit us to tender our wishes that your last...
1042To John Adams from Littleton Dennis Teackle, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
As Chairman of the Committee of Public Instruction, I take the liberty of transmitting a Bill reported for that purpose, and beg the favor of your views upon the System proposed, and that you will be pleased to note its defects, and to suggest Amendments. Presuming upon a knowledge of your liberal, and Philanthropick disposition, I venture to essay this claim upon your time, and attention— I...
1043From John Adams to Thomas Herttell, 7 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of 30th. with the pamphlet, and thank you for both. Your remarks on the Law of imprisonment for debt are written with much ability and patient thinking. I am not able to answer it, or any part of it. The evils of such imprisonments are very great, distressing and oppressive, they are neither good for creditor, or debtor; yet a total abolition of them, would produce...
1044From John Adams to David Sewall, 8 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Though I cannot, read, nor write, I can feel as sensibly as ever, a friendship of seventy years of age. Your letters always give me pleasure; The difficulties arrising in your State, are nothing at all, they will be nothing but an amusement to you for a few years to come; what is a penitentiary, or a seat of Government, they will occasion a little squib scribbling and sparring for a few years,...
1045From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your Virginia Ladies have always been represented to me, and I have always believed it, are among the most beautiful, virtuous, and accomplished of their Sex, One of them has given me a most luxurious entertainment in a narration of her Visit to your Domicil. Her discription of the Mountain, the Palace, the Gardens, the vast Prospect, The lofty Mountains at a distance. The Capacious Valley...
1046To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 10 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your most kind & approving letter, respecting “the life of James Otis, ” I received the day before I left town to pass a few weeks with my friends in this mansion. I had not an opportunity at the moment to return you my thanks, but I cannot resist troubling you with them now. My anxiety was great to know your opinion, and as you beyond all other men living or dead, was the best qualified to...
1047From John Adams to Littleton Dennis Teackle, 15 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received with gratitude the letter you did me the honour to write me on the 4th. instant— The report of the Committee for a system of Education for the State of Maryland has been read to me, and I have heard it with admiration. It appeared to me the most perfect system of Instruction that I have ever known, or read for any community; It will do immortal honor to the noble natures of the...
1048From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 16 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10 feb 1823 I have the satisfaction to find that every body gives as good a character to of your book as I have done in my letter to you. Judge Quincy our friend Shaw & all, who have read it, speak of it as I do—And to my little surprize the daily advertizer speaks of it as it ought and let me add one circumstance more I am well informed that it sells...
1049From John Adams to John Thornton Kirkland, 17 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received the honor of your Circular of February 1823. The System of regulations contained in it has my most cordial approbation. It appears to me to be admirably calculated to preserve the morals and secure the Studies of those young Men who are to be the future Masters of the World. The Corporation may be assured of my higest respects and my zealous co-operation as far as respects my...
1050To John Adams from Joseph Richardson, 17 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty to send you a copy of my American Reader, and if the task may not be too great to request your notice of its contents. The second edition of this work is sold out and a new one is in the press. The work has many competitors and needs patrons. If I mistake not its pages are uniformly devoted to the great principles of knowledge, virtue and liberty to which, sir, your...