1131To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 10 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
In the summer of 1783 being at your quarters I think it was in Oxford Street an elderly Lady came in with a book for sale—It was at the period when you was ambasador at the Court of St. James. When she retired—you informed Me it was the Widow of Carver with her husband’s book of travels in the interior of America. You added—“It is extraordinary altho’ he has wrote so much & so well on the...
1132To John Adams from John Thornton Kirkland, 24 August 1821 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of Sending you a Card requesting your presence at Commencement.—I beg leave to remind you of your being one of the Judges of the speaking for Boylston prizes the day after Commencement, & to ask you, if you should attend, to do me the favor to dine with me on that day at half after two oC.— With high consideration / & affectionate regard, / I am, Dear Sir, / Your ob. Servt MHi...
1133To John Adams from William Bainbridge, 16 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
On the rect. of a Letter signed by you and several others, respecting a Boat belonging to a Mr. Davis of Quincey; I immediately ordered an investigation of the transaction; And now forward to you the enclosed Letters, showing the result of the Inquiry—The injury that the Boat sustained appears to been purely accidental. I regret that Mr. Davis did not represent the Circumstance to the...
1134To John Adams from Ann Frances Bulkeley Humphreys, 12 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
Deign to forgive the liberty which I take, in compliance to the earnest request of Mr: Coffin’s friends, in asking you, if you should judge it proper, to sign your name to the enclosed paper in recommendation of Mr Francis Coffin, a brother of my friend Mrs: Derby.—we shall consider the honour of your name as of the highest importance to him: he is a very excellent young man & would be worthy...
1135From John Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I recieved, as usual with great delight your letter of the 12th inst. Your account of all things is satisfactory—but on this great occasion, my dear Grandson, let us all reflect on the obligations this event imposes on us. Our joys ought to be no greater than the joys of the public. We ought all of us to collect ourselves and not suffer a single unbecoming word or action to escape us. A friend...
1136To John Adams from George Alexander Otis, 20 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
The letter which you did me the great honour to write me under date of 22 April signifying your obliging acceptance of De Pradt; has added essentially to my happiness, since approbation from one So revered is more precious than fame, and at the same time its earnest. It also gave me the sincerest pleasure to contemplate that name, charactered by the Same generous hand which affixed it to the...
1137To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 25 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
25 This being Xmas day received visits as usual from Mr. & Madame de Neuville—As I have just received your Letter my Dear Sir, though an answer to it is rather premature in this place, I must say a few words on the subject of Foreign Ministers; and though t it is impossible for me to deny what you observe regarding them, respect for the family into which I have entered, will not permit me to...
1138To John Adams from R. Riker, 28 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
The Corporation of the City of New York have caused medals to be struck, to commemorate the completion of the Erie Canal which unites the great Western Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The Corporation, influenced by a deep and profound respect for those memorable and patriotic citizens who affixed their names to the Declaration of Independence, and pledged in its support “their lives, their...
1139To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 2 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
2nd. March—Company at dinner consisting of Chief Justice Marshall Justice Washington Justice Todd Justice Story Justice Livingston Mr Story Mr: Ingersoll Mr: Hopkinson Mr: I Ogden Col Taylor General Brown, Col Morrison Gen. Winder & Mr: W Jones—The dinner was pleasant and the Bottle did not circulate too freely—The House was in Session when the Gentlemen arrived—Nothing heard of but Mr:...
1140To John Adams from William Cranch, 27 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I hope you do not think that because I do not often write to you, I do not often think of you; much less that I have forgotten the debt of gratitude I owe. for your No other of my old friends is so often in my thoughts,—indeed you are the only one left of that class of my friends to whom I look’d up with reverence; & I delight in calling to my recollection your venerable form. You seem to me...
1141To John Adams from John Whitney, 2 June 1826 (Adams Papers)
With the profoundest reverence of respect, it has again fallen to my happy lot, in behalf of the committee of arrangements for the approaching celebration of our national independence, on the fourth of July next, to solicit the pleasure of your company to dine with the citizens of Quincy, at the Town Hall, on that day. That your health and strength may be such that you will be enabled to...
1142From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 3 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter which was forwarded to me by George from Washington—Your Uncle is under the hand of Dr. Physick and it is impossible for us to know whether we can get on to Boston or not rely on it that my desire to see you would induce me to make some great effort but I shall insist on seeing you in the Winter and after that you may perhaps have an opportunity of seeing us...
1143Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 12 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just returned from my other home , and shall within a week go back to it for the rest of the autumn. I find here your favor of Aug. 20. and was before in arrear for that of May 19 . I cannot answer, but join in, your question, of May 19 . Are we to surrender the pleasing hopes of seeing improvement in the moral and intellectual condition of Man? the events of Naples & Piedmont cast a...
1144To John Adams from William Tudor, Jr., 24 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
I write to ask your leave to make use of two passages from your letter to my father of June 1. 1817. I wish to introduce them in notes to corroborate, my remarks. I can mention them with your name, or simply as an extract from a MS. letter . The first relates to Hancock—"At the time of this prosperity, I was one day walking in the Mall with and accidentally met Samuel Adams. In taking a few...
1145From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 20 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
Being much better in health I seize the opportunity of writing a few lines to you and your brother— There are some actions my Son that are altogether above praise and that can only be rewarded by the consciousness of having done well and deserved the approbation of the virtuous and the good—rest assured that such actions sink deep into your Mothers heart and that she prays fervently to her...
1146To John Adams from James Leander Cathcart, 12 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
Pardon the liberty I take, after so great a lapse of time, to obtrude myself on your retirement, but having had the honor to be usher’d into public life by your patronage & that of the immortal Washington, & having received my first Commission from you in 1797 I think that it will not be unpleasing to you that I have not dishonor’d the preference that was given to me, in a time when we were...
1147To John Adams from Thomas Herttell, 11 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Though I have not the pleasure of being personally acquainted with you, my knowledge of your exalted character, leads me to believe, you will pardon the liberty I have taken to request your acceptance of the accompanying pamphlet entitled “An expose of the causes of intemperate drinking, and the means by which it may be obviated”—Should it hereafter be deemed worthy of a second edition, I will...
1148To John Adams from Samuel D. Harris, 27 November 1820 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to inform you that it is my intention to apply to the College of Electors for President & Vice President for the appointment of Messenger to carry to Washington the result of the Election & to ask of you, Sir your friendly influence in promoting my wishes—My application will be supported by claims arising out of services perform’d during the late War on our northern...
1149To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 21 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters of 21 and 26 Novr. and of the 8th: instant have been received—Of Mr Mason the bearer of the first, I have seen much less than I could have wished; and of Mr Barrell who brought the second a little more; for coming not only with your Recommendation, but with a volume of others all highly respectable, he pushed his importunity to such an excess, that I lost my temper with him, for...
1150To John Adams from Ann Frances Bulkeley Humphreys, 30 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter has been written some time since, but I have had no opportunity of sending it by private conveyance. Having heard from Monsr Artiquendue that he proposed doing himself the honor of paying his homage to you at Quincy, I have charged him with it, & at the same time avail myself of the occasion to present this Gentleman to you. As his estimable qualities must be already known...
1151Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 14 March 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
A continuation of poor health makes me an irregular correspondent. I am therefore your debtor for the two letters of Jan. 20. & Feb. 21. it was after you left Europe that Dugald Stuart , concerning whom you enquire, and L d Dare , second son of the Marquis of Lansdowne came to Paris . the
1152To John Adams from William Wirt, 12 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am just honored with your letter of the 5th. inst. and am truly gratified to learn that my sketches of Mr. Henry have afforded you entertainment. If I could have anticipated such an effect, I would have taken the liberty, on the first publication of the book, to have ordered you a copy, as a slight proof of that sincere respect, which, in common with my countrymen, I feel towards you as one...
1153To 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...
1154From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 23 November 1821 (Adams Papers)
Under an expectation that after our personal interview at Cambridge, you would provide yourself with the Article of dress which you required, and a new Hat, at Mr Fairbanks’s, I have been less urgent to answer your Note which was received and acknowledged by your Aunt, in my absence from Quincy. I have now only to Say, that whatever Garments you or your brother may want, if not, like yours, of...
1155To John Adams from William S. Cardell, 24 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I shall need no apology for addressing you on a subject which you will not deem unimportant as connected with the best interests of our country. This is the association of the leading Belles Lettres scholars throughout the United States as a national Philological Academy. To settle at once a point on which some differences might arise it is not designed independently of England to form an...
1156To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 25 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
Mr Roach with his Sister and daughter are to dine with us to day he tells me that he had the pleasure of seeing you and that you were in perfect health Our City is full of strangers and we have been as dissipated during the last week as we generally are in the Winter The weather is more variable and altogether worse than I ever remember it and we can scarcely be said to have left off fires...
1157To John Adams from John Whitney, 23 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
The Citizens of Quincy have agreed to Celebrate the Anniversary of our National Independance on the fifth of July next; This is to solicit the pleasure of your Company to dine with them at the Town-hall on said day; not doubting but you will comply with this request should your health and strength permit, for be assured no one could add so much to the festivity and joy of the occasion; as it...
1158To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 23 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
I send you the enclosed pamphlet, at the request of Mr John Williams, a native of North Carolina, now a member of the Senate of the United States from the State of Tennessee— I am ever faithfully and affectionately, your Son MHi : Adams Papers.
1159To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 12 December 1822 to 13 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
12. December Mrs Frye called today to see me and I went with her to the Kings Picture Gallery and appointed Monday for her to sit to him—Her husband has one of the vilest things I ever saw which was taken by some miserable dauber —it is not fit to adorn a sign post—Had 21 visits and went out to see Mrs Calhoun Mrs Findlay, & Mrs Ingham—The former is a respectable looking elderly Lady the...
1160To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 18 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Unexpectedly I was favoured with your kind Letter of Aug. 22—and, what was more gratifying, it Sheweth, that you enjoy’d health and chearfulness—be these continued to you—till the last moments. I too gradually Seem to recover mÿ Strenght: ere long the necessity of working in the garden Shall cease—and then I must return to the Records—which nevertheless—during the first weeks—Shall not amuse...