141From John Adams to Anonymous, 3 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Please Sir to excuse J and C Adams from School as they were detained here by the weather NBLiHi .
142From John Adams to William Wirt, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Be pleased to accept my cordial Thanks for the present of and elegant Copy of your Sketches of Mr Henry. I know not whether I shall ever have time to make you any other return than Thanks. But as I see you wish to investigate the Sources of the American Revolution, if you will give me leave, I will give you Such hereto as my memory affords to assist you. In 1764 was published in Boston a...
143From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I here Send you three great Authorities, James Otis Oxenbridge Thatcher and Samuel Adams, all Supported by almost an unanimous Vote of the Town of Boston, all containing every Principle, every Sentiment and every Idea in Mr Henry’s Resolution at least a Year before he moved them or composed them. Indeed this was common Place Language in Boston and Massachusetts in the mouths of all Men but the...
144To John Adams from Thomas Dawes, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I had this day an opportunity to examine our Town Records. In May 1765 the representatives chosen were James Otis, Thomas Cushing, Oxenbridge Thacher and Thomas Gray. In May 1766 were chosen James Otis, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. I am very respectfully PS. I have read Mr. Wirt’s sketches of Mr. Henry and also a review of them in the North American Review for this month....
145To John Adams from Richard Sharp, 7 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I regret that my absence on a tour to the north of Italy, deprived me of the pleasure of seeing your young friend W Lynam, as it must always be a gratification to me, to have an opportunity of shewing my regard, & respect, for so old, & eminent, a friend— Most heartily indeed do I join in your wish that you could once more spend even a single month in London, for though many are gone forever...
146From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I Sincerely condole with you in the loss of your Friends Walker Wislar and Bray. I Sincerely Congratulate you on the Acquisition of an honourable Usefull and profitable Employment and Amusement for Life. And more cordially as it is a providential Rescue from your metaphysical and delirious Project of Writing Cosmogonies and Metempsichosies of Worlds. A Week before I recd. Your Letter, I...
147From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 11 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your Pupil Mr Minot was a young Gentleman of excellent character; pure, spotless in Morals and Manners, loving Truth above all things. Agreed. But can you accuse me of prejudice or Malignity when I perceive a Tang of the Old Cask of Toryism in his History? He Studies, he labours for impartiality; but does he always hit it? In page 142 of his Second Volume, he Says “There was a Pause in the...
148To John Adams from Henry Dearborn, 11 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
This will be presented to you by Mr. Binon the sculptor who waits on you, as proposed, to form a model, from which he will sculpture your Bust in marble.— with the highest respect / I am Sir your / Humbe.Servant MHi : Adams Papers.
149To John Adams from Arnold Welles, 16 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
In behalf of a numerous body of Citizens of Boston, we request your consent, to set for a Bust , in Marble, to be executed by an eminent Artist, now resident in that Town, to be placed in Faneuil Hall.— In soliciting your assent, to this tribute of our high Respect & Veneration, we are particularly influenced, by a desire of transmitting to our Children, the Features of the Man, whose...
150To John Adams from Henry Dearborn, 16 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
In behalf of a numerous body of Citizens of Boston, we request your consent; to set for a Bust , in Marble, to be executed by an eminent Artist, now resident in that Town, to be placed in Faneuil Hall.— In soliciting your assent, to this tribute of our high Respect & Veneration, we are particularly influenced by a desire of transmitting to our Children, the Features of the Man, whose patriotic...
151To 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...
152From John Adams to Henry Dearborn, 25 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am obliged to borrow a hand to thank you for your favour of March 11th. and for introducing to me, Mr Binon—whom I find to be a Gentleman of Sense and Letters—as well as Taste and skill—in all the fine Arts—He has been an agreeable Companion—and we have been fortunate enough to procure the best Accommodations Accommodations for him— Excuse me for I can barely write the name of your Friend,...
153To John Adams from James Smith, 28 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
If you will permit me to intrude upon the repose of your happy retirement I would beg leave to present you with one of the first Copies of my Prospectus of a national Vaccine Institution, to be established in the City of Washington. And if you should approve of an attempt of this kind it would confer a most distinguished honor to be directed to record your Name on the Book of the Institution...
154To John Adams from A. & J.W. Picket, 30 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
Considering you a patron of literature & science, & a well wisher to the general interest of education, the editors of the Academician, by this day’s mail, forward you the 1, 2 & 3 Nos. for perusal. Should you approve of the work, your signature as a subscriber & influence to make the work known would aid us very much in effecting the Object we have in view. With the greatest respect, / We...
155To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., March 1818 (Adams Papers)
At the Request of General Welles I write this Letter to introduce Mr. Binon the Artist we yesterday mentioned in the Committee’s Address & whose Services you so kindly condescended to encourage, for the Public Purpose of gratifying the Citizens of this Town, & Posterity. From the Specimen of his Abilities as an Artist of which We have a satisfying Proof in a Bust of General Dearbo r n, we...
156To John Adams from Alexander Townsend, 2 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to request, that you wd. at your leisure favour me wh. the chronology of the events of your life . Unless your own hand does this, I fear it will be done but imperfectly. Me it wd. cost some research. Many who have them in memory, have not your ability to put them on paper. I am aware, you never can become your own biographer. A life spent in forming materials for history,...
157From John Adams to Nathaniel Bowditch, 4 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have recceived with Pride and Pleasure a Volume of Mathematical Papers from a Fellow Citizen and Native of Massachusetts who alredy ranks among the greatest Masters of the Sublimest Sciences which Human Understanding is capable of comprehending. If it is true, as it is reported that you have made a Translation of the Méchanique Céleste, I pray you to admit my name into the List of...
158From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 4 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
John Adams was Born at Quincy on the 19th. of October 1735. of John and Susana Boylston Adams. he entered College 1751. took his first degree in 1755. kept the Latin School in Worcester.—Studied Law with Coll James Putnam till 1758. when he took his Second degree at College, and was admitted to the Practice of the Law in Boston.—in 1761. he was admitted Barrister in the Supreme Judicial Court...
159From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 5 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
In Mr Wirts elegant and eloquent Panegyrick on Mr Henry.—I beg your attention to page 56 to page 67. the end of the second section. Where you will read a curious specimen of the agonies of Patriotism in the early Stages of the Revolution—“When Mr Henry could carry his Resolutions but by one Vote, and that against the influence of Randolph, Bland, Pendelton Wythe and all the Old members whose...
160To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., 5 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
Since my last short Conversation with you, I have read Mr. Wirt’s Biographical Romance, a singular Book indeed! Composed more with a View to display the Author’s Talents, than those of his Subject. A better attempt at flattering Virginians, than furnishing Facts for sober, future, Historians. His Materials were scanty indeed, & he has made the most of them. Henry was undoubtedly a bold &...
161To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
Since I was gratified with your favour of march the 10, another of my intimate acquaintances—whom you may, perhaps, may recollect to have Seen in Holland, H. de Roo, van Wulverhorst is gone—the harvest for gathering my frends Seems to be at hand—two more, Vreed-en Cau, are yet left—and this week my Son communicated to us the death of his youngest Boy—only Six years—of uncommon bodily strenght...
162From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 15 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I HAVE received your obliging favour of the 8th, but cannot consent to your resolution to ask no more questions. Your questions revive my sluggish memory. Since our national legislature have established a national painter—a wise measure, for which I thank them, my imagination runs upon the art, and has already painted, I know not how many, historical pictures. I have sent you one, give me...
163To John Adams from Justin Griswold, 22 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am requested by the old Revolutionary Gentlemen of this vicinity, to ask the favour of your Hon. to give your, and your son: John Quinsey’s ages, for their gratification— Your conceding to the above will oblige / theirs, and—, / Your obedient / Hum. Sert.— MHi : Adams Papers.
164From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 23 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have Seldom read so much good sense, in so few Words as in your Letter of the 5th. Your Judgment of Mr Wirts Biography of My Friend Mr Henry, is in exact Unison with my own. I have read it with more delight than Scotts Romances in Verse and Prose or Miss Porters Scottish Chiefs and other Novels. I am sorry you have introduced me. I could wish my own Name forgotten, if I could devellope, the...
165To John Adams from William P. Gardner, 29 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
A Stranger to you, an Apology is justly due on my part for the Liberty I take in addressing this Letter. The Hand of time will, ere a period but short in it’s Duration must elapse, sweep from this sublunary stage of Existence the few remaining revolutionary Patriots who, by their wisdom in Council and their valour in the field plannd and establishd the Liberty and independence of our happy...
166To John Adams from Richard Rush, 2 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
An old Scotch woman, in North-Shields, signing herself Ann Hewison, has sent me a manuscript Quarto of what she calls extracts from the diary of William Langborn, an American officer, kept during his travels through several parts of Europe. I copy, word for word, the following passages. London July 18. 1786. “Saturday—Did myself the pleasure, agreeably to yesterdays invitation, of dining with...
167From 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...
168To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
Although only a few moments of day light are left me, I Shall take hold of these to indulge a pleasurable feeling—in cordially thanking your kindness. for Sending me the Trans. Vol. iii Both parts visited first the North—last night Part. i was returned—Part ii—was received the week before. But—my Dear friend!—How willingly I acknowledge my obligations to you—yet I must complain—you did...
169From John Adams to William P. Gardner, 11 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honour to write me on the 29th of April and I thank you for the Communication. I have So little intercourse with the World that I have never Seen and I know nothing of Mr Benjamin Owen Tyler’s Edition of the declaration of Independence. You allude to some Person who is determined to omit my Name. If you mean Mr De la Plane, he is certainly not to blame...
170From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 12 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
In my Letters to you, I regard no order. And I think, I ought to make you laugh Sometimes: otherwise my Letters would be too grave, if not too melancholly. To this End I Send you Jemmibellero “the Song of the Drunkard” which was published in Fleets “Boston Evening Post” on the 13th. of May 1765. It was universally agreed to have been written by Samuel Waterhouse, who had been the most...