261From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 10 May 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of May 5th. The King of England has performed one noble action, and I hope he will many more, his Fathers library was a glorious one, when I saw it, it was well chosen, elegantly printed bound and lettered, but not gorgeously, it has been greatly increased since I saw it. If it was in my power I would give as many Books to my Quincy Academy, but this is only a...
262From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
All the Literary Gentlemen of this part of the Country have an Ambitious Curiosity to see the Philosopher and Statesmen of Monticello—and they all apply to me for Introductions— and if I had ever received one introduction from you, I should have less scruple of Conscience in granting their requests—in the Stile of our New-England—the Reverend Mr Greenwood the Successor of Mr Thatcher and Dr...
263From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 14 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I fear I have not answered your letter of 20th of June. That of the 8th: of August, I certainly have not. I have been justly accused of Imbecility & Dotage for twenty years past. Yet I seem to be a Man of more consequence now, than I ever was before in my whole life. What a cloud of Reminiscences, has your last letter, exhailed in my old brain! Several of with whom I gazed through a telescope...
264From John Adams to John Adams, 16 October 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your frolicsome letter of the 10th of October has come to hand this morning and amidst the sinking and fainting infirmities of age has given me a temporary flash of spirits and has tirminated in the solid comfort of the arrival of your father and Mother and Miss Mary at Washington after tot et tanta discrimina rerum. The ladies must have had a severe trial your Mother is so much in the habit...
265From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 31 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have before mentioned the Instructions of the City of Boston to their Representatives, in May 1764, printed in an Appendix to Mr Otis’s “Rights of the Colonies” In Obedience to those Instructions, or at least in Consequence of them Mr Otis prepared a Memorial to The House of Representatives, which was by them voted to be transmitted to Jasper Mauduit Esqr Agent for the Province, only as a...
266From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 6 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have not Seen one of your register for I know not how many months I have long expected a Volume. I see I must Subscribe by the Week or the year. Please therefor e to put my name down among your Subscribers and tell me to whom shall pay the needfull. I am Sir your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
267From John Adams to Anonymous, 9 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have deeply regretted my total incapacity to comply with your flattering request in your two letters but I can no more write a line than I can work a miracle. I thank you for the copy of Mr Jeffersons letter and unite with him in recommending the psalm of David which whether we read them in our common English translation in prose or in the versions of Tate and Brady or even those of...
268From John Adams to Richard Ward, 29 January 1821 (Adams Papers)
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that I was acquainted with your Grandfather the Honble: Samuel Ward who was once Governor of Rhode Island from the year 1758 at Worcester Massachusetts where he had a Lawsuit with Governor Hopkins—That acquaintance was renewed in 1774 and became more intimate in ’75 and ’76 till his death. He was a Gentleman in his manners Benevolent and amiable in...
269From John Adams to Charles Cushing, 13 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
Though the publication of my juvenile Letters to your Father, especially in a Nantucket Gazette is a riddle, a mystery beyon d all comprehension; yet as it was impossible for me to Suspect any unkindness in your Family, the friendly Apology in your Letter of the eleventh of this month was unnecessary, though highly gratifying to m e The Letters, while they have afforded some amusement to my...
270From John Adams to Z. G. Whitman, 2 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
My best thanks are due to you for your historical sketch of the Ancient & honorable artillery company. I have enjoyed its festivities almost from my cradle and held it always in high veneration. I am too nearly blind to read it myself and have not yet had time & opportunity to hear it read by a friend. Enough has been shown to me to perceive its ample details and to convince me that it is well...