181From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
In one of your letters if I remember right, you expressed a desire to see my letters to Mr. Calkoen, the history of those letters is this. At a dinner with a large company I met with that learned, civilian who came to me and seated himself by my side and expressed an ardent curiosity to converse with me upon the subject of the American war he asked me many questions in French in which language...
182From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 6 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
As I consider y’r ladyship as always imprison’d during a session of Congress I congratulate you upon y’r jail delivery by their rise they have not been very angry during this session consequently not very entertaining—our two sons arrived here in good health & spirits at the proper season and a furious snow wh’ blocked up all the roads detain’d them here for three or four days and enliven’d my...
183From John Adams to Peter Perpignan, 4 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d y’r letter of the 26th of last month—and I thank you for y’r infinitessinal miniature of President Washington—I cannot see it even with the help of a solar microscope & should not be able to distinguish the features or the figure, clearly enough to know; whether it is a fair representation of the hero —I am always pleased to see correct representations of that great man—the more...
184From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 1 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I like your philosophy very well, I will pursue an idea suggested in my last; I do sincerely wish that the Mandarins of China, the Bramins of Hindostan the Priests of Japan, and of Persia, could be influenced with the same zeal de propaganda fide as the Roman Catholics and Calvanists of this day are for propagating their Creeds, and ceremonies, I wish they would form into societies, open their...
185From John Adams to Elkanah Watson, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your note of Feb’y 12th. and for the communication of Judge Troups letter. I am very much obliged to him for his civility to me as well for his testimonies in honor of your meritorious exertions for the public good. Your active life has been employed as far as I have known the history of i, in the promoting useful Knowledge and useful arts: for which I hope you have received or...
186From John Adams to John Graham, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d and heard y’r favor of Feb 23d and the pamphlet enclosed, it is a free manly & independent argument at the bar—it is quite orthodox in liberty, humanity, & in law—at least I think so as far as the judges express’d their sentiments—“The court agrees with Dr Graham, in most of the points wh’ he has taken on the subject of examinations & confessions taken in the police office;.” A...
187From John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
M I sent you some years ago an original short letter to me dated in ’74 from Major Hawley which you very faithfully printed in one of your collections—But you have not return’d the original to me, will you be so good as to return it as soon as convenient for I have a kind of veneration for it somewhat similar to that of the Roman Catholics for their relics—the friendship of Major Hawley from...
188From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 28 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last Letter you requested copies of my Letters to Dr. Price. They are inclosed— These letters and many others, and other writings and conversations to the same affect destroyed my popularity with mankind.—The Turgotests, the Condorcetians, the Rochefaucaultians the Brissotians the Jacobins and the Sans Cullotts—France took offence and pronounced me an aristocrat Rochefoucauldians; and...
The friendship of M Hawley is among the sweetest recollections of my life I first met him at the trial of the negro at Springfield from that day to his death we were friends he would not do anything in the House of R—without consulting me—he would not act upon the committe to answer Hutchinson respecting the Parliamentary authority over us unless I were present & that answer prevail’d was...
190From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter you request copies of my letters to Dr Price. They are inclosed. These letters and many others & other writings & conversations to the same effect destroyed my popularity, with mankind. The Turgoites the Reondoccettians — Roachfocaution the Brissotians, the jacobins & the Sans Cullots, in france took offence & pronounced me an aristocrat, & would have guillotined me if I...
191From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
How deeply I thank you. Our Quincy Library will be honord with the name of Vanderkemp. Virgil and Manilius, shall be sent to Mrs. Quincy, and Mrs. Gould. Oh that I had begged Manilius while I could read, for I believe much may be discovered in him, on the remotest Ancient mythology, his ratio I believe is the logos of Pythoagoras and Plato, and all our modern Trinitarians— I do not love to...
192From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 19 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I think you cannot have entirely forgotten a Conversation at my Table; I had invited a small company of ten or a dozen Gentlemen who had always professed to be my friends, among whom were yourself, Mr. Bayard of Delaware and I think Mr. Sedgwick, It is not necessary to recollect any others It was at the time when I had nominated ambassadors to France a measure which produced a real anarchy in...
193From 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...
194From 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...
195From 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...
196From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your Journal of the 26th. There is in human nature, a germe of superstition which has cost mankind very dear; And there is another germe, the love of finery, And which has done almost as much harm, And both have been employed with great sagacity by temporal, and spiritual politicians, to debase, degrade and subdue mankind, even with their own consent under the cruel iron rod of...
197From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 14 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your Journal of the 26th. There is in human nature a germ of superstition, which has cost mankind very dear, and there is an other germ the love of finery, and which has done almost as much harm, and both have been employed with great sagacity by temperal and spiritual politicians to debase, degrade and subdue mankind, even with their own consent under the cruel iron rod of...
198From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 12 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Of making and reading Books, there is no end, And therefore it is hardly worth while to make a begining except for the necessary purposes of common life; I have never been afraid of a Book.—Brand Hollis, my Friend, said to me, there never was a bad book in the World.—Perhaps a Man of Sense and rectitude might learn something from any one; But there are many bad Books, and I have read...
199From 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...
200To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 10 February 1823 (Jefferson 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...
201From 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,...
202From 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...
203From 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...
204From 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...
205From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
yours of the 26th. January is received. I pray you to attend as much as possible, to every Court, and every scene in which law questions are discussed or mooted. Observe patiently and critically the conduct of Judges Counsellors, Jurors parties, Witnesses and spectators. And by no means fail to provide yourself with an ample apparatus for writing, a pocket ink horn, plenty of ink, good pens...
206From 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...
207From 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,...
208From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your last Journal, and thank you for it. When the Lady asked you which you prefered, the Illiad, or Paradise lost, you should have answered her as we New-England people do, by asking her another question, pray Madam do you read the Illiad in Greek, or in Pope. I wonder not that you threw your arms round your husband upon reading his answer to General Smyth, I would have done...
209From 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...
210From 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...