51From Daniel Webster to John Quincy Adams, 13 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Webster accepts with great pleasure Mr. & Mrs Adam’s Invitation to dine on Thursday— MHi : Adams Papers.
Is Hugh Nelson going to Mexico? What is to become of Genl S.—? Nobody suits here but Poinsett—Surely this must be Back Stairs—I know you will not answer one of these questions but God Bless you. MHi : Adams Papers.
53From Henry Clay to John Quincy Adams, 2 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Clay has the pleasure to accept the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Adams to dinner on thursday the 8h. inst. MHi : Adams Papers.
54From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
Whereas, John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk, Doctor of Laws, deceased, did by his last Will and Testament, order, that with certain exceptions, fully set forth in the said Will, all the rest and residue of his Estate, Real personal and mixed should be sold by his Executors. And whereas the said John Adams, did by his said last Will and Testament constitute and appoint his Son...
55From William Cranch to John Quincy Adams, 21 June 1825 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thomas Grafton Addiron junr. having a wish to be employed in the public service has requested a letter of introduction to you. I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Addiron, but am assured from a very respectable source “that he is a very correct young man in his moral character;” his family connections are highly respectable. With great respect, I am, / Dr. Sir, your...
56From Henrietta de Neuville to John Quincy Adams, 21 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
L’Envoyé Extraordinaire & Ministre Plenipotentiare de Sa Majesté bièn Chretienne, & Madame De Neuville ont l’honneur d’inviter l’honorable Monsieur Adams et Madame Adams à assister au Service Solennel qui aura lieu dan l’Eglise de St Patrick le 24 de ce mois à 10 heures du matin pour le repos de L’ame de S. A. R Monseigneur Le Duc de Berri Fils de France. MHi : Adams Papers.
57From Thomas Jefferson to John Quincy Adams, 23 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
My grandson, Th: Jefferson Randolph, bearer of this letter being on a journey to the North, I could not permit him to pass thro’ Washington, without enjoining on him the duty of paying his respects to you. I presume he will find you approaching the close of your winter’s campaign, a term as welcome to the civil as military officer. I am glad to avail myself at the same time of the occasion of...
58From Alexander Contee Hanson to John Quincy Adams, 1 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr. & Mrs. Hanson are highly flattered by having it in their power to acknowledge the honor of an invitation to dine with Mr. & Mrs. Adams, and certainly do not regret less than Mr. & Mrs. Adams the circumstances which will deprive them of the pleasure of accepting it. They take pleasure in reassuring Mr. & Mrs. Adams of their very high respect & consideration. MHi : Adams Papers.
59From Andrew Jackson to John Quincy Adams, 20 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
Genl Jackson presents his compliments & thanks to Mr & Mrs. Adams for their polite invitation to a Ball at their house on the 8 of Jany— He had designed not to visit during the winter after night owing to his ill health; but their politeness on the present occasion influences him to alter that determination, and he begs leave to say that he will with great pleasure wait upon them on the...
60From William Wirt to John Quincy Adams, November 1825 (Adams Papers)
W. Wirt acknowledges the honor of Mr & Mrs. Adams polite invitation to dinner on the 15th. but not having been into company this winter, hopes to be excused for declining it. MHi : Adams Papers.
61James Madison to John Quincy Adams, 2 August 1831 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his best respects to Mr. Adams, and thanks him for the Copy of his Oration on the 4th. of July. It is recommended to the public attention; not only by the characteristic ability & eloquence of the author; but by some of the views taken of its topics, which render it particularly interesting. RC (MHi : Adams Papers).
62From Henry Clay to John Quincy Adams, 19 December 1824 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Clay has the honor to accept the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Adams to dinner on Thursday next— KyU .
I send this enclosure and add a few lines to state that I shall leave this place on Wednesday for Washington and hope to find Letters from you in New York—We shall go by the way of Hudson and Poughkeepsy— Yours Ever MHi : Adams Papers.
64From Richard Mentor Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 28 January 1824 (Adams Papers)
My friend Mgr. Luckett will hand this to you to enquire whether you have had an opportunity to see the President as to his Case. your attention to this matter, will oblige me. you must excuse this trouble as it is a peculiar case. I shall see you as soon as possible as to the florida appointment as I have Some letters to present you— Sincerely your MHi : Adams Papers.
65From Daniel Webster to John Quincy Adams, 23 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
Mr Webster regrets that a previous engagement deprives him of the pleasure of accepting Mr & Mrs Adam’s invitation to dine on Thursday. MHi : Adams Papers.
66From Henry Clay to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Clay has the honor to accept the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Adams to dinner on Tuesday next. Mrs. Clay regrets that she feels herself obliged to decline the honor of dining with them at the same time, which was extended her— MHi : Adams Papers.
67From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the promptitude with which you paid my debt to Mr Gales & Seaton—and discontinued my subscription for the national Intelligencer I beg your Pardon for not answering immediately your letter of the 24th of last Month as I ought—Not being pressed by necessity, I did not draw upon Mr Cruft—Till up he comes with his Lady to make us a very pleasant visit—And tendered me the two...
68From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr Jefferson has been good enough to Send me the enclosed Pamphlet An history of the restoration of Royalty in France 31, March 1814 by De Pradt. As it has Some pretentions to Authority, and as you may not have Seen it, I Send it to you: and as the owner desires me to return it, I pray you after you Shall have read it to transmit it to Monte Chello, with whose Inhabitants I hope you will have...
69From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
Exoterick and Esoterick Doctrine. See the American Encyclopedia Tit. Exoterick: the French, Title Exoterique; the Dictionaire de Trêvoux, the Same Title, Stephens’s Thesaurus Tit. Exotericus, Gesners Dictionary Tit. Exotericus, and Acroaticus, Fabers Thesaurus Tit. Exotericus. See Also Herodotus Diadorus Siculus, Pausanias Strabo, Plutarch, Aetius , Aristotle Cicero and Aulus Gellius. See also...
70From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Of Mr Wait, I know little, but that he was once introduced to me by General Knox, twice by Judge Thatcher, and Last Week by Mr Shaw, all in this House. He has always been represented And Appeared to be a modest discreet and respectable Citizen. There has been So much Huggermugger, about Secret Journals and Files of Congress and Conventions, which I always detested, that I rejoice they are now...
71From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
You made me a rich present when you allowed your son George to spend his vacation with me. He has been to me a companion and a friend. He has indulged in no dissipation, has been very constant to his studies & his reading. I cannot find it in my heart to say that he has indulged a little too much in his segars and in his flute. I see that you have the honour to be the target of all the sharp...
72From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
My thanks are due to you, and are most joyfully given, for two copies of your Report on Weights and Measures, one of them elegantly bound. Though I cannot say and perhaps shall never be able to say that I have read it, yet I have turned over Leaves of it enough to see that it is a Mass of historical, philosophical chemical mathematical and political knowledge which no Industry in this country...
73From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
At the request of our worthy friend and excellent Neighbour Dr Amos Holbrook; I transmit you the inclosed papers, praying you to convey them to the Superintendent of the Patent Office, If I knew Dr Thornton was there I would have transmitted them to him. But I think I have heard some other Gentleman was there, and that he was in some other station—My Compliments to him, if you please— It is...
74From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
Contrary to my established habit for many years I must now become an intercessor for a candidate. You must remember a virtuous & industrious lady old lady the widow Owen who lived to be 90 odd years of age, and maintained an always an excellent character and was highly esteemed by your mother. You must remember also young Hollis her grandson who lived some time in our family and was the...
75From John Peter De Windt to John Quincy Adams, 10 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
The subscriber to the inclosed paper has long been a friend to my family, and the circumstances therein related, and which are all to my certain knowledge correct, entitle him to the favorable consideration he solicits in behalf of his son. His wish is that the Danish minister should be consulted on the subject, and the idea that the communication being made by the American Secretary of State...
76From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday was one of the most uniformly happy days of my whole long life. The Morning brought Us a Letter from our Friend Crafts of your Arrival; in a few hours our Neighbour Beal brought Us a Newspaper confirming it, and the Evening presented Us your Letter to your Mother of the 6th. that you were Landed “All well”. A thousand Circumstances exalted the delight or as West used to Say upon all...
77From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have been employed for a month or six weeks in hard labour to save you trouble. I have ransacked chests, trunks, boxes, bureaus, chests of drawers, escritouirs, or in fewer words, every hole & corner, from the basement story to the cockloft, in search of manuscript books & papers, and in course I have been obliged to break open locks whose key’s were lost and destroy every thing that lay in...
78From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 9th: Never did I feel so much solemnity as upon this occasion—the multitude of my thoughts and the intensity of my feelings are too much for a mind like mine in its ninetieth year—May the blessing of God Almighty continue to protect you to the end of your life as it has heretofore protected you in so remarkable a manner from your cradle. I offer the same...
79From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 14th. found me deeply immersed in researches, not astromical or mineralogical or metaphisical; but after old Papers, Trunks Boxes Desks Drawers locked up for thirty Years have been broken open because the Keys are lost. Nothing Stands in my Way. Every Scrap Shall be found and preserved for Your Affliction for your good. I am now employed very anxiously and laboriously,...
80From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have not acknowledged your 5. & 7 Octr. We have had another delightful Family Scene. Madam De Wint her Son your Nice with two of my Great Grand Children and to finish the Picture Mrs Clark all arrived in perfect health. On the 83d 25th Octr. We all drank “All our Friends and Connections of every generation”. “Now lettest thou, thy Servant depart in peace” has been So hackneyed that I will...
81From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have seen many of your poetical effusions, from the time when you were at College, to this last Month. And there are so many indisputible proofs of natural and Social affections, and genuine poetical imagery that if you will had cultivate the muses as much as you have politicks you might have made a Shakespear, a Milton or a Pope, for anything that I know, how “How sweet an Ovid, is in...
82From John Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 24 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
Plots & counterplots spring up like mushrooms in all directions, we shall hear enough of them, before the vista is enlightened ary a ray of hope—Madrid, Paris, Ireland & London, are the scenes of display at the present, of the turbid passions, which engender fears & dangers, for those who feel secure in their power & strength—This is a period, at the accession of a new King, & embarrassing...
83From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I will teise you no more, at present, with Metaphysicks or Books. I expect with Something very like impatience, once more to embrace You and the dear Creatures about you, meaning your Wife and Children. One Star Sitts with brilliancy, and another rises with brilliancy, notwithstanding certain Spots, which you and I have had opportunities to observe. Mr Monroe has certainly had the good Fortune...
84From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the present of your Book and your kind letter of the 24th. September. It was wisely done to collect all those papers together and arrange them in order that posterity might see them in one view without ransacking twenty libraries for the newspapers and the pamphlets of the day. Without this prudent precaution they would probably have never been all read by any one individual....
85From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 January 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter inclosing the letters from Mr Basset and Mr. Custis Congress had resolved, but I believe not passed int o a law, to erect a monument to President Washington; but they passed resolutions requesting the then President to write a letter to Mrs. Washington soliciting her consent to have her remains removed, to be entombed with those of her Husband in the City of...
86From John Peter De Windt to John Quincy Adams, 23 September 1826 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of proposing to you as a candidate for the office of District Judge for the Southern District become vacant by the death of Judge Van Ness. Saml. R. Betts one of the circuit Judges, in this State. Mr. Betts is well known, as a professional man, I am told to Mr Webster & Judge Storys in his politics he has always been of the party opposed to Mr. Clinton; on the Bench he is...
87From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a letter from honest Spafford. I do it with great reluctance but he has so much merit in his New-York Gazetteer that I wish something could be done for him. I know however the difficulty indeed the impossibility that a President should get into any of the offices a single clerk. I tried to get Mr Dalton into an office in the Treasury Department. I proposed it to the Secretary who...
88From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have enclosed to the President a letter from Dr Waterhouse. I wish you would ask to see it. Between you and me I suspect that our friend Eustace has been of no service to Waterhouse. Ancient Jealousies of him among professional men in Boston may have left some traces. But as this is mere conjecture I lay no stress upon it. Whether any thing can be done for him consistent with the public...
89From John Jay to John Quincy Adams, 11 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
The last mail brought me a Letter, dated the 3 d of Nov r . last, from the House of the Mess rs . Fox at Falmouth in England; mentioning the Death of M r . Robert Were Fox, who had long been our Consul there; and who they observe had rec d . repeated Testimonies of the approbation of our Government. They express a Desire that his Son Robert, whom they represent as being a Man of “Ability...
90From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
The Revnd. Mr Greenwood the successor of Mr Thatcher and Dr Kirkland in the Church in Summer Street Boston; will deliver you this letter—and altho he is a more liberal Christian than you are—I hope you will receive him with Politeness and Cordial Civility as I have no doubt you will— George came to us last night and brought me joy and Literature—John & Charles will be here to night or to...
91From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
Captain James Riley politely Sent me his travels in a handsome volume which I read with interest, for, though it abounds in the Marvellous and sometimes aproaches the miraculous; yet excruciating Sufferings and a Strong imaginaleo may apologize for So much of it as to leave enough of it credible to make it an entertaining affecting and instructive Work Inclosed is a letter from him, on a...
92From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
Number. 1 A volume of written extracts Quarto 2 Letter Book beginning from 26th May 1776 to 8th February 1778 Folio 3 Ditto from 3rd Febry 1777 to 7th July 1777. Ditto... 4. Journals of voyage to France in 1778. " 5 Letter Book France from 12th: May 1778 to 8 Novr. 1779. " 6 Journal 13 Feby. 1778 to 26th. April 1779—
93From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the promptitude with which you paid my debt to Mrss Gales & Seaton—and discontinued my Subscription for the National Intelligencer— I beg your pardon for not answering immediately your letter fo the 24th. of last Month as I ought—not being pressed by necessity, I did not draw upon Mr Cruft—till up he comes with his Lady to make us a very pleasant family visit—& tendered me two...
94From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
De Pradt, I Suspect is a descendant of that Arcbishop Bishop of Clermont, the Bastard of Cardinal du Pratt, and the Oputent Protector of the infant Society of the Jesuits in 1545. See Duprat in the Dictionaire historique. The Archbishop of Matines I Suspect is of that Breed and worthy of his Race. See also The History of the Jesuits Vol. 1. Our national Sympathy with the Patriots of South...
95From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the documents you Send me, which I give to the Athenaeum believing they will do more good there than in my possession. I dare not write to you upon public Affairs, because I do not understand them. All that appears under your Signature is cooly approved as Usual, and will be, till fifty Years after you are dead and then it may possibly be admired by a fine Antequarians. Your...
96From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
Lieutenant John Percival of the Navy of The United States is about to embark for London, and from thence to the other maritime Powers of Europe upon business of importance to Navigation and consequently to Humanity. The Subject is a new Invention of an eliptical Valve Pump, which if I understood it, I must not explain. I earnestly recommend him to your Attention, as much as possible; though I...
97From John Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 25 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
Mr William Davis Robinson has been some weeks in London, and is about departing for the United States, his intelligence & zeal, but more than all, his sufferings, will I am sure always recommend him to the kindness and attention of our countrymen. I could not let him depart hence without giving him a line to testify in his favour those sentiments, I shall ever feel in exercise I hope, to those...
98From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, my dear Son, for your Letters and for the Presidents Speech, which is Consolation for all our Miseries for 60 Years. But I must have done with public affaires. Your Sons who behave well have been with Us last Week. They leave Us this morning for their School. Mr and Mrs Clark, and my little darling Susanna Maria were comfortably lodged last Night at Dedham on their Way to...
99From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
A new Administration has commenced, Mr Monro’s inaugural Oration you will See in the Newspapers. It Seems to be popular. Even Ben Russel Says there has been nothing like it Since Washingtons Administration. If there is any Faith in the Government or any Sincerity in the People, you are appointed by the former, and are elected by the other Secretary of State. My Advice is to accept it without...
100From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
Our George has gained the first prize—and bares his honour meekly—He is a dutiful Son, for he is deeply engaged in Platonick Greek, In obedience to your advice and requisition—and what surprises me more is, that he is becoming an early riser—He was up this Morning before I was—And his Mind appears to be awakned by an Ambition to become an eminent and useful Man—John is at present devoted to...