1John Adams to Charles Adams, 19 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d from you one Letter and no more Since I left N. York. Your Electors appear like a large black Spot in a bright Circle of Unanimity which extends from N. H. to Maryland inclusively. Then the Region of Darkness begins again and extends I know not how far. A decided Reprehension from N. York and Virginia would very Sensibly affect me, if there were not most unequivocal Marks of a...
2John Adams to Charles Adams, 24 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
Our Patriots are so anxious lest Aristocracy should take root, that I wonder they do not eradicate all the seeds of it. instead of Addressing M r Speaker, they should address Freddy Mulenbourg— instead of talking of the Gentleman from Virginia they should quote Billy Giles &c &c &c The Purity of this Symplicity has always appeared among Insurgents. In Chaises and Bradfords Patriotick Efforts I...
3Abigail Adams to Charles and John Quincy Adams, 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I must write you a few lines by this opportunity, altho tis a long time since I had the pleasure of hearing from you by your own Hands. You used to be fond of writing and have been very good since your absence. Letters are always valuable from those we Love, if they con tain nothing but an account of their Health. I cannot but reflect with thankfullness to the Great Preserver of my dear...
4John Adams to Charles Adams, 1 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
on the Commencement of the new Year I wish you health, honour, Profit and Pleasure through the Course of it, and as many repetitions of these anniversaries as shall be for your own happiness and the benefit of your Friends and Connections in the World. Application and that alone will Secure you, under the Smiles of divine Providence the Blessings of Life. Make for me the Compliments of the...
5John Adams to Charles Adams, 12 October 1792 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you on your Admission to the Bar and your taking Possession of an Office in So good a Part of the Town, and I would not advise you to exhange it for any other, without an absolute necessity. There is a great Advantage to a Lawyer in being always to be found in the Same place. I wish you as much Success as you can desire and all the Pleasure and Profit from your Practice in a...
6Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 26 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am sometimes affraid my dear Boy that you will be spoilt by being a favorite. Praise is a Dangerous Sweet unless properly tempered. If it does not make you arrogant, assuming and self sufficient, but on the contrary fires your Breast with Emulation to become still more worthy and engageing, it may not opperate to your Disadvantage. But if ever you feel your Little Bosom swell with pride and...
7John Adams to Charles Adams, 2 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Kind Letter of the 9th. of April, and congratulate you on the admission of your Brother, which must add much to your happiness. Thomas I suppose will join you in the fall, my Heart will be often with my treasure, at the University. My friends in their Letters give me favourable accounts of all my sons and of my Nephew Mr. Cranch, Your Characters are fair take care to keep...
8Abigail Adams to John Quincy and Charles Adams, 26 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am happy to hear of your safe arrival tho not at the port, I wished to hear you were. You will however have a more extensive opportunity of seeing that part of the world, if you travel by land to France. I wrote you largely by Mr. Austin which I hope you have received. A very soar hand prevents my writing many things which I have in my mind, and which will be committed to paper as soon as I...
9John Adams to Charles Adams, 19 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I wish you to take of Berry and Rogers as handsome a set of my Defence as you can find and packet them up handsomely and address them to The Reverend Joseph Priestley D. D. London, and send them by your Brother and Sister Smith. That Philosopher has made them so many Compliments in conversation as well as one in print; and as his sett was probably destroyed by the Rioters at Birmingham, I...
10John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 1 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 14 of February a letter, which I am informed you have received, but to which no answer from you has yet reached me. Nor have I since it was written received a line from you. I must again repeat the request that you would give me immediate information concerning the property which I have entrusted to you. I have also to request that you would not draw upon Mess rs: Willing of...
11John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Nature, Designs, rise, Progress, present State future Operations and successes of “Selfcreated Societies,[”] are likely to become Objects of interesting Enquiry and should be critically Studied by a Lawyer. We know something of the History of them in France. The fruits of them in Geneva you will see in the Pamphlet inclosed which was written by D’Ivernois. The fruits of them in Scotland,...
12John Adams to Charles Adams, 20 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. yesterday your favour of the 18 by the Post M r Van Persyn, whom you mention as the Bearer I have neither Seen nor heard of. My Conclusion is that he is not yet come on. I should be very glad to See him and receive the Letters he brought for me. My Friendship for M r Luzac will be motive enough to do him all the Service in my Power. The Disposition of The H. of R. is very firm not to...
13John Adams to Charles Adams, 2 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
What! are my venerable Old Friend Gates, and my respectable old Acquaintance Osgood, and my intimate Connection W. S. Smith, about becoming Town Meeting Men and to aid the Democratical Societies, the Constitutional Societies and the Jacobinical Clubbs, in their Attempts to overawe the Government of their Country? or is the Object to divide the People into Parties? or to force Us into a War...
14John Adams to Charles Adams, 22 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I believe I never have acknowledged the Rec t of your favour of March 21.— In Dexter and Ames We lost the Lyre of Aphion in our H. of R. and Jaring Discords have led Mydas astray ever since. The Rout before us is very thorny and very rugged and very Steep and what is worse than all the End of it is far behind the Hill, out of our sight, and may be more dangerous and impracticable than any Part...
15John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 2 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have been thinking of a subject for a letter to you, & I can find none more agreable than that which is the constant employment of my thoughts, I mean the French Language, & as you will very soon begin the same study, it will be profitable to you as well as to myself, to sketch a little plan for the more easy & effectual acquisition, of so elegant & useful accomplishment, as that of reading,...
16John Adams to Charles Adams, 10 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Yesterdays Date has given me much Pleasure. I recognize in it, my own son. Your Language to the Gentleman was manly and your sentiments independent. Col. Smiths Aberrations from the true system of his Country have given me great Uneasiness. You must let me know in Confidence, the Name of the Gentleman. Every Citizen has a right to think, speak and Act for himself in his own...
17John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
A fat Sleekheaded young Gentleman was here last Week or the Week before who told me he knew you, that you were well that you had a good share of Business: that your disposition was so amiable that People were fond of throwing Business into your hands &c— All this was Musick in my Ears— I know not his name but am told he is a Limb of the Law in your City. According to Peter Pindar Business is...
18John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 29 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have given to our brother Thomas a general power of Attorney to transact all business on my behalf within the United States. I have therefore to request you to account with him for all my property in your hands amounting to four thousand dollars, and the interest upon that sum, for more than two years, as appears by your letters to me, and by information from Doctor Welsh, that you have made...
19John Adams to Charles Adams, 2 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
A Letter from M r Jay of the 24. of November informs me, that he had rec d two Letters from your Brother in Holland, one of the 14 th. and another of the 20 th. the first at the Hague the last at Amsterdam, which inform’d him that your Brother had been presented to their High Mightinesses, and rec d and acknowledged by them, and that he had Afterwards had an Audience of the statholder. so that...
20John Adams to Charles Adams, 10 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved with pleasure your letter of the 22d. of octr. and agree with you that the times are such as to make it difficult for a young Gentleman, to determine upon a Profession, yet there is no reason to be discouraged, The Prospect will brighten. I have so well grounded a Veneration for the Law, that I shall never discourage any of my sons from pursuing the study of it, if their Genius...
21John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 7 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
we being so far from one another that I cannot Leave my pen out of my hand & I hope that my Letters will not be troublesome to you Yesterday my Pappa received a number of news papers from america in one of which I read that you had got an account of doctor Franklins being asasinated but I beg you would not regard any of those Storys, of which I expect you will hear a great number give my duty...
22John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 6 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I often envy you the pleasure you enjoy in being at a place where you with pleasure look around you upon the rugged rocks & homly pastures & what is of more Consequence you can Converse with Mamma Sister & brother these are pleasures that are not exceeded by all the gaiety & riches of europe. your buisiness & mine are upon the Same foundation to qualify ourselves to be useful members of...
23Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 19 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
How does my son after the fatigues of a voyage. A young adventurer indeed, how many times did you wish yourself by mammas fireside. But pappa wrote me that you made as good a sailor as your Brother, flatterd you a little I suppose, But I was very glad to hear you did so well. I hope before this time that you are safe landed possibly arrived at Paris and placed at school, where I hope you will...
24John Adams to Charles Adams, 28 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 19 th The letters from Mr Desdoity & Mr R B Forbes I shall inclose to the Secretary of State, the first to be determined according to law and usage and the last to be considered in its season. The scene of which you have been witness in the city must have been very solemn. I never could bear a city life in the summer, in the best seasons. Such an one as...
25John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 14 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 25 of October & 29 of Dec r: 1796. & on the 14 th: of May & 1 st: of August of the last year. All these letters excepting that of 14 May, related to my affairs in your hands.— I have never received any answer whatever to either of them. That of 29 Dec r: I think must have miscarried, but I have long since received answers from other persons, to letters which went by the same...
26John Adams to Charles Adams, 6 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I condole with you, under the mournful News of the Barons Palsy. I have long wondered that a Military Character so habituated to exercise should have neglected it so imprudently for so many Years. This Country is loosing in rapid Succession the Characters who were forward and active in the Revolution. M r Handcock, M r sherman M r Alsop, M r Witherspoon, M r Clark M r Lee, M r Gillon, and now...
27John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here this Evening with your Mother and Cozen all in good health, and was Sorry to hear that you went from hence on Monday unwell. I hope you are better. If I go into Town in Ceremony I Should be glad of your Company with me in my Carriage. My Letters will, Some of them be directed to your Care, I Shall be glad to receive them as soon as possible. Can you Send them out by the Stage to...
28John Adams to Charles Adams, 17 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
How do you do?—I hope you are in fine Health and Spirits. What Subject do your Thoughts run upon these Times. You are a thoughtfull Child you know, always meditating upon some deep Thing or other. Your Sensibility is exquisite too. Pray how are your nice Feelings affected by the Times? Dont you wish for Peace—or do you wish to take a Part in the War? Have you heard of the ill Nature and...
29John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have this day been obliged to take a serious and painful measure in the removal of the Collector of Newyork, and I wish you to give me your opinion concerning a successor— The office is important and lucrative, Walker has been named to me. What think you of him? I must and will have a good Federalist, one who will not prostitute his office, to a Foreign faction, or a domestic one,— I am &c a...
30John Adams to Charles Adams, 30 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I took a Walk upon the Wharves, to see the Navigation. The new Frigate called The Delaware, is hawled off, into the stream and is ready to sail. Captain Alexander is to command her. She makes a fine Appearance.—I then went to the House of one Humphreys an ingenious shipwright and found him making a Model of a seventy four Gun Ship. He has nearly compleated it. You see every Part of...
31III. John Adams to Charles Adams, 22 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
As I wish to turn your Attention to those Political Questions which involve Points of the Law of Nature and Nations, and which have lately employed the Deliberations of the Executive Authority of our Government, I have turned to such Books as I have at hand, and made Extracts and References for your Use. And I wish you not only to read over carefully the Passages referred to, but to search the...
32John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 20 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Upon my leaving America, your Father gave me an order upon Mess rs W. & J Willink for five obligations on a Loan of the United States, for a thousand Guilders each, bearing an interest of five per cent. and upon which one years interest will be due, on the first of June next, which he directed me to hold in trust for your use, and subject to your orders. This instruction has been complied with...
33John Adams to Charles Adams, 23 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Although you have not informed me, of the Result of your Examination at Albany, I shall venture to address this Letter to a Councillor at Law. You will see by your public Papers tomorrow The Address of the Senate to the President in Answer to his Speech, and his Reply. I wish to know the Sensations and Reflections, both of one Party and the other in New York upon both. I have Suffered Some...
34John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 15 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
The most recent intelligence we have from America is contained in your letter of June 30 & July 23. which arrived some days since, and gave me information unpleasant but not unexpected. I was convinced from a variety of reasons that all the engines of popular agitation would be played off against the ratification of the treaty signed by M r Jay, and I knew that some of its contents were such...
35John Adams to Charles Adams, 18 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of receiving your favour of the 1 st. on Saturday night: by your Brother, who has been admitted this Term at the Supreme Court and is rising in Practice as well as in litterary fame. We cannot be too cautious in forming our Opinions of french affairs, and We ought to be still more Slow in discoursing on them. Our amiable and excellent Friend, the Baron is like many others,...
36John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 1 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
Upon my arrival at this place, about three weeks since, I received your kind letter of June 8 th: which was the first line, I have had from you these many months, and it needed not that circumstance to render it highly valuable. You do not however mention in it the receipt of several letters, which I have written you, and which I hope have not miscarried in the conveyance. Among the rest, that...
37John Adams to Charles Adams, 16 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
The Revolution in France is commonly Said to be without Example in the History of Mankind: But although there may be circumstances attending it, peculiar to itself, I cannot think it altogether unlike any Thing that has happened. The Revolution in England in the time of Charles the first has so many features in common with it, that I think the History of England from the Year 1625 to the Year...
38John Adams to Charles Adams, 25 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 22 d , alledging Business as an Apology for not writing gave me more Pleasure than a long Letter would have done. Business is always an Apology, for declining Pleasure or Amusement of any kind. I Sent you, by a late Post other Tryals, Geralds, Muirs and Margarots. Geralds is worth all the rest. M r Laing, the Council for Gerald is I Suppose the Same with Malcolm Laing Esq r...
39John Adams to Charles Adams, 9 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d this morning your favour of the 7 th and am glad that your State have not too much Complaisance for the restless Projects of old Aunt Nell. The peevish fretful old Creature has got, to day, a worse Compliment from the senate of this State, than she rec d even from the Massachusetts. They have not only rejected her vapoury humours but have proposed to her some other Amendments of the...
40John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 7 th relieved my Mind, from a great Anxiety and Depression on Account of my dear Daughter. My Apprehensions foreboded very melancholly Things from the Strange Accident, of which you apprised me— A strict Enquiry ought to be made into the Conduct of that Apothecary. The State of New York never behaved well— it has always been a fluctuating, injudicious selfish and...
41John Adams to Charles Adams, 23 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
The Papers, furnish Us this Evening with more flowers of Jacobinical Rhetorick from New York. Crushing Monarchy Confusion to Aristocracy and Monarchy: a Brutus to Tyrants &c are Still not only panting in the Bosoms of the Guests at the new Civic Feast, but they must publish their Breathings to the World. It is so customary for the Members of the Corps Diplomatick, to make Ex officio...
42John Adams to Charles Adams, 2 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of December 30 th. — I approve of your caution and applaud your discretion. You ought nevertheless to reconoitre the Country round about you, like a good officer. Between you and me, I believe you to be Surrounded by a gang of sharpers, and I wish you to keep a good look Out, preserve your own honour; keep a clear Conscience and clean hands: but examine every Man...
43John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of April 19. I believe has not yet been acknowledged. The Extracts from the King of Prussia were very acceptable. Yesterday I received your favour of May 9 th.— You ask whether there might not exist Such an Equality in Society as the Democrats of this Day Seem to advocate? Yes my Son, there are many Such Societies, in the Forrests of America, called Indian Tribes. Yet among these...
44John Adams to Charles Adams, 31 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your kind and pleasing Letter of the 26, and am happy to hear of your and your Ladies health. I dont approve of your calling her Sally unless to herself in a Family Way. To other People especially in Writing you must call her Mr s Adams. Your Nephews and Neice I hope will have the Meazles favourably. it is a good age and a good Season: so that I think the family may be...
45John Adams to Charles Adams, 11 September 1794 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your kind Letter of Sept r. 3 d and am sorry to find that your Books were not then arrived. Before this day I hope they are in your Office, and I should be glad if you would inform me whether they are or not. The early Part of my Life was Spent among them, and they have never been many Days together out of my thoughts; so that I have contracted an habitual Affection for...
46John Adams to Charles Adams, 17 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am delighted with your delicious little Letter of 14 th. —but was puzzled to guess where you got your Description of Lubberland or what do the French call it? Pays de Cocany or some such Word. Does he get this, says I, from Old Chauar, or Spencer, or from shakespear? Young M r Otis, turned me to the Passage in elegant Extracts— It is it seems from the Tempest, which was to me, once very...
47John Adams to Charles Adams, 14 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
As you Seem to wish to know my sentiments of M r Kents Lecture I will give you a few Hints to assist your own Reflections and Inquiries but as they may be liable to misconstruction and Misrepresentation, they must be in Confidence between you and me. I am much pleased with the Lecture, and esteem the Talents and Character of the Professor: indeed I wish you to consider whatever I may write...
48John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 9 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
I returned here ten days ago from England and have this day received your letter of April 24. th: brought by M r: Rutgers. He is at Amsterdam, and when he comes this way it will give me much pleasure to see him. It gives me the most heartfelt satisfaction to be informed of the prosperous situation in which you are placed; of your present happiness, and future pleasing prospects, and you will...
49John Adams to Charles Adams, 30 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great Pleasure your kind Letter of 28 th. I think M r Sands’s Plan for the Education of his Nephew is judicious. But I Should not advise him to Send him to Europe, So very early. If he remains in America two or three Years, undergoes his Examination and is admitted to the Bar it will be early enough to go to Europe. By your Representation M r Joshua Sands has been your...
50John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 9 th , gave me great Pleasure as it discovers a curiosity that is laudable and contains a very handsome Relation of political Events and Movements in New York of great Importance to that State and very interesting to the United States. The Writings which have excited your inquisitive disposition, were of Some importance in their day as they had Some Influence on the public...