201From Edward Everett to George Washington Adams, 17 October 1825 (Adams Papers)
I will thank you to Send Me by the bearer the diplomas of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences of which We Spoke at Mr Lloyd’s. If they do Not happen to be in Your Keeping may I trouble You to let me know when I shall send for them. Your friend & Servant MHi : Edward Everett Papers.
202From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 21 October 1825 (Adams Papers)
We had a boisterous passage of 47 hours from Providence to this place—After reaching Newport in 2 hours and a quarter from the time when you left us, it blew so fresh a gale, and the aspect of the sky was so threatening that Captain Bunker concluded to remain the Night there.—We sailed again the next morning at 9 but a strong and steady head wind slackened our progress so that we only arrived...
In the course of my ride from New Brunswick yesterday my Dear George the wish you expressed for something like a translation or imitation of the Lines I wrote in french and I dictated to Elizabeth while she wrote the very indifferent lines which follow—One verse is added and I beg you to alter or correct as you please—I know they are not good but they in a great degree convey the ideas...
We have arrived safe after a very tedious and on the whole disagreeable journey as the state of my health tho’ much improved still makes me a burthen to all I most love in the world and I fear there is little prospect of a change for the better—There is something in this great unsocial house which depresses my spirits beyond expression and makes it impossible for me to feel at home or to fancy...
205From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 8 November 1825 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith a Certificate of two Shares, N. 657. 658. in the Middlesex Canal, transferred to you in consideration of which, I expect you will pay some attention, to the direction of that Corporation and to the management of its concerns. I received your Letter announcing the departure of your mother, and her attendants from Quincy; they arrived here on the 18th. instt. all well except...
As you are determined not to write to your Mother or in any way to continue an intercourse always yielding her so much pleasure I shall only send you some very indifferent lines written to accompany the portrait now in the hands of Stewart— We are all well and only want your company to make us quite happy—Charles say’s you are the fortunate one of the family all the rest will be ruined— Accept...
207From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 22 December 1825 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith the Policy of Insurance upon the house in Court Street and also that upon the House in Hancock Street—Both of which you will safely keep: and remember to have them renewed at the proper time. I am greatly concerned to learn, that you were suffering with the toothache, and inflamation of the face; but hope that it has before this subsided. I propose to seize upon the first...
I am so much concerned my Dear George to learn from your last letter what a state of suffering you were in that I have been anxiously looking for a second letter to assure us of your recovery—We learn from the newspapers that the cold has been intense and I fear you do not take precautions to guard against its extreme severity— We are here in the midst of the busy bustling scene of a session...
I cannot suffer the day to pass my dear George without offering you the best wishes of your Mother on the return of the day which generally calls forth the good natured gratulations of our friends. May the ensuing year prove auspicious my beloved Son and ensure to you all the happiness you can desire pure unmixed and if possible without alloy.—As you are now the only one of the family who are...
It is some time my dear George since I wrote but much sickness and trouble have kept my mind in a state of anxiety which has prevented my answering your last which was most kind and affectionate—Our pore coachman John Cook was found dead in his bed last week and left us a prey to surmizes and conjectures as to the causes of his decease which can never be satisfied— I had got thus far when your...
Why you should have thought that I was offended my dear George I cannot imagine as I have never had an idea of the kind but I believe that the state of my health and the constant irritation of the nervous system has so soured my temper I am now always crass and unpleasant to myself and to everybody else.—Mr. Quincy has left us after a short visit in which we endeavoured to obtain his company...
212From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 March 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 1st. instt. numbered 1. and written in execution of your promise when I was last with you—I trust you will continue to write me from time to time, and will answer your Letters whenever time shall be indulged me for the purpose. We have had the Influenza here as prevalent as it has been with you, though not in general so severely—I was anxious to hear from you...
As I have not received a Letter from you I cannot pretend to answer one but I will write notwithstanding altho’ I have nothing to say no not even nonsence. a great art by the by I believe infinitely more difficult than to write mere prosy common sense.— To tell you how we go on here would be almost impossible. more especially in the great Councils of the Nation Whisper’d rumours however...
I have deferred answering your Letter my Dear George in the hope of obtaining the Reviews you mention but have not been able to procure them—Of Mr. Channings I have not much to say excepting that the stile is like that of a gentle Turtle dove wooing with melay. but eloquently persuasive accent those who differ with him in religious opinions; but without reasoning so as to produce conviction—It...
I enclose you some lines I wrote if you like you may publish them but do not say whose they are and sign them L. We are all well but I am to lazy to write Tell Mrs. Adams I think if she could find an opportunity to send Abby on here it would do her good and give me pleasure—I like your lines on Mrs Marston very much The prize excellent— Yours ever MHi : Adams Papers.
216From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 13 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 1st. instt. and am expecting another with your quarterly account—From your account of the projected Railway in Quincy, I shall follow Mr Cruft’s advice, and take no part in it—of which you will at proper time notify the Gentleman who wrote to me on the subject. With respect to the woodland you must obtain more direct and precise information—both as to the...
I am so uneasy about your state of health my dear George that I beg and entreat you to write me very particularly what is the matter with you—Is it the cough that still affects you if it is I entreat you to come on to me immediately here and stay one Month as it would certainly be advantageous to you to quit Boston at this season which is the worst in the year—I am very serious and shall be...
I am very glad my Dear George find by your Letter which is just received that you are better and if possible still more pleased to learn that you are likely to become very busy as I believe this is the only means to keep you in health— I regret very much not to see you as any journey to the North appears very doubtful this Summer and I am sorry to see your account of your Grandfathers state—It...
219From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 25 May 1826 (Adams Papers)
I had postponed a reply to your last two Letters under the expectation of seeing you here. With your mother I had been deeply concerned to learn that your health was suffering; and I knew that she had invited you to come and seek its restoration with us. Your Letter to her of the gave indications of recovery from another department of the Materia Madica, and followed as it was immediately...
220From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 20 June 1826 (Adams Papers)
Mr Walker delivered me your Laconic epistle of the 3d. instt. promising an answer at an early day to my Letter of the 25th. ulto—for which answer I am patiently waiting—I made suitable allowance, for the accession to your necessary occupations, occasioned by the Session of the Legislature—From which however you will have been relieved before you shall receive this— Your Accounts for the...
221From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 5 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received with pleasure your Letter of the 28th. ulto. and should have been glad to have found in it an acknowledgment of the receipt of mine of the 20th. which enclosed one to the Committee of the Proprietors of the Athenaeum—Your Promotion both civil and military, will necessarily abridge your leisure time, and I hope it will also accustom you to the habit of the despatching business,...
Your Letter with that of Hariet Welsh was received by me a few hours after your father and John had left the City on their way to Boston—with the vain hope as it has proved of still being in time to receive the last blessing of your truly venerated Grandfather—Heaven has ordained otherwise and we must bow submissively to its all wise but inscrutable decrees and in gratitude raise our hearts in...
You I presume have been so deeply plunged in business that the sudden arrival of your father must have caused you even more joy than common as it in a great measure delivers you from a very responsible and delicate situation—It is however singular that none of the family have written a single word since the death of your Grandfather and that we appear to be cut of from all communication— Every...
224From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 4 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Know all men by these Presents that We John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire and Josiah Quincy also of said Boston Esquire Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Doctor of Laws, deceased have constituted and by these Presents do, constitute George Washington Adams of Boston...
225From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 5 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
We John Quincy Adams and Josiah Quincy, Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk, Doctor of Laws, appoint George W. Adams of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, Attorney at Law, our Attorney, for us in our said capacity to do and perform any and every act, relating to the Execution of the Said Will, which we or either of us could do and...
226From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
We had a jovial day at Newport, after you left me, till five in the afternoon, when I embarked in the Revenue Cutter, Captain Cahoone—As we went on board the vessel, the gale subsided; the sun burst forth, and his last hour was unclouded—We proceeded with a light breeze and beautiful weather till last Evening, when coming to the pass of Hell-gate we were compelled to drop anchor—This morning...
227From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 24 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters of the 16th. and 20th. instt have been received, and have given me great pleasure. The first relieving me from some concern on account of your health, and the second announcing an intention of diligence, and a commencement of performance highly satisfactory—Perseverance for a very short time in that plan of regularly rising at 5 in the morning, and devoting yourself to the...
Thank you my Dear George for your Letter and the Farce which arrived safely the day before yesterday and which I should have answered yesterday had I not been again confined to my chamber by a return of my Fever and many of the inflamatory symtoms which attended my illness in Boston—I was taken ill the day after I wrote to Hariet and went out too soon which occasioned a return of the Fever...
229From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 30 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have received with much satisfaction your Letter of the 23d. and 24th. instt. with the enclosed copy of the writ, and list of papers left with you in the two Trunks marked with the Initial Letters J. A—Your account of the employment of your Time is equally gratifying, and if you have persevered in the plan upon which you commenced, even to this day, I am sure you have found a reward of...
230From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, October 1826 (Adams Papers)
There are four Deeds of the Executors to John Quincy Adams, executed, acknowledged, and left at the Office of the Register of Deeds at Dedham, to be recorded, which when recorded you will receive from the Register, and carefully keep There is one Bond, and four Mortagages, executed and acknowledged by me, to the Executors, and one Power of Attorney to my Co-Executor Josiah Quincy—all left also...
231From John Peter De Windt to George Washington Adams, 1 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you two papers, which you will be so good as to deliver, the one to Mr. Quincy, & retain the other yourself, ’till further advised. I’ll thank you to procure from the B. Bank, a recpt. of my credit there—of Mrs. de Wints portion by the Will, which will be good in some bank in this City. Your friend & obt. sert. MHi : Adams Papers.
According to my promise I write to you again altho’ I do not feel quite sure that you will have time to read my Letters or that they will be more acceptable than the nonsensical scraps of poetry which I used to plague you with last Summer generally by the advice of Charles—but as that mania appears to be over I shall only write you short occasional Letters to let you know how we go on altho’...
233From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 8 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter numbered 2. dated 30 and 31. October is before me—Enclosed in it was the receipt of the Executors for the 901. dollars 95 Cents which I had forwarded from New-York—The Savings Bank Book, I thought it would be best not to settle, until it should be time to make the second distribution to the Devisees; the interest being in the mean time going on. I now enclose to you 1. An order...
234From Edward Everett to George Washington Adams, 10 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
A valued friend at the South who has already Made A considerable Collection of Autographs is desirous of extendg it & has Asked My assistance to that End. It has Occurred to Me that You C’d help him to that of y’r late Venerable grandfather, w’h is one of those he is Most desirous of procuring. The Smallest Specimen w’d be Acceptable to him. Could you procure & furnish Me such a specimen...
235From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 19 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your short note of the 14th. enclosing your Account to the first of July 1826. 4. Copies of Mr Whitney’s funeral discourse, and the pamphlet and annuity blank, of the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company; and also the N. 2. Glass Company’s bill, has been received—I reserve my observations upon the Account, till that of the subsequent Quarter to the 1st. of October last shall come. I...
236From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith the following papers 1. An Order in my favour on the U. S. Branch Bank Boston, for two thousand Dollars—This you will immediately on receiving it deposit at the Bank, and have it entered to my Credit, in my Bank Book which I lately sent you. 22. A Check on the same, Bank dated 4. December 1826. Signed by me, for three thousand Dollars, payable to Mrs Susan B. Clark, or...
237From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 29 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
On the 18th. instt. I received and duly acknowledged your Short note of the 14th. accompanied with your Account to the 1st. of July Last and with a promise that you would the next day forward the account for the following quarter: and this day I have had the pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 6th. and 10th with four more copies of Mr Whitney’s discourse, and all under a Cover Post marked...
238From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 4 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of the 18th. ulto. enclosing four more copies of Mr Whitney’s funeral Discourse, and all under a cover Post marked, Boston 29 . November—This Post-mark was almost as pleasing to me as your Letter itself because it assured me that my failure to receive from you a Letter of that date was not occasioned by inability proceeding from the state of your health—I am...
239From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 7 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
On the 8th. of last month, I wrote you a Letter enclosing three orders from W. S. Smith, and just before receiving this morning your Letter of the 2d. instt. I had written to remind you of it, as well as of my subsequent Letters to you—I am now relieved from the apprehension that you had not received my former Letters, by your acknowledgment of the receipt of those of the 8th. 19th. and 27th....
240From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 14 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
The last Letter I have from you is of the 2d. instn. but I have also received Mrs Clark’s receipt upon my note to her, which was enclosed in your Letter to your brother John of the 6th.—My latest Letters to you, are of the 19th. 27th. and 29th. ulto. and 4th. and 7th. instn.—I expect answers to them all. I now enclose, 1. an order from W. S. Smith, upon the Executors of my father’s Will, for...
241From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 24 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 15th. instt. has been duly received. I s till hope that your Account to the first of October will be received by me before the close of the year; and that the next, that is, your Account for the present Quarter will be made up and forwarded to me at the day. On the first of January, you will pay to my brother, the sum of 315 dollars, and take from him a receipt in following...
What! a letter from George I cried when your father put your last epistle in my hand yesterday afternoon? I was surprized for I thought that you ceased to wish to keep up any thing like friendly intercourse with your family and to feel that I was not altogether forgotten in the solitude of my chamber did occasion my heart to spring with joy. I am delighted to observe by the tone of your Letter...
243From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 31 December 1826 (Adams Papers)
May the blessing of God, whose justice is remembered at the close of your last Letter rest upon you through the year about to commence, and many more, as long as it shall be his pleasure that you live upon earth, and then follow you to a better world. Your Letter and scrap of the 22d. and 23d. have brought up tolerably well the arrears of your correspondence with me, excepting that I am still...
244From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington Adams, 9 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr George Washington Adams for the eloquent oration on the late 4 th of July which he has been so kind as to send him. he deems it a subject of worthy congratulations to his fellow citizens that a young character of so much promise, and descended thro’ a lineage so meritorious, is now entering on the stage of life, with so much personal, as well as...