11To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 14 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Holding an occasional correspondence with you for upwards of 40 years on various subjects, it is peculiarly proper and I desire to bless GOD, that I have it in my power in the Evening of your useful days to offer to you my sincere, and hearty congratulations on the recent elevation of your distinguished Son to the first Office in the power of a grateful Nation to bestow upon him. I am the more...
12To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 15 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Holding a correspondence with you for the on various subjects for upwards of 45 years; it is peculiarly proper, and I desire to bless GOD that I have it in my power in the Evng. of your useful days to offer to you my sincere and hearty congratulations on the recent elevation of your Son to the first Office in the gift of a republican Nation. I am the more gratified that this great State has...
13To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 5 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
It is Now 17 Years since I was first hon’d with your Paternal Letter at Nantes. Since which in Various situations, & On Various occasions in your Important Life, I have presumed to address you; and have never Ceased to Venerate the Independance of your Mind, & your “stern Republican Virtues”—I cannot now forbare Congratulating you on your recent elevation to the first station in the Power of...
14To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 1 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am hon’d with your Obliging Letter of the 17th. Inst. After the departure of My Letter of the 5th. Ulto. I Regretted that I had touched on a delicate Subject Since however it is So, I feel impressed with the propriety of unveiling the Mistery, which I Request May be considered as Confidential —I had Spent the Evening of writing you in Company with Chancellor Livingston who in the Most...
15To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 5 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Charitable belief, as expressed in your late Answer to the Providence Address,—that Many of your Countrymen had adhered to the French from a blind Infatuation; So exactly Meets My Case, that & is so liberal, & Conciliating that I feel it a duty incumbent on Me Instead of Mingling with the Mass in Signing an address to you (however laudable the Measure) to hazard the Liberty of a More...
16To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 10 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
In the summer of 1783 being at your quarters I think it was in Oxford Street an elderly Lady came in with a book for sale—It was at the period when you was ambasador at the Court of St. James. When she retired—you informed Me it was the Widow of Carver with her husband’s book of travels in the interior of America. You added—“It is extraordinary altho’ he has wrote so much & so well on the...
17To John Adams from Elkanah Watson, 3 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have often regretted I had Not inserted in my Tour in Holland—a Meml. in the original Mss:—dated 20 June 1784. as follows—“Mr. Adam’s mind appeared Settled and intent upon an American Navy—in Our pleasant rides about the Hague—he appeard at times absorb’d in a reverie and at last length wou’d brake silence by exclaiming yes it must be So—12 Sail of the Line would place us in some respects on...