251To John Adams from John Langdon, 27 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of receiving, by the last Mail, your letter of the 24th. instant, by which I see your time, is taken up, and your mind continually on the Stretch, for the support and honor of our beloved Country. you request me to call to mind “the circumstances of a particular Transaction in the History of this Country”, to which I answer; That upon reading your correct statement, of the...
252To John Adams from John Marshall, 30 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosd communication was transmitted to this department in a letter dated the 14th of Jany. last. In a letter receivd from Mr. Adams dated the 7th. of April at Berlin he says that the negotiations between France & Austria were not supposd to be entirely broken off. The points of difference were that France claimd the Rhine as a boundary & that Austria insisted positively on the total...
253To John Adams from John Jay, 4 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
a weeks absence on a visit to my friends at Rye, from whence I returned last Evening, prevented my having ’till then, the Pleasure of recieving your very obliging Letter of the 20 Dec r. — For the Invitation with which you honor me, be pleased to accept my cordial acknowledgements— It is conveyed in Terms which enhance the compliment, & I accept it with that Satisfaction which Politeness...
254John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 22 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this day received two letters from you of the 20th. in one of which you say you would have me attend all the lectures in which Experiments are made, but I shall have to attend two lectures upon law, and therefore shall have no time. As to the lecture upon Greek; there is but one, and the Gentlemen with whom Mr. Thaxter has consulted, think that it is necessary, to have made some...
255To John Adams from John Searson, 14 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to say, I thought my self happy when I waited on you personally (previous to the Publication of my Poems in Philadelphia) when I thought I had your Countenance of approbation for Encouraging Literature, and your Benevolent disposition, this was previous to your appointment to the Presidency. But alas! A few days previous to your leaving, Philadelphia when I wish’d to have...
256To John Adams from John Jay, 27 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter to you of the 20th. Inst: I inserted a Copy of the one which on the 13th. Inst: I had written to Mr. William Duane; and promised on recieving his answer, to transmit a Copy of it to you. The last mail brought me his answer, in the words following— “Philadelphia—16th. March 1821”— “Sir Your Letter of the 13th. Inst: which you did me the honor to address to me, concerning some notes...
257John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 12 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
The fair ended last Saturday, and yesterday I began to translate Suetone’s life of Caligula; Mr. Dumas who is so good as to direct my studies, says you chose I should translate Suetone. I shall begin upon the Greek Testament directly. The 4th. of this Month a vessel from Philadelphia arrived in the Texel, and last saturday Mr. Dumas receiv’d two large packets one of which he forwards this day....
258To John Adams from John Browne Cutting, 18 October 1796 (Adams Papers)
I regret that urgent business hinders me from making yourself and Mrs Adams a visit at Braintree prior to my return to Philadelphia. It was a pleasure I had reckond upon and the rather as my friend H.G. Otis had promised to accompany me in his carriage. As it is very possible I may be absent during the next Session of Congress in Philadelphia—and considering you Sir, in the double capacity of...
259To John Adams from John Eager Howard, 18 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday at your house, with some Ladies who had the honor of paying their respects to Mrs. Adams, where I observed a person, whose name is Samuel Monroe, in the capacity of a servant, and as I suppose you are not acquainted with his character, think it necessary to give you the following information.— He was formerly a drummer in the British Army, and has been a waiter in the City...
260To John Adams from John Farmer, 20 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
The favour of your letter is most gratefully acknowledged. The information respecting the Bracket and Tompson families will add to what I have already received. I think it very probable that Capt. Joseph Tompson, one of the early settlers of this town, was a son of the minister whom you mention, or otherwise connected with the family. I conclude so from several circumstances. He wrote his name...
261To John Adams from John Henry, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
In presuming to lay before Your Excellency, the work that accompanies this letter, I presuppose more than even my vanity will reconcile,—namely, that it will not be altogether unacceptable to You. If it possesses no merit that can recommend it to Your patronage; it has at least novelty to attract Your notice. And when with great deference, I request You to allow Your name to sanction the...
262To John Adams from John Marston, 26 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I know it will afford you much pleasure to be informed that I was not wholly forgotten by my late friend Mr Eliot. On my arrival in town yesterday morning, Mr Guild communicated the pleasing intelligence that I was a legatee, for the Sum of five hundred dollars. The amount is small, but as an expression of his esteem & respect, I consider it of great value. In looking back on past intercourse...
263From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received from President Kirkland, his answer to my enquires respecting your standing as a Scholar in your Class, and it confirms the Statement made by yourself—Your number upon the general scale, at the close of the last term was 24—In the course of one half year, you had risen from 45. This result has opened my heart to the cheering hope, that you will yet redeem a standing worthy of...
264John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
Since my last Letter (15.) nothing very material has occurred. The newspapers enclosed will shew you the degree of opposition that is made against the Convention bills as they are called. The City of London has instructed its members to vote against them. They will however pass. I know not whether you have seen the review of the new Edition of your book, and therefore send the monthly Review...
265To John Adams from John Davis, 1 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr Lewis Weld, an instructor in the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, at Hartford, who visits Boston, with a number of his pupils, for the purpose of exhibiting evidence of their improvement and of the hopeful progress of the institution. In conversation with Mr. Weld, yesterday, he expressed a strong desire to be introduced to you, a disposition which I could not but...
266John Jay to John Adams, 15 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Extracts from the Journal of Congress will inform you of your Appointment to go as Minister to the Court of London, and of M r. Smith’s being elected Secretary to the Legation. I congratulate you on this Event. It argues the Confidence reposed in you by the United States, and I am persuaded will redound to their Advantage as well as to your Reputation.— The necessary Papers are...
267To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 14 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
As you live in terror of my long Letters, and as the very last, I had the pleasure of writing you, was of that description, and not without a smack of orthodoxy, I shall content myself this time with a very few lines, to accompany the Sunday’s Observer and Saturday’s cheap Cobbett; for the Porpuicine to shoot his Quills with more effect has made himself cheap, and although you will know what...
268To John Adams from John Steele, 31 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully transmits to the President of the United States a Letter from the Commissioner of the Revenue dated the 12th. instant covering two proposals made to the Collector of Boston, one by Asa Killam and the other by Solomon Blake for building a Light House on Bakers Island near Salem. As Blake’s terms are by far the most favorable, the Secretary is of...
269From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received three Letters from you since I have been here, all grumbling Letters; and all very badly written—The first was of the 16th: the second of the 17th: of September, and the last of the 27th: of October—This last I disapprove of the most; and request you to write me no more such Letters—You conclude it by saying that you hope I will forgive any thing rash in my Son; but I shall do...
270To John Adams from John Thaxter, 16 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was recieved this morning. I am never more happy than in hearing, that things are in a good State in our Country, and that the People are in good Spirits, and bent on War. Those “Pauses and Stops” mentioned in yours of the 12th. would be very injurious to Us, and that Species of “Circumspection,” our Destruction. Every body here talks of Peace—it is not the Doctrine of...
271To John Adams from John Myer, 9 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Agreeable to Notification by Advertisement to the Freemen of the Town of Hamburg and its Vicinity Composing the Third Regiment of Berks County Militia in the State of Pennsylvania a Meeting of the Same Assembled at the House of Jesse Evans on Saturday June the 9th: AD 1798 And Appointed John Myer Esqr Chairman Joseph Old Secretary The Chairman having taken his Seat & the Meeting being Opened...
272To John Adams from John Trumbull, 4 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been absent on a Journey to Newhaven, or I should sooner have acknowleged the receipt of your letter of the 12th: Ult. As I never doubted that the reports concerning the conversation in question, originated chiefly from that Spirit mentioned in your Postscript, I was gratified by the account you gave me, principally as it enabled me positively to contradict many unfounded assertions...
273To John Adams from John Jay, 2 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 19th. ult: informing me that I had been nominated to fill the office of Chief Justice of the united States; and Yesterday I recd. the Commission—this nomination so strongly manifests your Esteem, that it affords me particular Satisfaction— Such was the Temper of the Times, that the Act to establish the judicial courts of the U.S., was in some...
274From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 16th. instt. and have given deliberate attention to its contents—I listen with pleasure to all the circumstances that you allege in indication of yourself; and shall doubly rejoice to learn at midsummer, that your expectations are confirmed, by the standing which you will then have attained—If you should not be lower than 12. it will be apparent that my...
275To John Adams from John Faucheraud Grimké, 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
It is with very sincere pleasure that we forward the presentments made by the Grand Jury of this City and district, at the late Court of Oyer and Jerminer; &c, which commenced its session on the 19th. Instant; and the more especially, as the Grand Inquest have in our opinion, spoken the language of the Citizens of this country, in favor of the late judicious and dicisive measures of the...
276To John Adams from John Baptiste Rapine, 14 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I went on board a french Merchant Ship in Havannah bound to Nante as passenger on the eighteenth day we took an American Brigg bound to Newport the Capt: put six men with the prise Master on board of her I being a passenger had liberty likewise to go on board of the Brigg. The French Capt: ordred the prise Master on board to run in to the first French or Spanish port that he could with...
277John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 1 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received, and communicated to this Government, my recall from the mission here— I shall hasten my departure as much as possible; but the situation of my wife who is still confined to her bed, renders it uncertain when she will be able to travel at-all, and yet more when to undertake the voyage. If a favourable opportunity from Hamburg for Boston occurs I shall give it the preference—...
278John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 24 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last Tuesday I went to pay a visit to Mr. van Berkel and when I return’d I receiv’d your favours of the 13 and 14th. instants in which you say, you expect not to be here so soon as you wish, on account of the Signature of the definitive Treaty. Unless you were present I could not be better plac’d than as I am at present; as Mr. Dumas is so good as to direct and assist me in my Studies. For an...
279To John Adams from John Churchman, 12 September 1792 (Adams Papers)
I was requested if possible to deliver the Letter myself, which I send herewith, but as I am about setting off for Europe, I take the Liberty of sending it thro the Channel of the Post Office, it came under cover to me from Baron Vall-Travers F.R.S. & Member of several other Scientific Societies in Europe, as his Letter enclosing the enclosed is dated 15th. Feby last, it may appear that it has...
280To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 1 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Pinckney has returned, and of course my business here ceases. I am yet waiting however for orders enabling me to return to the Hague. I expect them with a little impatience, having many reasons to wish myself away from hence. The newspapers sent herewith contain intelligence of two important Events. The armistice concluded between the french and Austrian armies on the Rhine; and the return...
281From John Jay to John Adams, 24 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines last Week— This Morning I was favored with two Letters from your Son of the 14 & 20 th . of this Month— Parents are gratified by hearing of or from their children— The former Letter was Dated at the Hague— the latter at Amsterdam— He had been rec d . and acknowledged by the States General, and on the 14 th had “a gracious audience of the Stadtholder”.— In his last...
282To John Adams from John Tudor, 1 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
I Received your favor of the 23d. ult. but not til Satterday night as the man who promisd. to give it me forgot it. I am, Sir exceedingly oblidg’d to you for your thoughts and tender consern for my Son; the Carector you give him must be very agreeable to me and his Mother and all related. I hope and beleave it tis so except the prudent part, in that I think he is short, but perhaps a few Years...
283John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Coll. Vallentin having been detained some time at Amsterdam by the arrival of the Grand Duke there, and having been sick on the road, did not arrive with your letters of the 13th. of May last until the day before yesterday.—As to my return; if I can go with a French Courier from Hence as far as Frankfort on the Mayne, and from thence down the Rhine it will be the best course I can take; but if...
284To John Adams from John Steward, 19 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
Hounred Sir I your pitisioner John Steward A man that have had the houner to Serve the United States with my waggon and hourses for three years and six month during the Late War and I Never have Recived any thing for my past Labour And as the Lord have pleased to Aflick my with is holey Hand as I ham nott hable to help my Selfe out of the Bed with out help with Induse me to Lay my Compleant be...
285From John Jay to John Adams, 21 August 1798, enclosing Address of the New York State Legislature to John Adams, 17–20 … (Jay Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to You, herewith enclosed, an address from the Senate and assembly of this State which passed and was agreed to by both Houses unanimously— It gives me pleasure to reflect that from this and the numerous other Expressions of the public Sentiment, relative to the reprehensible conduct of France towards this Country, you may rely on the decided co-operation of...
286From John Adams to John Adams, 5 April 1816 (Adams Papers)
“Learn Patience of a Friend”! You think you must go to sea. Well, I have no great Objection; provided you can command yourself; and your Constitution is Strong enough to support itself in all Climates, and through all Risques But let me tell you, that to qualify yourself to be a Seaman such as Halley Rawley, Cook, Columbus &c. you must go through a course of Patient Study. You must make...
287To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 12 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the letters and Packets which I have already sent by the present conveyance, I now enclose the newspapers up to this day. This contains intelligence of very considerable importance, which proves that the king of Sardinia has been compelled to enter into negotiations for Peace with the French Republic, and to surrender two strong fortresses as a preliminary to obtain a suspension...
288From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
The proposal contained in your Letter of the 12th. instt. does equal honour to your head and to your heart—It shall be carried into effect; but I shall take upon myself a suitable portion of the expense necessary to that purpose—I shall immediately write to your uncle concerning it. The sum received for the Claim given you by your Grandfather, was three hundred and seventy dollars and forty...
289To John Adams from John Sanderson, 29 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty of sending to your address some pages of a work I have just put to press in Philada.—A copy of which I shall convey to you, entire, as the nos. or half vollumes are competed. The first will be published in a few weeks, & the others at convenient intervals, perhaps of six months.— I wished very much to consult you on the subject of this publication before the present...
290To John Adams from John Lathrop, 30 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Yours by the post, accompanying Dr. Bancroft’s learned work on permanent colors has been duely recieved. Agreeably to your request, at the meeting on the last Wednesday, the Volume was presented to the Academy, and is considered a valuable addition to the Library.— On your recommendation I nominated Dr Bancroft for a member, and he was unanimously approved by the Council: at the next meeting,...
291John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose You “Les fondemons de la Jurisprudence Naturelle” by Professor Pestel. It was originally wrote in Latin; but the french Translation is allowed even by the Professor himself to be well executed. If You prefer the Original, I will purchase and forward it to You. The Young Gentlemen have been very steadily employed since they have had an Instructor, and their...
292John Thaxter to John Adams, 6 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
We have made a serious Beginning this morning, and have already completed the packing of the Books, and shall finish packing to night I hope the Decanters, Wine Glasses, and China. The looking Glasses will require Time and Care, as well as the great Cabinet. We shall be ready to load Thursday Morning, perhaps Wednesday Afternoon, not later however than Thursday. I find the Eye can pack much...
293To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 27 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
I have already written you a very long letter in answer to your favour of the 8th: instt:—and after writing it, upon reading it over concluded the best disposition I could make of it would be to burn it—Accordingly the flames have consumed it, and I must begin again. Your answers and observations upon my inquiries respecting the impressment of our seamen by the British are of the highest...
294To John Adams from John Marshall, 8 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I herewith transmit to you a letter from Mr. King, which I only receivd yesterday, accompanying a complaint made by the Swedish Charge des affaires against two American Captains for an injury done a swedish vessel & an insult offerd to their flag. I have written to day to the collector of Charleston South Carolina at which port the two persons complaind of were commissioned requesting him to...
295To John Adams from John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Rev d. Doctor Provost is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter together with other Dispatches which he will deliver to you.— This Gentleman being elected by the Convention of episcopal Congregations in this State, and having the most express Recommendations from that Body, as well as from a general Convention lately held at Wilmington, is going over to be consecrated a Bishop.—...
296From John Adams to John Adams, 12 January 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 28th: Decr. is an epistle of a sage. I will tell you a story, of ancient days. “When I was a Sophomore at College, my mother and her Sister Ann Adams, Wife of my Uncle Ebenezer Adams, came to spend the day with me. On looking round my room, they thought I wanted several little articles of accomodation, which they did not see. They asked why I had not this thing, that thing,...
297John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 16 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
M r: Welsh proposes to return home by the way of Amsterdam, and will be the bearer of this letter— With it, I enclose the 4 th: number of the Gazette, and copies of former letters to yourself and to my dear mother. I wish I could promise myself a more speedy departure than that which I anticipated in my last Letter to you; but we can no longer form a hope of my wife’s immediate recovery— There...
298To John Adams from John Jay, 2 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I was this morning favored with your obliging Letter of the 31 ult.—D’Ivernois is very industrious.—I hear no more of his plan of transplanting the University of Geneva into the united States. He is a sensible diligent man, and I suspect that his Correspondence with Mr Gallatin has done no Harm— It gives me pleasure to find that in your opinion no great mischief will be done by the combustable...
299To John Adams from John Singleton Copley, 11 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Copley presents his compliments to M r: Adams, has seen Lord Mansfield and been informed that it is necessary to be early at the House, M r Copley will go with M r Adams and his friends at 12 o’Clock precisely, and shall be glad to know where they are to meet and thinks there will be no dificulty in gaining Admittance RC ( PHi :Dreer Coll.); addressed: “John Adams Esquire”; endorsed: “M r...
300To John Adams from John Stockdale, 16 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
You have most probably heard long before this, that I have printed “ Letters to Paine ,” by your son.— A copy was given to me by a Gentleman high in Government, to print as your production, with your name affixed, and I actually advertised it as such, but fortunately had information of its being written by your Son, and of course cancelled the Title before a Copy was seen by any one except the...