241To John Adams from Hendrick W. Gordon, 6 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
As you were so kind as to favour me with your name to a recommendation in my behalf, some time since for an Office which was supposed then to be vacated, but was not, nor since has been; I am emboldened to ask of you a like favour, which the enclosed will explain.— If the acquaintance I have had the satisfaction to have with you, will Justify your subscribing to the enclosed, it will very much...
242To John Adams from Alexander Hill Everett, 31 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I return you the pamphlets you were so good as to send me with many thanks. I have derived much pleasure from reading them. Mr. Hay has said every thing, that need be said upon the subject.—I think there cannot be much doubt of a citizen’s right under the law of nature, to quit his country at pleasure and in a case of pure self-defence, (which is really the only case of justifiable war) to...
243From Charles Francis Adams to John Adams, 16 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I wrote a letter to Brother George, and so I thought that I ought to write you one too; for I love both my Brothers equally well, and I hope it will not be much longer before we shall all meet together again. I want to go home, to see my Grandpapa and Grandmama, who have always been so kind to you and Brother George, and to live where it is not so cold as in this Country; for here,...
244To John Adams from James Madison, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor on the subject of Docr. Waterhouse, inclosing a letter from him which is now returned. Previous to this communication, the vacancy occasioned by the death of our Excellent friend, & the friend of mankind, had been filled by the appointment of his son Dr. James Rush. Besides the numerous & respectable interpositions in favor of it, I felt a pleasure, in putting this...
245To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of August 1st is still unanswered. It is full of truth, and useful information and reflections. I regret that my son did not state the impressment of seamen being in 1807 an Act of the British Government. It would have obviated One of the Objections to the War by the Minority in Congress. Our Country is divided into two great parties called Fedarists and Democrats. The former are...
246To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 6 September 1809 (Adams Papers)
Although for many years past I have read nothing, but books upon medicine on week days, & upon Religion on Sundays, and have expected to continue to do so as long as I lived, yet you have almost persuaded me to read Fox’s history of James the Second. Your praise of it is enough for me, for I know how much your habits of reading and thinking qualify you to judge of the merit of books that...
247To John Adams from Louis Hue Girardin, 30 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing to you two nos. of a little paper which I edit in this place. They contain very interesting details respecting Your son, Mr. John Quincy Adams. These details were transmitted by Mr. John Quincy Adams himself to Skelton Jones, a native of Virginia, who had undertaken to continue Burk’s history of this state, and intended to annex to the work Biographical notices...
248To John Adams from David Humphreys, 28 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I think we agree in sentiment, that the wealth & prosperity of a Country depend essentially on the Industry , Instruction & Morality of its Inhabitants : on the first for acquiring, and on the two last for making the best use of the means, for public felicity. Nor shall we differ in opinion, that the acquisition
249To John Adams from Henry Marston, 6 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
Knowing that Miss Welsh is on a visit at Quincy and fearing you might be in want of her kind offices in sending you the glorious news of the day, I take the liberty to enclose you the Gazette containing the account of another atchievement of our gallant Tars; the capture of H. B. M. S. W. Penguin , by the Hornet after an action of twenty two minutes , only, upon which I congratulate you most...
250To John Adams from Thomas Clark, 17 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty to forward to you a Copy of the Naval history of the U.S. Your kindness & zealous exertions have excited in me a sincere gratitude. Of our naval history, as well as of our naval establishment, you have been the first patron, & most active promoter. Enclosed are some of the proposals for the publication of my long contemplated history of the United States. Your...
251To John Adams from Stephen Peabody, 9 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
With a trembling hand, I inform you of the removal of my dear Companion and best friend, by the stroke of death, this morning, between three & 4 OClock. She was seiz’d with a lung-complaint, was yesterday unwell but not confind; went to bed comfortable, and slept till after midnight, waked in distress, and soon was call’d without any peculiar struggle, in the full exercise of reason, I trust...
252To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 23 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter dated May 15th. 1816 which I was very much interested with, and pleased me very much. As to your question of what country man I am, I think you ought to know that I never would desert my own country not for any thing Where I was born I do not remember nor I think never knew till you told me, that was in your last letter and so I take the liberty to fill my letter up...
253To John Adams from Hendrick W. Gordon, 19 November 1813 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, having given me the Office of Collector of Direct Taxes & Internal Duties for the County of Middlesex in this Commonwealth, and as you were so obligeing as to honor my letters of recommendation with your name, to which I attribute in a great measure the success of my application, I should do injustice to my feelings, were I to omit to thank you for this...
254To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 21 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. is before me, My son, & his parents feel much obliged to You for your polite & kind invitation to him, to visit you at your house for the purpose of taking your Portrait. He will deem it an honor & a privilege to enjoy the Society of Mrs Adams & yourself for a few days. He, therefore, authorises me to say to you, sir, that should it not be convenient to you to visit him...
255To John Adams from Richard Sharp, 25 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
Few letters have ever given me so much pleasure as that which you did me the honor to write in February last. The gratification which I felt in the receipt of it arose not only from meeting with a fresh mark of your attention, but from the singular importance of the remarks, which it contained, on the real æra & true spirit of your great Revolution I am fully sensible of the justness, or...
256To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 24 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter from Quincy of April 4th. you wished I would furnish you with a Copy of Hamiltons Letter to Miranda and asked in what Journal, Magazine, Review or Newspaper it s deposited—At the time, I could only furnish Mirandas Letter to Hamilton, since my return home I have found among my books a Vol entitled South American emancipation a London edition By J.M. Antipara, a Native of...
257To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 19 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters of yesterday & to day have made me serious. They discover a profound knowledge of times past, present & to come. I have directed one of my daughters to copy two sentences from your letter of this day to be sent to my son Richard at Washington who, poor fellow! is swamped in a beleif of the infallibility and perpetuity of the “powers that are”. I know he reveres your judgment....
258To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 6 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of the 11th of February has given me great pleasure. I regretted exceedingly that the incidents of the day, at our last interview, deprived me of the pleasure you then proposed, of conversing fully & freely on the subject of the Navy. I have this day written to Captain Selman (Commodore Broughton being no more) & have requested of him every information, & a copy of every document...
259From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 10 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
pray how did you succeed with your new commission? I heard you was made Commander-in chief of the Regiment of Poultry, on Board ship—with full powers to deal out their Rations, at your pleasure, and I learnt from a Letter of mr Ticknors two days after you sail’d, that you were well, and studied to his satisfaction. While I am writing this I flatter myself that you have made half your voyage,...
260To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 4 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Herewith th r ough the politeness of Mr Quincy you will receive the Coins for your son. I regret that some of them are not recently coined. None such have been issued lately from the mint. Your Son Thomas’s friend Mr Erving has paid me for them. Permit me to Congratulate you upon your Son John’s honourable Appointment to a Seat upon the bench of the United States. It gives great Satisfaction...
261To John Adams from William D. Williamson, 12 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Acquainted with your ready disposition to communicate information, tho unacquainted with you personally, I would, with due deference, beg leave to make of you a few enquiries. Previously, however, I would give assurance, that all means, within my power, have been used to get the wished-for information, without encroaching, in this way, upon your moments: I have consulted the different...
262To John Adams from Richard Sharp, 19 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favour of the 13 July, which Mr Harris did not deliver till last week— Nothing could afford me more pleasure, or flatter me more, than so obliging an instance of recollection from a gentleman for whom I entertain so high a respect & so much regard— To Mr Harris and his companion Mr Bruce I shall be happy in shewing my best attention—Before the delivery of your letter...
263To John Adams from Joseph Bradley Varnum, 23 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure I have this day received your communication of the 15th Instance, and I shall always be happy in Receiving Any Communication from, so Eminant a Statesman of the Revolution who in common with thousands of Others, both in the Cabinet and in the field, have put danger at defiance, and as it were, with Halters about their necks, did boldly contend for, and thro the Aid of divine...
264To John Adams from Cyrus Kingsbury, 23 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will excuse me for troubling you with a line relative to the subject on which I called at your house. the remarks which were then made, have left a deep impression on my mind. I say to myself, can it be possible that President Adams is opposed to any exertions, which may tend to enlighten society, & render it virtuous & happy. No, I will not, I cannot indulge the thought. I do...
265To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 26 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I am lately favored with a Letter from thy Son, one of our Ministers at Ghent, acknowledging the receipt of two copies of my Gazetteer, which thou wast good enough to forward for me. That Gentleman, in my estimation, stands on very high ground, & I am gratified to thee for having, so far, procured me his favorable notice. While lately at Washington, I learnt, both from the President & Col....
266To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 28 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
Act 1. Scene 2nd. Mr Adams alone in his Study. Enter B Rush. A: Aye Rush is that you? What is that paper you hold in your hand? R A Summary view of the physical, moral and immoral effects of certain hymns upon the body & mind of man & upon his Condition in Society. Permit me Sir to request your Acceptance of it. A What must I do with it? R: Send it to the parson of your parish, but if he “too...
267To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
The subject of this letter, is the celebration of the 4th of July at Lexington; a fete which I hope will be honored by your company. The crisis appears to require every measure for animating the friends of our Independence. In this quarter they are sensible of it, & are making every exertion for honoring the day. Your ideas on this subject, as communicated by accident, always struck my mind...
268To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 19 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
In complying with the directions of the American Academy & transmitting the inclosed vote I cannot refrain from expressing my individual pain and regret at the dissolution of a tie which to me has been, always as pleasant as honourable. Be assured, Sir, that I cannot cease to feel or to express the sentiments of esteem and respect with which / I am your hl St At a meeting of the American...
269To John Adams from Alexander Coffin, Jr., 4 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Be pleas’d to accept the inclosed little Poem, presented by the Author, as a small testimonial, of the respect He has for you, and to whom he has taken the liberty to make the dedication;—The Poem you will perceive attempt to celibrate an important & glorious event of the Revolution. In fact it my Justly be call’d the opening scene of the Drama. I will now Sir, make a Poets apology for the...
270To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
Now I hope, you have already perused my Oration—although I have not Seen it yet in print—I doubt not, or friendship Shall influence your judgment. You desired, to know my opinion about mr. English book. I received it lately—and, as your requests, when it is in my power to grant them, are always considered—equal to commands—I taught it the best way—to do it in this manner. We cannot much...