31From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Last week I Sent Letters to Newyork for you Mrs Adams, and the children. I write now to Say that we are all well, and because I would not let a vessel go without a Letter for you I inclose one for George. we have not any Letters of a later date from you than july— Harper is displaying his Anti American Principles, if Principles he has. in Maryland a Part of that State are as turbulent as our...
32From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
(Deed of the Quincy Wood lot.) Know all Men by these Presents, that we John Quincy Adams and Josiah Quincy, both of Boston in the County of Suffolk, Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk, deceased, in consideration of the Sum of two-hundred and twenty-one dollars, and thirty three Cents, paid us by the said John Quincy Adams in his...
33From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 26th. of December 1817 inclosing a Postnote upon the Branch Bank of The United States at Boston for nine hundred and one dollars and Ninety five Cents, being the Amount of the dividend of five per Cent upon the debt proved under the Commission of Bankruptcy of Robert Bird and Co. at New York. I am your affectionate Father MHi : Adams Papers.
34Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 December 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your favor of the 28 th: ult. with the enclosures; Dennie stepp’d in a moment after, and I gave him the fable, for which he thanks you. He desires me to add, that as he cannot expect, from your present, unsettled State, you will have much time to bestow in producing original matter, he will be grateful for any thing, you may Send him, from your stock on hand. I was...
35From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, July 1813 (Adams Papers)
altho I wrote to you on the 14 of this month I know that my Letter will have a dubious conveyance as it had to first make its way to France & then to find a passage to you—mr Gordon who is ever attentive to us, has just informd us of a sweedish vessel & a passenger going by whom I might forward Letters to you—if you do not hear from us often it is oweing to the obstructions occasiond by the...
19 Sept My last I believe closed on this day; I will therefore continue the account of our proceedings—While we were at Table the Count and his daughter paid us a visit and left Cards—and in the Evening we received an invitation to a water party at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon; and to spend the Evening which we graciously accepted. After which we strolled to the burying ground, where Miss...
37From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Of Mr Wait, I know little, but that he was once introduced to me by General Knox, twice by Judge Thatcher, and Last Week by Mr Shaw, all in this House. He has always been represented And Appeared to be a modest discreet and respectable Citizen. There has been So much Huggermugger, about Secret Journals and Files of Congress and Conventions, which I always detested, that I rejoice they are now...
38From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
You made me a rich present when you allowed your son George to spend his vacation with me. He has been to me a companion and a friend. He has indulged in no dissipation, has been very constant to his studies & his reading. I cannot find it in my heart to say that he has indulged a little too much in his segars and in his flute. I see that you have the honour to be the target of all the sharp...
39Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 28 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
How shall I answer my dear friends last charming letter where find words adequate to the pleasure I experienced at reading it the idea of your returning almost compensates for the pain I felt at parting— Yet shall I confess fears arise which never presented themselves before. When I reflect upon the part in life I shall have to act with the little I have seen of the world my conscious...
40John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter, giving an Account of your Studies for a day. You should have dated your Letter. Making Latin, construing Cicero, Erasmus, the Appendix de Diis et Heroibus ethnicis, and Phaedrus, are all Exercises proper for the Acquisition of the Latin Tongue; you are constantly employed in learning the Meaning of Latin Words, and the Grammar, the Rhetorick and Criticism of the...
41From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is devoted to one Subject. Since the Death of Judge Cushing there has been frequently expressed in Conversation, much regret at your Absence, among People of all Parties. Presuming that Absence to be an insuperable Bar to any Nomination as a Judge, I have taken very little Notice of such Insinuations of Regret and imputed some of them to one Motive and Some to another. I need not...
I enclose two letters my be loved friend which I request you will give to Adelaide I have not recieved your promissed letter I will not say that I anticipate much pleasure from its perusal as I think it is an answer to a letter I wrote you which has caused me much regret still to hear from you at all affords me so much real satisfaction. I anxiously await its arrival firmly convinced that you...
My last letter mentioned some good news which I had heard from America I thank God this has been confirm’d and a great deal beside which I had neither thought’s or hopes of I was in expation of your last Letter’s being filled with the particulars but the date from London was precisely the same and you could not recieve it untill two days later your next will however contain all this news and...
My health continues to mend rappidly and the prospect of soon rejoining you and my little darlings supports my spirits and enables me to bear the dreadful stroke that has befallen me with more fortitude than otherwise I fear I should have done— I can safely assure you that this misfortune was not caused by any imprudence on my part Dr. Weems is satisfied that the Child had been subject to...
45From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Altho I have already written to you by this opportunity, and my Letters are now quite old, I know I shall give to you renewed pleasure by adding a few lines more, as they may bear to you a token of my returning health, after a very Severe attack of a Lung fever of a very dangerous nature I am Still confined to my chamber weak and debilitated, but my Cough has nearly left me, and I feel that I...
Ere I touch upon the melancholy subject which at present occupies your mind; allow me to offer the most sincere congratulations on the return of this day, which I had intended to celebrate in common with our family, and the Members of the administration, as a testimony of regard—The event which has so recently occurred, which altho’ painful to the individual feelings of all who had the...
We have accomplished our journey thus far as well as I anticipated but my brother was so ill this morning I was fearful we should be obliged to remain at Baltimore for some days. As however he is better this Eveng he has determined to go on in the Stage and reach Philadelphia tomorrow morning—I shall therefore send the Carriage round to join us there— Our Stage party consists of Mr Pratt of P....
48From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Memoirs of Doctor Price. Though there is little in this Work which was new to me, except the Calvinism of the Doctors Father and Uncle. Yet I love to run over again the Passages of a Life which I esteemed and loved as one of the wisest and most benevolent of the human Race. I Shall not review this Pamphlet, and have nothing to Say in praise or censure of it, except that...
49From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
My thanks are due to you, and are most joyfully given, for two copies of your Report on Weights and Measures, one of them elegantly bound. Though I cannot say and perhaps shall never be able to say that I have read it, yet I have turned over Leaves of it enough to see that it is a Mass of historical, philosophical chemical mathematical and political knowledge which no Industry in this country...
50Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
This day compleats Ten weeks, since you sailed and I have had no opportunity before this, by Captain Scott, of writing to you, unless by way of Amsterdam, where I have little hope of finding you. The Arms of France have proved so powerfull, and their victorys have been so rapid, that I should not be surprized to learn, that they had renderd your commission Nul & void, by overturning the...
Your two last No 12 & 13 were delivered to me at the same time I presume the first had been detained at the Post Office and closely inspected and even the second was also examined but not detain’d As to Day was our Wedding day and the day on which the Emperor’s return to us Capital was celebrated I went to the Te Deum and spent my morning in praying for the success of your Mission. when I...
52From Walter Hellen to John Quincy Adams, 11 June 1810 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor to write you on the 22 March whereof the proceeding is a Copy. By the late arrivals we have reason to believe, that the Emperor of France means to shut all the European Ports against our vessels—it appears that most of those that are there, together their Cargoes are sequestered & many condemnations actually taken place; I am therefore afraid that not only the Property which I...
53From Josiah, III Quincy to John Quincy Adams, 4 April 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am requested by Mess Kavanagh and Cottril late owners of the Ship Hibernia to make some inquiries of your department, which they think may possibly result in some information, which may be useful to them. That Ship was taken, when bound in December 1800, on a voyage from Waldoborough to Jamaica, with a cargo of lumber, by a French Privateer, (Le Jeune Creole) fitted out of a Spanish port...
54From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I closed a Letter to you last week, and sent it to Liverpool by the Juno Captain Emery—full of wailings for Letters at that time we had not received a line since those brought to us by mr Smith, untill thursday the 23d of this month, when the Galen arrived. by her you Father received one of 19th June, and from each of my Grandsons I had the pleasure of hearing from under their own hand’s I do...
55From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 March 1808 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Messrs: Curtis & Adams to whom I sold your Wood near the Mill pond, the amount of price agreed for; viz $160.0. for forty Cords which it turned out on measurement. I am now some what perplexed with your farm, as well as my own. My Tenant says I must consider him this year, since times & prospects are so dull and no market for produce, and I expect the greater part of your...
56From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
As there is Some prospect of mr Russels being appointed to Sweeden I hope to convey Letters to you through him I have been more than usually unfortunate in the loss of those which I have endeavourd to convey to you, not having omitted writing to you every Month. yet I have not any acknowledgement from even your latest Letter dated in Feby 1813 that you had received a line from me of a more...
57From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
though I owe you many Apologies for neglecting to write for so long a time, it would give you no pleasure to read them. The Misfortunes afflictions and griefs in our Family in 1811 were sufficiently pungent, and to repeat them would be to renew them. I feel too much for you, your Consort and your Sister, as well as for Mr Smith to wish to renew the Sorrows which you must have felt at the first...
August 17 Mr. Cook called to inform me he intended to return to Washington tomorrow; and while he was sitting with me the Doctor again went through the operation on my brother again which was as in the former case attended with complete success. For two hours after he suffered great anguish, but I gave him a small dose of laudanum which soothed the irritation of his nerves; and he was much...
59Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 September 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received by your Brother on fryday last your kind Letter; he did not get here, oweing to contrary winds untill the tenth. he appears to think of the Law, but I fear it is rather from necessity than inclination, and because he finds that his Father is fond of having him study it, and that he does not See any opening in any other buisness. I shall be better able to judge when your Father...
60From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
I must abide by the rule I have establishd, which is not to let any opportunity of writing to you, pass unimproved.—altho I have no later letters from you, to acknowledge than, that, from Paris of the 19th March. Since the receit of which, I believe I have written you half a dozen. I have little more to say now, than that we are all well, anxiously longing for Letters from you, and for...
61From James Madison to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
I received two days ago your favor of the 15th. with the written and printed accompaniments. I am glad to find that your personal interviews with Mr. Bentham, afforded an entertainment which may have been some recompence for the trouble which I contributed to give you in relation to him. The celebrity which this philosophic Polititian has acquired abroad as well as at home do not permit one to...
62From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have requested a number of Friends, to Search and Seek for information concerning the Fisheries, and they have procured me many Letters which I have Sent you. I ought to have recorded in a Book every One of those Testimonies: but you know the impossibility of it, as I have no Clerk. Some of those documents I have been obliged to Send away to you, without reading them. Inclosed is one from...
63Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 28 September 1788 (Adams Papers)
this morning my Dear Brother—M r Storer Came out from New York—to spend the day with us and was the Bearer from thence of your kind letter dated Sep tr 11 th from Braintree, I am very much surprized that you had not at that time received a letter from me, I wrote you in August and M r Dane took my letter to Frank—and I had expected that you had received it long ere this,— Several of my...
64From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I last week received your Letter of december 3d in replie to mine of Novbr 11th, not having made any mention of it before I thought it had miscarried. I am very sorry to learn by it, that you have been unwell. you must not let the mind wear so much upon the Body. Your disposition to a Sedentary Life prevents you from taking that regular excercise which the Body requires to keep it in a healthy...
65Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
We have this Day quite and old fashiond Snow Storm, after an unusual pleasent Feb’ ry . the Snow is much deeper and more Drifted than We have had, for Several Winters. the wind Very high at North-East, from our parlour Windows the Stone walls are not to be Seen. it began yesterday noon to snow, after Evening, the wind rose, and has continued through the night, and to this time without...
Mr Gurney having called on me yesterday, to give notice that he should quit your house next quarter day, and that he wished to settle with you as soon as possible, I have thought it best to write you my beloved friend, he having expressed a desire to leave it immediately, which I did not think you would approved; he mention’d not having it in his power to pay you at present, but will give you...
67From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
At the request of our worthy friend and excellent Neighbour Dr Amos Holbrook; I transmit you the inclosed papers, praying you to convey them to the Superintendent of the Patent Office, If I knew Dr Thornton was there I would have transmitted them to him. But I think I have heard some other Gentleman was there, and that he was in some other station—My Compliments to him, if you please— It is...
68From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 November 1826 (Adams Papers)
Received of the Executors of the last Will of John Adams, by an order, on the Cashier of the United States Branch Bank, Boston, the sum of two thousand seven hundred and nine dollars eighty cents, being the amount of three Orders, from William S. Smith, one of the Devisees, named in the said last Will—of which orders, one for 1488 dollars three Cents is in my favour, for payment of dues due...
I had left off writing entirely from the idea that you would have left England Ghent befor a Letter of mine could reach but from all the accounts which we here recieve I find that it is possible you may remain at Ghent half the Winter therefore I have resolved to write again and trust to chance for the return of my Letters in case you should be on your way— I have moved into Town and made...
70Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have time only to write you a line or two, not expecting captain Bigolow to Sail so Soon. I was yesterday informd that he would not go till the middle of the week, but this morning he has sent for the Letters. I thought your sister had letters, but she says they are not ready. She wrote you by mr Jenks 3 weeks ago. I must refer you to your Friend Storer for further information as I have...
71From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
Contrary to my established habit for many years I must now become an intercessor for a candidate. You must remember a virtuous & industrious lady old lady the widow Owen who lived to be 90 odd years of age, and maintained an always an excellent character and was highly esteemed by your mother. You must remember also young Hollis her grandson who lived some time in our family and was the...
72From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I received the letter you did me the honor to write me, on the 7th. of this month. Inclosing a copy of an additional return of the Census of Alabama in virtue of an act of Congress of the 7. of March 1822 / and salute you with the respect and affection / of your obid: & very humble Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
73From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 September 1814 to 6 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was very happy to recieve your Letter of the 12 August, which I have been waiting for with much impatience. I am sorry my writing was not good, but I hope in time I shall learn to write, with as much ease and elegance as Brother George; I will take more pains for the future. You ask me what I mean by a colour? it is a small piece of red paint used in painting Pictures. The rose-bud which you...
74Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have not written a line to you for a long time; yet scarcly an hour of the day passes in which you are not present to my mind; I fear my last Letters were captured the ship, captain scott, was taken by the French. you will think me more tardy than I have really been. by the date of this you will see where I am. it was not my intention to have come here untill the Fall of the Year. I expected...
75From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
A Gentleman, whose Name is Reynolds a Native of Boston, a Graduate at Cambridge, a Pupil in Medicine and Surgery of the late Dr Warren, a Son of a respectable Merchant, a good Scholar and an amiable Character, requests as all other young Travellers do, Letters to You. He goes, I Suppose to See the Hospitals in England Scotland France &c. I have nothing in particular to Say, but that Yesterday...
76John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letter from the sec. of state will go by the Way of England. In the paragraph quoted from me I wish you not to mistake. I dont mean that I have any aversion to a Treaty with Prussia or sweeden, upon Terms consistent with your Instructions. You may agree to such a Treaty as soon as you please. But in the present State of Things, if the Neutral Powers will not go to War with France...
77From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
(Copy.) Deed. Adams and Quincy to J. Q. Adams. Whereas John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Doctor of Laws, did by his last Will and Testament, give and devise to his Son John Quincy Adams and to his heirs all that part of his real estate lying on both sides of the Antient County road from Boston to Plymouth containing by estimation One hundred and three Acres be the same more or...
78From John Quincy Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Whereas John Adams late of Quincy in the County of Norfolk Doctor of Laws, did by his last Will and testament, Give and devise to his Son John Quincy Adams and to his heirs all that part of his real estate, lying on both Sides of the Antient County road from Boston to Plymouth, containing by estimation One hundred and three Acres, be the same more or less, Together with his Mansion house,...
79Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 19 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
Sunday last brought to hand your invaluable letter of the 6 th shall I confess I was nearly too much elated to know what I read having vainly flattered myself from the intelligence I previously received of your immediate return but alas how delusive is hope how was I disappointed to find you might not return till the Spring. You ask my permission to come here Oh my best friend you already know...
80From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
Nature did not make me of a jealous disposition; but a dismal experience has made me Suspicious of myself, not less than of others. I often Suspect myself, and that my Imagination deceives me; that I mistake posibilities for probabilities and Non Entities for probabilities; that I See “ Au dessous des cartes ” many things which in reality may not be there. Masons and Austins are Old South...