The enclosed letter from President Kirkland to me was received yesterday, though dated the 20th. A letter from the City of Washington might have reached me in nearly the same time. My reply to the President is enclosed for your perusal, and approbation if you think it entitled, and for your correction if you think it requires any. Having been present when the address was delivered, before the...
When I borrow a sentiment from Machiavel’s “plan of a perfect Commonwealth” to accompany my congratulations and to participate in the joyful issue of the greatest spectacle which the Christian World has ever beheld, I cannot with hold my admiration of the aptness of the quotation for the occasion to which I would make it subservient, should it reach you on the day of your induction to the...
3From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 1 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, in the afternoon, was committed to the Tomb, the earthly remains of our dearly beloved and venerable Mother. She died about One oClock, PM, of Wednesday the 28th: ult: after an illness of three weeks and three days; but we did not think her case dangerous until the last week. but Her decline from this day week was very rapid, and she sunk into the arms of the great destroyer without...
4From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
Having in my Letters of the 3d and 6th: instant given you a detail of the state of your private concerns, under my care, accompanied by my account current to the close of the last year, I am solicitous to make some return for your many favours, from which we have occasionally gathered the earliest intelligence of events, most interesting to our own Country. The overture made in behalf of the...
5From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your letters No. 32. Dup: and 33 Origl were received on the 21st: ultimo: I have also received your No 30. of the 24th of May, I believe, but the Letter not being before me, I will not vouch for the date. Your No 31. is yet wanting to complete my series. I have been very unfortunate in the fate of my letters to you, during the last year. They have been taken by the Enemy or sunk by my order in...
6From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
Two of your Letters, viz No 24. Dup: & 25. Origl came to hand on the 16th: inst: These are the latest dates of any received from you, although the vessel that brought them had an uncommonly long passage from Gottenburg. We are happy to hear of your health and that of your family, as we have done more frequently than we could reasonably have expected. My Letters to you, thought not much behind...
7From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
The departure of the Ship Horace, the same in which you sailed, for St Petersburg, was as sudden as her actual destination was unexpected to me. She has gone again to Russia, within a few days, and I was in the belief that she was bound to France. Mr Gray wrote by her, but I do not know of any other letters for you on board. I had written a short letter to you, but a little time since and I...
8From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Erving has not yet left Boston, but expects to go for Newport on the 5th instant, for the purpose of embarking in the John Adams Frigate, in a few days. I think it probable he will not sail, under a fortnight from this time. The news of your appointment as an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court for the Massachusetts District, has just reached us, and as it is the harbinger of your speedy...
9From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 March 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have had frequent opportunities to address you, by letters of recommendation for Gentlemen who are embarking for Russia, and who make it a point of importance to be introduced to you. In general, I have had the leisure and inclination to comply with the solicitations of Gentlemen who have besought this favour; but it has not always been in my power to comp gratify their wishes. A few days...
10From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 February 1809 (Adams Papers)
I intended to have written to you when at your own house or Office in Boston, but was prevented by the intense severity of the weather , added to the general ill health of both your & my family, during the whole time we sojourned under your Roof, which, by the assiduity of your wife & Catharine and the faithful attendance of their domesticks was made, in every respect, our own house . My...
11From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 30th: ult. on the 7th: current and also the pamphlet containing the documents respecting the Chesapeake. I have read the whole with attention, and am particularly impressed with the concluding letter of Mr: Madison, which is universally admitted to be a very luminous and correct State paper. That it could not be answered or refuted, is very apparent from the...
12From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 March 1808 (Adams Papers)
Although I have recently written you a letter of some length, I will not therefore refrain from a prompt acknowledgment of your favour of March 12th: which particularly deserves my thanks for the variety of intelligence it contains, of a nature not to be derived from any other source. The detail you have given of the various intrigues supposed to be in operation at head quarters and elsewhere...
13From 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...
14From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 February 1808 (Adams Papers)
I received, Yesterday your favor of the 6th instant, for which I thank you. The letter, which upon mature consideration, I burnt, as I informed you in the cover of a letter from my Mother, sent a few days ago, was on the subject of the proposed alteration of the Constitution, as to the tenure of judicial Offices; but my ideas upon paper Suited me less than when they were revolving in my mind,...
15From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
You have been lately gratified with such copious communications from this quarter, that I have been the more remiss in mine, not wishing to encumber you with too much matter at once. We have read your Report to the Senate in the case of Mr: Smith, and the printed documents together with Mr: Smith’s vindication; but the volume of evidence communicated by the President I have not seen, and am...
16From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
I returned from Dedham on Friday morning, and found your letter of the 14th. The Court of Common Pleas dispatched business rather faster than usual, on account of Christmas; but there was business enough left unfinished to have occupied a day or two more. I am glad to find you are satisfied with my sale of your wood—I believe, no body has done better since, though sundry lots have been...
17From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1807 (Adams Papers)
Your letter from Washington of the 27th: ult: to our dear Mother, came to hand this day; and as She was in Boston, we had the first perusal of it. We learn from it with much pleasure your Safe arrival at the end of your journey and that you and yours are in good health. In return for this intelligence I am happy to be able to acquaint you with the health of all our friends here and your...
18From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 February 1807 (Adams Papers)
When Sunday comes I usually enquire whether I have any arrearges to make up with my correspondents; if I have, it is to me the most convenient season for discharging such debts. Though I have, at present, no letter unacknowledged, I have a variety of documents and journals from you, which deserve mention, because they serve as a substitute in some degree for letters, which we know you have not...
19From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 December 1806 (Adams Papers)
The trial of Mr. Selfridge begun on Tuesday last and finished on Friday. I attended nearly the whole time and as it may be some time before the trial will be published, it may be interesting to you to learn some of the particulars from a Spectator. The evidence on the part of the Defendant was opened by Mr: Gore in a very handsome style and the law as applicable to the facts which he expected...
20From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 April 1806 (Adams Papers)
Supposing that you will be at Washington long enough to receive a letter from this place before your departure I shall venture to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 19th: ult: to inform you of the health of both your children, as also of your friends at Quincy, who are looking with pleasure for your return, and who hope the cause of your leaving your wife behind you will terminate in...
21From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I did not think to receive a reply to my letter of the 2d: instant, before I had the Mail charged with another and on the way to Washington. Yet so it is, and I am now to acknowledge your favor of the 13th: which came to hand yesterday with enclosures The Journals of the H. R. I have received to No 14 inclusive & but three sheets of the journal of Senate. Bills, Messages & Reports, in...
22From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 26th: is So copiously answered that I shall reserve my fire for a future occasion, when I hope to be better able to write than I am now. I have been seized furiously by the Nose within a few days, by a fretful & provoking tumour, which has made me fell more indisposed than I have for a twelvemonth. It has distorted my face rather unluckily, just at this time, & moreover so...
23From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received to day your favor of the 7th: inst: covering the journal & Speech not spoken—since which I have had no time to read either—Parson Bentley’s promotion is to me by no means unaccountable—I heard something, by going to Salem so often last winter—If you like to hear a very familiar conversation between a frail mortal and infinite wisdom, listen to the prayers of this “no God or twenty...
24Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I reached Boston on Saturday Evening the 10 th: inst: and came out to Quincy on Sunday afternoon, with Cousin Shaw— Our parents are well; my Mother is wonderfully recovered, and seems to me to be as active & busy as ever about her family— this is a great comfort to me, and will help to render solitude in some measure supportable. to me. I feel, that there will be ample time to reflect on my...
25Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 20 th: inst: came to hand yesterday, in the condition, which you have the cover here enclosed, except that the wax was not broken. By some means or other, the packet was sent on to Washington , and the name of J. Adams. on the back of it, must have excited the curiosity of some body, who from appearances, took the very excusable liberty, in this free country, to inspect its...
26Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I do not intend to write you very often, though I find it impossible to refrain altogether. Your last, is of the 10 th: inst t: but a subsequent enclosure has been received, which gave great joy to our trusty and well-beloved O.O. A second sheet is wished, before the publication commences, lest the thread should be broken. As yet you will not expect any very brilliant account of success,...
27Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
Since I am embarked in a very doubtful speculation, and I am ready to own, that I am by no means sanguine as to its success, yet as I am assured of your good will and best wishes towards the promotion of our interest, you must also indulge me in one request I have to make, which is to leave off croaking , which you know I never could endure, not because I could not appretiate the use and the...
28Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favor of the 27 th: ult. and thank you, for the wholesome admonitions, it contains. Your advice will always receive due attention, both from myself and our friend. When you shall have received and perused, the concluding numbers of the Port Folio, & taken with you the consideration of the extreme rapidity with which they were published, I think you will discover...
29Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
The Eastern Mail brought your letter of the 23 d: this morning. The business part of it stands thus. D r: Woodhouse has been in the habit of putting up chemical equipage at various prices, and when our friend Quincy wrote for one, last year I communicated the order to the D r: Professor himself, who promised to attend to it. This promise no doubt escaped his memory, as he has since been twice...
30Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
M r: Walter who had been in the City several days, while I was absent, called at my dwelling & left your favor of the 5 th: inst t: yesterday. I am sorry, that he proceeded to Washington without my seeing him, but he promises me this pleasure on his return. I have now returned to my old haunts for the season, and though we cannot yet boast of perfect health in the City, there is reason to...