1From John Adams to Henry Colman, 10 October 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Thanksgiving Fast Sermon which I have repeatedly read, with much pleasure. It is a Model for Sermons on Such Occasions. Phylosophy Morality and Divinity, appear in it, in So much Harmony, that I could almost Subscribe it as a Creed: Yet I would not Subscribe it in Obedience to human Authority, much less would I pass an Act of Uniformity to compel a Nation to Subscribe it....
2From John Adams to Henry Colman, 14 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your request in your favour of the 12th I have written to the President and the Secretary at war letters which will go in the mail tomorrow. The substance of all I have written is that from a personal knowledge and agreeable acquaintance I am fully persuaded. The Government may repose entire confidence in the candour and integrity of any representations you may make relative...
3From John Adams to Henry Colman, 14 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Loan of Tuckers Vision. Homer as We have him, was not his Effort of Genius. Compilations of Homer were made by Lycurgus, by Solon, and by Pysistratus, and the most Learned Men in Greece were employed in forming that Sacred Book. Spencers Fairy Queen, though We have but half of it, is the greatest Effort of Genius, that I recollect. But not So entertaining or instructive as...
4From John Adams to Henry Colman, 28 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Basanists might have gone farther. he might upon the same principles & with the same arguments have produced a greater number of candidate for apotheosis. By the doctrine of Rome, and of England, the king eternal, immortal, & invisible, the only wise God that is the holy Ghost was communicated to his Apostles by the Son of God, or God the Son, & by them, transmitted down from St. Justin and...
5From John Adams to Henry Colman, 13 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
What Temples Statues, Mausoloumes, pray, have you seen, that you cannot could pretend to entertain a Man who has read Clark, Porter, Chateaubriand, Eustace, and, Dupuis.? Yet I should read your Journal with more cordial Satisfaction than all of them.— If any of my Letters have given you an agreable hour the information of it has given me more than one. Though the Barriers of Party in our...
6From John Adams to Henry Colman, 13 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
When I have heard you Say, and you have repeatedly Said it to me, that “you were determined to read, “The Original of all Worships”; I certainly Sympathised with you: but whether that Sympathy, had in it more of congratulation, or of Compassion; I cannot Say. When you have once read Dupuis You will find yourself, irresistably impelled to read Court de Gebeline Primative World; and then Bryants...
7From John Adams to Henry Colman, 9 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for giving me an Opportunity to read a Discourse which I greatly regretted that the feeble State of my health would not allow me to hear. Your Text is the Sublimest Expression of Patriotism, that ever was penned as far as I know.—Your Simple Scrutiny into the physical and moral Motives to Patriotism, proves that a Man who does not love his Country Native Country is a Monster, an...
8From John Adams to Henry Colman, 11 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 2d is among the dearest of my Consolations. The whole World Sympathises with me. All Animosities and Party feelings are forgotten. It is impossible that Relations, Friends, Neighbours or the Public could have been more kind. An Example to the World has dissapeared but cannot be forgotten. I can Say no more. Your Friend MWA : Paine Family Papers.
9From John Adams to Henry Colman, 5 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
I received the first Volume of the Defence in perfect order, several mails before your polite letter which was intended to accompany it arrived—I now send you the fourth Volume of the Defence, under the Title of Discourses on Davila.—as this Volume is out of print, and I have no other Copy—and as in this is are contained in many manuscrips notes in the margin of my own—I pray you to return it...