1From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 19 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I ought not to neglect an opportunity by Colo. Smith to assure you by a few lines, of the continuance of my regard. I received last Spring a Box of Books from you, for which I fear I have never before expressed my gratitude. The best apology, I have to make for this seeming negligence is continual ill health, in my own person & all my family. Your friend, my dear Mrs: Adams, is now dangerously...
2From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 3 November 1790 (Adams Papers)
By Mr. Broom, a worthy citizen of our states, I take the pleasure to inform you, that I have received your kind letter, and have sent the two packets to Dr. Willard and to Harvard college. As these packets have been delayed by their address to me, I beg the favor of you in future to address any favors of the kind, intended for the college, to the care of my son, “John Quincy Adams, counsellor...
3Abigail Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 6 September 1790 (Adams Papers)
You ask, in one of your letters to Mr. Adams, what is become of Mrs. Adams that I do not hear from her? If my heart had not done you more justice than my pen, I would disown it. I have so long omitted writing to you, that my conscience has been a very severe accuser of me. But be assured, my dear sir, that I never fail to talk of you with pleasure, and think of you with affection. I place the...
4From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 11 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of March 29 th and the packet of pamphlets, and I pray you to accept of my best thanks for both— I sent you lately by Gen l Mansel, some of our rough matters. The boxes of books you sent by Captain Bernard arrived safely, I know.— You seem to suppose our coast in danger from African pyrates; in this I presume you are deceived by the Artifices of the London...
5From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 1 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
Nothing mortifies me more than the difficulty I find to maintain that correspondence with you which when I left England I thought would be some consolation to me for the loss of your conversation. We proceed by degrees to introduce a little order into this Country, and my public duties require so much of my time, that I have little left for private friendships however dear to me. By General...
6From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 28 October 1789 (Adams Papers)
It was not till the last evening that I had the pleasure of your favor, with the pamphlets. They were sent to New-York, but had not arrived when I left it. Mrs. A. has sent the letter back to me. Accept of my thanks for the kindness. This town has been wholly employed in civilities to the president for some days, and greater demonstrations of confidence and affection are not, cannot be given,...
7From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 3 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
If I had been told at my first arrival that five months would pass, before I should write a Line to M r: Brand Hollis, I should not have believed it. I found my Estate in Consequence of a total neglect and inattention on my Part for fourteen years, was fallen to decay; and in so much disorder, as to require my whole attention to repair it. I have a great Mind to essay a description of it— It...
8Abigail Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 5 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
There is something so disagreeable to one’s feelings in taking a final leave of our friends, and thinking that it is the last time we shall ever meet, that I avoided placing myself in that situation as much as possible. On this account I neither bid my worthy friends Dr. Price or Mr. Hollis adieu; for those two gentlemen I have the greatest esteem and regard, and regret the necessity which...
9From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 4 January 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am in your debt for several very friendly letters, all of which shall be answered hereafter. I have had a great cold, which brought with it some fever, and has disabled me from every thing for three weeks. Your kind invitation for Wednesday the 9th, is accepted with pleasure, by Mr. Smith as well as myself. And now, sir, for other matters. Our new constitution does not expressly say that...
10From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 18 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Let me thank you kindly and cordially for your Letter of the fifteenth. Such is the melancholly Lot of Humanity, that I cannot pretend to promise Immortality to Liberty or to Virtue in any nation or Country of great numbers and large Extent from any Constitution of Government within human Contrivance.— All I can say is that it appears plain to me that every great Nation must have three...
11From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 5 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have received with much Pleasure your Letter without a date— nothing can ever give me more satisfaction than the reflection that I may have been instrumental of doing Justice in any degree to injured Innocence, especially in the Case of a friend— The 2 persons you allude to were once friendly to me, as I most certainly ever was to them, & I have no reason to think that either of them was...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Brand Hollis, 2 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from a tour through the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy, I found here the present of books you had been so kind as to send me. I should value them highly for their intrinsic merit, but much more as coming from you. You will have seen that at length one of our republics has experienced those commotions which the newspapers have been always ascribing to all of them. I...
13Abigail Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 21 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my late visit to Holland I was present at the Grand ceremony of Swearing their New Elected Majestrates at Utrecht. I observed at the Breast of every soldier of the free choir, as they are term’d, a Medal. Curiosity led me to inquire the design of it, and upon viewing it I was so much gratified with it, that I got a Friend to procure me one, and I know not Sir to whom so properly to dedicate...
14Enclosure: Description of Dutch Medal, 20 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Nymph of the city of utrecht is known by her crown and her Arms upon her Breast. By her side is the Alter of Liberty known by the Hat, and the date of the year from whence their Liberty commences. Upon the Alter are laid the roman Rods and Hachet. A Letter with three Seals designates the rights of the city and the three Members of the State. The Nymph holds it with the fingers of her Left...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Brand Hollis, 5 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I received but lately (tho’ sent in June) your most valuable present of the Memoirs of Thomas Hollis Esqr. who was truly as you describe him in your letter, a good “Citizen of the World and a faithful Friend of America.” America too is extremely sensible of his Benevolence and great Beneficence towards her, and will ever revere his Memory.—These These Volumes...