241John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taxed my eyes with a very heavy imost impost to read the senator Tracy ’s Political Economy & been amply rewarded for the expense. When I first saw the volume I thought it was impossible I should get through it, but when I had once made a begg beginning I found myself led on in so easy a train from proposition to proposition, every one of which appeared to me self evident, that I could...
242To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 29 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return your letter at your request signified by Gen. Dearborn though it has been such a cordial to my heart—I feel much reluctance to release it. Since it has appeared in print it has been received with applause—great & universal. Our fellow citizens are determined to elect a President avec connaisance de cause —for the question has in discussion in every nook in the United States for seven...
243John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your kind congratulations on the return of my little family from Europe . To receive them all in fine hea l th and good Spirits, after So long an absence, was a greater Blessing, than at my time of Life when they went away I had any right to hope or reason to expect. If the Secretary of State can give Satisfaction to his fellow citizens in his new Office it will be a Source of...
244From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 25th of last month, came to my hands Yesterday and I am glad to find you so well pleased with your Retirement.—I felt the same delightful satisfaction after my Return from Europe, and I feel still every summer upon my little farm all the Ardour, and more than all the Ardor of youth: to such a Degree that I cannot bear the thought of writing or reading, unless it be some...
245From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
As to the Cask of Wine at Auteuil, it is not paid for. if you will pay for it and take it, you will oblige me. by a Sample of it, which I tasted it is good Wine, and very, extreamly cheap. I am happy to find We agree So perfectly in the Change which is made in the Project.— The Dye is cast. The Proposal is made. Let them ruminate upon it.— I thought of proposing a Tariff of Duties, that We...
246From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Ridento dicere Verum, quid vetat. I must make you and myself merry or melancholly, by a little more Phylosophical Speculation about the formidable Subject of Aristocracy. Not long after General Dearborns return to Boston from the Army, a violent Alarm was excited and Spread in Boston and through the country, by a report at first only Secretly whispered in private circles that an Affair of Love...
247To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 1 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 18th. did not reach me, till last night. I am glad the Doctor has arrived safe and in so good health, and would fain hope he may contribute to compose the jarring Parties in Pensilvania, as well as assist in improving the Union of the States. Mrs. Rucker has a Letter from her Sister at New York, which mentions the Arrival of Mr. Otto, so that I think Madame la Comtess de...
248To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 10 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with great Pleasure your favour of the first.—Your Excursion I dare answer for it, will be advantageous in many respects to our Country.—The object of mine to Holland was to procure Money, and I had the good fortune to obtain as much as was necessary for the then present Purpose: but it was not in Consequence of any orders from Congress, and therefore I am under some Apprehension...
249From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have taxed my eyes with a very heavy impost to read the senator Tracy’s Political Economy & been amply rewarded for the expense. When I first saw the volume I thought it was impossible I should get through, it, but when I had once made a beginning I found myself led on in so easy a train from proposition to proposition, every one of which appeared to me self evident, that I could not leave...
250To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 25 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By the last Post I answered your Letter of the 12, and Yesterday received yours of the 16. Com. Jones has before now delivered you dispatches that will serve no doubt for your direction. Mr. Van staphorst, will have no Objection to an handsome Commission, for paying off, the Debt Mr. Fizeaux mentions: and Mr. Fizeau, will be glad to have it paid off, that the Money Lenders not knowing what to...
251To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 16 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so perplexed with Ceremonials, Visits, Removals and eternal applications from Beggars of one Species and another, besides the real Business of my Department, that I fear I have not answered your favour of the second of June, which I received in Season. I have received from Mr. Garvey all but my wine and have written him to day to forward that and will run the risque of it, as I...
252John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I must answer your great question of the 10 th in the words of Dalembert to his Correspondent, who asked him what is Matter—“ Je vous avoue que Je n’en scais rien .”— In some part of my Life I read a great Work of a Scotchmen on the Court of Augustus , in which with much learning, hard study, and fatiguing labour, he undertook to prove that had Brutus and Cassius been conqueror, they would...
253To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 9 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you a copy of my second volume by Mr. Barthelemy the French Chargé here now Minister, with a Letter about Money matters. In your favour of Sept. 28. you dont mention the receipt of them.—I have indeed long thought with Anxiety of our Money in the hands of our Friends, whom you mention, and have taken the best Precaution in my Power, against Accidents. I do not consider the Game as up....
254From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
May I inclose you one of the greatest curiositys and one of the deepest Mysterys that ever occoured to me—It is in the Essex Register of June the 5th. 1819.—it is entitled from the Raleigh Register Declaration of Independence—How is it possible that this paper should have been concealed from me to this day—had it been communicated to me in the time of it—I know, if you do not know that it...
255John Adams to Franklin and Jefferson, 29 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Secretary of State for foreign affairs, in a Letter of 13. Ap. informs me, that he wrote Us a Letter by Capt. Lamb dated 11. March, inclosing a Variety of Papers respecting the Treaties we are directed to negotiate and conclude with the Barbary Powers. Inclosed is a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 14. February 1785, inclosed to me, in the Secretary’s Letter. I know nothing of Capt....
256From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1823 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure I have heard read the sure words of prophecy in your letter of Sep— 4th. It is melancholy to contemplate the cruel wars, dessolations of Countries, and ocians of blood which must occure, before rational principles, and rational systems of Government can prevail and be established—but as these are inevitable we must content ourselves with the consolations which you from sound...
257To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Coll. Franks arrived Yesterday afternoon, with your Favour of Septr. 24.—I have signed all the Papers as you sent them, not perceiving any Alteration necessary. I am afraid, that our Agent to Algiers going without any military Power will not succeed; as the Danger of having their Town bombarded, or their Vessells taken, is the Principal Argument which the Dey has to use with the People, to...
258To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 24 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Benjamin Parker Richardson, a Grandson of a neighbour of mine, who has lived in harmony with me for almost eighty nine years, is very desirous of seeing the venerable Author of the Declaration of Independence, and as this is a virtuous curiosity which I always applaud and encourage in our young men, I have ventured to give him a line of introduction to you. A freedom which I have taken too...
259John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours Ap. 8 has long Since been rec d J. “Would you agree to live your 80 Years over again”? A. “ Aye! And Sanse Phrases .” J. “Would you agree to live your Eighty Years over again forever”? A. I once heard our Acquaintance, Chew , of Philadelphia Say, “He Should like to go back to 25, to all Eternity”: but I own my Soul would Start and Shrink back on itself, at the Prospect of an endless...
260John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
If I am not humble I ought to be, when I find myself under the necessity of borrowing a juvenile hand to acknowledge your kind favour of the 19 th I have read your university report througout throughout with great pleasure, and hearty approbation; Of Tracy ’s report I have read as much as I could, the Translation appears to me an original written with all the purity, accuracy, and...
261From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
One trouble never comes alone! At our Ages We may expect more and more of them every day in groups, and every day less fortitude to bear them. When I saw in Print that You was gone to the Springs, I anxiously Suspected that all was not healthy at Monticello. You may be Surprised to hear that your favour of the 7th has given me hopes. “Imposthume, general Eruptions Colliquative Sweats,”...
262From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured with yours of 27. Dec r. and am obliged to you for what you Said to the Count De Vergennes in the Case of the Chevalier De Mezieres.— You may always very Safely depend upon it, that I never have given and never shall give any Opinion against the Letter or Spirit of the Treaty with France. In this Case I have never given any Opinion at all. indeed I have never been consulted. The...
263From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have been so perplexed with Ceremonials, Visits Removals and eternal applications from Beggars of one Species and another, besides the real Business of my Department, that I fear I have not answered your favour of the second of June, which I received in Season— I have received from M r. Garvey all but my wine & have written him to day to forward that and will run the risque of it, as I...
264From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 15th came to me Yesterday, and it is a pleasure to discover that We are only 9 days apart. Be not Surprised or alarmed. Lindsays Memoirs will do no harm to you or me. You have right and reason to feel and to resent the breach of Confidence. I have had enough of the same kind of Treachery and Perfidy practiced upon me, to know how to Sympathize with you. I will agree with...
265John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [22] September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Considering all things, I admire D r Priestleys last Effort for which I am entirely indebted to you. But as I think it is extreamly imperfect, I beg of you to pursue the investigation, according to your promise to D r Rush , and according to your Syllabus. It may be presumptuous in me to denominate any Thing of Dr Priestley imperfect: but I must avow, that among all the vast Exertions of his...
266From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
I know not what to say of your Letter of the 11th of Jan. but that it is one of the most consolatory, I ever received. To trace the commencement of the Reformation I suspect We must go farther back than Borgia, or even that Huss or Wickliff, and I want the Acta Sanctorum to assist me in this Research. That Stupendous Monument of human Hypocricy and Fanaticism the Church of St. Peter at Rome,...
267From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Will you accept a curious Piece of New England Antiquities. It was a tolerable Chatechism for the Education a Boy of 14 Years of Age, who was destined—in the future course of his Life to dabble in So many Revolutions in America, in Holland and in France. This Doctor Mayhew had two Sisters established in Families in this Village which he often visited and where I often Saw him. He was intimate...
268John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 December 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Answer my Lettr Letters at your Leisure. Give yourself no concern. I write as for a refuge and protection against Ennui. The fundamental Principle of all Phylosophy and all Christianity is “ Rejoice Always in all Things . Be thankfull at all times for all good and all that We call evil.” Will it not follow, that I ought to rejoice and be thankful that Priestley has lived? Aye! that Voltaire...
269To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 4 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday our Friend Mr. Short arrived. Mr. Dumas had never any Commission from Congress, and therefore can have no Title under the United States. He never had any other Authorization than a Letter from Dr. Franklin and another from the Committee of Secret Correspondence, in the year 1775. I wish he had a regular Commission. I direct my Letters to Monsieur C. W. F. Dumas a la Haye, only. I...
270John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Can you give me any Information, concerning A. G. Camus ? Is he a Chateaubriand ? or a Marquis D’Argens ? Does he mean to abolish Christianity? or to restore the Inquisition, the Jesuits, the Pope and the Devil? Within a few days, I have received a thing as unexpected to me as an Apparition from the dead; “Rapport a L’Institut National, Par A. G. Camus, imprime par ordre de L’Institut,...