1From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 28 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 23d gave Us all great Joy. We heard of your return to Boston, from twenty quarters: and though there was somewhat, at first a little misterious in it, yet We all conjectured the motives the consultations and ratiocinations that produced it, and unanimously approved and applauded them all. I find by a Boston Newspaper, that you are one of my Brother Authors. I cannot blame...
2From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 2 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your work on value and for that on Expatriation. They are great subjects The first has employed the greatest heads, not only Adam Smith & Sir James Steuart, the Chevalier Pinto and Mr McKean, and French Economists have exhausted all their wits upon it; but the reasoning faculties of Locke, & the mathematical inspiration of Newton have been applied to it to great advantage....
3From Susanna Boylston Adams Clark Treadway to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 9 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Thanks to my Dear Brother, for his letter, and affectionate remembrance, which I received, last evening. You observe “it gives you more pleasure, to receive, an account of the actions of your friends, than to know their thoughts.” to you then I will recount my actions, and if you will favour me, with advice, upon any subject, I shall always feel grateful for it. I have been reading with great...
4From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 11 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
For myself and all my Family, I reciprocate to you and yours, the Compliments of the Season. At my Age, one knows not what a year or a day may produce or destroy. To you and yours I wish health long life and every blessing. I hope you will not keep a very Strict Account of Dr and Cr with me in the commerce of letters. I Should be obliged to you, for as large and as long Credit, without...
5From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 13 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the fourth, has diffused a glow of Joy, in our obscure Village, where our dear Abby was popular. I most Sincerely congratulate you both, and your Father and Mother and her Mother to all of whom this event must be very pleasing; By the description you give of him the young Gentleman, he will be fit for a Merchant a Farmer, a Statesman an Admiral a General or whatever, Providence...
6From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 2 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have read the enclosed travels of Vanderkemp, with as much interest as Bruce’s or Chateaubriands, though they cost me, a large part of the vision, that remained to me I pray you tax your patience to read it, and then return it by a safe hand to the Author. My wife is comfortable this morning, & joins in love to all, without naming any; except the little one, who his Grand Mother says, “has a...
7From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 13 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the information contained in your letter of the 6th. I congratulate you and Mrs Johnson—your Father, and Mother, your Ladies Mother—and your two Elder Sons—on the Birth of your third Son—Altho it is always a pleasure to be informed of the Multiplication of my Posterity—that pleasure is always attended with a degree of anxiety for their future fortunes—this anxiety however I...
8From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 14 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Will you be so good as to inform me what is the plan of Study in the Law, which Mr Counsellor Williams has proscribed to you—has he advised you to read Horns Mirror of Justice’s—to Study Bracton-Britton, Fleta, and Glanvill? has he advised you to read Reeves History of the Common Law? or that of Lord Hales? has he advised you to turn over the Statutes at large and the Gross Volumes of the...
9From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 31 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of the 22d. before me—your Law Grammar is undoubtedly a useful Book—In my time, we had none but Noyes’s rude Sketch, and Lord Hales improvement upon that,—from seventeen hundred and fifty five—to seventeen hundred and fifty Eight—I lived in the family of Coll, James Putnam of Worcester, and Studied Law under his direction, in his Office—He advised me to begin with Hawkins...
10From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 20 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Cares, Sorrows, Misfortunes, and Infirmities have prevented an earlier Acknowledgment of your favour of June 10th. There are no better Maxims for a Student or a man of Business than “ Festine lente ” and “ One thing at a time .” “Six or Seven hours” are quite enough. According to Lord Coke, “ Sex horas Somno, totidem des legibus equis ” Six are enough for Study but not enough for Sleep....