11From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 6 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of January 23d. And am very glad to learn, you have persevered to the end of your course in the study of the law, and particularly that Abigail was wise enough to encourage you in your pursuit; This I esteem in her a great merit and a proof of prudence deserving imitation by all her sex, in incouraging their Husbands in all manly Studies and business, and there is...
12From 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....
13From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 4 February 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of Jan’y 23d. & am very glad to learn you have persevered to the end of your course in the study of the law & particularly that Abigail was wise enough to encourage you in your pursuit. This I esteem in her a great merit & a proof of prudence deserving of imitation by all her sex in encouraging their husbands in all manly studies & business, & there is none more so...
14From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 21 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 15th. and the Pamphlet inclosed. Lord Bollingbrook says and every body knows that nobility in China ascends when a Man is ennobled, he ennobles all his Ancestors but none of his Posterity and his Lordship pronounces this law a wise institution, and I believe it is, and much wiser than to ennoble a long list of puppies, and Butterflies to all future ages. In this...
15From 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...
16From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 17 December 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 30th of November has filled me with grief, The untimely death of my dear Great Grand Son cast over my mind a sorrowful gloom—There has not been one of my Posterity who has excited fonder hopes that he would be a comfort to his Parents and a Blessing to Society—But Providence destroys the hope of Man—I sincerely condole with you and my Grand daughter her Mother, and your...
17From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 30 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
A paroxism of ill health, which has confined me to my Chamber for several days, has prevented me from sooner acknowledging your favour of the 11th Instant. I sincerely wish it were in my power to comply with your request, by sending you copies of all my writings, which have been printed—They have been so dull that they have fallen abortive from the press and have never made much fortune in the...
18From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 1 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I like your philosophy very well, I will pursue an idea suggested in my last; I do sincerely wish that the Mandarins of China, the Bramins of Hindostan the Priests of Japan, and of Persia, could be influenced with the same zeal de propaganda fide as the Roman Catholics and Calvanists of this day are for propagating their Creeds, and ceremonies, I wish they would form into societies, open their...
19From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 14 December 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 7th. instant. If I agree with you that human knowledge ceases, where Metaphysics commence I must acknowledge that I am indebted to Metaphysics for the knowledge of this Truth after reading Lock and Malbranche Clark & Leibnitz Berckley & Hume, Condilac & Baxter Stuart & Brown have produced a pretty clear conviction of it—Your propensity to writing perhaps...
20From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 26 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I begin my letter, as you end yours of March 13th. with the word Amen . I admire your liberal philosophy and the large scale of your Religion, I cannot conceive however in your preferance in Presbyterianism, the presbytery have too much priestly Authority in matters of faith, like that which is claimed by the Episcopal Church, And the doctrines of both the Churches are too Calvinistical for...