1From John Adams to Robert Treat Paine, 8 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have now been Eight Months in Europe, and have received very few Letters from America, and I fear my friends have received very few from me, both I suppose, not owing to a failure in Writing but to Miscarriages in the Conveyance. Nothing is of more importance than to be informed of the Designs of the Ennemy. By all that I can learn from every Quarter they are as hostile as possible. Yet...
2From John Adams to Robert Treat Paine, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received, with great Pleasure, your very handsome Letter of the 27th of July inclosed with a Copy of your oration delivered in Boston on the 17th of that month. This oration is another Effort of a pregnant and prolific Genius, which had before exhibited many elegant learned and masterly Productions to the delight of our Americans and the Applause of all Men of Taste and Sentiment in...
3From John Adams to Robert Treat Paine, 9 April 1774 (Adams Papers)
How does the Impeachment set upon the stomachs at Middle borough? Cant you steal a Moment in an Evening or Morning to write me a Line, by Kent? I asked Putnam, at Charlestown this Week, whether the Chief Justice would sit at Worcester. He says he would not advise him to attempt it, and that he has given that Answer, to all who have asked him about it, since he came down, of all Parties. The...
4From John Adams to Robert Treat Paine, 6 December 1759 (Adams Papers)
I was too much gratified with the Proposal you made me of writing to you, to neglect it long. For as Nature and Fortune have conspired to strip me of all other means of Pleasure I cannot think it either Vanity or Virtue to acknowledge, that the Acquisition and Communication of Knowledge, are the sole Entertainment of my Life. I should therefore be inattentive to my object, and stupidly forget...