1From John Adams to Richard Peters, 2 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
If you have brought upon yourself the garrulity of old age you must blame yourself for it. Theophrastus at 90, as some say, and at a 115, as others, in his last moments is recorded to have said; it was hard to go out of the World when he had just learned to live in it. I am so far from his temper and his philosophy that I think myself so well drilled and disciplined a Soldier as to be willing...
2From John Jay to Richard Peters, 26 December 1820 (Jay Papers)
I thank you cordially, my good and constant Friend! for your Letter of the 25 th . Ult.— it affords me no little Gratification. We grow old but our Hearts retain their Warmth.— The Perversion and Obliquity you notice, has not been recent nor unexpected— Men who are ardent in the pursuit of Influence and its Fruits; and more attentive to the Prosecution than to the Propriety of their Schemes,...
3From John Jay to Richard Peters, 12 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
My Letter to you of the 26 th . of Dec r . last, contained some Remarks relative to the Perversions and Obliquities which you had noticed, and which I observed were neither recent nor unexpected. In that Letter there was not Room for explanatory Details. Those Remarks were therefore concise and general. To supply that Deficiency is the Design of this Letter. Those Perversions and Obliquities...
4From John Jay to Richard Peters, 25 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
My Eyes were lately rendered so weak by an Influenza, that I was obliged to postpone answering your friendly Letter ^of the 12 Ult:^— Of this I lately informed you by a few Lines— At present I am so nearly free from that Complaint, as to be able to resume my Pen. I have read your Letter more than once. Mutuality of friendly Feelings always affords Gratification; and the kindness which pervades...
5From John Jay to Richard Peters, 3 March 1826 (Jay Papers)
I had the pleasure of recieving, on Saturday last, your Letter of the 21 st . of Feby— It gratified me to learn from it, that you was in excellent Health—and I hope that a kind Providence will continue to promote your Prosperity.— The Communications which had occurred between you and the Committee of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, were interesting. In a Letter from them of the 10 th ....
6William Jay to Richard Peters, 20 June 1828 (Jay Papers)
My Father desires me to thank you for your letter of the 10 Ins t : & for the friendly sentiments it expresses. He regrets that it is not in his power to assure you in his own hand writing that those sentiments are sincerely reciprocated. In the Spring of last year a slight injury rec d . in his ^right^ hand was succeeded by violent inflammation & gangrene— The Ulcer was healed after the lapse...
7Thomas Jefferson to Richard Peters, 20 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to his friend Judge Peters for mr Biddle ’s instructive and well written Agricultural Address. it came to hand exactly as he was amusing himself with reading the agriculture of the Greeks in their Geoponics . mr Biddle has justly noticed their mass of excellent sense and admirable practice, disfigured by a fantastical mixture of superstician and empiricism,...
8From James Madison to Richard Peters, 17 December 1823 (Madison Papers)
I return my thanks for the agricultural Almanack for the coming year, the value of which is not a little enhanced by your instructive contributions. You take a refuting notice of the opinion that the grains of wheat are the ridus [ sic ] of the Hessian fly. This error commenced the appearance of the insect among us, and threatened to injure the foreign market for that great staple. The danger...
9From James Madison to Richard Peters, 4 November 1819 (Madison Papers)
I have another occasion for making my acknowlegements in the receipt of the Agricultural Almanac for 1820, which you have been so good as to send me. It is well recommended to circulation, by its substitution of instructive paragraphs on rural subjects for trite & trifling jests; and by the blank leaves inviting practical and experimental notices. The backwardness in furnishing these is much...
10From James Madison to Richard Peters, 23 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of Mr. Biddle’s address so obligingly forwarded by you. I knew before that Mr. B. was a fine writer; but I did not know that he was so accomplished a farmer. His address shews that he is both. I have read it not only with pleasure but with instruction: and I return you my thanks for the opportunity of doing so. Accept in addition to them my cordial regards and my best...
11From James Madison to Richard Peters, 8 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have received, my dear friend, with great pleasure your letter of the 1st. instant, so full of kind feelings; and with it, a copy of the Agricultural Memoirs for which I return my thanks. I have not lost my relish for the subject of them, but do not retain the activity that could spare from other claims on my time, the portion required for that. Tho’ not counting quite as many years as you...
12From James Madison to Richard Peters, 22 February 1823 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the copy of your Agricultural Address in Jany. last, which I have read with much pleasure, and as always, not without finding instructive ideas. You have done very right in taking occasion to record the fact which shews that your Society is the Mother of the American family, and to present a fair view of its public services; with respect to which you might say, tho’ you will not...
13From James Madison to Richard Peters, 28 November 1824 (Madison Papers)
I return my thanks for the copy of the Agricultural Almanack, obligingly sent me. You do not fail, I see, to dispense thro’ that medium, rays of instruction on a favorite subject. I hope your good constitution, good health, & good habits, may have their full effect, in keeping you above the Horizon, for that and other enlightening services. I should have acknowledged your favor some what...
14From James Madison to Richard Peters, 15 August 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 30 ult: and trouble you with an acknowlegement of it, for the sake of thanking you, which I do very sincerely for the “Notices for a young farmer.” I do not know that there exists any where so many good lessons compressed into so small a space, and placed in so fair a light. I have read the little manual with profit, and with the gratification derived from its...
15From James Madison to Richard Peters, 22 February 1819 (Madison Papers)
I perceive that I am indebted to you for the copy of an Agricultural Almanack & Memorial, brought me by a late mail, for which I offer my thanks. Accept them also for the Copy of Mr Rawle’s Address which you have been so kind as to send me. I am particularly pleased with your scheme of a “Pattern Farm.” There is no form in which Agricultural instruction can be so successfully conveyed: nor is...