31From John Adams to Richard Rush, 14 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
There is an height, beyond which the proudest Wave cannot ascend: there is a depth, at least a bottom, from which no Waters are left to rise or retire. There is a tide in the Affairs of Men. It is a trite observation of Historians, that there is in human Affairs, an ultimate point of depression, from whence, Things naturally but gradually rise and return to their Level. Our american Affairs...
32From John Adams to Richard Rush, 29 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
There are two Men in this World, who shall know and Esteem each other, if I can bring them together. To this end permit me to introduce and recommend to you The Rev’d Mr Edward Everett Minister of the most respectable Congregation in Boston and one of the first litterary Characters, at an Age when others are signalised by nothing but a degree at Colledge— When Genius falls in love with Study...
33From John Adams to Richard Rush, 29 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
After this Letter was written and erroneously inclosed I recd yours of 23d which is merry and instructive beyond all Example PHi : H. D. Gilpin Papers.
34From John Adams to Richard Rush, 31 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 23 has given me as much gaiety as all the fine Weather of the month Mr Dallase’s Anecdotes, as you repeat them, have Sense and points, Characteristic of Personages on whom the fortunes of Mankind depend: and not only merit Attention at present, but will be remarked by posterity. It gives me great pleasure, that Mr Dallas Speaks kindly of John Quincy; who however, I hope has...
35From James Madison to Richard Rush, 7 November 1814 (Madison Papers)
J Madison requests a Consultation with the Heads of Depts. tomorrow (tuesday) at one OClock, & that they remain to dinner. RC (offered for sale by The Raab Collection, Ardmore, Pa., Catalog 57 [2009], item 11, ID 7973). Docketed by Rush: “Cabinet meeting, Nov: 7. 1814, and remain to dine.” Year not indicated; conjectural year assigned based on the docket. A nearly identical note in JM ’s hand...
36From John Adams to Richard Rush, 24 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
“Alexander a Republican”! Was not Napoleon a Republican? A Republican Signifies, “any thing, every Thing and nothing.” The Romans were Republicans. Obscuro loco natus” was a Plebeian, i.e. nothing. The Virginia Gentlemen are all Republicans pro moro romano. Not one of their Posterity is to be “obscuro loco natus.” Mr John Taylor lives in “ Hazelwood, ” Mr Madison lives in Montpelier , Mr...
37From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 29 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
As my Husband has thought it proper to inclose a Letter, received from our Son to the president, which I presume you may read, I inclose one to me, for your perusal, the political part of which you may read to the president if you judge best; it is a more fre e expression of his feelings, and opinions, respecting the continuence of this farze of a negotiation on the part of the British...
38From John Adams to Richard Rush, 11 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have much pleasure in introducing to you Francis C. Gray Esqr a Son of our late Lt. Governor. Educated to Letters improved by travel and regularly admitted to the Bar you will probably hear more of him and I hope have much to do with him hereafter, for the good of your Country. He can give you a better account of New England Politicks than I can. I have lately read Rassilas, Candide, Zadig,...
39From John Adams to Richard Rush, 2 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for yours of Dec. 24. I Still entertain hopes that New England will not be forever alienated from the Southern and the middle States, and therefore take with pleasure, the Liberty of introducing Some of our most promising Young Gentlemen. Mr Gray is on his Travels and Mr George Ticknor. I believe I did not give the latter a Line to you. He has a most amiable Character. He is Said to...
40From James Madison to Richard Rush, 15 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
The occasion which led to your favor of this morning merits all our congratulations, and I heartily join in those you have expressed. The terms of the peace will I hope be satisfactory to our Country. With the events of the war, they can not fail to command the respect of every other. … Be so good as to return the two papers after a leisurely perusal. The newspaper is the latest that has...
41From John Adams to Richard Rush, 17 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
The Sight of a well known hand, made my heart leap, before I opened your Letter of the 6th. the Contents compleated my delight. May your health be as permanent as I believe your understanding to be Sound and your heart pure. The Pamphlet inclosed to me, ought to be Sent to every foreign Minister and Consul, tho’ it Should be under the Restrictions you prescribe to me I inclose to you Papers...
42From John Adams to Richard Rush, 5 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters of the 27th Ult. have been recd. with the Enclosures, for all which I thank you. You ask “Some Reflections of my own.” My dear Sir! It would require a Folio Volume, to give you the Histories, Dissertations and discussions, which you require. How can I, sans Eyes, sans hands, sans Memory, sans Clerks, sans Secretaries, sans Aids du Camp; sans Amanuensis, undertake to write...
43From John Adams to Richard Rush, 10 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
It does not Signify, to grow old. You never can get rid of worldly Affairs. I never was more distracted with Business. It pours in upon me from all quarters. I want to write you every day, and two or three times a day. I have read your speculations with pleasure, but with Some grains of reserve. I Send you a Richelieu, upon the Fisheries, Said to be from Connecticut. That State is a rich bed...
44From John Adams to Richard Rush, 24 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
The first Thing that Struck me when I recd your favour of the 15th. was the Seal. I will not tell you, at present how many reflections this excited before I opened the Letter. I determined at once to answer it by my Seal. You will See it on the Outside of this. An Ellipsis Surrounded by 13 Starrs, protecting a Pine Tree, with a Codfish and a Buck. A very bright Starr at the Top of the Pine....
45From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 14 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Grandson William Stuben Smith, having returnd from Russia, where he has resided with his uncle as Secretary of Legation to that Mission, and as I have been informd the President intended him, the offer of continuing in that Character, to the Embassy to England, which honour he has declined, the Sallery allowd being insufficient for the Support of a Family, which he now has. his Brother John...
46From John Adams to Richard Rush, 11 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
“Watchman! What of the Night?” To what hour of the Evening are We advanced? How many hours remain before day break? Have you a repeating Watch that can Strike the hour and the quarter of an hour in the darkest hour of Sablest night? Rochefaucaut, Condorcet, Robespiere, Brissot, Danton, Orleans Buoneparte, Pitt, Fox, Burk, Alexander, Georges, Louis’s, Charleses, Francises Fredericks are but...
47From John Adams to Richard Rush, 23 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I might perhaps agee with Mr Grattan, that Mr Burke had read more of the Brittish Poets than even Dr Johnson, who wrote their Lives, that he understood them better and tasted them with better Judgment and correct discomment; & that he had read the Latin Poets and Orators: but I can go no farther. His uncommon Reading of History, the Law of Nature and Nations of Jurisprudence in General and of...
48From John Adams to Richard Rush, 26 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20th and the Extracts which are very consolatory. I have Sometimes thought that the People of the U.S. of both Parties were the worst Judges in the World, of themselves, their Resources, the Character of their own Nation and even of the Geography of their Country. Mr Madisons Administration, must be recorded by Historians; not with Standing all the Errors,...
49From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 [ca. 26] August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I return the Ed: Review with my thanks for the opportunity of perusing the chapter on France, which has all the interest which you attach to it: notwithstanding the occurrences subsequent to its date. On casting an eye over the Chapter on corn laws, I was surprized to see so acute & learned a Critic puzzled in a case which appeared so plain & familiar. I have noted it in the margin of page...
50From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 [ca. 26] August 1815 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from Commodore Patterson inclosed to me by Mr. Homans, presents several points on which your advice to him may be useful, so far as the instructions already issued from one or other of the Departments be found inadequate. It seems entirely proper that naval protection if it can be spared, should be employed agst. the Carthaginian Corsairs, in pursuance of the rules lately...
51From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 30 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I transmit, to you two Letter lately received altho of an old date. they may communicate to you some facts which perhaps you might not receive from any other Source. I do it in confidence, as Some of the Sentiments are not calculated for the meridian where the writer now is. where in a Subsequent Letter of july 17th he writs that “one cannot indulge even a Sentiment of compassion for the...
52From James Madison to Richard Rush, 5 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 2d. inst: with the papers inclosed with it, and thank you for having so comprehensively provided for the objects of mine to which it is an answer. I return the Proclamation, which was properly varied from that of 1806, which had more in view than the one now in hand. To avoid questions or feelings of State Prerogative, I have pencilled for erasure the words specifying...
53From James Madison to Richard Rush, 8 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Convention with G.B. the original of which Mr. Brent will shew you, raises the question whether a call of Congs. before the 1st. Monday in Decr. be expedient. The shortness of the period of difference, and the season of the year it embraces, seem to render the measure of so little practical moment as to dissuade from the inconvenience & expence of it. As the question however involves facts...
54From James Madison to Richard Rush, 9 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I return you the note of your conversation in the year with Miranda. It presents him in a favorable and interesting point of view, and it can scarcely be doubted that he possessed a mind of more than an ordinary stature, improved by diversified acquirements: I suspect however that his greatest talent lay in giving them a bold relief by a colloquial eloquence. In the single conversation I had...
55From James Madison to Richard Rush, 11 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am informed thro’ confidential channels, that Joseph Bonaparte is arrived at N.Y. under an assumed name, that he considers it proper to report himself to this Govt—that he would set out from N.Y. on tomorrow (tuesday,) accompanied by Commodore Lewis, for that purpose; and be in Washington on thursday or friday on his way to Montpelier, under cover always of an assumed name. The motive to...
56From James Madison to Richard Rush, 17 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I cannot do better with the inclosed communication than to put it into your hands, with a request that you will give effect to the ideas of Mr. Dallas if you concur in them, by a few lines to Mr. Dick, who appears to be well disposed to sustain the interests of the U.S. I see by the newspapers that J. B. had passed thro’ Baltimore for Washington. I have recd yours acknowleging the rect. of...
57From James Madison to Richard Rush, 20 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Not being possessed of the answer from the War Dept. referred to in the inclosed, I can not compare the grounds of it, with the opinions to which it has given rise. It would seem however that the Soldiers in question must be entitled to such a discharge as will secure to them all the recommenc [ sic ] stipulated for serving during the war. Will you be so good as to take a legal view of the...
58From James Madison to Richard Rush, 24 September 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Richard Rush. 24 September 1815, Montpelier. “I have recd. yours of the 21st with its inclosures. I retain the interesting & well written letter of Mr. Dick, for the perusal of Mr. Monroe, expected here in a day or two on his way to Washington, which with your side of the correspondence will be useful to him, in his communications with Mr. Onis. This Quoad Ambassador is as teazing on all...
59From John Adams to Richard Rush, 9 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 2nd. & the valuable pamphlet “America Jurisprudence” With no less pleasure than difficulty I have read it once; the difficulty arose from a distressing inflammation in my eyes. Before I venture to say another word, concerning this book, I must promise, that I am no judge of its merits, because for the last forty years, I have been a stranger to Lawyers, Judges &...
60Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 26 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Rush and his thanks for the pamphlet he has been so kind as to send him . he takes it with him on a journey on which he is setting out, and has no doubt of finding it an amusing and instructive companion. he salutes mr Rush with great esteem & respect. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of Henry Dearborn to TJ, 26 Sept. 1815 ; dateline at...