1From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
“The catastrophe of Leyden is to me a most affecting event; a beautiful city where I resided with my children many months, and where I attended divine service on Sundays in the venerable temple where Mr. Robinson and his congregation worshiped for a dozen years before their pilgrimage to Plymouth. This very ancient and revered edifice is now, probably, a mass of ruins. The University of...
2From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 17 March 1807 (Adams Papers)
I have advised Messrs. Perkins to print Mr. Cremeres Letter literatim. But it ought to be accompanied with explanatory Notes, E. G. “Narrowly bound” The Writer undoubtedly had in his mind the French phrase “Etroitement lié”—His meaning is “closely or intimately connected”.— “Trespass” Here the French word “Trepas”, which signifies death or decease, was no doubt in the writers mind.— “Carge”...
3From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 10 July 1808 (Adams Papers)
I request the favour of you to insert the foregoing Letter in the next Anthology. It is a material Document in the Life of Washington, as well as in mine and my Sons. As I was bitterly reproached for promoting my Son, though I never did promote him, but only removed him with the same Rank and Appointment from Lisbon to Berlin, Washingtons Letter ought to have been considered as a Justification...
4From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 9 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
The former leaf you may insert in your Silva if you please. If you do not, please to return it to me and it shall be published some other Way. Take care that my Name be not hinted at unless any dispute should arise, in that case call upon me. If Manilius’s “Ratio” had not been confined to physical Subjects, We might have seen it as adroitly applied to religious, moral and political...
5From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 9 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for sending me the Centinel containing the peices upon neutrality signed by Marcellus which I have long been seeking without success—I hope you will be able to lend it to me long enough to get Copied those papers—for no human being knows the value of them so well as I do—not accepting the Auther of them himself— I hope you have not forsaken us—the time seemes very long since...
6From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 10 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for sending me Cen the Centinel containing the pieces upon Neutrality signed Marcellus—which I have long been seeking without success—I hope you will be able to lend it to me long enough to get Copied those papers—for no human being knows the value of them so well as I do—not accepting the Author of them himself—. I hope you have not forsaken us—. The time seems very long...
7From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
In presenting the Compliments of the Season I wish you a happy New Year—as many as human Nature can well bear—the year comes in very bright—but very cold—and I hope it will be bright and wholesom to the end— The little Tract you mentioned entitled thoughts on Government in a letter from a Gentlemen to his friend—has been printed in Niles’s Register—Since you were here I have found the Original...
8From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I believe I have related to you, for Shaw told the Story 100 times, of a very vulgar dialogue between Brigadier Rugles and Counsellor Tyler. Ruggles was raving against Dr Young. Why! Says Tyler, I consider Young in the Town a I do you in the State. Both necessary in your places. “What do you mean? Says Ruggles" Tyler. Yesterday I saw a Watchmaker in his Shop, putting together the Springs and...
9From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Dr Jarvis with great truth and propriety asserts that the Religion of the Indians, has not been scrutinized as it should be. Nor has the Religion of any other nation from Irah the Chaldean to the kingdom of Whidah & Ashantee been sufficiently investigated. Who knows any thing of the Religeon of the wild Negroes in Africa, but the infernal cruelty of their sacrifices? It is probable that the...
10From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 21 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Dr Jarvis in his Seventh page has truely observed that “the Indians can not communication in relation to their religion.” I have made the same observation. I have Seen a Strong and marked Aversion to converse or Say any thing upon the Ssubject. Many great Opportunities have presented themselves, in the old Congress and while I was Vice president, and in the very numerous deputations from...
11From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 August 1821 (Adams Papers)
Have you the laws of Congress from 1797 to 1801-3 or the journals of the senate for that period? Can you find the Law by which provision was made for the Military Academy? Was it made before 1797 or during, or after that year? Before I left Congress in November 1777 Resolutions were passed for such an institution—They are in the Journals of 1775 1776, or 1777—can you find them? My Eyes forbid...
12From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 June 1825 (Adams Papers)
Dr Jarvis with great truth and propriety observes that “the Religion of the Indians has not be scrutinized as it should be.” Nor has the Religion of any other nation, from Jarah the Chaldean to the Kingdoms of Whidahh and Ashantu been Sufficiently investigated. Who knows any thing of the religion of the wild negroes in Africa, but the informal cruelty of their sacrifices? It is probable that...
13From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 June 1825 (Adams Papers)
Dr Jarvis with great truth and propriety observes that “the Religion of the Indians has not been Scrutinized as it Should be.” Nor has the Religion of any other nation, from Jonah the Chaldean to the Kingdoms of Whidah and Ashantee been Sufficiently invigorated. Who knows any thing of the religion of the wild negroes in Africa, but the infernal cruelty of their Sacrifices? It is probable that...