1From 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...
2From 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...
3From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
It is thought adviseable to defer ‘till after Your next Saturday visit, any steps in the business on which you wrote yesterday , the 6th , which was truly the day before . The Mail was brought tardy & I could not gain an interview till the forenoon ride was over— Truly Your’s— MHi : Miscellaneous Papers.
You will oblige me by purchasing two Copies of “Buckingham’s trial,” and your Uncle wishes you to get the Review of Dr Bancroft’s Sermons, published in Some Christian Disciple or Register—Likewise to bring our North American Review, which will be out Tomorrow Truly Your’s MWA : Adams Papers.
I am directed by my Father to congratulate you upon the handsome acquisition you have lately made for the purpose of establishing the Athenæum in a more convenient and appropriate position and to request of you the name of the munificent donor who is announced as having given you a building for the purpose. Pursuant to previous custom I have to request of you to ask Messr Wells and Lilly in my...
For your favour of the 23rd October I am greatly indebted; it should have been acknowledged before were it not that subjects are constantly accumulating in which we are led to apply to you and I thought it better to delay for a short time the answer to your letter in order to take an opportunity at the same time reluctantly to trouble you with some request or other. Such an opportunity has...
I am directed by my Father to inform you that he has received your letter with the Bill of lading of the books embarked on board the Ocean for Alexandria but is prevented by multiplied avocations from answering it himself. He desires me to express to you his thanks and I pray you to accept mine for your kindness in transmitting the resolution of the Suffolk Bar on the subject of his...
My Father has desired me to request you to send on with his law books a large Ainsworths Latin Dictionary and a copy of Adam’s Roman Antiquities both which are somewhere among his books at the Atheneum I am my dear sir / respectfully yours. P.S. This is written in a hurry I shall soon write you a letter. I will trouble you to hand the enclosed paper to Mr Benjamin Joy and to tell him that I...
9From 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...
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...