1From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
The above note to Lord Castlereagh & the enclosed Letters are to be copied into the Book. The note itself I have sent by the coachman. If an answer should come to the office this day send it to me by the coachman If tomorrow morning keep it as I propose to come into Town. The letters to Mr Maury are press copies. I send the originals directly by the Post to him. The Letter for Mr Cornelissen...
2From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 23 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
If a large packet forwarded by the mail from Mr Maury at Liverpool, but coming from Philadelphia & charged with heavy postage should be brought to the office, pray do not pay the postage, nor open the packet till I come to town on Saturday. yours. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 16 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter to the Secretary of the Treasury is to be copied into the letter Book—After which it is to be sent together with a copy of the minutes of Stock refered to in it the original of which as received from the French Ambassador I send you herewith. I suppose however you will not be able to have the dispatch prepared before Monday when I propose to be in town. yours sincerely MHi...
4From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 30 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I consider Mr Temple Franklin a Citizen of the United States, and entitled to a Passport accordingly. yours faithfully. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
5From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 April 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure of introducing to your acquaintance, Colo. Henry H. Bacot of Charleston S.C. who visits England for the recovery of his health— From the warm recommendation of him by a common friend, I present him to you as a Gentleman of the most amiable and respectable Character; and solicit for him your kind & friendly attentions. I am with the highest regard and / Esteem, Dear Sir,...
6From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 1 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I enclose herewith a draft of a Note to Lord Castlereagh on the case of the Hope, which I will thank you to copy on the sheet, with the signature and send immediately to His Lordship, as my New Years present. yours truly. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 6 November 1822 (Adams Papers)
I enclose under cover to you a Packet, addressed to R. H. Crewe Eqr. etct, etct, etct, Office of Ordnance—Pall Mall—London—And a Letter directed to Mr William A Beckett—Solicitor N. 20 Golden Square London—I will thank you to cause them to be delivered at their respective destinations, requesting receipts for them, which I beg you further to transmit to me Yours faithfully. MHi : Adams Family...
8From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 14 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
Under the circumstances stated in Coll Aspinwalls certificate (which I return) and in your Letter, I cannot reccommend John McIntosh to relief as a destitute American Seaman. I enclose the Power of Attorney with the certificate concerning the Mayor of Leeds to which the Legation Seal must be affixed. truly yours MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
9From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 3 May 1820 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is to introduce to your acquaintance and to recommend to your kind attentions and good offices Dr. Charles Williamson of Milledgeville, a highly respectable Citizen of Georgia and a particular friend of Mr. Walker one of the Senators in Congress from that State—At his desire I am happy to have the opportunity of making Dr. Williamson known to those of my friends who may possess the...
10From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 10 October 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 5th of August—and the Cheese by Genel Boyd—for both—which I thank you—I have been for four, or five, and thirty years entirely of your opinion—that the United states have not among any Class of Politicians in England, any sincere friends, and those Millions of People who are not politicians, neither know or care, any more about us, than they do about the...
11From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 9 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
I take pleasure in introducing to your acquaintance, and recommending specially to your kind attentions, the bearer, Mr. Waldburg, a Gentleman of highly respectable character and connections, who visits Europe with views of instruction and amusement. I understand it would be agreeable to him to be attached to one of the legations of the United States in Europe, as other young Men have...
12From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have but one instant to inform you that we arrived here yesterday; all well. Mr Coles also arrived in the Evening from Liverpool, and delivered to me your Letter of 17 June with the Dispatch for the Secretary of State, and the Packets from Mr G. Joy & Mr Bentham. W. S. Clarkson is below while I am writing: your family relations are well. We expect to see Mr and Mrs DeWint to-morrow. I go...
13From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 19 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
Within a few Months, I have received many letters from you; for which I have not even found time to offer you the thanks to which they so well entitle you.—And even now I cannot write you without coupling with the acknowledgement of those favors, the solicitation of others. I have promised letters of introduction, for Mr. Noah Webster who has just embarked at New York for Liverpool, before I...
14From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with the temper and spirit of your Letter of February 28th: The subjects of your future Examination, are judiciously chosen and I hope you will acquit yourself to your own satisfaction as well as that of your Instructor’s. I know of no Characteristic of a weak head a dull discernment and superficial reflection more remarkable than the opinion you mention of many young Men who...
15From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 8 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Will you have the goodness to order Mr. Micklain , the Tailor (who has my measure) to make for me two Broadcloth Coats, one black, and the other blue, with metal buttons, and both with internal side pockets, such as he has made for me before? Also two pair of best Broadcloth or double–milled blue Kersaymeer Pantaloons—Let the Package be given to Captain Forman , who returns to London in the...
16From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have received your luminous letter of 15th Feby. for which I thank you: but cannot enlarge upon it at present.— I write this to introduce to you Mr Theodore Lyman Junr. a Gentleman whose Talents Virtues and Connections deserve your Respect.—I know you can be of little Service to him, but you may be of Some—I wish you to be acquainted with him, and him with you—He is a Nephew of Mr Williams.—...
17From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 2 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 1 September N. 42 with the receipts enclosed, and the Book, containing the statement of Account between us has been received—It had escaped my recollection that the £20 for which I gave you an order upon S. Williams the day that I left London was for the same sum which I had at the same time borrowed of you. But I have no doubt that your memory is correct, and my forgetfulness...
18From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 5 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
The letter before the last that I wrote you was numbered one, as being the first after my arrival at this place—the last letter was numbered seven with reference to all that I have written you since I left London.—I shall continue this last numeration for the future as corresponding with yours, and at the same time manifesting a better return of punctuality on my part than the other. Since my...
19From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 28 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this letter, a Mr W. E. Horner Professor of Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania visits Europe with views having reference to his profession. Recommended by the respectability of his own character and by the friendship of his relative, Mr Moore, a Member of Congress from the state of Virginia, of which Mr Horner is a Native, I take pleasure in the opportunity of introducing...
20From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 8 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
David Hinckley Esqr of Boston and his amiable Daughter are about to travel in England. I earnestly recommend them to your particular and assiduous attention especially the accomplished Miss Ann and I pray you to introduce them in my Name as well as Your own to the Excellent American Minister and his Lady They will furnish you with ample details of all the News current in this Country Your...
21From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
My feelings have been aroused, coup sur coup by public and private Events beyond any previous period of my life. The arrival of your Aunt, & her son at Paris, to her husband & his father the arrival of your brother & Sister at New York, with my Great Grand daughter; your family dinner with your father & the departure of all but yourself to Cedar Grove; at the same time with the stupendous news...
22From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 17 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Card has two very coarse drawings of a device, of which I wish to have a Seal engraved—A Ship, under full Sail, or if the Artist can represent her labouring with reefed topsails, under heavier weather than either of those on the Card, it will suit me better. The Motto is “Fortiter occupa Portum”. and I think it will have the best effect, if placed between two concentric circles...
23From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of Novbr. 13th. Of Lord Holland, I know nothing. I pity the people, I pity all men of destinction. I pity Emperors, Kings and Popes. they are all when invested with a little brief authority, hurried, and driven by their associates, into measures, they do not and cannot approve: What is to be the fate of Napoleon? no matter; Split him for a Mackerel and broil him for the...
24From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 5 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Mr. William Beach Lawrence of New York, the Bearer of this letter may already be personally known to you, in which case, it will be superfluous for me to add, that he is a Gentleman of highly respectable character. His Lady who accompanies him on his visit to Europe is a daughter of Mr. Gracie with whose character and person you are well acquainted—I recommend them to any kindness of attention...
25From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
As I am not able to be punctual as Smith , in the payment of my debts; I fear I owe you a Letter, of so long Standing that it ought to be paid with Interest.— I want Information concerning the Fisheries in New York, New Jersey, Connecticutt, Rhode Island. I have heard that in your City of Hudson and from your City of New York, Fisheries to the Banks of Newfoundland to the Gulph of St. Laurence...
26From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 25 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 26 June. Your Phylanthropic sentiments are very agreeable to me: but remember they are no more than Terinus “Homo Sum ” and that was only a Translation from the still more ancient Greek of Menander. The English and American Republicans must not flatter themselves that they have discovered any thing new. All their “Liberty Equality and Fraternity” is summarily...
27From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
Conformably to the Instruction which I have received from the President of the United States, by a Letter from Mr. Graham of the Department of State, upon my departure from this Country I leave in your care the business of the Mission to this Court until the arrival of a Minister or until the President shall otherwise direct. The papers relating to subjects of individual interests, upon which...
28From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you on the elections but hesitate on the causes you assign: I know not what is meant by the Policy of the war. Have we just and righteous causes of war against G Britain? Is the war necessary for the defence of our rights? if you answer these questions in the affirmative, it necessarily follows that the war is politick. If you say it was impolitick to declare war with so little...
29From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 29 October 1823 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Samuel G. Goodrich, the Bearer of this letter, is a Citizen of Connecticut, of respectable character & acquirements, recommended to me by very estimable friends, and related by blood and marriage, to the late Lieutt. Governor Goodrich, and to Mr. Bradley heretofore a Member of the Senate of the United States from Vermont, and his son a Member elect of the present Congress from the same...
30From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 13 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
You grieve me when you tell me that “your city is thronged with officers of the army.” Infandum, renovare jubes, dolorem. In the most critical moments of our affairs in 1776, I twice travelled through New Jersey; and with indignation and contempt which I feel still to my fingers ends, saw the taverns crowded with officers, who ought to have been in face of the enemy in New York, and at frogs...
31From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
Last Saturday we spoke with two vessels, bound one to Bristol and the other to Liverpool. I missed those opportunities of writing you a line, to let you know we had proceeded till then safely upon our Voyage. We have now the prospect of another Vessel, in sight by which I propose to send you this. We have been this day one Calendar Month at Sea, and have performed two thirds of our Passage....
32From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 27 September 1818 (Adams Papers)
Let me introduce, Mr Elliot, the Bearer, and Mr Ticknor both Natives of Boston, both amiable and respectable. Elliot a Son of Samuel Elliot Esqr one of our first Capitalists. Tickenor one of our first Litterary Characters. Neither will betray you. Ben. Guild the Son of your Mothers earliest and Constantly beloved Friend is married to Elliots Sister. With these you may indulge your yankee...
33From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 14 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
The three Letters enclosed are to be copied into the book immediately after your Commission. This letter also, and all those I shall write to you hereafter, are to be copied into the same book. The letter to the Secretary of State is to be forwarded with the packet of Newspapers which I left at the office on tuesday. Mr Grubb will inform you of the manner. The Letter for Mr. Maury may be...
34From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 7th. December last. The subject of it is of great and ominous importance—That our National and statistical Constitutions are susceptable of Ameliorations, I agree with you. But Constitutions are unweildy Things and of very difficult management— One of the most intricate and difficult question is that which you mention universal suffrage. Indeed I cannot...
35From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 19 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
The British Government have not yet consented to admit Consuls into their West India Colonies. An application in behalf of Mr Bartlett, with good recommendations, for an appointment as Commercial Agent in the Island of Trinidad, will be laid before the President, & if he thinks any such appointment there advisable, duly considered. I had many years ago a friendly & highly valued acquaintance...
36From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 11 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have a great Mind, to rattle with you in your own Way, in your Letter of July 18th— Do you know that a Mob, is the most powerfull and irresistable Army in the Universe? I can prove it. The Scotch Highlanders in several Rebellions, The People of La Vendée, but above all the Conquest of the Bastille, are full Proofs. No Phalanxes, No Legions no Regulars, no Legitimates have ever equaled Such...
37From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 4th has given me much pleasure. I rejoice that you have been admitted a Counsellor in the supreme Court of your state, in the Mayors Court of the City, and Proctor and advocate in the district Court, as well as master in Chancery. I know not the distinction between a Master and a Solicitor in Chancery. . You have the ; But can you move the world? this will depend on your...
38From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 23 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you was of the 8th inst. and acknowledged the receipt of all your letters that had then come to hand. Since which I have received your numbers 8. 11, 14 and 15 private and no. 8 public—with the huge volume of custom house laws—England’s Ægis (not major Cartwright’s) and the newspapers, Times and all, to the 6th of september inclusive; a bundle of Mr. Owen’s newspaper letter,...
39From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 14 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I had a Letter from you. In the last I think you prophesied “Wonders in November.” I understood you to mean, a wonderful revolution in the sentiments of the people, and a restoration of the Federalists to the Government of the Nation. But the month of November is past, and there appears, notwithstanding all the terrors and horrors of the Embargo a wonderfull adherence...
40From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 21 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10th & 12th. I can only say that I wish you a pleasant voyage, & a happy fulfillment of your wishes and anticipations; I hope too that your Uncle, will find in you, an able, a faithful an attentive and industrious assistant in the arduous labours of his trying and distressing situation I am apprehensive however that you may be disappointed in your prospect of...
41From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 5 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
The Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Adams, deceased, have proceeded to the execution of the said Will by receiving payment from John Quincy Adams of One thousand dollars, with interest thereon from the time of the Testators decease, in fulfilment of the Conditional devise to him of the homestead Estate here, and by making sale, so far as has been practicable of all the rest...
42From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 21 April 1824 (Adams Papers)
The Revd. Joseph Caldwell bearer of this letter, President of the University of North Carolina, is commissioned to make certain purchases for the library and Philosophical apparatus of that Institution;—If it should be in your power to furnish him any information, or otherwise to assist him in the accomplishment of this object, as I know it will afford the highest gratification to you, I the...
43From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 5 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Ogle Tayloe, son of colonel Tayloe one of the most respectable citizens of Virginia, and of this district, goes out as private secretary, and with the president’s approbation attached to the legation of mr. Rush. It is mr. Tayloe’s intention to give constant attendance at the office, and I am persuaded he will give you useful assistance in the transaction of business.—If he can be...
44From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
You ask me whether “an armed Vessel of a belligerent Nation has a right to search a vessel of a neutral.” I answer No, except for contraband of war. This exception is established by the law and practice of nations; and confirmed by Treaties. But there is no right to search for men. The King of England acknowledges that he has no right to search for men a neutral ship of war even for deserters...
45From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 19 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr John Edwards Holbrook the bearer, is a Gentleman recommended to me, as of a highly respectable character, nephew of George Edwards Esqr. of Charleston, South Carolina—He is going to Scotland, and afterwards to London, with the intention of completing a medical education, and other views of liberal improvement and curiosity. I beg leave to recommend him to your kind attentions, and if...
46From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 11 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your several letters, with their respective enclosures, from No 1 to No. 10. inclusively. Mr. Rush, who takes charge of this Despatch, having been appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States in England, your office of Charge ‘d affairs will of course cease upon his presenting his letter of Credence to the...
47From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 20 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer Dr Charles Caldwell visits Europe for purposes connected with the promotion of Literature and Science in the Western Regions of our Country. The cause claims the helping hand of every patriotic American, and the well known and distinguished merit of the person, will be his most effectual introduction, wherever he may be named. I recommend him and the objects upon which he will visit...
48From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 22 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 13 May, and assure you that it would give me great satisfaction to contribute in any suitable manner in my power to promote your views of laudable ambition—I am precluded however by several insuperable considerations, from the possibility of complying with your request that I would recommend your appointment, as Secretary of Legation to this Court.—The first...
49From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 15 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have received with great pleasure your letter of the 15th. december—and am deeply affected with the information you give me—for all though Great Britain has not been a nursing Mother to my Country—I cannot but feel for her dangers—and Calamities—The five Bills you mention are medicines for the extremity of the disease—but I fear they will not cure, if they do not kill—but this is a subject...
50From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 7 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received and read your letter of February 28th with pleasure. There is not a necessary and perpetual connection between power and right on this Globe of ours, whatever there may be in the Sun, Moon, and Stars. In the milky way; in the north Star; in the south Star; in the Nebulae of Herschell right for what we know may always command power. If so I should wish to be an Inhabitant there....