I thank you for your kind Letters I agree with you that we can never be thankful enough for the blessings we enjoy—I congratulate you upon the blessings you enjoy —and the prospects you have in your children and Grand Children—Virtuous children are the greatest comforts, and the greatest Blessings we old people can enjoy— I regret that I cannot write to you oftener As to your project of making...
2From Thomas Jefferson to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16 th is just recieved, and your silence in it on the subject of your health makes me hope it is good. a dozen years older than you are, I have no right to expect as good. I have been now confined to the house 6. months, but latterly get better, insomuch as, for a few days past, to ride a little on horseback. I duly recieved the favor of mr Vreede’s book, & meant, in my first...
The events of this month, have been to me almost overwhelming. They have excited my sensibility too much for a man almost ninety years to bear. The multitude of letters of congratulations which I have received I can never pretend to answer, for it fatigues me to dictate even a few lines—but none of these letters have been more cordially welcomed than that of my friend Van der Kemp. I...
4From Thomas Jefferson to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 28. is duly recieved. it gladdens me with the information that you continue to enjoy health. that is a principal mitgation of the evils of age. I wish that the situation of our friend M r Adams was equally comfortable. but what I learn of his physical condition is truly deplorable. his mind however continues strong, and firm, his memory sound his hearing perfect, and his...
5From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 March 1824 (Adams Papers)
I sincerely sympathise & condole with you in the Death of your Daughter in Law, such losses are afflictions that flesh is are to, though they are exquisitly rending to the heart, as I know by many severe experiences, I congratulate you however that your Daughter has left a Son, I hope to represent her & his father & G. B. to the entire satisfaction of all My wishes on a certain subject are...
“Where Adams from a noisy world withdrew Sick of Glory faction, power & pride Sure judge how empty all, who all had tried Beneath his shade the weary chief reposed And Life’s great scene, in quiet virtue closed ” I have received your kind letter of 11th. November and I believe another before it unacknowledged, for both of which, I thank you— The 30th. of October passed ever like all other days...
7From Thomas Jefferson to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 August 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind letter of May 26. has laid too long by me awaiting an answer. the truth is that the difficulty of writing has obliged me even when in better health to withdraw much from correspondence, and now an illness of some week’s, from which I am just recovering, obliges me to use a borrowed pen to acknolege it’s reciept. and indeed that is all I can do even now, my mind being entirely...
8From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 7 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
In one of your letters if I remember right, you expressed a desire to see my letters to Mr. Calkoen, the history of those letters is this. At a dinner with a large company I met with that learned, civilian who came to me and seated himself by my side and expressed an ardent curiosity to converse with me upon the subject of the American war he asked me many questions in French in which language...
In your last Letter you requested copies of my Letters to Dr. Price. They are inclosed— These letters and many others, and other writings and conversations to the same affect destroyed my popularity with mankind.—The Turgotests, the Condorcetians, the Rochefaucaultians the Brissotians the Jacobins and the Sans Cullotts—France took offence and pronounced me an aristocrat Rochefoucauldians; and...
10From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter you request copies of my letters to Dr Price. They are inclosed. These letters and many others & other writings & conversations to the same effect destroyed my popularity, with mankind. The Turgoites the Reondoccettians — Roachfocaution the Brissotians, the jacobins & the Sans Cullots, in france took offence & pronounced me an aristocrat, & would have guillotined me if I...
11From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
How deeply I thank you. Our Quincy Library will be honord with the name of Vanderkemp. Virgil and Manilius, shall be sent to Mrs. Quincy, and Mrs. Gould. Oh that I had begged Manilius while I could read, for I believe much may be discovered in him, on the remotest Ancient mythology, his ratio I believe is the logos of Pythoagoras and Plato, and all our modern Trinitarians— I do not love to...
12From Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Do not my dear Sir attribute my long silence to unmindfulness or negligence, after I received your kind letter announcing your safe arrival at home and conveying to us the music and Poetry for which our young friends were much obliged, I came to this City to make an Autumnal visit, here I was taken very sick and in consequence of my indisposition was advised to remain this side of the...
13From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your friendship in your kind letter of the 20th.— If JQ. or any of my Posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude unworthy of their name.—You ask the history of my seal, I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain exultation, at the...
14From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for the renewed testimony of your letter of the 20th frindship and your kind letter of the 20th If JQ—or any of my posterity, do not recognise the obligations of this Country to Holland, It will prove in them an ignorance, inattention, and ingratitude, unworthy of their Name, You ask the history of my seal I had it cut immediately after the peace of 83. It was a proud, perhaps a vain,...
15From Thomas Jefferson to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 19 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 19. was long on it’s passage to me, and finds me in a condition but shortly to acknolege it’s reciept. a dislocation of my right wrist while in Paris, and the impracticability of reducing the carpal bones to their order has always been an impediment in my writing, and the effect of age has been gradually increasing the difficulty till now the motion of the wrist is nearly...
16From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 January 1823 (Adams Papers)
A friend in need, is a friend indeed; you must certainly have read Shakespear, and have learnt from him, when you have once made a friend, to grapple him to your Soul with hooks of Steeal. You have been constantly grappling me for more than forty years—The newspapers have brought to me your correspondence with Mr. Yates, and that has introduced a correspondence between him and me And what is...
17From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted to Mr. Quincy, extracts from two of your letters, relative to the name and family of Keimper. — I rejoice in all your joys and wish you many returns of your happy anniversary.— I agree with you in the merit of Govr. Clinton.— In all elective governments there is a perpetual conflict for power between two great parties, among the people. I have been astonished and confounded...
18From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 December 1821 (Adams Papers)
The unexpected Visit of Judge Smith to my Cottage, was highly interesting, and acceptable—and I entertained hopes that he would have made me a Second, and of longer continuence—from all that I had heard of him; I had conceived an high Esteem, which his personall appearance and conversation fully confirmed—my health was much better when he was here; than it has been since; and it is now...
19From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your kind favour of the 21st. I have had a very feeble Winter and am Still afflicted with paines and Imbecilities which render it very difficult to take the exercise necessary for my health. J. Q.s Report must speak for itself. I am not a Judge of it: but Farrar who is, and who has read it with care Speaks well of it. If a Reviewer can be found in France or England to tear it to...
20From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 12 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
I owe you a letter or two I believe, and my Conscience smites me for the neglect,—and my daring attendance in the Convention a whole Month, threw me into a fever, which has confined me from the eighteenth of December— Yesterday I ventured out to Church, for the first time—Recluse as I have been, I have had opportunity to read, and here read, a great deal of the Current Literature of the...
21From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 10 October 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 3d. October and the Seeds inclosed, which my Son will use to the best advantage next Spring—he and all his family thank you for them—My poor Grand daughter—Mrs Clark is detained at Albany—on account of the Sickness of her Child, whose safety I am anxious to hear—she has I presume returned to Utica— Miss Welsh we have not seen—though she has returned to...
22From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
If you may not murmur when you approach seventy, surely I ought not when I approach ninety; and when I am happy enough to get you under my roof; you certainly shall not hear me murmur unless I loose my senses in the mean time. Our friend Ting is misinformed; it is true, the winter before last, I sorted some old papers, but have done nothing since; although I have not destroyed no papers my...
23From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 March 1820 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the first of the Month—We have had for some time, no subject of Conversation here—except a phenomenon in Nature unpresidented in any former moment of our History—a Violent rain falling at a time of extreeme cold here below, covered the Earth with polished Silver; and the Trees with Millions & Millions of Diamonds—the scene was almost too splendid for the Eyes to...
24From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
It is a custom on the Demise of Princes for all classes of Men in Society to present to the successor addresses of Condolence with the grief of the loss of the Predecessor—and congratulations—with the Joy at the succession—in imitation of this long established Custom—I condole with you on the loss of your friend Elliot—and congratulate you on the Honorable testimony of his rememberance of you...
25From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you this Morning before I received your delightful letter of the 7th. which has opened a New world to me I rejoice with all my heart in your prosperity and comfortable pleasing prospects—I rejoice that the Governour and the Legislature and the People of the State of New-york—have the Wisdom to appreciate your labours at their just value—which I esteem an important service rendered not...
26From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 29 December 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have two kind letters from you to acknowledge one of the 9th September, and one of the 20th. December—with heartfelt satisfaction I congratulate you upon the restoration of your Health—The weakness of your Eyes is the inevitable effect of your amazing exertions of them upon your Records—while I wonder that you have any Eyes left—I have great pleasure in perceiving that yours are infinitely...
27From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
The information in your last letter, of your return to your garden and your records has given me great pleasure. The records are very interesting, and your translation of them will be an honourable and a durable Monument to your Memory Your friend and my friend Mr Tyng has told you truely that I am “constantly employed” and may add, beyond my Strength of body or mind. Never in my whole life...
28From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the Sixth of July has afflicted me. My Minister Mr Whitney lately told Us, what I had well known for more than 70 Years, that “Afflictions multiply upon Us, as we advance in Years” A whole flock, a whole drove, a whole herd of Calamities have huddled together upon me in the last Year. The List of them would astonish You. But I Am not in the habit of distressing my friends with...
29From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 24 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
Pray tell me how you apply the sublimate Murcury for the cure of externally and internally of weak weeping inflammatory and dim sighted Eyes—I am very much interested in this inquiry— Have you seen Duponceau and Heckevelder on the Indians—which is the worst! The Revenge of Indians or the Inquisition—I admire your maxim—Nil peractum donec aliquid peragendum—but I have scarcely written eleven...
30From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 June 1819 (Adams Papers)
Pray tell me how you apply the sublimate murcury for the cure external’y and internally of weak weeping inflamatory and dim sighted Eye—I am interested in this inquiry—have you seen duponceau and Heckevelder on the Indians—which is the worst! the Revenge of Indians or the inquisition? I admire your maxim Nil Peractum do nec aliquid peragendum—but I have scarcely written eleven hundred words,...