15061From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 18 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received with much pleasure your letter of 15. March last, written in French; for although it bears some marks of carelessness, it proved to me two things, about which I am not a little concerned—The first that you have not wholly neglected the French language; and the second that you have made some improvement in your hand-writing.— The words of your letter are all good French, but there...
15062From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 18 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
I received some days since, your letter of the 18th: of last Month—But it was longer in coming than the time usually taken by the mail—and I have left it longer without reply than I could have wished— I am much obliged to you for your attention to my personal affairs, and much gratified that my obligations at the Bank have all been taken up—You will recollect my wish that you would pay to my...
1506319th. (Adams Papers)
Drizzling, misty weather all day. Did not stir out of the house. Amused myself with reading, writing, and taking lessons on the flute; which I have lately begun to learn.
15064From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of 3 and 7 June, which I number 8 and 9. have been transmitted to me from Gothenburg, by Mr Hall—They were received there on the 17th: and 20th: of June, in 14 days from their respective dates, and were handed to me here, both together on the 6th: instt—The last had been a Month on the way, which is not much longer than they will be in coming, under cover to the Willink’s at...
1506516th. (Adams Papers)
The weather begins to grow very cold: it has been remarkably fine all this fall. Mrs. Cranch return’d from Mystic, and will pass the night at Mrs. Hilliard’s. Mr. Williams gave us in the evening a view at Jupiter, through the telescope. He appears like the moon when full, and attended with his four Satellites, at different distances. They are quite bright though invisible to the naked eye....
15066From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 24 October 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters of the 16th. and 20th. instt have been received, and have given me great pleasure. The first relieving me from some concern on account of your health, and the second announcing an intention of diligence, and a commencement of performance highly satisfactory—Perseverance for a very short time in that plan of regularly rising at 5 in the morning, and devoting yourself to the...
150673d. (Adams Papers)
Attended meeting in the forenoon. Sacrament day: I went to dine at Judge Dana’s: soon after I got there, he was taken ill, and thought it was with his old disorder. He sent immediately to Boston, for Doctor Lloyd, and Dr. Danforth; and for Dr. Jennison at College. We rubb’d him with a flesh brush, and with blankets, for two hours without intermission: he recover’d and the Physicians supposed...
1506828th. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon I went with Mr. D. to the Hotel of the Marquis de Verac, and from thence to that of the dutch Ambassador with the Marquis, but he was not at home; dined at the Marquis de Verac’s: Mr. Artaud supped out. Fine weather. Willem Lodewijk (Baron) van Wassenaer Starrenburg , minister plenipotentiary and ambassador extraordinary plenipotentiary to St. Petersburg, 1780–1785 ( Repertorium...
15069From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 7 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have duly considered your affectionate Letter of the 25th. of last Month, and shall be glad to see you here , during your approaching vacation—I will direct your brother George to furnish you the money, necessary for the journey, and assure you of the cordial welcome which I hope and trust will always endear your father’s house to you as your home . I do not altogether understand that part...
15070Aug. 22d. Friday. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon at 11 o’clock, I went, in Company with My Lord Ancram, Mr. Stewart and my father to see the Academy of the Abbe L’epée, who has undertaken to teach, people born deaf and dumb, not only to converse with one another very fluently, but also, to read and write, and he has succeeded entirely. It is astonishing to see how fast and how easily they make themselves understood, to one...
15071From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 2d. instt: enclosing a copy of the judiciary Bill which was before you for consideration came to hand some days since—As your legislative occupations employ you only three hours a day, I can readily conceive that you can find little time for private correspondence; for as an Antient Orator was wont to say that he had not time to make his speech short, so I have often found...
15072To Thomas Jefferson from John Quincy Adams, 6 November 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have forwarded to you a Copy of the Additional Census of Alabama, in virtue of an Act of Congress of the 7th of March last; the receipt of which you will be pleased to acknowledge. A Copy has also been sent for the University of Virginia. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
150739th. (Adams Papers)
We had this afternoon a public Lecture upon Divinity. It is a pretty common Custom among the Students, to take their books into the Chapel, and whilst these Lectures are going on they study their next Lessons; those indeed, that do this, are some of the good Scholars of the Class, for there are many, that do not look, into a book, more than once a Quarter, before they go in to recite. Lovell,...
15074John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 9 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you last Tuesday by Mr. Hardouin who will arrive in Paris I suppose to morrow. I have not yet began to pursue my studies, on account of the fair; but intend to begin directly. I take a walk every day and, once or twice a week a ride on horse-back. Every thing here is full of Life at present on account of the Fair, which will be over to morrow evening. I am afraid I shall not see you...
150756th. (Adams Papers)
The Weather fair, but the Snow, which drifted a great deal, is in some places so deep, that it is impossible to get through it. We danced in the club this evening at Foster’s chamber.
15076From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 23 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mr Gallatin and Mr Bayard have been here a complete Month. They had arrived at Reval, a Port just at the entrance of the Gulph of Finland, about 250 miles from this place, at the date of my last Letter—The next day I was informed of their arrival; and the day following they reached this City—They are accompanied by a Son of Mr Dallas of Philadelphia, Mr: Milligan of Delaware, Mr. Todd, Mrs:...
15077From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
I send you occasionally, the public documents of the most interesting nature, but I have not the opportunity of writing to you so frequently as I could wish—My time is so much engross’d by business equally unpleasant and important that I can very seldom catch a moment for my private affairs, or the more agreeable communications of friendship—I believe I have repeatedly told you as much,...
1507818th. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon Mr. D. went and took a ride. Cloudy weather. Thermometer 20 degrees above.0. Stay’d at home all day. Mr. Wolff came to see Mr. D.
1507923d. (Adams Papers)
Heard old Parson Wibird, preach from Luke. XIX. 10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Mr. Cranch said he had heard it ten Times before. No one would complain if the Parson would read printed Sermons, But to hear one thing continually repeated over which does not deserve, perhaps, to be said more than once, is very fatiguing. We had the Pleasure of Mr. Tyler’s...
15080[September 1788] (Adams Papers)
Rain. Pass’d the evening with Stacey. Finished Hume and Blackstone. Little &c. I went over the river with Stacey and Romain upon a shooting party. We had tolerable success. It was very windy; and with a heavy boat and only one oar, we had some difficulty to get across the river. Bridge arrived this day in town. I proposed to him to go with me to-morrow: and he has partly promised to accept my...
15081From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 12 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
When I told you in my last Letter that the whole American Mission Extraordinary was here, I ought to have excepted Mr Carroll, and Mr Todd who are still lingering at Paris—Mr Carroll is attached to the mission as private Secretary to Mr Clay, and Mr Todd is of this Legation as he was of the former, a Gentilhomme d’Ambassade, quite independent in his movements, and very naturally thinking...
1508220th. (Adams Papers)
Snow’d almost all day. White set out early in the morning for Haverhill; his sister is to be married to-morrow. The Class recite to Mr. Burr, this week. I did not attend this morning. Mr. Pearson, gave a lecture, upon the analogy between philosophical grammar, and the human body. His divisions of Sentences, are those of Harris. Sentences of assertion and volition. Mr. Williams gave a lecture...
15083From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 7 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter and Journal to the 3d. have come to hand. If I should give you the reasons why I cannot go and spend a week at Philadelphia to shew my friends there how much I long to be President, you would think them very ridiculous, and me not less so for detailing them—My friends at Philadelphia, are not the only ones who send me kind messages to inform me that unless I mend my manners, I...
150846th. (Adams Papers)
Visited young Mr. Chaumont in the morning, who arrived a few days since from Philadelphia. I went with him to introduce him to the delegates from Massachusetts but they were gone upon Long Island, and are not expected back untill Monday. Dined at the president’s in Company with Coll. Cropper from Virginia. In the afternoon Mr. Harrison went to accompany the Ladies, an employment of which he...
150858th. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Went in the forenoon and took a walk. Mr. D. went out in the afternoon. Went and walked in the garden in the evening. Fine weather.
15086John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
As Nancy has vindicated her privilege of giving you the first notice that you were a Grandmamma, I presume I have no occasion to scruple at letting you know that last Sunday the 12 th: inst t: at half-past three o’clock afternoon, our dear Louisa gave you another grandson— To have been able to add that both she and her child have been ever since as well as the occasion could admit, would...
15087John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 8 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
I promised to write In a week again provided I could give a better account of my conduct. I have according to my resolution been more diligent and frugal of my time and when Mr. Thaxter was absent which was 4 days I applied myself for several hours every day to the reading of Smollet and have got almost half through the 3 vol. I find much entertainment in the perusal of history and I must own...
1508813th. (Adams Papers)
No reciting, this morning: was employ’d all day in mathematical Studies, of which I begin to grow exceeding fond. After dinner, I had Bridge, Kendall, Little and Sever about an hour at my Chamber. Bridge, and Little are two of the best Scholars in our Class, and moreover very clever fellows. Sever has a strong natural genious, and genuine Wit. But his morals are loose, and he is not by any...
1508910th. (Adams Papers)
The weather cleared up this morning; but the wind was so high, and the snow so deep; that Mr. Hilliard could not get out to meeting. The breakfast club were at my chamber, in the morn ing; and at noon we all went down and dined at Bradish’s. We pass’d the afternoon, and supp’d there. Bridge, and I, made an attempt to go down to Professor Wiggles worth’s in the evening, but the snow was so...
15090To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 24 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have requested Mr. Edward Cruft to pay you on my account two hundred and fifty dollars on the first of July and the same sum quarter yearly from that day. I am Dear Sir your affectionate and dutiful Son. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.