15091John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 24 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago your kind favour of the 10 th: inst t: with the letter that accompanied, and thank you for the care of it— I lament to hear that your health continued so feeble and infirm, but I hope as the Spring advances, you will find yourself better— I approve much of your intention to wean John, and rejoyce at the information that he has recovered. I have been into Boston only...
1509222d. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
This day a french Gentleman dined with us. Mr. D went and took a walk in the forenoon. Mr. Artaud went in the afternoon to the Clubb. Cloudy weather.
15093From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 14 August 1826 (Adams Papers)
A short time before my sudden departure from Washington, I received a very kind Letter from you, with a small volume, and an interesting account of the family of Boylston.—While I was postponing an Answer to it with a view to make some further enquiries, to tax again your indulgence, a melancholy summons called me away at so short notice that I forgot even to take your Letter and minutes with...
1509410th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon I went, and sat about an hour with Mr. King. Mr. Gerry was sitting at the grand Committee of Congress in the City Hall. I left 50 french louis d’ors, which Mr. Gerry wishes to have for bank Bills on Boston. Dined at the Presidents in a large Company, Mr. van Berkel, Mr. Jay, Mr. Paine, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Witherspoon, &c. After Dinner young Mr. van Berkel, and Major L’Enfant, went...
150953d. (Adams Papers)
We had a Lecture this morning upon Electricity; we received two small shocks, which however, gave me such a stroke in the joints at my elbows that I could not write after it; The weather very warm indeed. Fahrenheits’ thermometer I am told was at 87: 80 is the common summer heat. We did not recite in Doddridge, this morning.
15096To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 27 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
Mr: Ebenezer Dorr, and Mr: Edward Jones, merchants, of this Town, by this Post send a petition to Congress for leave, to send a small vessel in ballast to some port in Europe. It is a matter of great importance to them, that they should obtain their request. Mr: Dorr has bills of exchange drawn in France in his favour upon some person here, and they are protested. It becomes therefore of the...
1509712th. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Receiv’d the news of a battle between the french and English fleets in the West Indies. Went to the shops with Mr. Artaud before dinner. Went in the evening with Mr. D. and Mr. Artaud to the concert. After the concert we walked in the garden. Cloudy weather. The battle off Les Saintes, a small group of islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica, which took place 9–12 April 1782 and set Adm....
150984th. (Adams Papers)
Old Mr. Grand, and Dr. Bancroft. In the evening Mr. Chaumont and Mr. Franklin. Dr. Edward Bancroft , physician, scientist, and writer, Franklin’s confidential associate, and double agent during the Revolution ( JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:71–72 ; Julian Boyd, “Silas Deane: Death by a Kindly...
15099John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
My Pappa enjoins it upon me to keep a journal, or a diary, of the Events that happen to me, and of objects that I See, and of Characters that I converse with from day, to day, and altho I am Convinced of the utility, importance, & necessity, of this Exercise, yet I have not patience, & perseverance, enough to do it so Constantly as I ought. My Pappa who takes a great deal of Pains to put me in...
151002d. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
In the afternoon went with Mr. Artaud to Mr. Rimbert’s and to the Shops. Mr. D. went to Mr. Wolff’s. Variable weather.
1510125th. (Adams Papers)
Thayer and Charles returned from Scituate this afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard came to pass the night here. Mr. H appears much more to advantage in private conversation than he does in the pulpit. He appears to be a very sensible man.
15102To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, 22 October 1818 (Madison Papers)
A Resolution of Congress of 27. March last, directs the publication of the Journal of the Convention which formed the present Constitution of the United States, now remaining in this Office, and all Acts and proceedings of that Convention, which are in the possession of the Government of the United States. On the 19th. of March 1796. there were deposited in this Office by President...
1510319. (Adams Papers)
Meeting to hear Mr. Wibird. W. Cranch. And rews .
15104[August 1780] (Adams Papers)
This morning at about half after ten Mr. Jennings came here and at about half after eleven Pappa Mr. Jennings and Brother Charles went to take a walk. At about twelve they got back again. A little after twelve My Brother Charles and myself went to Mr. Bordly’s lodgings but he was not at home. Mr. Jennings dined at our Hotel. At about four o clock Mr. Lee came to see my Pappa. At Six o clock my...
1510523d. (Adams Papers)
After breakfast I went to see Coll. Monroe, and Mr. Hardy, of the Virginia delegation. Call’d upon Mr. Fontfreyde. Lounged about untill near two o’clock, and then return’d again to N (189) where the gentlemen of the Virginia delegation lodge. Mr. Gerry, Mr. King, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Smith, and myself, went all in the president’s Carriage, to General Knox, who lives about 2 miles out of...
15106From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have sent you under another cover, a copy of the President’s Message, with the documents, and the Journals of both Houses—We have hitherto done nothing, and this week being destined to horse-racing, will of course be passed in doing more nothing. This morning came a Message, with nominations for appointments; consisting only of those which have been made during the recess—The only one...
151079. (Adams Papers)
Parson Wibird dined at Mr. C’s. Folks came home.
15108[10th.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday 5. A. M. arrived at Calais, in the afternoon took Post, and went as far as Boulogne, 4. Posts.
15109From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 July 1806 (Adams Papers)
By the last Letters I have received from my wife I expect she will reach Boston by the last of this week, or the beginning of the next—The House in which Mr: Ware lives will not be vacant untill after Commencement, and Mr: Pearson, proposing to sell his declines letting it—He is indeed in Treaty now, for the sale of it. I have therefore concluded to go into my House at Quincy again for the...
1511026th. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon while I was at the office I received a billet from Mr. Dalton, with an invitation to spend the evening at his house. Between six and seven I went, and was introduced into a room full of Ladies, with no other gentleman, but the master of the house. The situation was not perfectly agreeable, but I was relieved by a proposal of cards. I sat down to a game of whist with Mrs. Jones, a...
1511123. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Russell’s and returned at Night.
15112From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 13 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters of 13 and 15 August, which I received both together on Saturday last have fully ascertained that the Post directly between this place and St: Petersburg, passes from somewhere only once a week—By the manner also in which you receive my Letters, two at a time, though I have sent them regularly to the Post-Office here, every Tuesday and Friday, it is proved that those of the latter...
1511316th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon I attended at Mr. Carey’s meeting. The man that appeared in the pulpit I concluded very soon, was a son of Dartmouth. All was common-place: his ideas were trifling, his language was inelegant and his manner, was an unsuccessful attempt to the florid. He apostrophised Innocence, and said she was charming. In short he appeared to me to have all the defects without one of the...
15114From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
Under another cover, I enclose to you the documents laid on our table this morning— I have not yet had a line from you; but received a letter a few days since from your father, and one since from Shaw—The issue of your elections for the electoral Ticket, appears to be ascertained—and shows that the federalists will be relieved from the embarrassment of fixing upon their Candidate—It is...
1511513. (Adams Papers)
Returned to Braintree in the forenoon.
15116From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 16 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
The receipt of all your Letters to that of 30. June has been acknowledged. To answer them, I must have time to think—a privilege which I so seldom enjoy that I cannot even anticipate when I may be indulged with it—Mr Tuckerman brought your last Letter—I saw him and his Lady once. But they were only three or four days in London, and are gone upon a tour into the Country. Mr Tuckerman says his...
151176th. (Adams Papers)
A Parson Allen preach’d this day for Mr. Carey. I went to hear him in the forenoon. His Sermon was sensible, but his delivery was quite disagreeable: his manner of speaking was so singular that several times it was with difficulty I restrained myself from laughing. I did not feel a great inclination to hear him again, and I therefore, went in the afternoon, and heard Mr. Murray. He is an...
151183. (Adams Papers)
Gibbon 5th. vol. 4th. gone which I much regret.
15119From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have placed to your credit as my Agent the sum of ten thousand Dollars, in the United States Branch Bank, which you are to employ as follows, and in no other manner without express authority from me hereafter. I have authorized Messers: Payne and Co. to purchase for me, Middlesex Canal Shares at 330 Dollars a share, all assessments paid—or at 250 dollars with the last Assessment to pay—If...
15120John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The last Letter I wrote you should have gone by the Galen, but from being postponed to the last moment, the opportunity was lost, and it will now be delivered to you, together with this by my friend M r: Gardner who goes with Scott. He has also the goodness to take charge of the cloaks for yourself and Louisa, for which you wrote to my brother Thomas. As he remained at the Hague, I undertook...
15121From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 16 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
The uneasiness I had felt at the general hints in some of your former Letters of your having done things that I should disapprove was perhaps a natural effect of their generality—The particulars into which you have now entered have removed it in a great measure. There are two principles, indispensible to all domestic economy; the first is to limit the expenditures within the extent of the...
1512220th. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
We met this evening at Thompson’s. Pickman came; but rather late in the evening. Young Sawyer was there likewise: he spends the present quarter at home, by order of the college government. I have not a very high opinion of his abilities; still less of his improvements, and least of all of his moral character. One thing however may be said in his favour. He is handsome in his person. His father...
15123John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 2 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
After having suffered so long an interval of Time to pass, since I wrote you last, it is absolutely necessary, for my own justification, to give you, an account of my Studies, since my return home, and if it is not sufficient, to exculpate me intirely, I hope, at least it will induce you to forgive me. When I arrived here, I found, that I had far more to go through, than I had an Idea of...
15124Thursday Novr. 20th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Rogers’s.
15125Wednesday 2d of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This Morning my Brother Charles went to find Mr. Bordly but he was not at home. Charles and I went to find him at his Uncles but met him on the way there. We went in to water with him some ways out of town and got home about dinner time. Mr. Jennings came here after dinner and in the Evening Pappa and he went to take a walk. Mr. Bordly spent the Evening here. At about Nine o clock Pappa and...
1512610th. (Adams Papers)
From the divers interruptions which we met with in the course of the day, we did but little at the office. We met this evening at Pickman’s chamber: he has joined us and is regularly with us. Stacey likewise pass’d the evening with us; and Mr. W. Farnham; I agreed to go with Pickman to Haverhill to-morrow. From thence I intend in the beginning of the next week, to proceed to Cambridge; attend...
1512728. (Adams Papers)
Meeting Forenoon. Mr. Marsh. L. White.
15128Friday 19th. (Adams Papers)
12 o clock. The Gale continues. Nothing else remarkable. 6 o clock. The wind has abated a great deal. There is now only a fresh breeze of wind.
15129John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago, I received your favour of 30. December of the last year; after a long interval during which I had not heard from you; and the communication with England from Hamburg having been for six weeks interrupted by the severity of the season, I was nearly the whole of that time without receiving any information from America— When it came at last, it was in one respect, of a nature...
1513016th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Dana’s, and pass’d part of the evening with the Judge and his Lady at Mr. Gerry’s. Miss Thompson, is very handsome; but whether she possesses all the other qualities which are requisite to render a Lady amiable, I shall not take upon me to decide. Bridge returned this evening from Lexington.
15131John Quincy Adams to Elizabeth Cranch, 7 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
My things, are yet pretty much in Confusion, and I do not expect to get well settled till the next Quarter. I find much more, to do here than I expected; it is true that every persons who chooses, may be idle 3 days in the 6; but every one may also, find full sufficient employment if he chooses. Mr: Williams’s Philosophical Lectures, began, Tuesday the 28th: of last month; we have already, had...
15132Tuesday Novr. 25th. (Adams Papers)
Went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Castle of Andalusia, with the Devil upon two Sticks. Castle of Andalusia, by John O’Keeffe, with music by Samuel Arnold, first performed in 1782; and Samuel Foote’s highly successful comedy first produced in 1768 ( Biographia Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... , London,...
15133John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your few lines of August 25 th. were forwarded to me from the Hague by my brother, and though short, yet as the tokens of your remembrance, gave me the customary pleasure. A longer interval than I can fully justify to myself has elapsed since I wrote you last. But having written repeatedly to my father, I have always supposed myself writing at the same time to you. As you have been a traveller...
151346th. (Adams Papers)
This being the last day before the close of the vacation, I was part of the day employ’d in getting my chamber in order. Williams was with us all the forenoon. We spent the evening at his Father’s. Miss Jenny appears more amiable to me, than she did formerly, and her behaviour has eradicated a small prejudice, which misrepresentation , had raised in my mind against her. It has been observed,...
151353d. (Adams Papers)
Continued in the first volume of Blackstone. In the course of my reading this day; I came across a paragraph, which surprized me; it was this. “It is a principle of universal law , that the natural-born subject of one prince, cannot by any act of his own, no, not by swearing allegiance to another, put off or discharge his natural allegiance to the former: for this natural allegiance was...
15136Tuesday 23d. (Adams Papers)
The weather is very much like that of the Bank. The Courier has taken two fish. At twelve o clock we shall Sound. 4 o clock. We have not sounded. Very foggy all this day.
15137John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The shortness of my paper, & of my time yesterday abridged my discription of the natural ruins at Adersback, one of the most curious objects we have yet viewed upon this journey. As I was closing my letter, the king & queen passed under our windows, on their way to Furstenstein. There, a double entertainment combining the fashionable amusements of antient & modern times, a carousel & a...
1513820th. (Adams Papers)
Snow’d all day. We were rather tired after our expedition. I have been idle; and do not by any means feel disposed to write at present.
151396th. (Adams Papers)
Went down in the Evening and was a couple of hours at Mr. White’s. They were to have had Company, there, but were disappointed. I was not. I pass’d the Evening, in a very agreeable, sociable manner, which I should not have done in the other Case. The way we have here of killing Time, in large Companies, appears to me, most absurd and ridiculous. All must be fixed down, in Chairs, looking at...
1514018th. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
This afternoon I went with Mr. D. and drank tea at Mr. Peyron’s. Cloudy Weather.