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.
15141Thur 2d. (Adams Papers)
A fresh breeze from the South. Continual Squalls thunder and lightning. 6 o clock PM. The weather has cleared up.
15142From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 May 1806 (Adams Papers)
The Children are both in perfect health; both contented with their situations, and both beloved by all around them—George appears to have lost none of his sensibility, but has a placidness and ease of temper, which must have come to him I think from some of his Remote Ancestors—He reads tolerably well, and still prides himself as much as ever in his learning. He agrees very well with his...
15143John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
You will receive the letter I wrote you during my captivity at Helvoetsluys, where I was detained by opposite winds and violent weather almost three weeks. On the 11 th: inst t: I arrived here. How long I shall stay is yet unknown to myself, but I hope not long; there is something so dissipated and yet so solitary in the residence of a City like this, that I have never found in it either the...
1514410th. (Adams Papers)
Very few of the students have arrived. Not more than 15 of our Class have yet appeared. The tea Club were at my chamber: only 6 of them however were assembled. We had a supper and spent the evening at Freeman’s chamber.
1514528th. (Adams Papers)
Writing all the forenoon. In the afternoon I went out, with my brother Tom, upon a shooting party: indifferent sport. Somewhat fatigued in the evening. I sit down every day to write journal, but here events in general are so trifling, that a relation of them is not worth committing to paper: and as to sentiment, there is nothing here to raise it in the mind; if I had a brain as fertile as that...
151468th. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
This day the French comedians play’d at the summer garden theatre. L’honnete criminel. Charles Georges Fenouillot de Falbaire de Quingey, L’honnête criminel, ou l’amour filial, Paris, 1767 ( Brenner, Bibliographical List Clarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789 , Berkeley, 1947. ).
15147From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 16 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
American News presses upon us with an interest still increasing, and which will soon be but too powerful. It is impossible that the Summer should pass over without bringing intelligence which will make our hearts ache; though I hope and trust that nothing will or can happen, that will break the Spirit of our Nation—We are but just now receiving the accounts of the arrival of the Reinforcements...
1514810th. (Adams Papers)
Leonard White came up in the morning, and proposed to me, to make one of a small slaying party to Ham p stead, where Mr. White has an house, and farm. At about 10 o’clock, the slay stopp’d at the gate, and we immediately set away; Eliza, Peggy White Mr. Moores, Leonard, and myself. It was half past 11 before we got to the Place, although only 8 miles distant; on ac count of the great number...
15149John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your favour of the 22 d: inst t : thanks you know are “the exchequer of the poor.” upon that exchequer of mine you are entitled to bills to a large amount. I assure you I feel the obligation of your attention to my trunk, which has not yet arrived, but which will be very acceptable when it comes. But your Letter has excited my curiosity, and I find myself very much...
15150From John Quincy Adams to William Steuben Smith, 1 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
I send you back, by Mr Bauwens, the first Volume of Madame de Stael’s Book which was brought with me from Ghent by mistake—At the same time I enclose a French Post-Book which you requested me to procure for you. On leaving Ghent, I forgot to make two small payments, besides that which I mentioned to you of a postage-bill to Mr Hughes—One of them was to Mr Cornelissen for six copies of a Latin...