15181From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 31 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
As another Year is closing upon time, and joining “the years beyond the flood,” I cannot employ its last moments more satisfactorily to myself, or more consistently with the duties at all times incumbent upon me, than in renewing to my dear and honoured Parents the testimonies of my gratitude, duty and affection—In repeating the assurance of my ardent desire to return to them, to my long...
15182Friday the 29th. (Adams Papers)
Rain’d hard all day. Dined at Mr. Le Roi’s with Pappa, Commodore Gillon Captain Joyner, Mr. Coltyzer, Mr. Dana, And My brother Charles. After dinner all the gentlemen went away but My brother Charles and myself stay’d and supp’d there. After supper Mr. Le Roi went with us to the school. We got back to the school at about half Past ten o clock.
1518325th. (Adams Papers)
This morning I arrived at Gottenburg at about 9 o’clock in the morning. Went to Change; found the Count left Gottenburg the day before yesterday. Mr. Lars Kåhre presented me to the French Consul here Mr. De L’isle who appears to be a clever sort of a gentleman. I dined with him at a tavern in the town and in the evening I went to the Coffee House.
1518415th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. West went away this morning; My Father and my brother Charles, went to Boston; whence they will proceed tomorrow to Cambridge. Beale came here this forenoon, and took a dinner with us. He is studying law, with Mr. Barnes at Taunton, but spends much of his time at home. Mr. Wibird pass’d the afternoon and evening here. Dr. Tufts called here on his way to Boston, and my brother Tom went to...
1518518th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon I attended at Mr. Smith’s meeting: he preaches without notes, and like all the preachers, who make a practice of this, that I ever heard, often repeats the same sentiments. In the afternoon I went to hear Mr. Shaw. After meeting I went up there and pass’d part of the evening. Mr. Redington and Captain Marsh and Deacon Eames were there.
1518617th. Mond. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon We went to see a Gentleman who has a Cabinet of Curiosities, in Painting, sea shells and insects. His Cabinet is pretty well furnish’d but not entirely in order. In the evening we all went to the play but stay’d there only a few minutes because it was so full. The King goes almost every Night to the play, but was not there this evening because the Prince Frederick’s consort is...
151875th. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon A Doctor Young came to our office, for a writ against a number of insurgents. It seems he was a volunteer in the service of government, the winter before last; and being upon a party against several of them received a ball in his knee, which has made him a cripple for Life. He brought an action against them some time since at Worcester, but his jury were one half of them...
15188From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you last, I have not had the pleasure of receiving a line from you, but as you are the most constant and most frequent correspondent that I have beyond the seas, besides the rule which I have followed of answering every letter by one in return, I shall add that of writing to you by every opportunity that occurs during the Winter—I now write by a namesake of ours a Mr: Adams, from...
15189From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I hear of a vessel to sail in two or three days from the Texel, and cannot lose any opportunity to write you directly from hence at this time; as the severity of the season will in all probability soon close the rivers and suspend the expedition of any more vessels for a month or two. But I have nothing very material to say. In my letters as well to the Secretary of State (which I am afraid...
151908th. (Adams Papers)
Amory went to Ipswich this afternoon. He cannot yet get entirely over his old habits. He intends however to come back this evening. I went with Townsend to see Mr. Atkins, but did not find him at home. His Mother and Sister have both been ill of the putrid throat distemper, and are not yet wholly recovered. Townsend came home, and sat an hour with me. We conversed upon several topics, but...
1519125th. (Adams Papers)
The other young gentlemen, went off at about 8 o’clock: I waited about an hour longer, in order to accompany Mrs. Williams. Stopp’d about a quarter of an hour at Genl. Warren’s, and arrived at College before 12: found very few of the students arrived; pass’d the evening at Mr. Dana’s: he is still upon the recovery, but not very fast. Walter Hunnewell , will be 18 the 10th. of next August. His...
1519222d. (Adams Papers)
Weather remarkably mild for the Season: I have been rather unwell for a week or 10 days back, which prevents me from applying myself with so much assiduity as I should wish to. I passed this evening with Thompson and Putnam at Little’s. We were very sociable, and cheerful. At 9 we return’d to our respective homes. The weather before this, had cleared up, though in the afternoon it had...
1519315th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams gave us a lecture upon pneumatics: The parts for Commencement were not given out this morning as was expected: but the Class met by adjournment and tore up the agreement, as they found there was not sufficient unanimity, to carry the measure into execution. William Mason , of Salem, Essex C. will be 19 the 12th. of next September. His natural abilities are very good, and he has a...
15194John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
The bearer of this, is Mr. Hardouin a French young Gentleman whose company I had the pleasure of from Hamborough to Amsterdam, and who intends to go to Havre de Grâce to form an establishment in the commercial way. I receiv’d your favour of the 27th. of April, last friday and shall not fail writing as you enjoin me by every post: except this I shall pursue at present my Latin and Greek...
1519512th. (Adams Papers)
This day I finished reading the fourth and last volume of Blackstone’s Commentaries. This is one of the most important books in the profession, and I have comparatively speaking taken more time in reading it, than I probably shall, for any other book: yet I am very far, from being master of it. And I intend before the end of my three years, if I should live and have my health, to go through...
15196From 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...
1519718th. (Adams Papers)
Unwell, so that I could not do much all day. Finished my elements for an eclipse, and finally found it would be here before Sunrise, and consequently not visible.
151985th. (Adams Papers)
This morning after Commons we had a meeting of the ΦBK, at Cranch’s chamber: We began by admitting the junior’s Grosvenor, Gardner and Barron, after which the performances for the day came on; I read the following Essay. This proposition, though it be strictly true, will not obtain the assent of mankind in general. Very few persons, can so far overcome the prejudices of Education, as to think...
15199From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 27 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday last, the 24th: of December, the Emperor Alexander’s birth day a Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed by the British and American Plenipotentiaries in this City—I had written you the day before that there was to be a conference at 12 O’Clock—It lasted three hours, and the result of it was an agreement to meet the next day, at the Chartreux, the house where the British...
1520024. (Adams Papers)
Comédie Italienne voyage de Rosine et Felix ou l’enfant trouvé. Pierre Antoine Augustin de Piis and Pierre Yves Barré, Les voyages de Rosine, Paris, 1783; Felix, ou l’enfant trouvé, Paris, 1777, by Michel Jean Sedaine, with music by Pierre Alexandre de Monsigny ( Brenner, Bibliographical List Clarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789 , Berkeley,...
15201To James Madison from John Quincy Adams, [3 December] 1803 (Madison Papers)
Some difficulty having arisen in the Senate, in considering the expediency of advising and consenting to the Ratification of the Treaty of limits between the United States, and Great-Britain signed on the 12th: of May 1803. —A Committee of that body has been appointed to inquire and report upon the subject. The difficulty arises from the circumstance that the Treaty with the French Republic,...
152028th. (Adams Papers)
It Snow’d in the morning till 10 o’clock, and it was feared the exhibition, must be again postponed. But it cleared before noon, and at about 3 o’clock, the president made his appearance in the chapel. Lloyd delivered an Oration, upon Commerce in Latin. He spoke so low that I could not hear him. Abbot 2d. and Chandler , then read a forensic, on the question, whether the natural reason of man...
1520325th. (Adams Papers)
Weather still the same. Mr. Wibird spent the afternoon at Mr. Cranch’s. I went with my brother down, and drank tea at my Uncle Adams’s. Had some difficulty to get horses to go to Cambridge with to-morrow. Mr. H. Hayden, died last night of a wound he received by a gun going off, while he was fowling, about 3 weeks agone.
1520422d. (Adams Papers)
We had a lecture in the forenoon from Mr. Wigglesworth. Wrote off something upon conic Sections; for Mr. Williams’s next Lecture. For the future it is left at the option of every individual in the class to attend him or not. The sodality met this evening, but I could not attend. Williams was part of the evening at my chamber.
15205To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 30 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
Since my departure from the United States, I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from by brother and one from my Mother but it has not yet been my good fortune to receive one from you— I have however had the satisfaction of reading your writings in the Patriot, untill the beginning of November; and hope to have the continuation of them, by the first arrivals from Boston, which are...
152068th. (Adams Papers)
I went out with Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Swift, and Miss Riché, to Content to see Lady Wheate, who is one of the most reputed beauties in the Town. I own I do not admire her so much as I expected to, before I saw her. She is like too many, of the handsome Ladies here, very affected. The most pleasing Characters here, are of those who are pretty without enjoying any share of beauty. When shall I see...
15207John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
As I am informed there is a vessel soon to sail from Amsterdam for Boston, I now forward to M r. Bourne to go by her, this letter enclosing copies of my numbers 2 and 3. upon the Etat de la France &c. The book itself will go with the copy of my first letter concerning it, from Hamburg— Hauterive has generally been given out as its author; but Talleyrand himself is now understood to have had...
1520815th. (Adams Papers)
We recite this week to Mr. Hale, in Locke. This is upon the whole, the most unpopular Tutor in College. He is hated even by his own Class. He is reputed to be, very ill natured, and severe in his Punishments. He proposes leaving College, at Commencement, and I believe, there is not an individual among the Students, who is not very well pleased with it. One of my Class Mates, said the other...
1520912th. (Adams Papers)
The government, this morning, determined that if more than half the students should be destitute of wood, the college should be dismiss’d. The president went to Boston, to consult the corporation, upon the subject, and he informed Little, who went this evening to request leave to go home, that the students would be permitted to disperse, to-morrow morning. Club danced at Little’s chamber this...
15210John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 2 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I was two days last week at Dedham, where there was a Court sitting, at which I had something to do— On Friday evening I received your letter of the 17 th: of last Month— Yesterday, being at Boston I found your’s of the 24 th: and rejoyce to hear of your all being so well— They ought not to have charged you with postage for my last Letter— However, 20 Cents is not worth disputing with them. M...