1537114th. (Adams Papers)
I was about an hour with Dr. Kilham at his shop, Immediately after dinner; I took up one of the volumes of Junius’s Letters, and carried it with me to the office; I read the whole afternoon, and was interrupted only by the shadows of the evening. I called upon Little, and brought him home with me, to my lodgings: we pass’d a very sociable evening together: after he was gone I took up again my...
15372September 1. 1788. (Adams Papers)
Rain. Pass’d the evening with Stacey.
15373From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, October 1826 (Adams Papers)
There are four Deeds of the Executors to John Quincy Adams, executed, acknowledged, and left at the Office of the Register of Deeds at Dedham, to be recorded, which when recorded you will receive from the Register, and carefully keep There is one Bond, and four Mortagages, executed and acknowledged by me, to the Executors, and one Power of Attorney to my Co-Executor Josiah Quincy—all left also...
15374From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have already drawn for three hundred pounds Sterling, of the credit, for which Mr: Gray gave me a letter upon his correspondents here. He will call upon you for the money; which does not quite amount to the balance I left in your hands for the purpose—I have written to you that I shall in all probability be compelled to draw upon you for more, but as by the course of exchange I draw at great...
153757th. (Adams Papers)
North-east winds, still chill the blood, and with a dull cold principle affect our spirits. This evening, immediately after prayers, the Martimercurean band paraded; the members belonging to our Class appeared for the last Time. They performed the manual exercices, and the different evolutions, very well. Supp’d at Bradish’s with Bridge and Foster: the former has obtained leave to be absent at...
15376Aug. 27th. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon I went to see the Pictures which are exposed to view in the Gallery of the Louvre; there are some good paintings there amongst a great number of indifferent ones. After dinner I went to see the experiment, of the flying globe. A Mr. Montgolfier of late has discovered that, if one fills a ball with inflammable air, much lighter than common air, the ball of itself will go up to an...
1537721st. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams this forenoon closed the subject of Pneumatics, with an account of the different kinds of air. Was employ’d, the chief part of the day in writing my part for Commencement, and have not yet finished it. As I am conscious, of having no talent at rhetorical composition; this allotment has given me a vast deal of anxiety. As my part is of the same kind with that of Freeman, whose...
15378From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 31 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
When Mr Gallatin and Mr Bayard arrived here, they brought us letters from many of our friends, and among them one from your brother George, which gave me much pleasure—But I was sorry there was none form you; and the more so because George’s letter was in answer to one which I had written him last September; and at the same time I had also written one to you—Now I have the satisfaction of...
1537927th. (Adams Papers)
A List of the Present, junior Sophister Class William Lovejoy Abbot. *Abiel Abbot *John Quincy Adams. Jonathan Amory Samuel Angier *William Amherst Baron Barron *Benjamin Beale *James Bridge. *Josiah Burge John Chandler. Thomas Chandler *Gardner Leonard Chandler Caleb Child *William Cranch *Joshua Cushman Peter Eaton *Oliver Fiske John
1538024th. (Adams Papers)
This evening, just after tea, at Chandler 1st’s chamber, we were all called out by the falling of a fellow, from the top to the bottom of the stairs. He was in liquor, and tumbled in such a manner, that his head was on the lower floor, and his feet two or three steps up. When we first went out, the blood was streaming from his head, his eyes appeared fixed, and he was wholly motionless. We all...
15381John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
No, my dear Madam, I have not tasted of the waters of Lethe, nor have the Laws of Nature, been obliterated from my heart, by too close an attention to those of Nations. The reasons which have hitherto prevented me from writing since I left you, are various; but would not be very interesting in the detail, for which reason I shall, omit the unnecessary tediousness of a justification, and offer...
1538211th. (Adams Papers)
A very warm day. I loitered away my time, as I have, every day for these three weeks. Classmates dropping off. Very few will be left by the 21st. This evening the sodality went serenading and at 3 in the morning they play’d in our entry. Richard Whitney of Petersham, Worcester C, was 20, the 23d. of last February. His circumstances are low and he will find it very difficult to get through...
15383From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 22 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 13 May, and assure you that it would give me great satisfaction to contribute in any suitable manner in my power to promote your views of laudable ambition—I am precluded however by several insuperable considerations, from the possibility of complying with your request that I would recommend your appointment, as Secretary of Legation to this Court.—The first...
1538417th. (Adams Papers)
I never was so impatient in my Life, as I am now for other Letters from Europe. Leonard White, went to Boston in the morning, but did not bring back any Letters. Was employ’d great part of the Day in writing off yesterdays Lecture. JQA ’s curiosity was aroused after Billy Cranch had received “a hint of a certain Circumstance” in a letter from his mother the previous day, the same day JQA had...
1538514th. (Adams Papers)
Thanksgiving day. Mr. Hilliard, preached a very long sermon, but none of the best. He appeared to have laboured much, and I thought quite without success. Indeed he thought perhaps there was no reason for giving thanks considering the Situation of the Country, and this makes him the more excusable. Bridge and I went down after meeting to Judge Dana’s; dined, and passed the afternoon and...
15386From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 10 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
In looking over my file of Letters received, I find that the latest date I have from you is of 10. November 1819—I am not sure that I have written since then to you—so let this pass for N. 1. of the year 1820—I have lately had at least the satisfaction of hearing from you indirectly, by your Correspondence with your Mother and your brother; but shall be glad to hear from you more immediately....
15387Sunday July 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
Attended Mr. Wibird all day: in the afternoon, four children were baptised. We remain’d after meeting to hear the singing. Read some of Bolingbroke’s metaphysical speculation in the evening. Dull times.
1538826th. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. D. unwell. Pentecost day. Mr. Artaud went out in the afternoon. Stay’d at home all day. Cloudy weather in the forenoon but clear’d up after dinner.
15389From John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 17 August 1826 (Adams Papers)
Your affectionate letter of the 9th. instt. came to hand two days since, and on the same evening I delivered to your sister Greenleaf the one for her which it enclosed— The loss of fathers such at least as were yours and mine, is and must be irreparable. Yet it is “Nature’s commonest theme,” and speaking from my own experience it is one of the choicest, as it is among the rarest ingredients of...
15390From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 26 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the12th. instt. In the Letter to which it was the answer, it was not my intention either to grieve you, or to threaten you with the loss of your visit to Washington, during the next vacation—It was only to encourage you by the success of your former exertions and to exhort you, by my own anxious wish for your own credit and reputation, to persevering and...
1539114th. (Adams Papers)
After several attempts to see Mr. van Berkel, he was at length found at home, and declined taking back the horse, though he de clared he had never discovered any fault in him. The son said he was sorry his father persisted in refusing. At about 4 afternoon I again mounted the horse, and rode him ten miles as far as Mr. Hall’s tavern, which is a very elegant one; and where I found Mr. de...
153927th. (Adams Papers)
We had this morning a continuation of Mr. Williams’s System; by which, he pretends to account for the aurora borealis, in a manner different from any that has yet been started. His Hypothesis appears to be very plausible, and I hope, that if it is not wholly true, it may lead on to further discoveries concerning a Phenomenon, which has not yet been well accounted for. I declaim’d in the Chapel...
15393John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
For I suppose you must have an explanation to keep you current with the vieux stile , now-a-days.— I have received your pleasant account from Brussels of your travels thus far. Continue to write me as often as you can, and sur tout return as speedily as possible. I have read something in Adam Smith about the wonders performed by division of labour. I know very well the effects of its...
15394From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have not forgotten the engagement which I voluntarily undertook, at the beginning of the last year, not to suffer any month to pass over without writing at least once to you, and once to my Mother, and I am sufficiently sensible that in regard to yourself I have failed in the fulfillment of this promise; inasmuch as my last Letter to you bears date the 25th: of January—the last opportunity...
1539516th. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Stay’d at home all day. Very bad weather. Strong wind, and rain.
1539621st. (Adams Papers)
We had to day a Doctor Haven, from Portsmouth to preach; to day: he took his text from Psalm XXIII. 1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want: in the forenoon, and in the afternoon, from I Corinthians. I: 18. For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish; foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. I did not by any means like him so well, as I did Mr. Thatcher...
15397From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 17 July 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 2d. Instt. has remained some days unanswered, more from a repugnance in me to think at all upon the subject, than from any other cause. If as you say, you have destroyed the prospect of having any part assigned to you for Commencement, I agree with you in the opinion that it will be most comfortable for you, to be as far distant from Cambridge, on that day as you can—Under...
1539817th. (Adams Papers)
Paris. Italian Theatre. 1st. Representation of Alexis et Justine . Went before 5. o’clock. Could not find one place high nor low. Went to the Grands Danseurs du Roi, in a fiacre, for neither Servants nor carriage were to be found. Le trousseau d’Agnes . Le Qui-pro-quo de l’hotellerie . Rope dancing. Sophie de Brabant, Pantomime . Just such another Théatre as the Varietés. Plays just calculated...
153994th. (Adams Papers)
Attended the meeting; forenoon, and afternoon. I went after meeting and drank tea, and spent a couple of hours with my uncle Adams. Past 6 o’clock before I got home. If the weather should be good I shall set out to-morrow with my aunt, to go to Haverhill.
1540030th. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon I went to the shops with Mr. Artaud and bought some things. Mr. Artaud dined at Mr. Rimberts. In the afternoon Mr. Hoogwerst came to see us. Pretty good weather.