19501From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your affecting favour of 16. Aug. is before me. The natural bent of my mind has the honour to resemble yours so much, that chymical physical and mathematical studies would have been the favourite Amusement, pursuit and Occupation of my Life, if I had been permitted to choose. But such Felicity has not been granted to me. Imperious Circumstances have driven me, to Metaphysicks to Theology, and...
19502To John Adams from Stephen D. Kingston, 8 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to address you on a point of the treaty of Peace of 1783, become important in a case of ejectment pending in this State, for property which I purchased in the Island of Barbados in the year 1807, not doubting immediate possession on a title perfectly clear. The 6th. Act provides that “no more confiscations shall be made” The estate in controversy, was then, in 1783, the...
19503To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 9 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have been waiting for the Specimen of such a kind of History, of our country, at the Commencement of our Revolution, as you should write, were you to be our Historian, & whh you encouraged me to expect from your pen—I shall be much obliged by such a specimen—& hope it will be a long one, & contain such facts, as fell within your own knowledge, during the period of your active public life, &...
19504From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 11 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
For some time past I have been unable to read write or See.—So that it has been impossible for me to answer your Expectations as I wished. And now it costs me more pain and time to write a time than it did but seven years ago to write a page.— you will find me but a miserable resource for information or advice in your great Undertaking. I can give you nothing but broken hints. At present I...
19505To John Adams from William Bentley, 19 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Captain John Endicott performed yesterday his promise of the Pears. He observed that they were not quite ripe, but in some of them had made demands, from curiosity, endless. The good old man therefore, at fourscore, took a few in his hand, infact that he might give no notice, travelled to my door, & observed, that he had resolved I should not lose the pleasure of sending them to the President...
19506From John Adams to Stephen D. Kingston, 23 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
If any thing in my power to write, could promote the cause of Justice I should undertake it, with pleasure. But if I have distinct recollection of any of the rules of law, one of them is, that Treaties, as well as Wills Grants and Deeds must speak for themselves—The Trybunals of Justice, Judges and Juries must interpret them by their own Words and by comparing one part with another. No...
19507From John Adams to William Bentley, 24 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 19th. and the important Box. I pray you to express to my Brother Octogenarian Mr Endicott my particular Obligation to him for his kind and obliging attention which has a greater Charm in it for me than a thousand panegyrical Puffs in Newspapers or the costly Presents of Emperors Kings or Princes would have if they had ever fallen to my Lott, which they never...
19508From John Adams to John Vaughan, 25 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I know not by what right or colour of right, I address you: but as the World agrees that you are Benevolence personified I presume upon that principle to introduce to you Mr Samuel Gilman, whose Accademical Education was in the Family of my beloved Sister, whose University Education was at Harvard Colledge, whose Genius has already exhibited very promising productions in verse and prose from...
19509To John Adams from Hendrick W Gordon, 26 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
You having honored me with your name to a letter of recommendation addresed to the President of the United States, stating that from an acquaintance with me of several years, you beleived that my integrity, industry, and ability were fully adequate to a faithfull performance of the duties of the office of Collector of Direct taxes for Middlesex county. I have tho’t it proper to subjoin an...
19510To John Adams from Louis Hue Girardin, 30 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing to you two nos. of a little paper which I edit in this place. They contain very interesting details respecting Your son, Mr. John Quincy Adams. These details were transmitted by Mr. John Quincy Adams himself to Skelton Jones, a native of Virginia, who had undertaken to continue Burk’s history of this state, and intended to annex to the work Biographical notices...