19591From John Adams to Joseph Story, 22 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to accept my sincere Thanks for an elegant Sketch of mr Dexter, which has tenderly affected me. It is a Subject on which I dare not trust myself, to write or scarcely to think. Mr Dexter was to me a Friend in Need . He was at home, every were, as if it had been by Intuition. But my reflections upon this occasion, for myself, for his Family, for his Country, and his Species are so...
19592From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 26 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the Second of this Month, and the Letters I lent you of Governor Mackean: but not the Pamphlet I lent you at the Sametime, So improperly entitled by British Editors, “History of the disputes with America.” This Pamphlet, the only one I know, at present, I pray you to return as Soon as possible; because I have immediate Occasion for it. I am, Sir, very...
19593From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
As I stand in great need of a Casuist in Phylosophy, Morality and Christianity; to whom Should I apply, but to you, whom I consider as the best qualified of all my Friends? The Stoicks, the Christians, the Mahometans and our North American Indians, all agree, that Complaint is unmanly, unlawful and impious. To bear Torment without a murmur, a Sigh, a Groan, or a distortion of Face or Feature...
19594From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 2 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much my accidental absence from home, when you did me the honour to call here. It will be found impossible to do justice to the character of Mr Dexter, without a thorough knowledge of the history of this country, especially of that part of it from 1797 to 1808. The parties during the revolution and since, have grown out of those parties which existed before, from the first...
19595From John Adams to Richard Rush, 3 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I know not whether I am in your debt, or you in mine, but I can no longer refrain from writing The death of mr Dexter has awakened my most latent feelings; I am personally so deeply interested in this event, that I dare not trust myself to write, or even think, on the importance of it. Poor, short sighted mortals as we are! I consider my own reputation, & the true character of my...
19596From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 3 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I regret very much, my accidental Absence from home when you did me the honour to call here. It will be found impossible to do Justice to the Character of Mr Dexter, without a thoughrow knowledge of the History of this Country especially of that part of it, from 1797 to 1802. The Parties during the Revolution, and Since, have grown out of those Parties which existed before, from the first...
19597To John Adams from Richard Rush, 9 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I think I must have been the debtor. But be that as it may, I seized, with equal avidity and delight the letter that had upon it the well-known and always welcome Quincy post mark and the commencement of which flattered me so much. Time and knowledge are powerful agents in working upon the judgment. I never knew Mr Dexter until the last supreme court. I had, indeed, seen him before, conversed...
19598To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 11 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have to ask your pardon for delaying to answer Your’s of the 26th. ulto. & returning the enclosed pamphlet, till now—Your letter found me in the busiest season of the year, engaged to the full—& I have been kept so till this time—I wished to give it another reading before returning it—as it contains some important facts & opinions, recorded at the time , of whh I shd. wish to avail myself,...
19599From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 25 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the style of John and Jonathan Bull, I give you a thousand thanks for your letter of the 18th and the Journal of the Surgeon. The great James Otis whose style was hasty, rough and coarse, and who hated and despised correction, often gave some of his compositions to Sam Adams, whose language was soft, harmonious, and oily, as Otis expressed himself “To quieu it” Who “quieu ” this little...
19600From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 26 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
When I lent you two Letters from Col. Smith I ought to have lent you a third: but it was overlooked by the Person I Sent to find them. That third dated 24th. Feb. 1816 I now inclose, with a Request that after you have examined the three, to your Satisfaction, you would be So good as to return them to me. You have in Contemplation a greater Subject than you perhaps are aware. I have Seen a Well...