2251From George Washington Adams to Daniel Webster, 22 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
My Father directs me to send you with the above, the volume containing the Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, requesting its return when you shall have done with it, as it is the only copy he possesses I am Sir / Very Respectfully DLC : Daniel Webster Papers.
2252From George Washington Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
By the letters which I yesterday forwarded from Boston you were informed of the very low condition in which my Grandfather lay: The moment I heard of it I came out of town and arrived in time to see him but not to hear him speak. After two days of suffering occasioned by an accumulation of phlegm in the throat which he was too weak to throw off. he yesterday forenoon became easier; spoke of...
I have received your journal for the two first days of this month and shall as you permit read parts of it to my Grandfather. He has consented to give me all your preceding journals which are to be delivered to me next week. He thinks this the most proper disposition which could be made of them as he does not wish them liable to any view but those which you may voluntarily grant. I shall...
2254From George Washington Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
I am enabled to reply to your last favour somewhat earlier than to the two which preceded it and hope that as my large file of unanswered letters is at last wholly disposed of I shall have it in my power to keep pace with my correspondents in future. There are moments in the life of every man when it is exceedingly difficult to bend the attention to business and those who allot special hours...
2255To John Adams from Hannah Adams, November 1817 (Adams Papers)
Sensible of the honour I received by your permitting me to prefix your name to the second and third editions of this work, I am desirous that the present should appear under the same respectable and distinguished patronage. The talents and virtues which you have exhibited, both in public and private life, will, I trust, be duly appreciated by the rising generation; and it is my ardent wish,...
2256To John Adams from Hannah Adams, 3 August 1801 (Adams Papers)
Impressed with a sense of your condescension, in permitting me to prefix your name to a second edition of this work, I am ambitious, that the present should make its public appearance under the same dignified and respectable patronage. I am the rather induced to avail myself a second time of the honour, which your name hath conferred on my Compendium, since your important talents and...
2257Hannah Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
My knowledge of your condescension and goodness emboldens me to address you at present. I have at length prepared my History of New-England for the press, in which I have mentioned your illustrious partner as one of the first and most active promoters of the declaration of Independence. I have given a sketch of his speech on that important occasion from Ramsay. the whole is not inserted in any...
2258To John Adams from Hannah Adams, 21 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
Desirous to gain the patronage of so distinguished a character, with the utmost diffidence I request your acceptance of the inclosed dedication to my View of Religions. Your permission to adorn my book by prefixing your name will do me the greatest honour, I am with the highest respect, / Sir, / Your most obedient humble servant, RC ( Adams Papers ). For Adams and her dedication of View of...
2259To John Adams from Hannah Adams, 27 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Impressed with a sense of your condescension, I again presume to prefix your name to this work, with an ardent wish, that the present additions may render it more worthy your approbation— Secluded in the shades of retirement, I was sensible of the important services you had rendered your country, and highly venerated and admired your character, I now feel peculiarly grateful for having been...
2260From Hannah Adams to John Adams, 16 May 1791 (Adams Papers)
With the most grateful and respectful sentiments I return my acknowlegments for your valuable present. The notice of so illustrious a character does me honor. Your excellent performances afford a source of entertainment and instruction. I had formed an exalted idea of your Defence of the American Constitution; had seen it highly applauded by the Critical Reviewers; and find it exceed my...
2261To James Madison from Adams Herbert & Company, 30 April 1816 (Madison Papers)
We have the honor to enclose you a letter from Messr. J. Howard Maront Co. Merchants Madeira accompg; a pipe old wine shipped to our Care for your excellency by request Col. McPherson Consull of the U. States at that place, We have entered the wine at the Custom House secured the duties & paid the account & Charges of which together with original Cost, and difference of Exch we annex an acct;...
2262To James Madison from Adams Herbert & Company, 3 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
We had the honor to receive by the mail of this day, your Excellency’s letter of date the 1st Current, and beg you to accept our acknowledgements for your promptitude in forwarding us the check for five hundred fifty three Dollars & 80/100 which it contained, and which is in full for the original cost and subsequent Charges on One pipe wine from Madeira. We shall attend very particularly to...
2263To James Madison from Jacob Adams, 4 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Inclosed I have This day received P my fast Sailing Brig Dove, Cap Child from Madiera who has performed his voyage in Less than 3 mo. after being detaind for a considerable time in Madiera. Should you have any occasion for a dispatch vessel, She is at your Command. I will let her go, to any part of the world, at a moderate price, In order to give employ & bread to the Crew who I have had...
2264Jacob Adams to James Monroe, 9 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 5h. and shall pay due attention to the same. In two days from this shall be ready to proceed to sea, I am still of opinion, the ship will not get away before this day week. Should you wish to send any Dispatches or messengers by setting out Imedy. they will be in time, should it be your wish, I can proceed with my ship to Gottenburg (while my return passengers are...
2265To Benjamin Franklin from James Adams, 3 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Necessity forces me to inform your Excellency, that I am one of the unhappy Number, now in confinement in this prison, for what they please to style a Rebel, I was master of the Contl: Sloop of Warr, the Providence, John Pick Rathborn Esqr. Commr. & was so unfortunate as to be rose upon, in a Brigg, a Prize, on my Passage for Boston, Capt. Calef the bearer...
2266From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
The information in your last letter, of your return to your garden and your records has given me great pleasure. The records are very interesting, and your translation of them will be an honourable and a durable Monument to your Memory Your friend and my friend Mr Tyng has told you truely that I am “constantly employed” and may add, beyond my Strength of body or mind. Never in my whole life...
2267From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss, who loves Us, will deliver You this. He will tell You every thing. Arbuthnot, Rodney and Walsingham are to be pitted against de la Motte Piquet, Guichen and Ternay in the West Indies. So that I hope, You will be pretty quiet. Prepare however to co-operate and rout them out of the Continent if possible. Above all let me beg of You to encourage Privateering. The French will be...
2268John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of June 23d. have received. I believe there is no Danger of an Invasion your Way, but the Designs of the Enemy are uncertain and their Motions a little misterious. Before this Letter is sealed, which will not be till Sunday next, I hope I shall be able to inform you better. I rejoice at your fine Season, and still more at my Brother Cranches Attention to Husbandry. Am very glad he bought...
2269From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to give you the trouble of this Commission: but I fear it will not be effectually done but by you—and therefore let me beg the favour of you to send for M r de La Blancherie and withdraw my Subscription to the Society of whose affairs he has the direction, and put a stop to his sending me the Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres et Des Arts.— he persuaded me at the Hague to...
2270From John Adams to Massachusetts Legislature, 26 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
The very respectful, affectionate, and obliging address, which has been presented to me by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by your order, has awakened all my sensibility, and demands my most grateful acknowledgments. As the various testimonials of the approbation and affection of my fellow-citizens of Massachusetts, which have been indulged to me from...
22711779. July 20. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
I was struck with these Words in a Letter from the President Jeannin to M. Bellegarde of 28 Jany. 1609 Si le Roy “est content de ma Conduite, et de la Diligence et Fidelitè, dont j’use pour executer ponctuellement ce qu’il m’a commandé c’est deja une Espece de recompense qui donne grande Satisfaction à un homme de bien; et quand il ne m’en aviendra rien de mieux, j’en accuserai plutot mon...
2272[Saturday June the 3d 1775.] (Adams Papers)
Saturday June the 3d 1775. Congress however ordered the Letter to lie under on the Table for farther Consideration. On Saturday June the 3d 1775. The Letter from the Convention of the Massachusetts Bay dated the 16th. of May, being again read, the Subject was again discussed, and then Resolved That a Committee of five Persons be chosen, to consider the same and report what in their Opinion is...
2273John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I believe I told you in my last , that I had given you all in Lindseys Memoirs, than that interested you. But I was mistaken. In Priestleys Letter to Lindsey Dec r 19. 1803 , I find this Paragraph “With the Work I am now composing I go on much faster and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the Press; though I...
2274[September 1796] (Adams Papers)
The Summer is ended and the first day of Autumn commenced. The Morning is cold tho the Wind is West. To Work again on the high Ways. Billings out upon his Wall a little after Sunrise. Captn. Hall Surveyor of High Ways finished the Road between my Garden and new Wall. To work again on the high Ways. They have taxed me this Year between forty nine and fifty days Works on the Roads besides the...
2275John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
This is one of my fortunate days. The Post brought me, a Letter from you and another from my Friend and Brother. The particular Account you give me of the Condition of each of the Children is very obliging. I hope the next Post will inform me, that you are all, in a fine Way of Recovery. You say I must tell you of my Health and Situation. As to the latter, my Situation is as far removed from...
2276From John Adams to William Plumer, 28 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
You enquire, in your kind Letter of the 19th. Whether, “every Member of Congress did, on the 4th of July 1776, in fact cordially approve of the declaration of Independence”? They who were then Members all Signed it, and as I could not See their hearts, it would be hard for me to Say that they did not approve it: but as far as I could penetrate, the intricate internal foldings of their Souls, I...
22771772. Novr. 21. (Adams Papers)
Next Tuesday I shall remove my Family to Boston, after residing in Braintree about 19 Months. I have recovered a Degree of Health by this Excursion into the Country, tho I am an infirm Man yet. I hope I have profited by Retirement and Reflection!—and learned in what manner to live in Boston! How long I shall be able to stay in the City, I know not; if my Health should again decline, I must...
2278To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 17 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I never was more amuzed with political Speculations, than Since my Arrival in this country.— Every one has his Prophecy, and every Prophecy is a Paradox.— One Says America, will give France the Go By. Another that France and Spain, will abandon America. A Third that Spain will forsake France and America. A Fourth that America, has the Interest of all Europe...
2279From John Adams to John Jay, 30 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the fourth of october, I have had the Honour to receive, and have dispatched the Resolution inclosed in it to Paris to go from thence to Spain: but I hope M r Lamb is already on his Passage for America. The Commotions in New England, will terminate in additional Strength to Government, and therefore they do not allarm me I have lately received from Lord Carmarthen officially the...
2280John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
This Letter will go by the Hand of the Honourable Samuel Hewes Esqr., one of the Delegates in Congress from North Carolina, from the Month of September 1774, untill 1777. I had the Honour to serve with him upon the naval Committee, who laid the first Foundations, the Corner Stone of an American navy, by fitting to Sea the Alfred, Columbus, Cabott, Andrew Doria, Providence, and several others....