11From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 5 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
If such was the Spirit of the English Church in America, and especially in Virginia before the Revolution: Can you wonder, that Men So enlightened as Richard Henry Lee and his Brothers, Patrick Henry Chancellor Wythe Chief Justice Pendleton, Mr Jefferson Mr Madison &c, though they had been all educated in that Church, became afterwards Disciples of Lock, Blackburne, Fourneux and William Penn,...
12From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 2 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
If I ever comply with your request, I must make haste, & employ the few intervals of light which my eyes afford me. Where is the man to be found, at this day, when we see Methodistical Bishops, Bishops of the Church of England, & Bishops, Archbishops, & Jesuits of the Church of Rome, with indifference; who will beleive, that the apprehension of Episcopacy, contributed 50 years ago, as much as...
13From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 18 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
In your favour of the 15th of November, you ask, in the Name of your eldest Son, the Liberty to take my Buste By Saturdays Mail I recd a Letter dated Philadelphia Decr. 6th. from Mr Joseph De la Plaine, a Gentleman whom I know not, who Says “A respectable Young Gentleman, Mr Morse, lately from London, Son of the Revd. Dr Morse is an excellent Artist I learn. I beg you to do me the honour of...
14From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 22 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
You are examining me upon Interrogatories. I must tell you the Truth and nothing but the Truth. But to tell you the whole Truth is impossible. It would require more Volumes than I can calculate. I am as in capable of composing or Writing them as I am of commanding the Sun to Stand Still. I can only note a few broken Hints. In 1765 the Colonies were more unanimous than they ever have been...
15From 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...
16From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 5 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
The trials of the officer & Soldiers, who were indited for the slaughter in King Street were pending, for the greatest part of the year 1770, & when they came on, consumed six, or seven days each; the discussions & Decisions, in those cases, convinced the people that they could depend on no protection, against the Sovereignty of Parliament but Providence, & their own Arms. Accordingly they...
17From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 29 March 1809 (Adams Papers)
I cannot pretend to any extraordinary Knowledge of the History of this Country, or of what a general History of it ought to contain nor is my Letter written with Sufficient Care for publication: but as this is equally true of every other Thing of mine that has been published you are quite at Liberty to make what use of this you please. My Life has been passed in too much hurry to allow me to...
18From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 20 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the Order of Time, I have passed over a Tragical Event, which excited much interest, and contributed largely, to render the Sovereignty of Parliament odious, detestable and horrible to the People. And I can consionscously add, accellerated the Catastrophy of the fifth of March 1770. In 1769 a little before the Recall of Governor Bernard, The British Frigate, The Rose Sent a Lieutenant, a...