111From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 18 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters are always welcome, the last more than all others, it’s subject being one of the dearest to my heart. to my granddaughter your commendations cannot fail to be an object of high ambition, as a certain passport to the good opinion of the world. if she does not cultivate them with assiduity and affection she will illy fulfill my parting injunctions. I trust she will merit a...
112From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 12 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In the month of July I received from Fiseaux & co. of Amsterdam a letter notifying me that the principal of their loan to the United states would become due the first day of January. I answered them that I had neither powers nor information on the subject, but would transmit their letter to the Board of treasury. I did so by the packet which sailed from Havre Aug. 10. The earliest answer...
113From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1824 (Adams Papers)
Mr Benjamin Parker Richardson, a Grandson of a neighbour of mine, who has lived in harmony with me for almost eighty nine years, is very desirous of seeing the venerable Author of the Declaration of Independence, and as this is a virtuous curiosity which I always applaud and encourage in our young men, I have ventured to give him a line of introduction to you. A freedom which I have taken too...
114To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Letter from The Hon. Stephen Higginson Esqr. is upon a Subject of so much Importance, and contains so much Information that I cannot withold it from you. The little Jealousy, Envy or Caprice, that shall deprive our Merchants of the Benefit of Trading to the Isles of France and Bourbon, will only compell them to seek the Ultimate Markets upon the Continent, directly. In four days,...
115To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you a Postscript to the Report on Measures, Weights & coins now before your house. this has been rendered necessary by a small arithmetical error detected in the estimate of the cubic foot proposed in that report. the head of Superficial measures is also therein somewhat more developed. Nothing is known, since the last session of Congress of any further proceedings...
116John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter, after an Education at our Cambridge , travelled with J.Q.A. to Russia , Spent two years in looking at parts of Europe , returned to Boston , read Law with one of our first Professors in Boston , is admitted to the Bar, and now Wishes to have the honour of Seeing Montecello and paying his respects to President Jefferson
117From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
When Harris was returned a Member of Parliament a Friend introduced him to Chesterfield whom he had never seen—So Mr Harris said his Lordship you are a Member of the House of Commons—you have written upon Universal and scientifick Grammer! you have written upon Art, upon Musick, Painting and Poetry! and what has the House of Commons to do with Art, or Musick, or Painting, or Poetry, or Taste...
118From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Late last night I received Your Report and your translation of Tracy, for both of which, tho’ I have read neither I thank You. but the full proof of Your returning health has given me more Pleasure than both. I envy your Eyes and hands and Horse. Mine are too dim, too tremulous and my head is too dizzy for the Sovereign Doctor. All is now Still and tranquil. There is nothing to try Mens Souls...
119To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barretts Arrival at Paris, is a lucky Event, and his appointment by the Merchants in Boston a judicious step; but I am not so clear in the Choice he makes of L’Orient to reside in. Paris, or even Havre, seems to me a better situation, Paris in preference to all others. If Boylstone would Act in concert with him, his Capital would be equal to every Thing which relates to the Business: But...
120To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Sept. the 11 th. came to hand in due time & since that I have recieved the copies of the Prussian treaty you were so kind as to send me. I have recieved a short letter from m r. Barclay dated Cadiz Sep t. 25 th. only announcing his arrival there & that he should proceed immediately to Madrid. At this latter place he would meet my letter informing him that we did not propose any...
121From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1825 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Charles Sigourney & Lady, a respectable pair in Hartford, Connecticut, the Husband a Son of my old friend in Amsterdam, and the Wife, a very conspicuous literary Lady, have requested a line to you, as they are bound on a journey to the seat of your University—and wish I suppose an apology for visiting Monticello—I have lost your last letter to me, the most consolatory letter I ever...
122From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 6 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
The time which has intervened between the receipt of your favor , covering D’Ivernois’ letter, and this answer, needs apology. But this will be found in the state of the case. I had received from him a letter similar to that you inclosed. As the adoption of his plan depended on our legislature, and it was then in session, I immediately inclosed it to a member with a request that he would sound...
123From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I hear of a conveyance which allows me but a moment to write to you. I inclose a copy of a letter from Mr. Lamb. I have written both to him and Mr. Randall agreeable to what we had jointly thought best. The Courier de l’Europe gives us strange news of armies marching from the U.S. to take the posts from the English. I have received no public letters and not above one or two private ones from...
124To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to save you the trouble and Expence of purchasing Horses and Carriages, which will not be necessary, I have to inform you that I shall leave in the stables of the United States seven Horses and two Carriages with Harness the Property of the United States. These may not be suitable for you: but they will certainly save you a considerable Expence as they belong to the studd of the...
125From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the fourth instant by Colonel Franks, with a Project of a Letter to the Emperor of Morocco, and Several other Papers. I have had this Letter, fairly copied, with very few and very inconsiderable Alterations and have Signed it. I have left room enough, at the Beginning, for you to insert, or leave M r Barclay to insert, the Emperors Titles and Address, which may...
126From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
I am diligently & laboriously occupied, in reading & hearing your “political economy”—I call it yours because I do not believe that Tracys is more of an original in point of purity, perspicuity or precission—I have read as yet only to the 90th page—it is a connected chain of ideas & propositions, of which I know not which link to strike out. His philosophy appears to me to be precisely that of...
127From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 23 November 1819 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you and myself on your recovery from the three Illnesses that have distressed you, the means that have been used to preserve you may, and I hope will have laid a foundation for good Health, and many more years of an already long Life. My Health is astonishing to myself, I can say, like Deborah Queen Ann Dutchess of Marlbourgh—who in one of her letters, after innumerating a...
128To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 2 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been deeply afflicted with the account of your accident—At first your leg was broke—I shuddered, I feared that I should have no more letters from Monticello—Next came the account that it was only a small bone in the Arm. My hopes revived the difference between the leg and the Arm was immense. To illustrate this difference, and for your consolation and amusement; I will give you an...
129To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you a letter from one of our captive citizens of Algiers, if I may judge from the superscription and from the letters from the same quarter which I have received myself. as these relate to a matter before your house, and contain some information we have not before had, I take the liberty of inclosing you copies of them. I have the honour to be with sentiments of the...
130From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 15 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The people of Europe seem still to think that America is a mere garden plat, and that whatever is sent to one place is at home as to every other. the volume I forward you by this mail was found on Maj r Cartwright’s death, to have in his own handwriting an address for you altho’ mistaking your Christian name. his friends having occn to write to me on another subject, and supposing we were but...
131To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I hear of a conveyance which allows me but a moment to write to you. I inclose a copy of a letter from mr̃ Lamb. I have written both to him & mr̃ Randall agreeable to what we had jointly thought best. the Courier de l’Europe gives us strange news of armies marching from the U.S. to take the posts from the English. I have received no public letters & not above one or two private ones from...
132To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 27 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived yesterday and have made my visit to day, and been very politely received by the Marquis, but of this more hereafter. This is devoted to a smaller subject. Upon Enquiry I find that I cannot be exempted from paying duties upon my Wines, because no foreign Minister is, except for a less quantity than I have of the best qualities in my Cellar at the Hague, so that I must stop all that I...
133From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 27th. June is received with pleasure, for the free air of it delights me. Your number of 1267. letters in a year, does not surprise me; I have no list of mine, and I could not make one without a weeks research, and I do not believe I ever received one quarter part of your number. And I very much doubt whether I received in the same year one twelfth part; There are reasons enough...
134From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
Watchman! what of the night!? Is darkness that may be felt to prevail over the whole world? Or can you perceive any rays of a returning dawn? Is the devil to be the “Lords anointed” over the whole globe? Or do you forsee the fulfilment of the prophecies according to Dr. Priestly’s interpretation of them? I know not but I have in some of my familiar and frivolous letters to you told the story...
135From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I answered your Letter of the 12, and Yesterday received yours of the 16.— Com. Jones has before now delivered you dispatches that will Serve no doubt for your direction. M r Van staphorst, will have no Objection to an handsome Commission, for paying off, the Debt M r Fizeaux mentions: and M r Fizeau, will be glad to have it paid off, that the Money Lenders not knowing what to...
136To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 29 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return your letter at your request signified by Gen. Dearborn though it has been such a cordial to my heart—I feel much reluctance to release it. Since it has appeared in print it has been received with applause—great & universal. Our fellow citizens are determined to elect a President avec connaisance de cause —for the question has in discussion in every nook in the United States for seven...
137From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 25th of last month, came to my hands Yesterday and I am glad to find you so well pleased with your Retirement.—I felt the same delightful satisfaction after my Return from Europe, and I feel still every summer upon my little farm all the Ardour, and more than all the Ardor of youth: to such a Degree that I cannot bear the thought of writing or reading, unless it be some...
138To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1793 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the information I received from you on the first Wednesday in January that the list of votes for President & Vice President were received at the seat of government from all the states except that of Kentucky, I sent a special messenger to the District judge of Kentucky for the list of the votes of that state lodged in his custody, and by the return of the messenger received...
139To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 10 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with great Pleasure your favour of the first.—Your Excursion I dare answer for it, will be advantageous in many respects to our Country.—The object of mine to Holland was to procure Money, and I had the good fortune to obtain as much as was necessary for the then present Purpose: but it was not in Consequence of any orders from Congress, and therefore I am under some Apprehension...
140From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have taxed my eyes with a very heavy impost to read the senator Tracy’s Political Economy & been amply rewarded for the expense. When I first saw the volume I thought it was impossible I should get through, it, but when I had once made a beginning I found myself led on in so easy a train from proposition to proposition, every one of which appeared to me self evident, that I could not leave...