31From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 2 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
On September 11th. I wrote you a line inclosed in a pacquet with four original letters from Governor McKean and a pamphlet of my own. I requested the return of them: but have not been informed whether you have received them or not. Whether it was jocularly or ironically, or ludicrously, or vanity, that I promised you a specimen of the manner in which I would write the history of our country...
32From 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...
33To 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, &...
34From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 15 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10th. and the Pamphlet inclosed “American Unitarianism.” I have turned over its Leaves, and found nothing that was not familiarly known to me In the preface, Unitarianism, is represented as only thirty years old in New England. I can testify as a Witness to its old Age. Sixty five years Ago, my own Minister the Reverend Lemuel Briant, Dr Jonathan Mayhew of...
35To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 10 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am honored & obliged by your favor of the 6th. of March, & wait with desire for your “two or three samples of such a history as you should write.”—I hope they will be of very considerable length—the longer the more acceptable—And if you please let these samples be of portions of our history best known to you—& least known to others.—My present engagements prevent my enlarging now—as I intend...
36From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 4 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your favour of the 1st and the Sermon. I have never Seen Trumbulls History, in print, and know nothing of it, but from the very hasty Perusal of the Manuscript you Sent me. I esteem Dr Morse and Dr Ware. The Vote of the former against the latter never diminished my Esteem for either: because I believed both to be able and conscientious Men. I esteem Dr Morse and Miss Adams and the...
37To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 1 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
Some years ago, you may recollect, I informed you that I had engaged to complete Dr. Trumbull’s Hist. of the U. States, at his request, he feeling himself too far advanced in life to continue that work. I had made some preparations for that purpose, when, for a conscientious act, in opposing the election of Prof. Ware, as a violation of Mr Hollis’ Statutes, a scene of most violent persecution...
38To John Jay from Jedidiah Morse, 28 February 1815 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your acceptable favor of the 14 th . inst. which was rec d . in due course of mail. I regret that your health is declining & hope that you may yet be better, & be continued many years to your family & country. I shall make a vigorous effort to pay you a visit with M r s Morse, in the course of the next six or eight months—but we have learned not to be sanguine in our...
39From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 14 February 1815 (Jay Papers)
On the 4 th . Inst. I rec d . by the Mail from New York, your interesting Letter of the 17 th . ult.— I have read the Pamphlets communicated to me by M r Grant; and derived from them the only Knowledge I have of the Transactions noticed in them. It would not be easy to introduce into my Mind Doubts of your Rectitude— my opinion of it has undergone no alterations. You are drawing Consolation...
40From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 August 1809 (Jay Papers)
I this Morning rec d . your Letter of the 9 inst. with the interesting sermon which it enclosed; and I thank you for them both. A well arranged and well researched ^proper^ History of the U.S. would have much to recommend it, and in some respects, it would be singular ^or unlike all others^ It would develop the Great Plan of Providence for causing this extensive and (these) undiscovered part...