1To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 1 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
The last time I had the honor of being at your house your lady intimated to me, it would be agreeable to you, to peruse the enclosed paper for a few subsequent weeks. I then promised her I would transmit mine, as it was of no use to me. But it escaped my memory until this moment. I now take the liberty to comply with her request. When you find me a subscriber to this paper, I hope you will not...
2To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 2 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I hasten to acknowledge my sense of your politeness in transmitting the very valuable official paper contained in your letter, and of your condescension, in intimating, that any information within my capacity to collect could be of any worth to you. If this attention, as unexpected as it was unmerited, should fail of drawing from me any valuable fact, I hope, Sir, you will not regret your...
3From Josiah, III Quincy to John Quincy Adams, 23 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am duly sensible of your polite attention in your letter of the 13. Inst. and its inclosure. It is doing me a very acceptable and important service, to provide me, as you propose, with the documents of the expiring Congress and will lay me under many obligations. Should any of them be too voluminous for your franking power to cover you need not hesitate to inclose them, on that account, by...
4From Josiah, III Quincy to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge yours of the 4th Inst. and two subsequent, inclosing public documents and to express my grateful sense of these attentions. Your opinions concerning the late changes in Massachusetts and your reasonings and impressions resulting from them, entirely coincide with them mine. I was particularly well pleased that you find no fault with the “medecines” administered, but...
5To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 14 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 25th: found me, in the midst of parliamentary contest, which occupied me too intensely to admit of that early acknowledgment, which a deep sense of the honour, you have conferred on me, dictated. The battle has raged, with some warmth; and it has been my fate, to be in the hottest of it. Whether my exertions were as wise, as, I am sure, they were, well intended, I confess, I...
6To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 17 January 1809 (Adams Papers)
I am astonished, on recurring to my files, at finding that your favour of the 23d. Ulto. has lain by me, so long, unanswered. I shall not recapitulate reasons, nor invent apologies. I know that your goodness will supply both, and find a cause of delay, any where, rather than in a want of a deep sense of the honour & of the value of your correspondence. Both of which, you know me well enough to...
7To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 29 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have the very great pleasure to acknowledge your favour of the 15th. Inst. Be assured, Sir, that I appreciate the honour of your correspondence; and that it will be a precious reward to cultivate and deserve your esteem and confidence. “The uncertainty of politics” is, indeed, as obvious, as it is lamentable. I cannot, however, unite with you, in applying to it the epithet “glorious.” It is...
8To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 27 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I received your very acceptable letter of the 20th. and I shall attend to its request with great pleasure. I neither believe that our “ souls ” or our “ marrow ” are to be tried. The only thing to be put to risque is our “ wind ”. “Armour & attitude”, now-a-days mean only what they did in the days of Æolus.—Quâ data porta ruunt—The seas are upturned and the shipping interest annihilated—But...
9To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 27 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
Be assured that I receive, with the sentiments of respect and humility, which I ought the very high approbation, you have been pleased to express of my exertion in behalf of the Navy. I had hoped a different event from that which followed. But what sailors call an undertow sunk our hopes, while they were yet vivid and perfect. The “base and mean and disgraceful motives” of which you intimate...
10To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 19 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
In complying with the directions of the American Academy & transmitting the inclosed vote I cannot refrain from expressing my individual pain and regret at the dissolution of a tie which to me has been, always as pleasant as honourable. Be assured, Sir, that I cannot cease to feel or to express the sentiments of esteem and respect with which / I am your hl St At a meeting of the American...