11John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 December 1818 (Jefferson 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 pro o f 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...
12John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
If I am not humble I ought to be, when I find myself under the necessity of borrowing a juvenile hand to acknowledge your kind favour of the 19 th I have read your university report througout throughout with great pleasure, and hearty approbation; Of Tracy ’s report I have read as much as I could, the Translation appears to me an original written with all the purity, accuracy, and...
13John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 13 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As you was so well acquainted with the philosophers of France I presume the name and character of Mademoiselle De Lespinasse is not unknown to you. I have almost put out my eyes by reading two volumes of her letters which as they were printed in 1809 I presume you have read long ago. I confess I have never read any thing with more ennui, disgust and loathing. The eternal repitition of mon dieu...
14John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As you know I have often been ambitious of introducing to your acquaintance some of our literary characters, I now send you in the same spirit, some mathematical papers by our M r Bowditch who has translated La Place ’s mechanique coeliste & has written commentaries upon it as voluminous as the book—; which are thought by our scientific people to be one of the greatest astronomical productions...
15John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am dill diligently & laboriously occupied, in reading & hearing your “political economy”—I call it yours because I do not believe that Tracy s is more of an original in point of purity , perspicuity or precission—I have read as yet only to the 90 th page—it is a connected chain of ideas and propositions, of which I know nothing not which link to strike out. His philosophy appears to me to roll
16John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taxed my eyes with a very heavy imost 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 begg 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...
17John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of March 21 st I will communicate to Mr Bowditch , and Pickering — You may put my Letters upon the Subject of Tracy ’s Book into any hands you please, with or without any verbal alterations, as you may think fit —“what you would have them, make them.” or as James Otis used to say to Samuel Adams —here take it. and “ Quicu Wuicu ” it — I am obliged to borrow the hand of a friend to...
18John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
All the Literary Gentlemen of this part of the Country have an Ambitious Curiosity to see the Philosopher and Statesman of Monticello —and they all apply to me for Introductions—and if I had ever received one introduction from you, I should have less scruple of Conscience in granting their requests—in the Stile of our New-England —the Reverend Mr Greenwood the successor of M r Thatcher and D r...
19John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 27 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have transmitted your letter to Samu el Adams Welles Esq r in Boston as you desire This gentleman is a singular character he is I beleive the only surviving male of his Grandfather the late govenor of Massachusetts Samuel Adams who never had but two children a son and a daughter; his son who bore his name died early a surgeon in the army of the Revolution without issue; his daughter married a
20John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
May I inclose you one of the greatest curiositys and one of the deepest Mysterys that ever occoured to me—It is in the Essex Register of June the 5 th 1819.— it is entitled from the Raleigh Register Declaration of Independence— How is it possible that this paper should have been concealed from me to this day— had it been communicated to me in the time of it—I know, if you do not know, that it...