1John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 5 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
I must apologize for not having answered before this your last Letter; but your conjectures with respect to Columbus were not without foundation, and what with politics and Law, what with public and private discussion, I have scarcely had a moment that I could call my own to perform my duties to you.— Columbus has been attacked in the Chronicle by a writer under the signature of Americanus,...
2John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post your favour enclosing a draft upon the branch Bank, for 100 dollars. The political speculations of which your fraternal feelings have formed so favourable a judgment, originated in motives at least as disinterested, as are the common sources of patriotism. That a literary reputation is an object of Ambition to the writer, it would be false and absurd to deny. That...
3John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 2 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
You will doubtless hear before this reaches you, the event of a Town-meeting which was called here lately for the purpose of helping forward M r: Madison’s resolutions, and of intimidating our respresentatives who opposed them. After great [exertion] had been made to raise a Committee ready for every thing, [and the?] Committee had reported a number of resolves to answer [their purpo]ses, a...
4John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 24 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday your favour of the 13 th: Inst t: Our Supreme Court closed their session in this town last monday, and I am thereby left with more leisure, and less care upon my hands than I had been for some time past used to. The anxieties of business carry with them an antidote, but the anxieties of no business have nothing to weaken or alleviate them. My Grandmother is still living,...
5John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your very laconic favour enclosing a draft upon the bank for 500 dollars which I shall pay over according to your directions. We are in great apprehension of being forced into a War. The last intelligence we have from the West Indies is that they capture and condemn all our vessels without discrimination— A Man arrived yesterday with an account of more than thirty sail...
6John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 12 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your favour of the 3 d: inst t: We still hold tolerably firm to the text of neutrality; though we have our partialities for the french, and are much irritated against the british.— This is natural enough, and indeed, although we have some grounds of complaint against both with respect to their treatment of our commerce, in their present contest; yet it is not to be...
7John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 18 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
M r: Newcomb has executed a power of Attorney, authorising you to receive his interest due. I herewith enclose it.— You mention in your Letter to your mother, that you expect to leave Philadelphia the 28 th: of this month. But not where you purpose to go. I should be glad to hear from you once in a while. I think you are now in my debt upon the score of our correspondence. War—seems to be now...
8John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 26 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
M r: Dorr obtained a passage in the vessel with M r: Jay, and M r: Jones, had an opportunity to go from Newport, so that they had no occasion to make the application to Congress, in behalf of which I requested your favour. I drew another petition some time since, for the manufacturers of snuff and tobacco in this Town, making representations against the tax proposed upon those articles. I know...
9John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
The stage in which I had engaged a passage for Philadelphia this morning, has gone away by mistake, and left me behind, which gives me leisure to write a line by my brother. He intends to pay you a visit this summer, and will be the bearer of this. I was detained three days in Newport for a wind, but otherwise have had a very comfortable passage from Boston hither— I find my health better than...
10John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 10 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here last Evening, and this morning paid my Respects to the Secretary of State, who introduced me to the President.— I find that it is their wish that I should be as expeditious in my departure as possible. I told the Secretary, that the state of my own affairs would render my return to Boston previous to my departure, extremely eligible to [my]self. He enquired whether it would be...
11John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am yet uncertain as to the next point of my departure. But as I do not hear of any opportunity to go from hence, it is probable I may be permitted to return to Boston. I am glad that the man who has partly engaged to go with me, has already been to take, the small pox, as he will probably be ready upon my return and I shall be obliged to go by the very first opportunity. I have begun upon my...
12John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
Since my arrival here, I have employed all the Time, that I have been able to spare, from the more important business of visits and dinners, in the Office of the Secretary of State, and have gone through six large folio volumes containing your dispatches to Congress while you were in Europe. They can have but little relation to the business upon which I am about to proceed; but they have...
13John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 27 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
I expected to have been on my way to Boston before this; but M r: Hamilton is gone into the Country, and I cannot be supplied with my instructions untill he returns. He has been expected every hour these four days, and it is very possible that four days hence he may still be hourly expected. In the mean while I am here lolling away my time, and sweating away my person, with nothing to do, and...
14John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am still waiting for the arrival of Col l: Hamilton whom it is necessary for me to see before my departure, and who has been detained several days in the Country by the sickness of a child. I received your favour of the 20 th: inst t: and my brother is now prepared to go with me.— We should be very happy to comply with your request respecting the bracelets, but we shall certainly not have...
15John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 August 1794 (Adams Papers)
Col l: Hamilton arrived in Philadelphia, the night before you left it, but from the pressure of business more immediately urgent, was not prepared for me untill last Friday. On that Evening I left the City, in company with Gen l Knox, and arrived here (quite overcome with fatigue, and somewhat unwell of the complaint which you brought from the same place) on Saturday at about 6 in the Evening....
16John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1794 (Adams Papers)
We have been already ten days in this place, but there has been no opportunity to Boston since our arrival. And altho’ I have done but very little, yet I have been so perpetually busy, that I have scarce found time even to write to the Secretary of State, and to my Father. My Brother I presume has informed you, how pleasant our passage was in every respect, excepting the conveyance, & how very...
17John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
The day after the date of my last Letter, we dined at M r: Hallowell’s, and were entertained with much hospitality. We saw his Daughter, whom we found very amiable and accomplished After seeing her, I felt myself at least highly flattered by the proposal M rs: Gill made to you, and the young Lady, certainly took the shortest way to my heart, by the manner in which she spoke of you. I was much...
18John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 20 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Upon my leaving America, your Father gave me an order upon Mess rs W. & J Willink for five obligations on a Loan of the United States, for a thousand Guilders each, bearing an interest of five per cent. and upon which one years interest will be due, on the first of June next, which he directed me to hold in trust for your use, and subject to your orders. This instruction has been complied with...
19John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 20 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
About a month after I last took my leave of you in New York, I sailed from Boston, and after a passage of twenty eight days landed at Deal in England. We spent a fortnight in London, where we saw several of your friends who enquired particularly after you: and have now been about three weeks in this Country, principally at the Hague. It is at a very critical and dangerous period for this...
20John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 24 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have already written you respecting the private business upon which I was commissioned by your father, and I enclose a duplicate of that Letter, to meet the case of miscarriage, that may happen to the original. But you will expect, and indeed are entitled to some more lines from me, though I have nothing interesting to say to you, except that we are well, and very anxious to hear the same...
21John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I hear of an opportunity from Rotterdam to Boston, but so lately that I have scarce time to write any Letters except my necessary dispatches. General Eustace goes as a passenger in this vessel, and I have given him letters of introduction to you and several other of my friends in Boston. Had I known of this vessel earlier I could have taken measures to send your things by her; which for the...
22John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
The arrival of the french Army in this Country, as the friends and allies of the Batavian People, and the Revolution, which has abolished the Stadholdership, the nobility, the former States of the Provinces, and the Regencies of the Cities, will undoubtedly be a subject of considerable attention in our Country; perhaps it may give occasion to many groundless rumours and reports, and possibly...
23John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 15 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
By the arrival of M r: Van Rensselaar, I am favoured with your letter of Nov r: 29. I have not yet seen that Gentleman, who is still at Amsterdam, but proposes visiting this place in a few days; you well know what a pleasure we always derive in foreign Countries merely from the sight of one of our own Countrymen, and in this instance I shall be still more gratified in meeting a person, who...
24John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 16 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your favour of Dec r: 1 st: sent me a few days since by M r Van Rensselaar. It is the first direct communication we have had from any part of our own family, since we left our Country, and it was an article which wanted no stimulus of scarcity to make it valuable. Your political information was very acceptable, and I hope you will not fail to continue it by every future...
25John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Nov r: 26. Was not quite five months in reaching me. I received it about a week since, and as the first direct communication from you, since we sailed it was peculiarly acceptable, though it had been so long on the way. You have received before this time I presume, my letter of Feb y: 12. at least you are informed of the great changes which have taken place in the Government of...
26John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1795 (Adams Papers)
We seem to be once more restored to some connection with our own Country; for six months after we left it, we might have been almost ignorant of its existence, but for the perpetual admonition of our own Hearts. A few days since I received from Hamburg, your favour of Feb y: 10 th. The third letter of yours that has reached me, and all within the course of three Weeks. Had you known of the...
27John Quincy Adams to Charles Adams, 17 May 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favours dated Feb y 16. which M r: Wilcox sent me from Hamburg, and of March 10 th: which came in a Vessel arrived a day or two since at Amsterdam. The newspapers came with them, and proved a great entertainment to us. The Herald is a very excellent paper and I wish you by all means to continue sending it by every opportunity. But when you send them by...
28John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
We have very seldom an opportunity of hearing from you; and still more seldom that of writing you by a direct opportunity. An indirect one presents itself, and I cannot let it pass, were it barely for the pleasure of writing you that we are well, and enjoy in profound tranquility the beauties of the Season. The Peace and Alliance between France and Holland; the violent insurrection against the...
29John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of April 22. marked N. 4. reached me a few days since; I have already acknowledged the receipt of your three preceding letters and have answered them. The sight of a letter from America has lost none of its charms in Europe, and that of one from you can never lose them in any part of the world. I have just written an encyclopaedia of politics (I mean in point of quantity) to my...