Title: From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 9 May 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Otis, Harrison Gray

Dear Sir
Quincy 9 May 1823

The amount of my former letters to you is this that all the sovereignty there existing in the nation was in the hands of Alexander Hamilton & that his conduct of it was delirious or in the strong language of my last letter stark mad I am now to justify these conclusions. The manner in which this oligarchical triumvirate was introduced into power is to be explained hereafter; but in the manner in which the Appius Claudius of it, conducted his omnipotence is now to be briefly hinted at, though it never can be fully explained.
In my speech to Congress I had recommended no army, I had recommended only four or six companies of Artillery to garrison a few of the most exposed fortifications. I recommended no alien law or sedition laws; but Alexander Hamilton had written from New York, had written a letter to a member of the house containing a dissertation containing a complete system of administration foreign & domestic. The grandest measure of all was to raise an army of 50,000 men; 40,000 Infantry & 10,000 cavalry. He recommended a strong sedition law & Alien Law & he recommended to seize upon all the remaining objects of taxation to invigorate the treasury. I need not detail any more of the contents of this letter: but I ask you Mr Otis Why this letter has been so carefully concealed & suppressed? You must have seen it for it was circulated through both houses & it was brought to me for my government. Why is it still concealed, Mr Otis? I have repeatedly called for it in print; but no man dared present it or acknowledge that he has it or has seen it. When I read it, I was utterly astonished. I said “this man is stark mad” or “I am.” He knows nothing of the character the principles, the feelings the opinions & prejudices of this nation. If congress should adopt this system it would produce an instantaneous  insurrection of the whole nation from Georgia to New Hampshire. What can the man mean? Does he not know that such a system of taxation would produce rebellion en masse from the Mississippi to the St Lawrence? Congress however dared not adopt the system; but they did adopt his Alien & Sedition Laws and what was worse than both about a twelfth part of his S twelve thousand men of his standing army: and those 12,000 men ruined him and all his party. Wherever they were posted they produced disgust, animosity & complaints of every kind. They were universally considered as an army prepared for a civil war; for no man of sense could conceive any other reason or motive for its existence—Every man of sense & information I thought must have known that the pompous terrors excited that the French would send 40,000 men to America, were mere bugbears; that France was distracted in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland & Italy, Germany, Holland: that she had not a man to spare; & if she had an hundred thousand supernumeraries, how could she send any of them to America? How is it possible she should send 40,000 men here? How could she find shipping to the amount of 120,000 tons to convey such an army? She had no ships of war—She had no merchant ships: & if she had had all in sufficient number, they would all be picked up by the British Navy before they could get into the Atlantic Ocean: and all this army was to be supported by Loans of Money at 8 percent. This resource would soon have failed & we must have soon been reduced to paper money, to continental currency, to old tenor. In short, I thought all the world was mad & that world thought me mad: & like poor Nat Lee I was outvoted; all & all the boasted sagacity & intelligence of my country appeared to me an empty vision.
More hereafter, at present I remain / Your friend & humble Servant

J. Adams—


Title: From John Adams to William Sumner, 19 May 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Sumner, William

Dear Sir
Quincy 19 May 1823.

I thank you for the privilege of hearing read your manuscript dissertat concern the mil I scarcely know how to express the satisfaction & delight I have received from its perusal. It is so conformable to all my feelings—all my inquiries & all my opinions concerning it from my cradle that is seemed to be living my life over again. The delight of my childhood in the trainings will never be obliterated from my memory. I have seen the march of the militia of Mass to defend the town of Boston against the formidable Armada of the Duke of D’Anville. I have seen the march of the same militia to Cambridge after the battle of Lexington. I have seen the militia of Mass on Bos common under Gov Strong assembled to defend us against the Brit Armadas & I never felt my existence with more cordial delight than I did upon these occasions—but I am in danger of running into a rhapsody of enthusiasm. You have proved it to be the most essential foundation of nat defence—the most plentiful nursery of seamen & soldiers armies & navies. These Americ States have owed their existence to the Militia for more than 200 years. Neither schools nor colleges nor town meetings  have been more essential to the formation & character of this nation than the militia You have proved its importance in a civil political & moral point of view. Improve its constitution by every prudent means but never destroy its universality. A Select militia will soon become a standing army or a corps of Manchester yeomanry. I see with pride and delight that you come forward with such patriotism talents and patience of thinking & inquiry in the service of your country, & am your friend relation & hum Sert J. A— and I long to see it in print the work in print. When ever the militia comes to an end or is despised or nelegl neglected I shall consider this union dissolved & the liberties of North America lost forever—I am dear Sir your friend relation & humble Sert
J. A


Title: To John Adams from Nathaniel F. Williams, 21 May 1823
From: Williams, Nathaniel F.
To: Adams, John

					Venerable Sir
					Baltimore May 21 1823—

				Altho’ I have not the honor of Knowing you personally, but as one of the few illustrious Patriots of the revolution Still living,—and one for whom I feel a great Veneration & attachment for great & distinguished Services rendered to our Common Country in her Utmost Need,—I take the liberty to ask you to furnish me with a Copy of a letter from the late General Washington to yourself,—giving his opinion of your Son the Hon John Quincy Adams. This letter, if I am not Mistaken I read Some years ago & was pleased with it. Being a great admirer of the Splendid talents of Your Son, & grateful for the important Services rendered by him, I wish to Contribute my Mite towards placing before the American people the Strong Claims he has on their affections & gratitude.Accept Venerable / Sir / My earnest prayers for your future Comfort & happiness. I remain With great respect & affection yr obt: Servant

					Nathl. F. Williams


Title: From John Adams to Nathaniel F. Williams, 29 May 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Williams, Nathaniel F.

Dear Sir.
Quincy May 29th 1823.

I have received your favour of May 21st: You request a copy of President Washington’s letter to me concerning my Son It is not in my power to oblige you, that letter and all others I have long since packed up and stored away in trunks and given away, so that they are no longer my property nor in my possession. Stung by some provocations in the agony of my heart I did, some twelve or fourteen years ago, imprudently publish that letter for which I have repented ever since for I desire no such press for me or mine. General Smyth I think or Mr Floyd have candidly informed the Public that I being Vice President had intrigued with President Washington to appoint my Son Minister to Holland. If ever there was a misrepresentation in this World that is one. I never had a thought of my Son’s going abroad till Secretary Randolph called upon me to inform me that President Washington had ordered him to inform me that he was determined to nominate my Son Minister Resident in Holland, on the same day to the Senate. The information was not pleasant to me, I thought my Son too young and I know that his prospects at the Bar in Boston were better than any mission abroad, the truth was that the Boston newspapers had been sent to the President, in them he had read the writings of Publicola and the other writings I believe under the signature of Columbus in answer to the French Minister Mr Genet he was so struck with those writings that he inquired of the Senators and Representatives from Massachusetts who was the author of those Papers and was informed that a young Lawyer by the name of John Quincy Adams had written them. All this passed without the least intimation to me. I had not more concern or knowledge of that transaction than Mr Jefferson Mr Madison or Mr Monroe. But my countrymen have never thought it any sin to publish this about me they have publishd in Europe and America that Publicola was written by me and I had no more concern in one line of it than in the annals of Tacitus.
I salute you Sir with my best wishes and all your friends in Baltimore / and am respectfully / Your friend and humble Servant
John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to William C. Somerville, 2 June 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Somerville, William C.

Dear Sir.
Quincy May 31— June 2d 1823

I have received your kind letter of May 8th. and a valuable publication inclosed and I know not how to express my obligation to you for it. I have heard it tranthintly read & it has afforded me exquisite entertainment and much instruction, it has awakened so many recollections of what I saw and heard in Europe from 17878, 17788, dureing the ten years that I resided in that quarter of the world—As have entirely overwhelmed me,! And it contains so much information new to me of what has passed since my retirement for half quarter a century having deprived me of all opportunities, of acquiring constantly intelligence, That and the volume is to me of great value. It appears to me a masterly review of the history of France for the last 300 years and especially for the last 50 years. It would require a longer time than, I have to live to write all the observations which occur to me in hearing it. I can only note a few hints. Mr Burke That mass of belles letters & classical lore has pronounced Lord Bolingbrook a superficial writer. I You may allow him to have been so if you will as a metaphysician & theologian if you will but as a lawgiver he was infinitely more profound & correct than Mr Burke himself whose diatribe on the french revolution shews him to have been very superficial in his notions of government & his India bill shews him Mr Fox &  North either to have been totally ignorant of the English constitution or solemny determined to destroy it. The conduct of the old king shewed that he understood it much better & had the fortitude to defend it
I have often wondered that the unblushing heads of the allied powers did not hang down when they assumed the title of the holy alliance This was the titele of that infernal alliance between the Pope Phillip the 2d of Spain the duke of Alva Catharine of Medicis the Cardinal Lorraine & the house of Guise’s which spread such horrors through Europe—endangered the protestant religion & every remnant of liberty throughout the world, which produced that worthless woman Mary Queen of the Scots endangered the life of Queen Elizabeth throughout her whole reign & with it the protestant religion & the English constitution. Is it not unaccountable that such Men as Mr Turgot, the Duke of De Larochfoucault, and Mr Condorcet such profount Masters of letters and science should have recommended in public writings a perfect sovereignty in a representative democracy in a single representative assembly avise advise, which has ruined France and I fear will ruin Spain—Your account of the ratiotinations of the Ultras are such as I should suppose were spare of Miltons Demons in Pandimonion—I had supposed that the laborious investigations of Algernon Sydney & Mr Lock in which they have used in renondubia testibus non ne noncessariis would have silenced forever the ravings of Sir Robert Fillmer I am extremely sorry to see—they have availed themselves of the will sentiments of an America Character—the Amiable and Eloquent Mr Ames to give a Colour to their folly but I cannot enlarge but must conclude with repeating my thanks for this valuable volume and assuring you of my high respect and consideration
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from John Henshaw, 25 June 1823
From: Henshaw, John
To: Adams, John

					Sir
					Boston June 25. 1823

				In compliance with the direction of the Standing Committee of the Washington Society, I take this opportunity to request, that you will honor the Society with your presence at a public dinner to be provided by Mr Seymour at the Marlboro’ Hotel on the approaching Anniversary of that Independence, in the achievement, of which, you have so distinguished a part—When nearly all your compatriots of the revolution have quitted their earthly habitations and are enjoying the reward of their labours, by the blessing of Heaven, you still have the Satisfaction of beholding your country respected abroad and the refuge of the oppressed; enjoying the blessings of peace, happiness and prosperityI have the honor to be / with much respect / your Obt Servant

					John HenshawCor. Secy.


Title: To John Adams from Daniel Webster, 26 June 1823
From: Webster, Daniel
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Boston June 26.—

				Genl. Iredell, of North Carolina, son of the late Judge Iredell,  & Mr. Hitchcock, son of the late Judge Hitchcock of Vermont, & now Attorney Genl. of Alibama, are desirous of calling to pay you their respects. They are Gentlemen of much respectability; & I regret that I am not able to have the pleasure of attending them to Quincy.I pray you to allow me to add an expression of the great veneration & regard, with which I am / Your Obt. servant

					Danl. Webster


Title: To John Adams from Alden Bradford, 30 June 1823
From: Bradford, Alden
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Boston, June 30th. 1823

				The enclosed should have been forwarded sooner; but by some accident was overlooked.No assurances can be necessary to convince you, Sir, of the peculiar gratification your presence would afford, if your health & strength should permit. For all are deeply sensible of your great influence in securing the Indepence we celebrate; and all unite in feelings of the highest respect for yourself & family.

					A. BradfordSecy &c


Title: From John Adams to John Jay, 4 July 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Jay, John

					Quincy, Mass. July 4, 1823

				The excellent president, governor, ambassador and chief justice, John Jay, whose name, by accident, was not subscribed on the declaration of independence, as it ought to have been, for he was one of its ablest and faithfulest supporters. A splendid star just setting below the horizon.


Title: To John Adams from John Brannan, 4 July 1823
From: Brannan, John
To: Adams, John

					Sir—
					Washington City, July 4, 1823

				I send you herewith a copy of my late publication, entitled, “Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the United States, during the war with Great Britain in the years 1812. 13. 14. & 15. &c”, which I beg you will do me the honor to accept.—The object of the compilation, you will perceive by the preface, is, to hand down to posterity, the names and deeds of our gallant fellow countrymen, who so nobly sustained what is called our second war for independence.It has cost me great labor and expence, as the whole was copied over and printed from manuscript. I had several more letters and documents, but the Book swelled to a size beyond my expectations, and I was compelled to omit them, as of minor importance as regarded the main object of the work, though valuable as documentary history. The Book as it is printed, contains 60. pages more than was originally promised in my prospectus.—The work embodies a fund of important information, which, I presume, future historians and patriots will highly appreciate—and forms an authentic documentary record of events, which by the rising generation, and by ages yet unborn, must be contemplated, with interest and veneration; and which are unattainable from any other source.— In this city—at West Point—& some other places my subscription was very respectable—but it has not been sufficient to defray the expences of publication. Many gentlemen declined subscribing, supposing it would be a mere catch penny work—but all my subscribers who have received their copies, appear to be highly pleased with it.—After you have made a cursory examination of the volume, (of which the table of contents gives a pretty good idea) you would do me a great favor by giving me your opinion of the work; and whether or not you think its national Character and merits are such, as to be worthy of a place in the libraries of our contemporaries and their posterity.I am the son of a Soldier of the Revolution; toward the close of which I was born—that is to say, my father (a yeoman of Pennsylvania, (now 83. years old) was an officer of the Pennsylvania Militia; a lieutenant at its commencement, and a Colonel at its close; was at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth &c. and his children have imbibed those principles of liberty and independence for which their sire and the heroes and sages of those days bravely and nobly, contended with success.—Wishing you many years of health and happiness, enjoying the gratitude of your admiring Countrymen, for the eminent services rendered your Country, the sweet solalce of the venerable patriot, is the sincere wish of Your Obt. Humble Servant

					John Brannan


Title: To John Adams from John George Jackson, 12 July 1823
From: Jackson, John George
To: Adams, John

					Dr. Sir.
					Clarksburg 12th July 1823

				The enclosed letter to Genl. La Fayette, has been occasioned by the recurrence of our national anniversary, & contains a printed copy of the Address I delivered on that day. If there be nothing improper in the request, and I assure you, that I cannot perceive its impropriety; I pray you to favor me with the facilities at your disposal, to ensure its safe conveyance to him.I send you a copy also, with the frank avowal, that I have drawn freely & with great satisfaction, upon the rich fund of information, contained in your valuable Oration of the year 1821—The sentiments are unsparingly adopted, & it was with difficulty I resisted, to the extent I have, the use of the Language itself, recommended as it is, by so many powerful persuasives—During the last winter I was often tempted to write you upon the subject of your answer, to Genl. Smyths unjustifiable attack, which absolutely prostrated the accuser, and was altogether satisfactory to every intelligent, & liberal mind; & in some respects peculiarly so to me, because I had opposed in the House of Reps. the memorable 2d. Section of the Louisiana Law, & was therefore obnoxious to the censure heaped upon you in that particular, altho I was a zealous  advocate for the acquisition of the Province, & its incorporation into the Union.I have the further favor to ask of you, to send me a copy of your Pamphlet concerning the Fisheries &c, as connected with the negociations at Ghent, I have failed in my efforts hitherto to procure it.With great respect / Your mo. obt. Servt.

					J G Jackson


Title: To John Adams from David Sewall, 19 July 1823
From: Sewall, David
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					York 19th. July 1823

				My life being yet continued, and my Scribling faculties stil remaining, I determined to address you a few lines once more to my Old Friend, I felt at a loss, for a Subject, to amuse, But upon the late Anniversary of Independence, I took up a Book which enumerated some of the causes which led to that important event—In which the Resolution of the American Lady, to proscribe the use of Tea; so long as it was Subjected to a Parliamentary Tax. It br’ot to my recollection an anagdote of Major Fuller of New town of Sonorous memory.—While Govr Gage commanded at Boston; Information was made to the Committe that had the Inspection of Congressional & other violations under its care—That the Major went frequently into Boston; and always carried with him a Tin Cannister. From whence it was concluded that He smuggled Tea for himself and Family a crime of no small magnitude, in  a professed Son of liberty at that period. And for which they called upon him to Answer.—The Major acknowledged the Fact of carrying a Tin Cannister frequently, to and from Boston But instead of Tea, which it had been accustomed to Contain, He always had it filled with Gun Powder, By which means He had obtained, a considerable Supply of that important Article—And thereupon, was here by acquitted of the Supposed Crime of Smugling Tea!I enjoy better Health, than Persons of our years usually have, and amuse myself with reading such Occurrences as the Papers of the Day Communicate.—And was very sorry to find Govr. Eustice in his Inaugural Speech to the Massa. Genl Court, had brot to View matters that were supposed, were laid to rest in the chapter of Oblivion.—I sincerely Wish it may not, raise the Embers of Contention.The unnecessary interferance of the French with Spain—respecting its Internal Concerns, is one of permissive Evils of Providence, Which Time alone will perhaps devellop for the general benefit—The emancipation of the Greeks from the Tyranny of the Turks—as Well as that of the Blacks in the Southern States ar a Subject which frequently Occur to my mind But I will trouble you no further with my reveries, that to express my best Wishes for your health & happiness / your Friend & Ser.

					David Sewall

					upon looking over the Catalogue of our College cotempories Peter Thatcher Smith—and Henry Hill yet survive


Title: To John Adams from Francis J. Oliver, 22 July 1823
From: Oliver, Francis J.
To: Adams, John

					Sir
					Boston July 22d: 1823.

				It having been publicly announced that Captain Isaac Hull is about to relinquish the Superintendency of the Navy Yard at Charlestown for a command on foreign Service; a number of the Citizens of Boston and its vicinity intend to give him a complimentary dinner at the Exchange Coffee House, on Wednesday the 30th inst, at 4 0Clock PM, in token of their respect for his public & private character, and gratitude for his Services.It would afford the Subscribers to the dinner the highest degree of gratification, if the health and Strength of the Father of the Navy would permit him to unite with them in this festive manifestation of gratitude to the pioneer of our Naval distinction; and they respectfully request the honor of his Company.—If, however, he Should find it necessary, (as it is known to the undersigned that he has done, on Several late occasions,) to decline accepting a public invitation, they respectfully request that he will favor them with a Sentiment for a toast to be drank on the occasion.In behalf of the Subscribers; & / with the fullest expression of their / personal respect, they have / the honor to be, his Most Obedt / & very humble Servts.

					Francis J. OliverBryant P Tilden.Wm Sturgis—Jn P. DavisWm. H. Sumner.Henry. G. RiceCommittee


Title: From John Adams to Francis J. Oliver, 28 July 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Oliver, Francis J.

Gentlemen
Quincy 28 July 1823

I rejoice that the gentlemen of Boston have done themselves & Capt Hull the honour of this public testimony of their respect & esteem for his character & gratitude for his public services.—I pray the committee to accept of my thanks for their obliging invita to assist at the festival but my strength is so low as to deprive me of the honour of attending & the pleasure If it were possible for me to attend I would request the company to adopt as a sentiment Immortal glory to the conqueror of the Guerrier and to all the other heroes who have folowed his example in the career of our naval victories on the ocean & on the Lakes
With my best respects I have the honour to be Gentlemen your very obliged & hum Sert
J. A.


Title: To John Adams from DeWitt Clinton, 6 August 1823
From: Clinton, DeWitt
To: Adams, John

					Albany 6 August 1823.

				I have the honor to transmit to you a Discourse pronounced before a Literary Society in this State. My object in delivering it was to evince my zeal for Science and my motive in sending it to you is to indicate my respect for a distinguished Statesmen of the Revolution.I have the honor to be / with the most perfect consideration / Your most Obedt. Servt.

					DeWitt Clinton


Title: From John Adams to Levi Woodbury, 9 August 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Woodbury, Levi

Dear Sir
Quincy August 9th. 1823

I am greatly obliged to you for your letter of August 6th. And also for the pamphlet enclosed with it and most of all for your message to the legislature the kind expressions of your personal esteem and regard are very flattering to me. The subject of the pamphlet is too nearly interesting to my personal feelings for me to make any comments upon it: but I will say it is the most spirited and the most sensible & best written work I have ever read upon the subject—Your request of any hints of advice are a high compliment but surely the gentleman who composed the message to the legislature can never want information or assistance from me. I have no idea of a more ample or comprehensive view of the interests of a state than that message contains. With every wish for your welfare, prosperity & success in your administration I pray you accept again the thanks of your obedient humble servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from George Hay, 12 August 1823
From: Hay, George
To: Adams, John

					Sir—
					Washington. Aug. 12. 1823.

				I take the liberty, of putting into your hands, the inclosed essay, under the signature of Phocion. The subject, it is believed; is worthy of your serious consideration. The communication to me of the result of  your reflections would be gratefully received.I have by the mail of today, transmitted a copy of this essay to Mr. Jefferson, and a copy also to Mr. Madison. I have never applied, until this moment, to either of them, to obtain a knowledge of their opinions on any subject of public discussion. The importance of this Subject, will, I trust, justify in their opinion, my application to them. I anticipate the like indulgence from you.You will take it for granted, that no use is to be made of your letter, or rather of your name, except what is authorised by yourself.I beg you to receive this letter as a proof of the very high consideration & respect, with which, I am, / yr. mo: ob. Svt.

					Geo: Hay—


Title: To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 August 1823
From: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de
To: Adams, John

					My dear old friend
					Paris August 13th 1823

				I Most Heartily thank You for Your Affectionate Letter of Last october which I Have received only three days Ago and Have Also to Aknowledge the pleasure You Have done me By the introduction of Mr Hinckley and His Amiable daughter; they are going to England for a short time and Have promised the much Valued Gratification of their Company at La Grange where my family are Now assembled which Has prevented all, But Myself, to Wait Upon them in town. Happy I Have Been to Make Enquiries about You, and all Your Concerns from Your friends Who Had Seen You Not Long ago, While We Have Been parted for So Many Years. they Say Your Health is Good and Your Spirits the Same as ever, the deserved Consequence of a Sober life and a firm Mind. it is also with Much Satisfaction that We Spoke of old Acquaintances Persons, and Places, My Bostonian Affections and Rememberances Having Ever Had a Great Hold in My Heart the More So indeed as advance in life Has Multiplied the Opportunities to Compare And Made Consolations more Seasonable.The State of Europe is laid Before You By the Newspapers and other intelligences; the faction of Arbitrariness and privilege Have the Advantages of Actual Power, Money, Armies, and place men: public interest, and public opinion are on our Side, Which in a proper degree of Civilisation Would decide the Matter at once. But altho’ the doctrine and  of the Rights of Mankind Must Ultimately prevail, the struggle May Be Continued for a long time, and Successes of the Antipopular Cause Sadden the Hearts of philantropists. thank God We Have the Comfort to Witness the triumph of liberty, Under its Most perfect forms, in the Blessed Result of our American Contest, and While Nations Will Successively Turn With disgust from Roïal and Imperial Palaces they Shall Hail faneuïl Hall as a Craddle of Universal freedom.the great Battle about Elections two Years Before the time shew that the good people of the United states Have Just Reason to Mind their plain political Concerns independent of the Encroachements of Self Made power, or the Machinations of an Anti Social Sainte Alliance Here also Elections not of the Executive nor of one Branch, But of What is Supposed to be the National part of the legislature, are matters of Some Agitation. But the Electoral System, the practices that Accompany it, and the Measures of the last Session are So Many Enormities which, altho’ they pretty Well Suit the origin of a Charte octroï ci preclude Every Serious Idea of a Representation of the people. the Sound May be the Same in Present france and in America; the thing is quite different or Rather Heterogeneous.The author of the Book You Have Commissioned me to Send is My friend M. de tracy father to My daughter in law, and to My actual Colleague in the House of deputé, Victor tracy who in His Capacity of a Captive Colonel Has Been Under Great obligations to Your Excellent Son. He Begs Your Kind Acceptance of the inclosed Copy and of an other Small Book Reprinted from a larg Work. I Send them to Mr Beasley the American Consul at Havre, being an hommage of the Author to you.Receive With Your Usual kind friendship the Affectionate Respects, Wishes, and Grateful, tender Recollections of  / Your old Constant friend

					Lafayette—


Title: From John Adams to Maria Sophia Quincy, 14 August 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Quincy, Maria Sophia,Quincy, Margaret Morton

My dear young ladies—the Miss Quincy,
Quincy, August 14th, 1823.

You have much better advisers than I can be—but I will venture suggest one line. As Nature will attach you sufficiently to your own contemporaries may I here suggest to you to seek the society and conversation of ladies and gentlemen older than yourselves. Such is the advice of your assured friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Quincy Aug. 15th. ’23 1823

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 four times over—but if I have I never applied it so well as now—. Not long after the denouement of the tragedy of Louis 16th. when I was vice-President, my friend the Dr. came to breakfast with me alone, he was very sociable—very learned and eloquent on the subject of the French revolution, it was opening a new era in the world and presenting a near view of the millenium. I listened I heard with great attention and perfect sang froid.—At last I asked the Dr. do you really believe the French will establish a free democratical government in France? He answered; I do firmly believe it. Will you give me leave to ask you upon what grounds you entertain this opinion? Is it from anything you ever read in history—is there any instance of a Roman Catholic monarchy of five & twenty millions—at once converted into a free and rational people? No. I know of no instance like it. Is there anything in your knowledge of human nature derived from books or experience that any nation ancient or modern consisting of such multitudes of ignorant people ever were or ever can be converted suddenly into materials capable of conducting a free government especially a democratical republic? No, I know of nothing of the kind—. Well then sir what is the ground of your opinion? The answer was, my opinion is founded altogether upon revelation and the prophecies; I take it that the ten horns of the great beast in revelations, mean the ten crowned heads of Europe: and that the execution of the king of France is the falling off of the first of those horns; & the nine monarchies of Europe will fall one after another in the same way.—Such was the enthusiasm of that great man—that reasoning machine. After all however he did recollect himself so far as, to say—There is however a possibility of doubt—for I read yesterday a book put into my hands—by a gentleman—a volume of travels, written by a french gentleman, in 1659, in which he says he had been travelling a whole years in England—into every part of it and conversed freely with all ranks of people, he found the whole nation earnestly engaged in discussing, and contriving a form of government for their future regulation, there was but one point in which they all agreed and in that they were unanimous, that monarchy nobility & prelacy never would exist in England again.—The Dr. then paused—and said—yet in the very next year the whole nation called in the King & ran mad with monarchy nobility & prelacy. I am no king killer merely because they are kings—poor creatures they know no better—they believe sincerely and conscientiously that God made them to rule the world, I would not therefore behead them or send them to St Helena to be treated as Bonaparte was—but I would shut them up like the man in the iron mask—feed them well, give them as much finery as they pleas’d until they could be converted to right reason and common sense. I have nothing to communicate from this part of the country except that you must not be surprised if you hear something wonderful in Boston before long.—With my profound respects for your family and half a centurys affection for yourself I am your humble servant.
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from William A. Coffey, 29 August 1823
From: Coffey, William A.
To: Adams, John

					sir,
					New York Aug. 29: 1823.—

				I herewith send you a copy of “Inside Out,” a work lately published in this City, for the benefit of its Author—which you will please to accept from him. Divested of his profession, and with a dependent family, without the means of acquiring a livelihood but by the labours of his pen, he has made trifling attempt at Authorship in the compiling of this work, with the hope in some degree, of advancing his pecuniary views.Approaching you as the uniformly active friend of the Unfortunate, and as a distinguished philanthropist, he is confident that you will not discountenance his efforts, but readily believe of him, in the expressive words of Byron,That there are hues not always faded,Which Shew a mind not all degraded,Even by the crimes thro’ which it evaded.Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of “Inside Out”; and believe me to be sir: / Your most Obedient & / very Hble Servt

					Wm A. Coffey

					80 Maiden Lane Care of Jos. MolyneuxP.S. Since writing the above, the Author has had the felicity to receive the most flattering acknowledgments from Mr Jefferson & Mr Madison.


Title: To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1823
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Monticello Sep. 4. 23.

				Your letter of Aug. 15. was recieved in due time, and with the welcome of every thing which comes from you. with it’s opinions on the difficulties of revolutions, from despotism to freedom, I very much concur. the generation which commences a revolution can rarely compleat it. habituated from their infancy to passive submission of body and mind to their kings and priests, they are not qualified, when called on, to think and provide for themselves and their inexperience, their ignorance and bigotry make them instruments often, in the hands of the Bonapartes and Iturbides to defeat their own rights and purposes. this is the present situation of Europe and Spanish America. but it is not desperate. the light which has been shed on mankind by the art of printing has eminently changed the condition of men the world. as yet that light has dawned on the midling classes only of the men of Europe. the kings and the rabble of equal ignorance, have not yet recieved it’s rays; but it continues to spread. and, while printing is preserved, it can no more recede than the sun return on his course. a first attempt to recover the right of self-government may fail; so may a 2d. a 3d. Etc. but as a younger, and more instructed race comes on, the sentiment becomes more and more intuitive, and a 4th. a 5th. or some subsequent one of the ever renewed attempts will ultimately succeed. in France the 1st. effort was defeated by Robespierre, the 2d. by Bonaparte, the 3d. by Louis XVIII. and his holy allies; another is yet to come, and all Europe, Russia excepted, has caught the spirit; and all will attain representative government, more or less perfect. this is now well understood to be a necessary check on kings, whom they will probably think it more prudent to chain and tame, than to exterminate. to attain all this however rivers of blood must yet flow, & years of desolation pass over, yet the object is worth rivers of blood, and years of desolation. for what inheritance, so valuable, can man leave to his posterity? the spirit of the Spaniard and his deadly and eternal hatred to a Frenchman, gives me much confidence that he will never submit, but finally defeat this atrocious violation of the laws of god and man under which he is suffering; and the wisdom and firmness of the Cortes afford reasonable hope that that nation will settle down in a temperate representative government, with an executive properly subordinated to that. Portugal, Italy, Prussia, Germany, Greece will follow suit. you and I shall look down from another world on these glorious atchievements to man, which will add to the joys even of heaven.I observe your toast of mr Jay on the 4th. of July, wherein you say that the omission of his signature to the Declaration of Independance was by accident. our impressions as to this fact being different, I shall be glad to have mine corrected, if wrong. Jay, you know, had been in constant opposition to our laboring majority. our estimate, at the time, was that he, Dickenson & Johnson of Maryland by their ingenuity, perseverance and partiality to our English connection, had constantly kept us a year behind where we ought to have been in our preparations and proceedings. from about the date of the Virginia instructions of May 15. 76. to declare Independence, mr Jay absented himself from Congress, and never came there again until Dec. 78. of course he had no part, in the discussion or decision of that question. the instructions to their delegates by the Convention of New York, then sitting, to sign the Declaration, were presented to Congress on the 15th. of July only, and on that day the journals shew the absence of mr Jay by a letter recieved from him, as they had done as early as the 29th. of May by another letter. and, I think, he had been omitted by the Convention on a new election of Delegates when they changed their instructions. of this last fact however having no evidence but an antient impression, I shall not affirm it. but whether so or not, no agency of accident appears in the case. this error of fact however, whether yours or mine, is of little consequence to the public. but truth being as cheap as error, it is as well to rectify it for our own satisfaction.I have had a fever of about three weeks during the last and preceding month, from which I am entirely recovered except as to strength. ever and affectionately yours

					Th: Jefferson


Title: To John Adams from Pseudonym: "Marathon", 11 September 1823
From: Pseudonym: “Marathon”
To: Adams, John

					Sepr: 11. 1823

				The writer of Marathon most respectfully encloses the first number to Mr Adams, with a sincere hope that the pain, which cannot but have been occassioned by gross breach of confidence in the publication of his private letters, may be in a good degree diminished by the veneration which it will call forth, for the greatness of his public character, and the anxiety which it will disclose for the happiness of his remaining years.—


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 September 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy Sep 16th. 1823

I thank you for your letter of the 12th
I am extremely sorry to hear that Genll Miller has lost so much of his Health. I esteem him not only the bravest among the brave, but a gentlemen of superior intelligence of a very enquisitive sagasious and penetrating mind, in short One of the soundest characters I know. will you be so good as to present to him my affectionate respects—& sincere thanks for the Indian Grammer he sent me, which I received with pleasure altho I am too old to make much advantage of it myself, it may here after be a benifit to some curious researcher in to indian history—
When I was a school and College Boy there was a kind of proverb current, in these words, “tace’ is Latin for a Candle,” will you be so good as to give me a commentary upon this precept, can you give me a translation of it, or tell me its original, I have thought a good deal of it, & I can make nothing of it, but this hold your tongue if you would be wise, or silence is the best soerce of wisdom—
I return you the Letter you request, that is my Letter to you in 85, With best respect , / to Mrs. Waterhouse—I am your Old Friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Dear Sir.
Quincy September 18th. 1823.

With much pleasure I have heard read the sure words of prophecy in your letter of Sep— 4th. It is melancholy to contemplate the cruel wars, dessolations of Countries, and ocians of blood which must occure, before rational principles, and rational systems of Government can prevail and be established—but as these are inevitable we must content ourselves with the consolations which you from sound and sure reasons so clearly suggest—These hopes are as well founded as our fears of the contrary evils,—on the whole, the prospect is cheering,—I have lately undertaken to read Algernon Sidney on Government there is a great difference in reading a Book at four and twenty, and at Eighty Eight, as often as I have read it; and fumbled it over; it now excites fresh admiration, that this work has excited so little interest in the literary world—As splendid an Edition of it, as the art of printing can produce, as well as for the intrinsick merit of the work, as for the proof it brings of the bitter sufferings of the advocates of Liberty from that time to this, and to show the slow progress of Moral phylosophical political Illumination in the world ought to be now published in America.
It is true that Mr. Jay, Mr. Dickinson, and Mr Johnson, contributed to retard many vigorous measures, and particularly the vote of Independence untill he left Congress, but I have reason to think he would have concured in that vote when it was taken if he had been there. His absence was accidental—Congress on the fifteenth of May preceeding, as I remember had recommended to all the States to abolish all Authority under the Crown, and institute and organize a new Government under the Authority of the People—Mr Jay had promoted this resolution in New York by adviseing them to call a Convention to frame a New Constitution, he had been chosen a Member of that Convention, and called home by his Constituents to assist in it—And as Duane told me he had gone home with his Letter to Withe in his pocket for his Model and foundation, and the same Duane after the Constitution appeared asked me if it was not sufficiently conformable to my letter to Wythe, I answered him I believed it would do very well, Mr Jay was immediately appointed Chief Justice of the State, and obliged to enter immediately on the duties of his Office, which occasioned his detention from Congress afterwards, but I have no doubt, had he been in Congress at the time he would have subscribed to the Declaration of Independence, he would have been neither recalled by his Constituents nor have left Congress himself, like Mr. Dickinson, Mr Willing, Governor Livingston, and several others—
Nearly as I feel for the Spanish Patriots I fear the most sensible Men among them have little confidence in their Constitution which appears to me is modeled upon that in France of the year 1789, in which the soverignty in a single assembly was every thing and the executive nothing, the Spaniards have adopted all this, with the singular addition that the members of the Cortes can serve only two years, what rational being can have any well grounded confidence in such a Constitution—
As you write so easy, and so well, I pray you to write me as often as possible, for nothing revives my spirits so much as your letters, except the society of my Son and his Family, who are now happily with me after an absence of two years—
I am Sir, with sentiments of / affection and Respect / Your Ancient Friend / and humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to James Walker, 25 September 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Walker, James

Dear Sir,
Montezillo September 25th. 1823

you will be surprised at receiving this Letter. But I hope you will pardon the curiosity of dotage, I wish to know whether the records of the Town and Church of Charleston were destroyed in the great Fire of the 17th. of June 1775. if any of them remain, I wish to know what remains concerning the Revrend Thomas Shepard once Minister of that place my Wifes Great Grand Father, Daniel Quincy Married a Daughter of Mr. Shepard by her he had Coll John Quincy of Mount Wollaston, who was born and Baptized in Charlestown & I wish to know whether any records remain of his birth & Baptism, or his Parents marriage. I am sorry to give you any trouble but it is sometimes agreeable to look into ancient memorials, but in all cases I shall be much obliged to you for any communications information you can give me / who am your sincere friend / and humble Servant
John Adams
P S I presume you know there is plenty of Memorials of Mr Shepard of his Father & Son in Dr. Mathers Magnalia—


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 September 1823
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

My Dear and Respected Friend!
Oldenbarneveld 26 Sept. 1823

I am confident you will not take it amiss—if, once more, I address you with a few lines, less so, as I did not hear from Quincy since Febr. last—except thro Public Reports by which I was informed, that you enjoy’d health, and continued as always before, to deserve well of your country—may your Friends and Children enjoy this blessing a long while—
I would have written long since, had I not been prevented by excruciating head-ache, with which I was tortured the greatest part of this Summer. You would cheerfully have shared in our happiness, could I have before, as I intended, informed you, that we were gratified with a visit from our Children at Philadelphia. They left us again and returned to their home—We cannot flatter ourselves—that we can enjoy this favour of Providence—very often—perhaps it was the last time—as Mrs. v.d.k—in a few days enters her 78 year and I press her steps with speed—
My son informed me, that the Secretary of State was at his Revered Father’s seat—what a delightful visit must this be to you and all his Dear Relatives and friends—may a full consummation of his most ardent wishes be his lot! but to deserve it, even if not acquired, must be celestial food to such a nobl minded man—Does his son George continue his progress in Literature? I believe I err in the name—George is that young Boy who showed me so many attentions when I was last at Quincy—
I cannot suppress the indignation, which I felt yesterday evening, when that odious deed of Cunningham’s heirs or executors was communicated to me—It was a heinous crime towards the deceased. It was a glaring proof—that not a single drop of honest blood must have animated the villain’s breast. Every one present sheweth his utter abhorrence and woe to the man, who encouraged it, or dares to stoop so low—to colour it God be praised! your unsullied Character cannot be attained—and the returning shafts must drop their person in the breast of the hireling—
I forwarded—last year to your son J.Q—by our Senator Genl. J. Kirkland some Mss—which you examined many years past—and which I since endeavoured to correct—but never heard if then had been delivered—This is all, what—for the present—I should wish to know—if you have an opportunity of making this enquiry—I appraised too well the situation of the Secretary—than to indulge a wish for an answer—This I did not expect, but am in the hope, whenever his more serious avocations permit him—at any future period, to glance over it and He then—considers that they deserve his criticisms to favour me with these. If He is yet at your seat assure Him of my Sincere respect.
Was I not apprehensive to abuse your indulgences I had several subjects in mind—to bring these forward having been accustomed—during so many years—to be benefitted by your instructive communications—Now I dare not—yet I would ask—Is there any other authority besides that of Pignorius de Servis pag. 31 and S. Petiscus—that Constantine did forbid to mark Malefactors with a red hot iron—and substituted for this punishment—collaria? can you tell me, what by Petronius Lac gallinaceum? What is your opinion of  Roman Hist? If now I have sinned again—I will do so no more.
One boon only I must solicit from your kindness—renew the remembrance of your old friend to every member of your family—not forgetting your neighbours Quincy and the respectable Mrs Morton—and favour me with continued kindnesses as I hope to remain with the highest respect / Your Devoted and obliged / Friend!

Fr. Adr. vander Kemp


Title: From John Adams to Nathaniel Adams, 27 September 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Nathaniel

Dear Sir
Monticillo 27 Sept 1823

I have received your kind letter of the 20 inst & should be glad to give you any information in my power with respect to your family: There was a gentleman of your name who was a judge of the judicial court in Nova Scotia. He educated a son at Harvard college who was John Adams the poet, who was a theologian & man of genius, as his writings both in verse & prose which are still extant sufficiently prove. When I was in England a gentleman by the name of Sharp came to visit me and claimed kindred with me. He said he was born in Hallifax & his mother was an Adams that he had understood that the family came from New England. He was a man of letters & science, held in estimation by the literati and has been since a member of parliament and honours me now & then with a letter. I told him that I had heard much of the family at Nova Scotia & that of John Adams the poet & of Hugh Adams who had been for seven five years minister of the 2d parish in the town of Braintree to which I belonged but I have never been able to trace any connexion between this family & the very numerous family which setled at Mount Wollaston. Your family has long been & still is very respectable & I should be proud to trace any connexion between us but have not yet been successful in discovering any.
I am Sir your very humble Servt


Title: To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 12 October 1823
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Monticello. Oct. 12. 23.

				I do not write with the ease which your letter of Sep. 18. supposes. crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. but, while writing to you, I lose the sense of these things, in the recollection of antient times, when youth and health made happiness out of every thing. I forget for a while the hoary winter of age, when we can when we can think of nothing but how to keep ourselves warm, & how to get rid of our heavy hours until the friendly hand of death shall rid us of all at once. against this tedium vitae however I am fortunately mounted on a Hobby, which indeed I should have better managed some 30. or 40. years ago, but whose easy amble is still sufficient to give exercise & amusement to an Octogenary rider. this is the establishment of an University, on a scale more comprehensive, and in a country more healthy & central than our old William and Mary, which these obstacles have long kept in a state of languor and inefficiency. but the tardiness with which such works proceed may render it doubtful whether I shall live to see it go into action. Putting aside these things however for the present, I write this letter as due to a friendship co-eval with our government, & now attempted to be poisoned, when too late in life to be replaced by new affections. I had for some time observed, in the public papers, dark hints & mysterious innuendos of a correspondence of yours with a friend, to whom you had opened your bosom without reserve, & which was to be made public by that friend, or his representative. and now it is said to be actually published. it has not yet reached us, but extracts have been given, & such as seemed most likely to draw a curtain of separation between you & myself. were there no other motive than that of indignation against the author of this outrage on private confidence, whose shaft seems to have been aimed at yourself more particularly, this would make it the duty of every honorable mind to disappoint that aim, by opposing to it’s impression a seven-fold shield of apathy & insensibility. with me however no such armour is needed. the circumstances of the times, in which we have happened to live, & the partiality of our friends, at a particular period, placed us in a state of apparent opposition, which some might suppose to be personal also; & there might not be wanting those who wish’d to make it so, by filling our ears with malignant falsehoods, by dressing up hideous phantoms of their own creation, presenting them to you under my name, to me under your’s, and endeavoring to instill into our minds things concerning each other the most destitute of truth. and if there had been, at any time, a moment when we were off our guard, and in a temper to let the whispers of these people make us forget what we had known of each other for so many years, & years of so much trial, yet all men who have attended to the workings of the human mind, who have seen the false colours under which passion sometimes dresses the actions & motives of others, have seen also these passions subsiding with time and reflection, dissipating, like mists before the rising sun, and restoring to us the sight of all things in their true shape and colours. it would be strange indeed if, at our years, we were to go an age back to hunt up imaginary, or forgotten facts, to disturb the repose of affections so sweetening to the evening of our lives. be assured, my dear Sir, that I am incapable of recieving the slightest impression from the effort now made to plant thorns on the pillow of age, worth, and wisdom, and to sow tares between friends who have been such for near half a century. beseeching you then not to suffer your mind to be disquieted by this wicked attempt to poison it’s peace, and praying you to throw it by, among the things which have never happened, I add sincere assurances of my unabated, and constant attachment, friendship and respect.

					Th: Jefferson


Title: To John Adams from James Walker, 24 October 1823
From: Walker, James
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir:
					Charlestown 24 October 1823

				Various causes, connected with the absence & illness of Revd Mr Fay of the old church, have delayed my going into the investigations which you requested me to make respecting the elder Mr. Shepperd & the Messrs Quincys. I am sorry, now that I have made them, that it has been to so little purpose, or rather to no purpose at all. You ask whether the Records of the Town or Church were destroyed in the fire of ‘75. They were not. We have records from the first settlement of the place; but the earliest of them (say to the death of the elder Mr. Shepperd) are extremely defective; difficult, also, to decypher from the very peculiar chirography, & absolutely impossible to read in order to collate from the circumstance, as it appears, that they were written at first in small books or on loose pieces of paper, & were afterwards bound up together without any regard whatever to rule, arrangement, or subject. However, I have examined them enough to know that they contain nothing about the elder Mr. Shepperd which may not be found in Mather the Historical Collections, Eliot &c. The name is written in his own signature “Shepperd” & not as Eliot writes it “Shepard.” He was ordained April 13. 1659 & died Oct 32 1677, aged 43 of the small-pox—caught in the courageous discharge of his ministerial duty, by visiting a parishioner in his last moments who was sick of that distemper at the dying man’s earnest request. As for the Quincys (father & son)—I have carefully & repeatedly run over the Records of Births & Marriages in the town books; & also the Records of Baptisms in the Church books; but the name of Quincy does not once occur. I am truly sorry that my search should have been so unproductive, but it has been a pleasure for me to make it at your request. I beg you to accept the assurances of my respect & consideration, with my best wishes that your life & health may be preserved, & that your happiness may be perpetual.

					James Walker


Title: To John Adams from John H. Hall, 25 October 1823
From: Hall, John H.
To: Adams, John

					Most Esteemed &. Distinguished Sir,
					Philadelphia. October 25th. 1823

				Having not the honor of a personal acquaintance, you will pardon the liberty we take in thus addressing you in doing which we feel a peculiar delicacy on the occasion. The subject of this communication is Col. M. M. Russell formerly of the army and, late Consul to Riga, this gentleman we have been intimately acquainted with for several years and has always been considered a useful and Worthy member to society. he has been strongly recommended to the Government by some of the most distinguished gentlemen from Georgia & South Carolina as well as this state; Col. Russell is by birth a Virginian but resided a considerable period in So. Carolina and the last six months in the vicinity of this city. We sincerely regret to state that he has within that time encountered a series of misfortunes not alone in his mercantile pursuits but in the entire destruction of his little property comprising his house and furnature, by fire, about three months since, leaving him destitute with an amiable Wife and two interesting children of the means of support, his situation is truly distressing and what adds to his misfortunes that he is now in but a very ill state of health, yet he feels very desirous to remove himself & his family to Washington City, there to wait until he obtains some appointment from government which he has been some time in expectation of, but being destitute of the means, his friends have suggested to him, the Idea of making through them a succinct statement of his truly distressed situation to you, soliciting any aid you may afford him to enable him to effect his removal to the seat of government. We feel assured from the character of this truly worthy but unfortunate gentleman that any assistance which may be afforded him will be recollected with indelible gratitude.With sincere wishes for your health and / Prosperity. We are, Sir, with the Most / profound respect, Your Most / Obt. & Very Humbe. Servants

					John H. HallWm. BaldwinE. L. WilsonM. G. Hamilton

					Mr John H.  Hall is the gentleman appointed to receive any aid which may remitted for Colonel Russell


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy 10th. November. 1823.

Your last letter was brought to me from the Post office when at breakfast with my family. I bade one of the misses open the budget, she reported a letter from Mr. Jefferson and two or three newspapers. A letter from Mr. Jefferson says I, I know what the substance is before I open it; There is no secrets between Mr. Jefferson and me, And I cannot read it, therefore you may open and read it—When it was done, it was followed by an universal exclamation, The best letter that ever was written, and round it went through the whole table—How generous! how noble! how magnanimous! I said that it was just such a letter as I expected only it was infinitely better expressed—A universal cry that the letter ought to be printed, No, hold—certainly not without Mr. Jefferson’s express leave.—
As to the blunder–buss itself which was loaded by a miserable melancholly man, out of his wits, and left by him to another to draw the trigger. The only affliction it has given me is sincere grief of the meloncholly fate of both. The peevish and fretful effusions of politicians in difficult and dangerous conjectures from the agony of their hearts are not worth remembering, much less of laying to heart.
The published correspondence is garbled. All the letters are left out that could explain the whole mystery. The vengence against me was wholly occasioned because he could not persuade me to recommend him to the national government for a mission abroad or the government of a territory—services for which I did not think him qualified—
I salute your fire-side with cordial esteem and affection—J. A.
In the 89. year of his age still too fat to last much longerJohn Adams


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 November 1823
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

My Dear and Respected Friend!
Oldenbarneveld 11 Nov. 1823

Althoug it was not in my power to assist, under your roof, at the celebration of your 88th anniversary, yet I cannot deny my Self the enjoyment of congratulating you and your respected family with this event. It is my ardent wish and fervent prayer, that it may please our All-good God to pour out you and your Family his choicest blessings during the continuance of your residence here, So that your last days may be your best days, So as to encourage all who are related to you, and dear all who know you: to press your Steps and imitate your example—what a rich fund of gratitude to their God for every one, honoured with your acquaintance—protection and love!
It Seems, although I am not Surprised at it, and feel, that now and then it throws a mist on the numerous, undeserved, blessings, which I yet enjoy, it Seems, as if the remembrance of me is gradually obliterated by those, who favoured me once with their affectionate attentions in Massachusetts, and I bear it without complaining. but I am confident, this cannot take place with you—your frendship towards me, whom you favoured with your intimacy during more than forty years, who Shared So deeply in the tender feelings of your excellent, admirable Lady—untill her last breath—remains I am confident, unaltered, and for this favour I thank my God—I foster not a faint hope, that I Shall be permitted to See your happy Land once more—but So it Stood, when, unexpectedly, I was invited to Boston to take my last fare well of my worthy young frend Charles, but this I know, that I Shall remain till we meet in another world—with deep respect—veneration and gratitude / your affectionate and obliged frend!

Fr. Adr. van der Kemp


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 November 1823
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

My Dear and respected Sir!
Oldenbarneveld. 13 Nov. 1823

Once more I must give you my cordial thanks for this proof of your remembrance—not, that I suspected it—but I did not expect so soon an answer. Every one, which I receive every letter of myself—I consider—nearly unwillingly—that it may be the last of our correspondence—continued now since more than forty years—during which—whatever Station you fulfilled—I was allways honoured with your kind attention, and I thank my God that without vanity I may suppose it was not undeserved—and although I cannot reciprocate these kindnesses, I shall boldly grasp at any opportunity, to shew you, how much these contribute to my happiness. You have arrived at your 89—Mrs v.d.K. shall—if it pleases God—within a few days enter her 77. I, 72—thus we all have nearly reached the end of our course—and we have seen enough—to retire—without reluctance—in peace—How happy shall I deem my lot—if—although in an inferior station, I may be blessed—in seeing and conversing—in being instructed and beloved by a de Gyzelaer and Luzac—by an Adams and his Cara sposa
In this life, my venerable friend! It would increase my happiness, if was I once more permitted to visit you and your family, even if I were allowed only a few days, but my situation forbids to foster the hope—to undertake such a costly journey—But I ought not, I will not murmur—Thousands would envy my lot—
Your loss by the absence of the Quincy’s is certainly great—They know you, and conducted themselves in conformity to—I have nothing to claim but shall consider it a new favour, if you renew to Them the remembrance of one, who respects them.
Will you ask once your Amanuensis—why she did withold from me the name of the writer of—
"Where Adams"—
or did she fear, that I would not do justice to these elegant and sympathetic lines.
The following paragraph of your Letter about J.Q. surprised me—you know—I am not very careful in the choice of my words and expressions—less so—when I write or converse with a friend—but I can not recollect, that I touched the subject of the next Presidency—Nevertheless—I am persuaded, if you read again, what I have written on that subject—you shall with your usual indulgence, acquit me of having altered a thought—unpleasing to you or J.Q. or unbecoming his character. There can be no latent meaning in my words—at least it was not intended. To express myself now more plainly on this part—I consider J.Q Adams—deserving that eminent Station. I admire Him as a great states-man—as an accomplished scholar, and revere Him as a Son—a Husband, a Father—He may in my opinion, ardently aspire—at the Presidency, because—He may, under Gods blessing—promote the welfare of his country—and he would not shrink at a competition—Neither J. Luzac would have declined the contest—persuaded—He deserved the place—But I am equally sure, that—if he failed—he would remain the same J.Q.A.— and say with Rinaldo—
I gradi primi
Piu meritar che consequir desio:
Did you inquire of Him—if Genl. Kirckland delivered to Him my mss. on the Achaic Republick and the systems of Buffon and Jefferson?
You cannot expect, that I should be able to answer your interesting questions—it would require a volume, and then yet the task would not be within my reach—It seems to be that human perfection may be continually increased, if circumstances are favorable—Among the Hottentots Newton would never have arrived at that “height”—and yet He might have excelled all his cotemporaries—in mental and moral endowments—and in a similar manner our progresses may be continued through all eternity—at least I do not perceive any solid objection against it. You are thoroughly acquainted with my sentiments about Liberty equality and Fraternity—If civil and Riligious Liberty is sanctioned and security—justice impartially executed—and an impregnable bulwark raised against any foreign influence—I do little care about the form of Government, although that of your Defence would be my choice Yesterday a well instructed girl of our neighbourhood solicited me for its loan, and it was cheerfully granted.
Had the Spanish Troubles commenced forty years past—I would have made all speed towards that devoted contry—and made a sacrifice of all what I had my life not excepted, to save it from that abominable French invasion. I may longer, and yet I shall not mourn, when another Sicilian vespris are re-instated, and the last Frenchman falls a victime to blot out the transgression of an infatuated king—who perhaps might have been there digging a grave for the dotard Bourbon dinasty.
It may be, that I am thoroughly mistaken—but Europe shall never recover its former dignified station—its decline its fall, seem to me approaching—Liberty—arts and sciences—will leave that abode may take rest—for a little while in England—but then shall speed together to the American Strand—Europe may become, what Asia appears now—Its  shall be first cast on our shores—and then the wise and the good retire hither leaving for ever the countries of their birth. It seems probable that the Greeks succeed in throwing of the Ottoman Yoke, and secure their Independence, if they are not betray’d, and—under the Garb of nominal Liberty by their European neighbours, But—I do not believe—that the times of Sparta and Athens shall return—their glory resuscitated from the tomb, and civil and religious Liberty established in an independent government. If so nevertheless—it shall be a new phenomenon—that these—as well as commerce—were, after have been Destroy’d, fully recovered; I at least cannot recollect one single instance in ancient or modern history.
Fayette’s letter must have given you an exquisite pleasure—what blessings, and deserved blessings, continue to be bestowed upon you by a bountiful God—He continues these till your last breath—May you then remember—that I was your affectionate and allways obliged Frend!

Fr. Adr. vander Kemp

P.S. Do you remember the Romance of de Layre and J. J. Rousseau? I admired it, and was enchanted by its music forty years past. "Je l’ai plantéJe L’ai vu naitre &c" This beautiful song—is—from the beginning to the end stolen from an Italian Poët.


Title: From John Adams to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 17 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Wolcott, Oliver, Jr.

My Dear & Worthy old Friend.
Quincy 17th. November. 1823

With real pleasure I received your kind letter of July 28th. though I received it but a few days ago. I thank you for introduceing to me Major Wolcott Huntington —whose appearance and manners do honor to both his names—
I rejoice to hear that you enjoy so good health and I wish, that your Life may be prolonged for the Government of Connecticut as long as mine has been; which has been extended beyond all my anticipations and expectations.—
I have received a letter from our fellow Citizen and noble General, La Fayett within a few days, in which he hails Fanuil Hall as the Cradle of Universal Liberty to all Mankind—This is very flattering to the City of Boston and to all the United States, but the prospect at present is somewhat clouded, The old dragon, the offspring of the unholly alliance between political and Ecclesiastical tyrany now appears under the title of Legitimacy, which threatens to destroy the rights of the People to institute their own Government, and it will undoubtedly produce great calamities to mankind, But great is truth, and will ultimately prevail.—
Our political discussions are only a warfare of words, our Cannon are only Goose Quills, and our shot nothing but black ink, we shall preserve our Liberties a long time, let the crowned noddles of Europe bluster as they will—
A session of Congress approaches in no gloom and with no formidable apprehensions of danger or difficulty—The next Election thoroughly disenssed beforehand will go off in great tranquillity, whoever draws the longest higest ticket in the Lottery—Our Governor Eustis setts very easily in his Chair, and we are as happy as we ever shall be—
I am Sir with assurances of high Esteem / and regard—And in daily expectation of a / Summons to another department / your friend and humble Servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Edmund Rogers, 20 November 1823
From: Rogers, Edmund
To: Adams, John

					Sir—
					New London Novr 20th. 1823

				Knowing the interest you take in every improvement of a national character however humble the subject may be, deeming nothing beneath your notice which may tend to promote economy, encourage industry, or add to the independence of our Country—I have presumed to ask your acceptance of the Box herewith, containing a small sample of my domestic Coffee. The dearness of the foreign Coffee, has induced me to divote much time to prepare a cheap, wholesome and pleasant substitute purely of domestic growth. I flatter myself I have attained my wishes—and have received flattering testimonials of my Success from many of the most distinguished Gentlemen of the Country—some of which you will find in the inclosed hand Bill. Should I be so fortunate as to gain your distinguished approbation, it would I have no doubt, be of great service in introducing it, to our fellow citizens and save great expence to the nation, and highly gratify him who has the honor, with ardent wishes for your health and happiness to subscribe himself / Your most Obedt. and / very Hbl. Servt.

					Edmund Rogers.

					P.S. This Coffee is afforded at 8 cents pr pound by the quantity. Directions for using will be found in the hand Bill.


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Montezillo November 27th. 1823

“Where Adams from a noisy world withdrew
Sick of Glory faction, power & pride
Sure judge how empty all, who all had tried
Beneath his shade the weary chief reposed
And Life’s great scene, in quiet virtue closed ”
I have received your kind letter of 11th. November and I believe another before it unacknowledged, for both of which, I thank you— The 30th. of October passed ever like all other days without any pomp parade festivals or cerimonies, and away it has fled, beyond the days before the flood, kind nature reconcils us to a change of worlds in proportion as infirmities increase in this; Resignation is the only source of happiness at such as age as mine—Your kind compliments assuage the pains of decrepitude at an age like mine, And your presence and society would delight me as much any other day as on any anniversary, but I can scarcely flatter myself with the hope of such another felicity—Your friends the Quincys, are too much occupied with the important duties of his high Offices to find time for very frequent correspondence with their friends. I suffer a severe loss in their present distances from me, but I acquiesce because their duties to the public ought to controle all the affections of private friendship, In one of your letters there is an expression that I do not understand—you speak of John Quincy Adams’ ardent desire to be president, what evidence have you that he desires it at all, when attacked from all various quarters in the most hypocritical and serious insidious as well as the most impudent and brutal manner, he has defended himself like a Man—but not one symtom of an ardent desire from him to be President have I ever seen or heard. Such expressions Mr Vanderkemp have a meaning—
What think you of the perfectability of and perfection of human life, what think you of liberty equality and fraternity of France, Spain, Italy, Naples, &&&. The Greeks appear to have more patriotism & philanthropy than all Europe I hope I shall not be obliged to say with my last breath, Mundum, relinquo venalem
Our fellow Citizens and Heroic General La Fayette in a letter to me received a few days ago hails Fanuall Hall as the Cradle of universal Liberty to Mankind A sublime compliment to America—God grant that it may not be a mere compliment,—88 years are a burden too heavy to be well borne, by your feeble helpless friend and humble servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Rev. Samuel Deane, 2 December 1823
From: Deane, Rev. Samuel
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir.
					Scituate. Dec. 2d: 1823.

				I send you a copy of my Table of the of the Otis Family, agreeably to your request. I have searched records, and made enquiries with some diligence, in order to make the early generations correct; which I believe I have accomplish’d. The principal value of this Table, arises from the circumstance, of its rescuing from forgetfulness, the early genealogy, which, probably, would have been irrecoverable, in a few years. In this respect, it is a scrap of History: and worth preserving: but merely as a Catalogue of names, it would be as uninteresting to a stranger, as the 10th. Chap. of Nehemiah. To you Sir, it may be made valuable, by your own reminiscences. I have invented a form, which may be printed as a pamphlet, carried on to any number of generation, and contain a history of each individual, and easily traced, as I think, by means of the letters prefix’d to the names.I am with great respect— / Sir / your obedient servant

					Samuel Deane.


Title: To John Adams from Thomas J. Rogers, 14 December 1823
From: Rogers, Thomas J.
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					House of Representatives, US. Dec. 14. 1823

				I forward you, by this day’s mail, a small volume which I have compiled, intended for the use of schools, and which I am anxious should be placed in the hands of the youth of our country. It is calculated to give them a correct idea of the causes and principles of the American Revolution, and a knowledge of those who acted a conspicuous parts, either in the cabinet or the field, during that glorious contest.I am now engaged in compiling a third edition, to be comprised in an octavo volume, to contain 500 pages. Any anecdotes connected withe the Revolution, which may be in your possession would be highly acceptable.Be pleased, Sir, to accept this work, as a humble testimony of my high opinion of your Revolutionary services.I have the honour to be, / with great respect, / Your obedient Servant

					Thos: J: Rogers


Title: From John Adams to Aaron Hobart, 25 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Hobart, Aaron

my dear Sir
Quincy December 25th. 1823

I am under great obligation to you for the Presidents message, & for the Documents of the War Office, & Navy Office, and I am proud to see how abley and faithfully the Government is conducted, & these communications are the more acceptable, as comeing from a Grand Son of my beloved Brother
I wish you a pleasant and satisfactory session, / and am your obliged / Uncle

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to William Bayard, 29 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Bayard, William

Gentlemen
Quincy 29 Dec 1823—

I have received your circular of the 12 inst & I thank you for the honour you have done me in addressing it to me. Be assured my heart beats in unison with yours and with those of your constituents & I presume with all the really civilized part of mankind in sympathy with the Greek suffering as they are in the great cause of liberty & humanity The gentlemen of Boston have taken measures to procure a general subscription in their favour through the state & I shall contribute my mite with great pleasure— In the mean time I wish you & all other gentlemen engaged in the virtuous work all the success you or they can wish for I believe no effort in favour of virtue will be ultimately lost.
I have the honour to be gentlemen your very / humble servant
J. A.


Title: To John Adams from G. Furman, 30 December 1823
From: Furman, G.
To: Adams, John

					Respected Sir
					Brooklyn Dec. 30th. 1823

				For some time past I have devoted my leisure moments to the task of collecting writings relating to the memorable revolution in the Government of our Country—The undertaking I find both difficult and arduous; for the pamphlets and minor writings of those days have almost become as the Sybilline leaves.“Turbata volent rapidis ludibria ventis.”But I am induced to persevere in consequence of the opinion which has been expressed by you in a Letter to Mr Niles of Feby 13th 1818 in which you state you think it is greatly to be desired that young men “in all the states especially in the thirteen original states, would undertake the laborious, but certainly interesting and amusing task of searching and collecting all the records, pamphlets, newspapers and even handbills, which in any way contributed to change the temper and views of the people and compose them into an independent nation.”In order to facilitate my pursuit, I have taken the liberty, Respected Sir, of requesting from you (as from the person best calculated to afford me the desired information) the favour of a list of the Colonial writers during the Revolution, and of the most noted in Great Britain at that period who took any share in the great controversy—In the course of my researches I became possessed of the writings of “Novanglus” and “Massachusettensis”—It is almost superfluous to say that it was with pleasure I read the addresses of Novanglus to the inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay—Those writings transport the mind back to the “time which tried men’s souls”—They teach me to revere and respect the memories of those men who came forward so magnanimously at that critical period and bared their bosoms to “the battle and the storm”—It was with pleasure also, that I perused the writings of Massachusettensis, but it was pleasure mingled with regret at seeing the talents he possessed employed in attempting to wrest from the people their liberties.—If, Sir, you consider this Letter as worthy of an answer you will please address—

					G FurmanBrooklyn New York


Title: To John Adams from William Elliot, 6 January 1824
From: Elliot, William
To: Adams, John

					Most respected sir,
					Washington, January 6th:, 1824.

				The inclosed small volume and map, relate to a subject in which you took an early and distinguished part: viz. the planning and laying out of this infant Metropolis, and believing that you still feel a deep interest in its welfare, I have sent you this small tribute of my high respect, hoping that you may find some satisfactory information in it, as regards the progress and improvement of the city.I am, honoured Sir, / Most respectfully, / your obedient servant

					William Elliot


Title: To John Adams from Timothy Alden, 12 January 1824
From: Alden, Timothy
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Meadville, 12 January, 1824.

				At a meeting of the Trustees of Alleghany College, held in Meadville, on the 9th of January, 1824, the following Preamble and Resolution were adopted by the Board;“Cherishing all due respect for those illustrious Citizens of the United States, who have successively filled the highest office in the gift of their country and who are still spared to witness the rising glory of this western world, and believing it will afford them gratification to learn that a Collegiate Institution, in Western Pennsylvania, which was commenced in 1815, has so experienced the smiles of Divine Providence, during the short period of its existence, as to have obtained, through the magnanimous bequests of the late Hon. James Winthrop, LL.D. and of the late Rev. William Bentley, D.D. and the donation of Isaiah Thomas, Esq. LL.D: President of the American Antiquarian Society, and of many other generous benefactors, a Library, valuable for the number of volumes it contains, but much more so from their intrinsic worth,Resolved that a copy of the Catalogue of the Library of Alleghany College  published be forwarded toTheir ExcellenciesJohn Adams, late PresidentThomas Jefferson, late PresidentJames Madison, late President, andJames Monroe, President of the U.S.A:True copy from the Records of the College

					Timothy Alden,Sec. Board of Trus. and Pres. Fac. Arts of All. Coll.


Title: To John Adams from William Charles Jarvis, 24 January 1824
From: Jarvis, William Charles
To: Adams, John

					Boston Jany. 24. 1824.

				A meeting of the Republican Members of our Legislature held at the District Court Room in this place on Wednesday evening last made choice of.William C JarvisofPittsfieldHonl.Tho. L Winthrop"Boston."Nathl Silsbee"Salem"Shearman Lealand"Roxburey"John Mason"SwanseaJohn Merrills"Newbury portSeth Knowles"Charles townCharles Turner"SituateRussell Freeman"SandwickCyrus Leland"GraftonAbel Jewett"PepperellJustus Willard Esquire"Springfieldto prepare suitable resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the Republican Members of the legislature on the subject of the approaching election of the President of the US. This Committee agreed unanimously on a Preamble & Resolution herewith transmitted, which were reported to and adjournd meeting held last Evening, and most cordially adopted with out a single objection from any quartersFor one I feel more than an ordinary anxiety as to the influence which these proceedings may have on the future happiness & welfare of this Country: and I regret that a longer time than a midnight hour or two was not allowed me for the performance of a duty, of an interesting character confided to me by the mistaken partialites of my fellow Citizens.But sir, I cannot dissemble the happiness I experience, in being in any way instrumental in communicating to the Nation, the high respect & attachment cherished for you by your fellow Citizens of your native State.I have the honour to be / with very high respect / Your Obt Sert

					William C. Jarvis


Title: To John Adams from Mathew Carey, 26 February 1824
From: Carey, Mathew
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir,
					Philada. Feb 26. 1824

				I send you by this Mail, & request your acceptance of, some of my recent publications, in the defence of the only true interest of the Country, so lamentably ill understood by our statesmen.The flattering approbation, with which you have honoured some of my efforts in this great & glorious cause, induces me to hope that these will prove acceptable.I remain, very respectfully, / Your obt. hble. Servt

					Mathew Carey


Title: To John Adams from John Cartwright, 29 February 1824
From: Cartwright, John
To: Adams, John

					Friend to Freedom!
					London 29th. February 1824

				Daily viewing a facsimile of your signature to that most most glorious of all human records—The Declaration of American Independence, which Independence, so early as the year 1774, expostulating with the rulers of this country, I publicly advocated, it is my request, that you will accept a two-fold work in the cause of Freedom, entitled “The English Constitution Produced and Illustrated” and an “Abridgement” thereof, with an Appendix.That, notwithstanding the separation of the two countries, you will find the Constitution of both in reality one and the same, is the gratifying conviction of your friend and political brother,

					John Cartwright


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 March 1824
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

My Dear and Respected Sir!
Oldenbarneveld 4th. March 1824.

I would not So Soon have intruded again into your dignified retirement had it not been, that you took Such a warm interest in all your Frends concerns—be these of a good or unpropitious cast.
We met with a Severe loss—a Similar one to which I was in part a witness—Several years ago—under your hospitable roof. The dear wife of my Son at Philadelphia is no more—She died in the night of Febr. 25—in the full possession of her mental powers, and departed from all what was dear to Her—without a Struggle—and fully composed and resigned to Submit to her Heavenly Father’s will—She was an excellent woman indeed—beloved and respected by all who knew her—She would have been honoured with yours—had She resided at Quincy—Her only Son, a promising youth—remains a blessing to his Father—
Some years Since you asked me for Cleanthes hymn—Some remnants have been preserved and published by H. Stephanus in his coll. of Philos. poems—I doubt not, or you might obtain from Cambridge Library—if it is not in J. Q. You must have Seen Gilbert West’s translation—if not—I can Sent you an Extract of the Later.
That your last days may be your best days—that the warmest wishes of your heart—with regard to J. Q. may be So fully accomplished, that you may adopt the words of Simeon is the humble prayer of him, who, full of gratitude for your numerous kindnesses—remains with unabated respect / Your obliged Frend!

Fr. Adr. vander Kemp

P.S. the number of J. Q.’s admirers increased—in this State day by day—His Letter to George had a magic effect—Is it true—that the breach between you and T. J. has been healed? this too—would have a great—an incalculable effect—Fare-well my dear beloved—honoured Frend! I may, perhaps, not often renew this assurance—


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 11 March 1824
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

my dearly beloved Vanderkemp
Quincy March 11th. 1824

I sincerely sympathise & condole with you in the Death of your Daughter in Law, such losses are afflictions that flesh is are to, though they are exquisitly rending to the heart, as I know by many severe experiences, I congratulate you however that your Daughter has left a Son, I hope to represent her & his father & G. B. to the entire satisfaction of all
My wishes on a certain subject are much less ardent than you imagin, I know the distressing anxiety the solemn responsibility & the exhausting & Laborious application that attends it. In another year I may possibly get access to J Q A Library which is now locked up in trunks and Boxes in Boston—but there are nineteen ninety nine probibilities in a hundred that I shall be out of the reach of the hymns of Cleanthes and in no want of them—
 National & State Politicians were never more engaged in flickerings and skirmishes it is well that the People are attentive to their interests but it is to be wished there were more Charity & Candor the contest is between the friends of half a dozen gentlemen every one of whom stands high in the consideration of the Nation & ought all to be treated with respect—the state of Europe appears to be declining in liberality, but the waves will rise again when the wind blows, & Heaven grant it may be a prosperous gale—
I pray you to write to me as often a you can—your New York novelist bids fair to rival in this Country the great unknown I understand he has been in Boston and I am quite affronted with him that he did not call upon me. I knew & respected his Father who was indeed one of the great Pioneers—
I am still with high Esteem and warm / affection your friend
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Jacob Engelbrecht, 15 March 1824
From: Engelbrecht, Jacob
To: Adams, John

					Honoured Sir
					Frederick-Town. Maryland, March 15th 1824

				The subject of this letter is of rather an odd cast. yet I indulge the hope, that you will excuse my eccentricity when my motives are made Known,I wish you Sir, to favour me with a letter, in your own Hand writing, which I wish to preserve in honour of you, and frame after your death,—the satisfaction I would derive of being thus honoured, would be a source of pecular joy.I hope, Sir you will favour me with this small request, as it will be of so very little trouble to you, and of so much satisfaction to me.The subject, if you please, may be moral or Religious.—please leave space sufficient for framing,your Compliance will much / Oblige your most obedient / Humble Servant

					Jacob Engelbrecht


Title: To John Adams from Pseudonym: "The Shade of Franklin", 26 March 1824
From: Pseudonym: “The Shade of Franklin”
To: Adams, John

New orleans. March. 26. 1824

What a throb of pleasure will it give to the heart of Mr Adams to learn that the Acorn he assisted to plant has grown to an Oak "in a word the Mechanics’  Apprentices’   Libraries". have reached the City!—2000 Vols. have been given for that purpose & Govr Robinson who has accepted the humble, but interestg situation of Librarian pro tem deliverd in person the first 100 Vols. to the juornite applicants,—upwards of 30,000. Vols. are now in (gratis) operation in our Country, &, Liverpool. has come into the measure with great effect London with her 80.000! Mechanic Youth, is about to form a Library upon the Boston plan,—that City must have more than half a million of Books in idle repose waits for the "Trump to sound". we expect much from the exertions of Mr Canning, the late British Minister who returned home quite innoculated with the importance of giving knowledge & well as industry to British Youth.—he read your Letter upon the subject, which has again been printed.—
In the beautiful Town of Quincy there must be upwards of Ten perhaps Fifty young persons, Male & Female: who have, never recd the pleasure of reading vols. of Travels, Voyages, Biography, Geography, &c. &. which being the case, what an excellent moment it would be if Mr Adams would select. Twenty Vols. from his Library of that discription, put them into the hands of his Clergyman, & request him to allow before service on Sunday, any young person, to take a vol. for 4 weeks, then return it, & take another.—depend on it the plan will do, and if its the means of giving to a single lover of Books an opty to enjoy that pleasure, how much good our good & venerable Friend will perform,—the writer offers his renewed respects / and remains,

the Shade of Franklin"

The S of F. has bought for the Navy 3000. vols.

"Franklin" (Steward) 1500U. States. (Hull) 700"Erie" 8003,000in all instances the Seamen subscribed a Dollar each for the Books.—and read them too.


Title: To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 8 April 1824
From: Spafford, Horatio Gates
To: Adams, John

					Esteemed Friend—
					Troy, N.Y., 4 Mo. 8, 1824.

				Can I send thee a 3 dollar octavo volume of 620 pages, by mail, post-free? I have just published so good a thing that I very much want thee to see it. A Gazetteer & Geography of the State of New-York, the writing of which employed me, closely, for more than 2 years. As I have send all the freedom of remark that a Republican ought to do, aiming at truth, there are many things incidentally said besides what relates to mere topography, on which I want thy opinion. With great respect, thy friend,

					Horatio Gates Spafford


Title: To John Adams from John Taylor, 8 April 1824
From: Taylor, John
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Washington. April 8. 1824.

				During a long illness, from which I am not yet recovered, the reveries which usually amuse sick people, visited me; and among them the idea of writing a farewell letter to you, presented itself so often, as to leave an impression, which I have not been able to subdue. In yielding to it, my free style will I hope be pardoned, in consideration of its being the last trouble I shall give you; and also on account of its chief motive, namely, to make an humble addition to the multitude of testimonials which exist of your patriotism and integrity, from one who has been a spectater of political scenes, from a period some years anterior to the revolutionary war.From one too who has often differed with you in opinion, but has never ceased to be impressed with a conviction of your exalted merit. So early I think (for at this place I must speak meerly from memory) as the year 1765, you traned the British lion, when his teeth and claws were highly dangerous, in a series of Essays, containing principles which I have lately re-perused with delight; and considering the early period at which they were written; with admiration; and I believe, that in the progress of the struggle for the liberty of our country, your efforts in speaking and writing were a thousand fold more efficacious, than those of many individuals of great celebrity; of our Henry for instance.These designated you for a long series of the most important negociations, conducted with a diligence, integrity and capacity, universally admired by your countrymen; and the hopes which your early merits had inspired, being fulfilled, they placed you next to Washington.When your presidency commenced, party spirit was highly inflamed, and its capabilities may be conjectured by those who were not witnesses of its effects then, by contemplating its effects now, in carrying men into unpremeditated excesses, even though it is invigorated by nothing but a love of power. Yet during its bitterest prevalence, you soared above its prejudices, and saved your country from a ruinous war with France—This magnanimous act awakened the vengeance of an erroneous zeal, and your re-election was probably prevented by a pamphlet subscribed “Alexander Hamilton” then beheld by those of us who advocated the Election of Mr: Jefferson, as well calculated to advance our object, but which, upon reading it lately, seems to me to be the most malicious, foolish and inexcusable composition, which was ever produced by a tolerable mind. perhaps the trayterous publication called “Cunningham’s letters” may be something worse, but feeling as if the purchase or reading of that moral turpitude, would be a participation in its criminality, a commentary on it will never be in my power.I cannot however forbear  to inform you of a recent instance of party malevolence still more abominable. It has been whispered that you had disinherited The Secretary of State, and inferred that you must have done so on account of some unknown delinquency on the part of a son, of whom you are no doubt proud. The intimation has been received with indignation, and repelled as an attempt to subtract from his merit by a false and wicked insinuation.Far from making any impression, I have the pleasure to inform you, that his interest in Virginia is growing; and that an address in his favour by the citizens of Fredericksburg in that State, has been forwarded to be published in the news papers of the eastern States, as a set off to an opposition against him, getting up by the money mongers of Rhode Island and other States, when compared with the temperate and just opinions in Virginia. The wise and proper forbearance to express his opinions by the Secretary of State, as to measures dictated by avarice, has created a suspicion that he will not go all lengths in fostering these purposes, and has caused the harpies of society to look out for a candidate who will. In New York they have combined themselves with certain seekers of offices, and should this combination be defeated, it will yet have a powerful influence in Virginia.You will readily perceive that this Letter is intended only for your own ear, as an additional excuse for its familiar and undisguised style. As the last, at my age, it will not be suspected of adulation. For this no motive exists. My design is to file among your archives some facts which may meet the eye of an historian, as well as to give some pleasure to a patriot, who I believe has served his country faithu faithfully, and done what man can do, to please his God. With ardent wishes for your happiness, I am most respectfully, Sir, / Your very obt. Sert.

					John Taylor.